Curtis Owens literary prize winners announced at Tusculum

Tusculum students Macy French and Emily Waryck are the winners of the 2017 Curtis and Billie Owens Literary Awards.

The awards, which are given annually to recognize the literary achievements of the college’s students, are open to all Tusculum students.

French, a senior creative writing major from Kingsport, won the drama category; Waryck a senior creative writing major from New Concord, Ohio, picked up the prizes for poetry, fiction and nonfiction.

The winners’ works will be included in a publication to be released during the 2017 Old Oak Festival, April 21-23. Additionally, the winners will read their selections at the Tusculum Review Launch Party scheduled as part of the festival.

The Curtis and Billie Owens Literary Awards are annually given to recognize the literary achievements of Tusculum College’s creative writing students. The literary award was named for Curtis Owens, a 1928 graduate of Tusculum who went on to a teaching career at what is now Pace University in New York. He and his wife established the award at his alma mater to encourage and reward excellence in writing among Tusculum students.

The event also featured readings by contest judge Ada Limon, and was part of the Humanities Series, sponsored by the Tusculum College English Department.

Limon is the author of four books of poetry including “Bright Dead Things,” which was named a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award in Poetry, a finalist for the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award, and one of the Top Ten Poetry Books of the Year by the “New York Times.” Ada Limon will present cash awards to the student winners in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and scriptwriting and will read from her own work.

 

From left, student winner Macy French, Judge Ada Limon and student winner Emily Waryck.

 

German Women and the Long Shadow of National Socialism lecture to be presented at Tusculum

A lecture on “German Women and the Long Shadow of National Socialism” will be held at Tusculum on Wednesday, April 5.

The lecture, presented by Christine Nugent, will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Chalmers Conference Center in Niswonger Commons on the Greeneville campus. The event is sponsored by the Thomas J. Garland Library and the Tusculum Honors Program.

Nugent’s multimedia presentation presents insights from several interconnected research projects she recently conducted in Germany. The topic of the first portion of her lecture is her oral history interviews of non-Jewish German women who grew up in Nazi Germany, specifically her examination of their memories of the Hitler Youth and the war.

As part of her research, Nugent also interviewed women of the daughter generation, born in the 1950s and 60s, asking them about recollections their mothers had shared with them and the young women of the third generation. In contrast to her earlier interviews, Nugent concentrated this study on immigrant women from Africa, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East.

Excerpts from those interviews shed light on the young women’s perspectives on Germany’s approach to dealing with its National Socialist past.Christine Nugent

Nugent will also share her own impressions of Germany’s present day welcoming culture, exemplified by the refugees and asylum seekers that have flocked to the country since 2015.  The presentation will conclude with remarks about the anti-refugee, right-wing protest movement PEGIDA that Nugent studied in 2016.

In summary, Nugent’s presentation weaves the various strands of her research together for a multifaceted perspective on what she calls “the long shadow of National Socialism.”

Nugent, who grew up in Hamburg, West Germany, is the director of the Pew Learning Center and Ellison Library at Warren Wilson College.  She holds degrees in library science and history from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Western Carolina University.

Her research focuses on memory studies, concentrating on the transmission of memory from mothers to daughters, and on public memorial culture in Germany.  Her research projects were supported by a fellowship from the Appalachian College Association and by Warren Wilson College.

This event is open to the public and free of charge. This lecture is an Arts and Lecture Series credit event for residential students.

 

Tusculum’s Dollie Boyd elected Tennessee Association of Museums president-elect

Dollie Boyd, director of Museum Program and Studies of Tusculum, has been elected president-elect of the Tennessee Association of Museums. After a two-year term, she will become president of the statewide organization.

Boyd was elected at this year’s annual conference held in March. She also presented at several sessions at the event.

Boyd’s duties at Tusculum include overseeing the operations of the museums, the Doak House Museum and President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library and the College Archives. She is also responsible for the development and implementation of on-site and outreach curriculum-based school programs offered through the Doak House Museum.

“I am honored to represent East Tennessee in our state organization. TAM does great work supporting and facilitating the work of wonderful museums state-wide. I am looking forward to working with the TAM board in this new role,” said Boyd.

