GREENEVILLE – From the excitement of welcoming students with applause to sharing messages of success and opportunity, Tusculum University celebrated the start of the new academic year during its annual Opening Convocation.
Students arrive for the Opening Convocation to applause from faculty and staff members.
Students, faculty and staff gathered in Pioneer Arena Wednesday, Aug. 27, for the inspirational ceremony. Through coursework and social and spiritual activities, the students will develop holistically in a caring Christian environment as they become career-ready, civically engaged professionals. Their success will come not only through their own diligence but with one-on-one support and mentoring from faculty and staff.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, highlighted the university’s theme for the year: “Excelling in faith, in knowledge and love” from 2 Corinthians 8:7 in his remarks.
“Boy, did we see a lot of examples of excelling in the last academic year,” he said. “We have a long list of examples of accomplishments in research; presentations at different conferences; and other student, faculty and athletic achievements. That inspires us to produce even more excellence this year.”
For example, Dr. Hummel encouraged students to start thinking about delivering presentations at the annual Academic Symposium in April. He urged them to make the most of their classes and their connections with faculty members to develop a project demonstrating excellence that they can show at the symposium.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, delivers remarks during Opening Convocation.
Dr. Hummel shared that excellence takes determination, commitment, resilience, hard work and practice. He said he has discovered that things become more natural for students after they put in a lot of hard work. He reinforced his message with biblical verses from Proverbs 14:23 – “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” – and Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord.”
“Excellence isn’t accomplished in a day,” Dr. Hummel told students. “Your education will not be accomplished in a day, but today, be committed to excellence. Tomorrow, be committed to excellence. And then day after day, you will be prepared and you will graduate with excellence as part of your routine.”
As part of encouraging excellence and expressing gratitude to the students, Tusculum faculty members greeted them as they entered the Opening Convocation with applause. Tusculum has traditionally honored graduates in this manner as they departed the commencement ceremony. A few years ago, the university decided to add applause for students to the start of Opening Convocation.
Recognizing achievement
Once everyone was inside the arena, Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, shared multiple examples of faculty and student milestones and success in the 2024-2025 academic year. They included
- Five faculty members who earned promotions
- Students and volunteers who prepared more than 1,000 income tax returns for free for community members
- Four students and several faculty members from the Education Division participating in the inaugural Smoky Mountain Teachers of Promise Summit
- Publication of the 20th edition of “The Tusculum Review,” the university’s international literary journal
- Shannon Elliott, instructor of biology, authoring a publication in the journal “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology”
- Three students from the Social Sciences Division presenting research at the Blue Ridge Research Conference in the spring
- Brandy Thigpen, a Master of Sport Management graduate, being named host city director for the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Los Angeles
Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, highlights achievement during his comments at Opening Convocation.
Dr. Cook also shared major success by student-athletes on the field and court and in the classroom. These include 10 All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans and postseason participation by the softball team and the indoor and outdoor track and field teams.
“That is just a sampling of the incredible work being done by our faculty and students, who are pioneering beyond the classroom, and our student-athletes and their coaches, who are focused on achieving at the highest possible level,” Dr. Cook said. “We are excited to see how they are responding to the way the Lord is leading them and look forward to recapping in the future the heights everyone at Tusculum reaches in this academic year.”
New elements of a Tusculum education
Tusculum enters this academic year with two new major initiatives that highlight the university’s mission and the desire to provide students with opportunities to grow in their faith.
Students are in good spirits as they arrive for Opening Convocation.
One is the Center for Free Enterprise and New Venture Creation, which has attracted 25 students in its first cohort. These students will learn how to develop successful business proposals and then be able to present their ideas to potential investors at Pitch Day, the first of which is planned for spring 2026. Community members who need additional guidance to start or grow a business have access to the classes as well. In addition, these community members and high school students will be able to participate in Pitch Day.
The other is the Christian Leadership Institute. One of the institute’s programs is the Discipleship Living-Learning Center, which enables first- and second-year students to live in the university houses – one for males and another for females. They strengthen their relationship with the Lord through Bible studies, including learning from local pastors and other Christian leaders, and participate in a variety of ministry activities. Older students also live in the houses, hold weekly discipleship sessions with the younger students, assist with operation of the Bible studies and help students with any other spiritual resources. Fifteen students are participating in the center.
Thoughts from a student leader
Opening Convocation included remarks from Janelle Zirger, president of the Student Government Association. She said her comments also incorporate the ideas of the remaining members of the SGA Executive Board – Isabella Headland, BriAnna Higgins, AnnaLee Simpson, John Ross and Allison Silvers.
Janelle Zirger, president of the Student Government Association, shares a message with her classmates.
Zirger, a senior who is seeking a degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology, encouraged freshmen to communicate and connect.
“Talk to each other,” she said. “It not only helps your future college plans to learn to communicate with others and work together, but it pushes your own personal growth. Talk to your professors, talk to your staff members, the wonderful lunch ladies and any of these people here on stage with me. Come together and learn, come together and feel. Be passionate, be sensitive, don’t be scared.”
She shared with all other students the best way to approach graduation.
“Don’t let the future get to your head just yet,” Zirger said. “Focus on it, but don’t let it consume you. You still have time. That applies to anyone. That applies to people here who might already have gone to school, gotten their doctorate or the job of their dreams already. Time is always there, what you surround yourself with might not be.”
Zirger told fellow seniors to keep moving forward. In the midst of preparing for their futures as alumni, she recommended that they remember they are a person as a well as a student. She said students should take care of themselves and continue to be themselves.
Message from a faculty leader
Dr. Peter Noll, professor of public history and museum studies and former faculty chair, delivered a message to his colleagues. He talked about Samuel Witherspoon Doak, who served as president of Tusculum Academy, a predecessor name for Tusculum University, emancipating seven slaves in the first half of the 19th century. He also discussed David Crockett, a frontiersman and one-time congressman with ties to East Tennessee, who voted against the Indian Removal Act.
Dr. Peter Noll, former faculty chair, delivers a charge to his fellow professors.
Doak described his decision as philanthropy rather than abolition and chose his words carefully to navigate his relationship with neighbors, Dr. Noll said. He said Crockett took a more direct approach and highlighted the politician’s principle: “Be sure you are right, then go ahead.”
“In the end, Crockett’s refusal to toe the party line beyond the boundary of his conscience was a principled gesture that produced little practical effect for the indigenous peoples displaced ty the law,” Dr. Noll said. “On the other hand, I am sure the seven individuals emancipated by Sam Doak gave scant thought to the means by which their former master rationalized his decision. Sam Doak’s equivocation did not render his deed less good. Crockett’s principled opposition to popular injustice did not render him less dead.”
Turning his attention to the faculty members, Dr. Noll shared his charge to them.
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” he said. “By whatever path you need to walk, find ways to do good.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.