Tusculum’s Salyers featured in Dancing with the Tri-Cities Stars

 Jill Salyers, vice president of institutional advancement at Tusculum, will represent the university as well as help raise money for charity, through participation in the 2018 Dancing with the Tri-Cities Stars competition.
Dancing with the Tri-Cities Stars is a premier annual benefit event established in 2009.
Originally from Upstate New York and raised in South Florida in a large and hardworking family, Saylers has called Northeast Tennessee home for more than 20 years and is a proud alumnus of Tusculum, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management.
According to Saylers, she has always known that she wanted her life and career to be guided by servant leadership and giving back to the community that has given her so much and where she raised her beautiful daughter, Krista.
After college, she joined the staff of United Way of Greater Kingsport. During her years of service at United Way, she worked with thousands of volunteers to facilitate the distribution of millions of locally donated dollars to local nonprofit agencies, helped facilitate organizational strategic planning and directed the assessment of community needs and implementation of programming to meet those needs.
 
She went on to serve as the director of public relations and marketing for Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation, where she facilitated organizational strategic planning and implementation and provided direct services to agency clients. In 2013 she began service as Tri-Cities field director in the office of United States Senator Bob Corker and served with pride in the Senator’s office until February 2018 when she was asked to join the staff of her alma mater, Tusculum, as vice president of institutional advancement.

Jill Salyers with professional dancer Mike Adler.

 
In addition to her work at Tusculum, her creative and fun side comes out in the abstract and whimsical paintings she creates for MoonBrightArt. Painting is her go-to for relaxation and expression. Many of her pieces can be found in homes and businesses in this region.
 
Saylers said she is honored to now have the opportunity to help raise awareness and resources for SteppenStone Youth Treatment Services by performing in the 10th Annual Dancing with the Tri-Cities Stars.
 
The event itself mirrors the ABC “Dancing with the Stars” show, including the female stars wearing actual dresses from the show. The event begins with dinner and the opportunity to bid on silent auction items. Once the dance competition begins there are two celebrity judges and two professional judges who score and provide both humorous and evaluative comments to the dancers after each dance.
 
There are two intermissions to allow the spectators an opportunity to get out of their seats, stretch and make their final bids on the silent auction items. Following the dance competition, there is a dance exhibition involving the previous year’s winners and professional dancers. Once the exhibition is completed there is a short live auction and then the announcement of the winners.
 
Anyone wishing to support the cause may make a donation in the name of your favorite dancer. This gives them extra points and helps them in the competition. To make a donation, visit http://dancingwiththetricitiesstars.com/. Tickets to the event may also be purchased through this site.
 
All the proceeds from donations, ticket sales, sponsorships, advertisements, silent and live auctions from Dancing with the Tri-Cities Stars go to benefit SteppenStone Youth Treatment Services in Limestone, Tennessee.