Boyd joined the Tusculum staff in September 2009 as the manager of school programs. In this position, she developed several new curriculum-based offerings for the public and home-school audiences. A native of Franklin County, Tennessee., Boyd taught grades 9-12 from 1994 to 2007, served as a graduate research assistant at the Albert Gore Research Center and was an interpretive ranger at Tims Ford State Park.

Dollie Boyd

She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech and theater with minors in education and history from Middle Tennessee State University and earned her master’s in history/public history in 2013. Boyd has also made several professional presentations at the National Council of Public History, the Southeast Museums Conference, the Tennessee Association of Museums, and Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference.

She has also conducted research and an oral history project on three lost communities in Franklin County, which were inundated through the creation of a Tennessee Valley Authority lake.

The Tennessee Association of Museums was founded in 1960 and fosters communication and cooperation between museums, cultural societies, and other members of common interests. The goal of the association is to inform the public on the importance of understanding and preserving Tennessee’s cultural, historical, and scientific heritage.

 

Alumni events scheduled in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York

Make plans to join Tusculum representatives as they come to your area to learn more about the latest news at your Alma Mater, as well as catching up and networking with fellow alumni in your area. Representatives will be visiting Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City and Albany in June.

Tusculum receives century-old gift

While the yearbook changed names to "Tusculana" later, "The Seal" was the record of the 1916-17 academic year and did feature the familiar Tusculum seal on the cover and this decorative cover page.

Jennie L. Bailey, daughter of alumna Lela Willis Witcher, stopped by Tusculum’s Office of Alumni Relations recently with a treasure from 100 years ago.

Bailey was bringing a gift from her family to present to Tusculum, a 1917 yearbook. Known as the “The Seal,” the yearbook showcases Tusculum as it was 100 years ago and her students during the 1916-17 academic year.

The yearbook features photos of the students in each class, academic and extracurricular clubs, events on campus and athletics. ­­Student life at Tusculum was quite active as the bad roads of the era left the campus isolated from nearby communities. Students had to rely on themselves for amusement outside their studies. Dancing was poplar and parties for various classes and student groups featured charades, trivia contests and other games popular in the era. Fall mountain day, in which the entire student body traveled to the Smokies for an outing, was a highlight of the year. There were boys’ and girls’ glee clubs, literary societies, debating clubs and student dramatic productions.

Tusculum in 1917 was smaller than the campus of today. The primary buildings on campus were McCormick Hall, Old College (now the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library), the Garland Library (then known as Carnegie Hall), Craig Hall (now Welty-Craig Hall), Virginia Hall and the newbie on campus, Haynes Hall. Built in 1914 to help address a housing shortage, Haynes Hall was serving as residence hall for female students and housed the Home Economics Department. An outdoor stage, constructed in 1915 behind the Library, was used for commencement, theatrical productions, musical performances and other events to take advantage of the beautiful scenery on campus and help relieve overcrowding that sometimes occurred when these events were held in the chapel inside McCormick Hall.

Behind Haynes Hall and along the southern boundary of campus was the College Farm. A gift from Tusculum Benefactor Nettie McCormick allowed for the purchase in 1915 of 75 acres bordering campus on the south and southeast for the purpose of establishing a working farm. The farm was to provide needed foodstuffs and revenues for Tusculum as well as provide a means for students to earn financial aid by working on the farm. In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, wheat was sown on the farm in large scale to produce as much food as possible. The farm proved to be unprofitable for Tusculum and the land was leased out to a local farmer in 1919.

Dr. Charles Oliver Gray, one of the most influential president's in Tusculum's rich history, was leading the institution through a challenging time as the country entered World War I.

During the 1916-17 academic year, patriotism was strong on campus and within a month of war being declared in April 1917, a third of the male students had left to either enter the armed forces, to go to work in munitions factories or back home to help raise foodstuffs on their family farm. Several faculty members left as well to enter military service. Serving in the war were 43 Tusculum undergraduate students, 18 alumni and seven faculty members. Due to the war, the May 2017 commencement was a scaled down event without much of the pageantry that typically accompanied the celebration.

Five Tusculum students gave their lives in the conflict, and in 1921, a flag base and staff was erected and dedicated on campus to the students who made the supreme sacrifice in the war. Five oak trees were also planted in front of the library in their memory. The flagpole and its base were rebuilt in the 1960s with the memorial plaques retained from its predecessor.

In the patriotic fervor of the era, one of the Tusculum’s most enduring and recognizable symbols was also built, the Arch. Constructed at the end of the sidewalk leading directly out from the front entrance of McCormick Hall, the Arch was built by one of Tennessee’s foremost stonemasons, J.T. Ponder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

’90s

Pam Bird Johnson ’95 will be one of the competitors in the annual Tri-Cities Dancing with the Stars event in June, a fundraising event for Steppenstone Youth Treatment Services. Johnson works in her family business, Roberts Furniture in Greeneville and also travels the NHRA drag racing circuit with her husband, Allen Johnson ’81 and his Marathon Petroleum Pro Stock Race Team.

Dr. Sharon Cannon ’96 of Chattanooga, TN, has published a book, “Women of the Bible: the good, the band & ugly … then and now.” The book is available on Amazon.com. Sharon is the owner of Cannon Public Relations.

Robbi Stivers ’98 of Knoxville, TN, has accepted the position of vice president for business and finance at California State University, Chico. He will begin his new position on May 1. Stivers has been serving as executive director of the Office of Capital Projects since 2011 at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and earlier served as director of the Office of Capital Projects Division of Real Property and Space Administration. In his role as lead liaison for University of Tennessee statewide operations, he interacted with executive-level administrators and senior public officials as the chief official overseeing facility-related operations, acquisitions, leases, capital projects and budgets. Prior to joining the University of Tennessee in 2000, he spent 15 years in the financial services industry, most recently as senior vice president and commercial loan manager at First Tennessee Bank. In his new position, Stivers will manage several departments including Financial Services, Human Resources, Facilities Management and Services, Planning Design and Construction, University Police Department and other offices that are integral to the successful management of the campus.

Dwayne Collins ’99 of Morristown, TN, has been appointed to a new leadership position within the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security. Collins will be assisting Department Commissioner David W. Purkey with special departmental projects implementing high priority statewide initiatives. Collins had been serving as a supervisory agent for the Bureau of Operations. Collins began his public safety career as a law enforcement officer with the Morristown Police Department. He progressed through the ranks, leading him to the Office of Homeland Security. As the Homeland Security Supervisory Agent for the Bureau of Operations, Collins supervised agents in East, Middle and West Tennessee. The Operations Bureau conducts partnership programs with state and federal law enforcement agencies, enhancing security measures. Collins is also an adjunct instructor for the Criminal Justice Department at Walters State Community College.

 

’00s

Dr. Jonathan Feathers ’01 of Johnson City, TN, has published his second book, “So Tell Me: A Primer for Vocational Ministry Applicants.” It is available through www.wipfandstock.com and on Amazon.com in paperback, hardcover and as an e-book. Jonathan can be reached at www.jwfeathers.com.

John Cage ’08 of Spring Hill, TN, has been appointed financial aid director at Columbia State Community College.  In his new position, Cage will be responsible for the customer service environment, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations and providing overall leadership and innovation in implementing financial aid policies, procedures and programs. Cage previously worked in financial aid at his Alma Matrer, Hiwassee College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

 

’10s

Sean Cotten ’11, who is also Tusculum’s all-time home run leader, was a member of the winning pit crew at the 2017 Daytona 500.

Amber Jeffers ’11 was recognized as WJHL-TV’s “Educator of the Week” for the week of March 6. Amber is in her sixth year of teaching at Ottway Elementary School in Greene County. Four of those years have been in first grade, another in kindergarten and she helped in fifth and sixth grade. Amber attributes her success as a teacher to making the students feel cared for from day one.

Joseph Elphingstone ’15 has been accepted to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia.

 

 

 

 

Priscilla Watts Foulk ’50 of Rolling Hills, CA, passed away February 22, 2017. While at Tusculum, Mrs. Foulk’s talent and national ranking in tennis enabled her to play on the men’s tennis team because at the there was no women’s team. After graduating from Tusculum, she joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Europe, Asia, Hawaii and Florida, rising to the rank of major. Earning a master’s degree in education, Mrs. Foulk settled in southern California in 1960 and worked as a special education teacher in the Palos Verdes Unified School District for 29 years before retiring in 1989. She served on the Board of Directors of the Watts-Campbell Company of Newark, NJ; was an avid gardener, and for many years was the hospitality chairman of the South Bay Geranium Society. Mrs. Foulk enjoyed playing tennis and golf, upholstering and refinishing furniture, and completing sewing and needlepoint projects. She also traveled extensively.

Mary Louise Jordan Maxwell ’50 of Kingsport, TN, passed away March 18, 2017. Mrs. Maxwell was a retired teacher in the Sullivan County School System, having taught many people from different walks of life for more than 30 years. She was a member of the Sullivan County Retired Teachers Association and the Long Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Maxwell was also an avid gardener and a very talented china painter.

Jerry Lee Roberts ’67 of Greeneville, TN, passed away March 6, 2017.  Mr. Roberts was retired from General Telephone Electronic Data Services of Tampa, FL. After retirement, Mr. Roberts returned to his hometown of Greeneville. He was a member of Hartman’s Chapel United Methodist Church, where he had held numerous offices including Sunday school class teacher, trustee and church treasurer. His survivors include his wife of almost 49 years, Linda Banks Roberts ’67 and sister-in-law Barbara Banks Davenport ’64.

Arthur Jocher ’73 of Blythe, GA, passed away on December 12, 2016. Mr. Jocher was a licensed physical therapist and at one time was the director of physical therapy at Lakewood Hospital. He had a private practice on Long Beach Island with his former wife, Barbara Block. While practicing physical therapy in Sarasota, FL, before moving to Georgia, he also had a flight school training helicopter pilots.  A veteran, Mr. Jocher served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot with the rank of chief warrant officer and was awarded the Air Merdal for Meritorious Achievement from 1968-1970.

Betty Smith Bigham ’89 of Athens, TN, passed away on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. Mrs. Bigham gave back to the community as a librarian, teacher and active leader of the Junior Beta Club at Mountain View Elementary School and McMinn Central High School for more than 30 years. She was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Etowah for more than 40 years. Mrs. Bigham enjoyed mentoring children of all ages, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

 

Auditions for GLAWPIGT to be held April 10, workshop scheduled for March 20

Tusculum Arts Outreach will hold open auditions for GLAWPIGT on Monday, April 10, and a preparatory workshop for interested students on Monday, March 20.

The auditions and workshop will both be held in the auditorium of the Annie Hogan Byrd  Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum campus.

Students from the Greeneville and Greene County regional area who will be in the third grade through the eighth grade during the upcoming 2017-18 school year are invited to audition for the program. GLAWPIGT is an acronym for “Great Literature Alive, Well, and Playing In Greeneville, Tennessee” and was founded in 1986 by Marilyn duBrisk to promote reading and to bring great literature to life through the performing arts. duBrisk and Assistant Director Brian Ricker are looking to fill 10 spots in the program.

GLAWPIGT participants from the area meet weekly on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the academic school year at the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium on the Tusculum campus.

Students are trained in basic presentation skills, as well as the development of essential tools needed for performance. These include proper breathing technique, voice placement, stage movement, character development and improvisation to cultivate creativity. Members work on individual and group performance pieces which the students themselves choose, or that they have been assigned and perform during various events and workshops throughout the year.

A workshop for students interested in Tusculum Arts Outreach’s GLAWPIGT program will be held Monday, March 20, and auditions for the program will be held April 10, both in the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium on the Tusculum campus.

 

Registration for the auditions will begin at 5 p.m. on April 10, with the auditions beginning at 5:30 p.m. Those wishing to audition are asked to prepare a memorized reading, poem, or monologue to perform, no longer than two minutes in length. Students auditioning are asked to bring a copy of the reading, poem and monologue and are encouraged to dress comfortably with no flip-flops.

In order to prepare for auditions and provide more information about the program, Arts Outreach will be hosting a GLAWPIGT Workshop on Monday, March 20. at 5:30 p.m. in the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium.

The workshop will be open to any students who will be third to eighth grade next school year who wish to learn more about the GLAWPIGT program or any student simply interested in learning about better presentation skills. Attendance to the workshop will not be taken as a commitment to attend the April 10 auditions, and attending the workshop is not required to audition, but is strongly encouraged.

For more information please contact Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620 or by e-mailing baricker@tusculum.edu.

 

Members of GLAWPIGT displayed their talent and skills in performances during the 2016 Old Oak Festival.

 

Tusculum students presented at regional honors conference

Four Tusculum students made presentations at the 2017 Southern Regional Honors Council Conference to be held in Asheville, North Carolina, March 30-April 1.

“We are proud of and very excited for our stellar honors students who have been accepted to present at such as prestigious honors conference in Asheville,” said Dr. Troy Goodale, associate professor of political science and faculty liaison to the Tusculum Honors Program.  “These are exciting times for the Tusculum Honors Program, and moving forward we anticipate taking advantage of more opportunities to highlight and showcase the undergraduate research that many of our best students are producing.”

Students Macy French, a senior English major from Kingsport; Hannah Arnett, a senior museum studies major from Butler; Shannele Sunderland, a senior sports science major from Austin, Texas; and Darian Tipton, a senior mathematics major from Shelbyville, represented Tusculum by presenting original research at the conference.

French presented “Ethics of Persona,” which deals with the controversial question of pseudonyms writers may use when submitting literary work for publication.

“I’m thrilled to represent Tusculum, as well as the Honors Program, at this event. It will be a great opportunity to network with other honors students from around the region and gain valuable experience giving a presentation on this level,” said French prior to the presentation.

Arnett’s presentation is about ethical implications in public history, and how public historians—museum professionals, specifically—can create open, inclusive dialogue about the past.

“People think about history differently, and they have their own unique, preconceived notions about the past that aren’t always accurate, or even true,” said Arnett. “I hope to offer some suggestions as to why these differences exist, and how professionals can better act as mediators between diverse public understanding and academic reality.”

Sunderland’s project focuses on the risk factors of anterior cruciate ligament tears and risk factors including, gender, sport played, location and field conditions.

“The Honors Program has given me the opportunity to complete research projects beyond what we are offered in our other classes,” said Sunderland prior to the conference. “I will have the opportunity to present in front of a large audience, and I am excited for this as it will push me outside of my comfort zone.”

Tipton will present on tutoring techniques of peer tutors that are currently being utilized in order to establish a standard for best practices.

Excited about the opportunity to present, Tipton said, “The Honors Program has provided me with both a sense of community and a sense of direction, which I believe directly contributed to me remaining in college even when that seemed improbable.”

Meagan Stark, director of the Honors Program, said everyone involved is incredibly proud of the quality of scholarly work our honors students are capable of producing.

“Their invitation to present research at SRHC indicates that our honors students are academically competitive inside and outside the institution,” she said.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Diving into Diversity: Opportunities and Obligations in Honors Education.”

According to Stark, Tusculum’s focus on civic engagement places the school’s honors students in an exceptional position to speak to the obligations honors students have as informed citizens and engaged leaders.  “All of their projects demonstrate a desire to expand our understanding of the world for the betterment of all.”

The host institution for the 2017 conference was the University of North Carolina – Asheville.

Back from left are Dr. Troy Goodale, faculty liaison and Meagan Stark, director of the Tusculum Honors Program. From left, seated, are Shannele Sunderland, Macy French, Darian Tipton and Hannah Arnett. The students have been selected to present at an upcoming regional honors conference.

 

 

Tusculum Fishing Club secures gift with win

 

Nick Hatfield and Corey Neece accept a check along with Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody for $2,000 from Fishing League Worldwide. The money will be put into the Tusculum Fishing Club program. The financial gift came as a result of the team being one of the top 10 qualifiers at the February 25 YETI FLW College Fishing Southeastern Conference bass tournament on lake Guntersville.

Old Oak Festival accepting vendor registrations through March 31

The deadline for vendors to register to participate in the Tusculum Old Oak Festival is Friday, March 31.

There are limited spaces still available for artisan and crafter booths, and the deadline for reserving a booth is March 31, or until all spaces are filled. The Old Oak Festival returns to Tusculum campus April 21-23.

Featuring a wide variety of music and food and fun, the Old Oak Festival will span across three days, featuring something for everyone, be it live music, theater, arts and crafts or fabulous festival food.

Throughout the weekend on stage, the festival will present the sounds of the region, with a wide variety of music from bluegrass to jazz featuring local vocalists and instrumentalists.

“We are very excited about the wide variety of art and craft vendors that we have committed to this year’s festival,” said David Price, director of music and band programs at Tusculum and coordinator of the festival.

“This year’s vendors offer something for everyone and show off amazing artistic talent from folks in our region and beyond.”

While the list of musical performers is not complete, currently several bands have announced plans to perform and include the Brother Boys, My New Favorites, Shiloh, Ashley Bean, Sigean, the Dread Scots, Poplar Hill Reunion, the Tusculum Jazz Band, the Tusculum Marching Band, the Tusculum Concert Band, the Tusculum Handbell Choir and the Bluegrass Outlaws.

There will also be jam sessions during the festival and visitors are encouraged to bring their instrument and join for a weekend of fun with other musicians.

Workshops for high school students will be held on Friday and include sessions on the Math and Science of Tree Identification, Contemporary Poetry, Instrumental Master Class (Band), Vocal Master Class, Introduction to Programming with Python, Drawing, the Brief Essay or Prose Poem, Medieval Siege Warfare, Songwriting, Playwriting, Political Jeopardy, Flash Fiction, SM-Art! Sensational Mathematical Art, as well as Animation.

Workshops are presented by faculty of Tusculum and other experts in the field.

There is no charge for students to participate in the workshop sessions and lunch will be provided.  Students need to register by Wednesday, April 12. To reserve a spot, contact Kelsey Trom, assistant professor of English at ktrom@tusculum.edu or (423) 636-7420 ext. 5420.

Other special events planned for this year’s festival include an art show at Allison Gallery, student theater productions and literary readings.

There is no fee to attend the festival. Art vendor hours will be Friday from noon until 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Entertainment and food continues into the evening, with the final performers ending at 10 p.m.

Service animals are welcome; however, no pets allowed. Coolers, firearms and alcohol are also prohibited on the Tusculum campus property during the festival. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.

For updates and more information, visit the website at www.oldoakfestival.org or on facebook. For more information on registering as a vendor or performer or volunteering at the festival, contact Price at 423-636-7303.

 

The Old Oak Festival returns to Tusculum campus April 21-23.

 

Tusculum hosts local high school students for College Summit

Students from the four county high schools were given information to help them prepare for the college application process during the annual College Summit at Tusculum on Friday, March 10.

Eleventh graders from North Greene, South Greene, West Greene and Chuckey-Doak high schools attended the event at Tusculum, hosted by Advise TN. Students also attended a College Fair at Walters State Community College in Greeneville as part of their day.

Advise TN is a college advising and capacity building program developed by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the Office of Governor Bill Haslam. Advise TN aims to increase the number of Tennesseans accessing higher education by partnering with high schools and providing college advising services to up to 10,000 junior and senior students across Tennessee.

“The ultimate goal of the program is to develop a college-going culture in the Greene County School System,” said Ruth Ann Tipton, a college advisor for Advise TN. “We want every high school student to know they can go to college and that through Tennessee Promise, the financial resources are available to them to make it happen.”

Welcoming the high school students to campus, Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody encouraged the juniors to pursue education following graduation whether it is at a technical school, a community college, a state university or a private college.

Following the opening session, the students met with enrollment representatives who discussed college admission test preparation, college interviews, financial aid and admission processes and college life.

The students were then treated to a tour of the Tusculum campus.

 

The College Summit at Tusculum on Friday gave local high school students an opportunity to hear first-hand about the college application process from Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody.

 

Old Oak Festival returns to Tusculum College April 21-23

The Old Oak Festival will return to Tusculum College campus Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23.

Featuring a wide variety of music and food and fun, the Old Oak Festival will span across three days, featuring something for everyone, be it live music, theater, arts and crafts or fabulous festival food.

Throughout the weekend on stage, the festival will present the sounds of the region, with a wide variety of music from bluegrass to jazz featuring local vocalists and instrumentalists.

There are limited spaces still available for artisan and crafter booths. Deadline for reserving a booth is March 31, or until all spaces are filled.

“This year’s festival is looking to be bigger and better, with great arts and crafts, performances and opportunities to enjoy a variety of fine arts experiences,” said David Price, director of Music and Band programs at Tusculum College.

This year’s special events will include an art show at Allison Gallery, student theater productions, literary readings, a student day on Friday and the return of the Lego construction contest.

While the list of musical performers is not complete, currently several bands have announced plans to perform and include the Brother Boys, My New Favorites, Shiloh, Ashley Bean, Sigean, the Dread Scots, Poplar Hill Reunion, the Tusculum Jazz Band, the Tusculum Marching Band, the Tusculum Concert Band, the Tusculum Handbell Choir and the Bluegrass Outlaws.

There will also be jam sessions during the festival and visitors are encouraged to bring their instrument and join for a weekend of fun with other musicians.

Workshops for high school students will be held on Friday and include sessions on the Math and Science of Tree Identification, Contemporary Poetry, Instrumental Master Class (Band), Vocal Master Class, Introduction to Programming with Python, Drawing, the Brief Essay or Prose Poem, Medieval Siege Warfare, Songwriting, Playwriting, Political Jeopardy, Flash Fiction, SM-Art! Sensational Mathematical Art, as well as Animation.

Workshops are presented by faculty of Tusculum and other experts in the field.

There is no charge for students to participate in the workshop sessions and lunch will be provided.  Students need to register by Wednesday, April 12. To reserve a spot, contact Kelsey Trom, assistant professor of English at ktrom@tusculum.edu or (423) 636-7420 ext. 5420.

Other special events planned for this year’s festival include an art show at Allison Gallery, student theater productions and literary readings.

There is no fee to attend the festival. Art vendor hours will be Friday from noon until 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Entertainment and food continues into the evening, with the final performers ending at 10 p.m.

Service animals are welcome; however, no pets allowed. Coolers, firearms and alcohol are also prohibited on the Tusculum campus property during the festival. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.

For updates and more information, visit the website at www.oldoakfestival.org or on facebook. For more information on registering as a vendor or performer or volunteering at the festival, contact Price at 423-636-7303.

 

Stay prepared for severe weather and possible schedule changes

The possibility of severe weather last week was a reminder to the entire Tusculum College community about the importance of staying prepared for changing weather conditions and to have access to communications from the College about possible schedule changes.

While this winter has been relatively mild in East Tennessee, spring does bring the chance of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to this region. To help ensure safety during a weather event, it is important for all students and all members of the Tusculum community to be aware of how cancellation or dismissal of classes and other schedule changes are communicated, make sure they have access to one of those lines of communication  and to heed any alerts to take shelter in case of severe weather.

Specific schedule changes will be communicated through the Tusculum College Pioneer Alert System, the Tusculum College website and social media (Facebook and Twitter) and local media outlets (radio and television stations in Greeneville, Morristown, Johnson City and Knoxville) as soon as possible.

Tusculum students, faculty and staff can sign up for the Pioneer Alert system, which sends messages through text and email. In the case of severe weather, messages are sent through this system about the forecast. as well as ad a reminder of the location of the emergency shelter on campus, which is the basement area underneath the Pioneer Arena in the Niswonger Commons.   Messages also provide instructions for sheltering in place if the emergency shelter cannot be reached safely.