A note to parents from the President

 

 

 

I hope your students are excited about returning to campus!  It has been very quiet here without them.  On the Tusculum campus, we are anxiously working on preparations to get the 2016-17 academic year off to an exciting start. There has been much going on in the past few months that I would like to share with you as you prepare to come back next week.

As of the end of June, we have raised $23.14 million of the $25 million Tusculum First Capital Campaign goal with funds earmarked for the new center for science and math, the growth of academic programs, endowed scholarships, student life improvements, advancements in technology, and an environmental resources and facilities center.

I think you will be surprised to see the progress that has been made on the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Mathematics. The building will meet strategic needs as the college continues to grow in enrollment and program offerings. We anticipate being in the building by January 2017.

Academic programs being added this fall include the Master of Science in nursing degree with a family nurse practitioner concentration. The family nurse practitioner program is a graduate level program designed to address the need for more primary healthcare providers in the community. When fully implemented, the program will consist of a BSN to MSN track, an RN to MSN track and a post master’s certification track.  Tusculum College will begin offering an associate degree program for the first time in fall of 2016, and enrollment in the program is now open. The Board of Trustees also gave full approval to initiate a Bachelor of Science in health care administration degree program. A Bachelor of Science in computer science, a Bachelor of Science in information technology and a Master of Accountancy were preliminarily approved pending development of the curricula. Also approved was the development of a minor in web design. The new programs will be initiated between now and 2019.

I look forward to seeing you at Parent Weekend, scheduled for Sept. 23-24!

Sincerely,

Nancy B. Moody, PhD

President

 

Tusculum Bonner Leaders clean up College Creek

On Friday, Aug. 5, eight Tusculum College students from the Bonner Leader Program partnered with the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance to complete their first service project of the academic year.

Individuals participated in a stream clean-up of College Creek, which is listed as an impaired stream on EPA’s 303d list. Students picked up one large trash bag of litter and helped to improve channel flow by clearing an area where twigs and debris were collecting around a tree fall.

The main non-point source pollution issues facing the creek are agricultural runoff and sedimentation. College Creek is just one of 58 impaired streams here in Greene County. Keeping local streams clean helps to improve wildlife habitat and improves the quality of water flowing into the Nolichucky River, which is used recreationally and as a source of drinking water for Greene and Washington County.

MNWA’s Adopt-a-Stream program is supported by a TVA Community Clean-up Grant, which helps MNWA to fulfill its vision to restore and protect the waters of Greene County and educate the public in ways to improve water quality. If you would like to schedule a stream clean-up, please contact Samuel Van Amberg at samuelvanamberg@yahoo.com.

 

Tusculum College Bonner Leaders complete first service project of the academic year.

Pioneer Club Campaign now underway to raise support for Tusculum Athletics

With a $100,000 goal, Tusculum College kicked off the 2016-17 Pioneer Club campaign with a breakfast held at the Greeneville campus on Thursday, Aug. 4.

“We are appreciative of all you do to support Tusculum athletics, your efforts in the community and your attendance at games means a lot to our student-athletes,” Tusculum Athletic Director Doug Jones told the campaign leaders and volunteers at the breakfast. “That support through the Pioneer Club is important for us to provide the best experience we can for our student-athletes.”

This year’s Pioneer Club campaign will be led by five team captains, Angelo Botta, Nick Hirschy, Justin Jeffers, Steve Goad and Dr. Craig Shepherd,  and Jones. These captains will lead groups of volunteers who be working in the community to raise awareness and support for Tusculum athletics over the coming year.

Team captains for the 2016-17 Pioneer Club campaign are preparing for the annual effort to provide resources for the Tusculum College athletic programs. From left are team captains Angelo Botta and Justin Jeffers, Tusculum Athletic Director Doug Jones and team captains Steve Goad and Nick Hirschy. Not pictured is team captain Dr. Craig Shepherd.

The Pioneer Club is the college’s vehicle to provide athletic scholarships and program support to all athletic programs. The program began in 1991, and year after year, has been built on a solid foundation of support from alumni and friends of Tusculum College.

Athletics at Tusculum College are a big part of campus life; nearly 50 percent of the students are student-athletes.  Jones said that several projects have been identified that will be supported through the Pioneer Club campaign, including the improvement of the College’s capability to live stream athletic events over the Internet. Live streaming has become increasingly important as parents want to be able to watch their student-athletes compete even if they are not able to attend the game, he explained.

Larry Coughlin, who has served as the Pioneer Club Campaign chairman for the past eight years, was honored for his leadership in the annual effort during the breakfast. Coughlin, who will be continuing his involvement in the Pioneer Club as a campaign volunteer, has been actively involved with Tusculum College and its student-athletes for many years. A well known and respected member of the Greeneville community, his service to others also includes membership on Foundation Board of the Greeneville Exchange Club, the Laughlin Health Care Foundation Board and the Consumer Credit Union Board of Directors.  In 2010, Coughlin was recognized with Tusculum’s Sports Benefactor Award, which recognizes individuals for their contributions toward the Pioneer athletic programs.

 

Gilland named director of finance at Tusculum College

Crystal Gilland has been named the director of finance at Tusculum College.

Gilland began the new position on August 1, having previously served as executive assistant to the vice president for finance and chief financial officer. Gilland came to Tusculum College in 2012.

Crystal Gilland

“Crystal has long been an asset to the business and finance division and will continue to use her talents to serve Tusculum College in her new role,” said Steve Gehret, vice president for finance and chief financial officer. “In her new capacity, the college will be able to take full advantage of her talents and skills.”

As the director of finance, Gilland will provide leadership, direction and coordination for the oversight of finance and administration for fiscal operations of the college, as well as executive support to the vice president for finance/CFO and the Board of Trustees subcommittees. In this role, she will be responsible for developing and executing financial reporting, contract management, procurement management, vendor relations and administrative oversight of in-house and third-party collections.

“I am very pleased to be able to serve the needs of Tusculum College through my work in the finance department,” said Gilland. “This new position will allow me to continue to play a role in helping Tusculum continue to grow as an institution.”

Gilland graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Grand Canyon University and graduated in 2012 with a Master of Business Administration, also from Grand Canyon University.

She has previously served as office coordinator in the dean’s office for the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences at East Tennessee State University.

 

Tusculum art professor Allison releases book

The nature of reality, the soul and the soul’s relationship with God is explored through an in-depth look at spiritual awakening in a recently published book by Clem Allison, professor emeritus of art for Tusculum College and Christian lay leader.

The book is titled, “Seeing Beyond: Awakening to the Reality of a Spiritually Interconnected, Evolving World” and is available on Amazon.com.

“We are entering a period of transition–a grassroots, global spiritual awakening–that may be the most significant in the history of mankind,” according to Allison.

Through his book, Allison suggests that humankind is experiencing parallel developments of a more encouraging nature. Drawing from growing bodies of evidence in biblical research, quantum physics, medicine and evolutionary psychology, Allison challenges the traditional religious orthodoxies that have trapped Christianity for centuries. Instead, he offers a thought-provoking argument for the idea that far from being detached observers of a divine universal creative process; humans are actually central participants in a spiritually interconnected, evolving, divinely inclusive world.

According to Allison, “Seeing Beyond” will offer readers a fresh perspective on the nature of reality, the soul and the soul’s relationship to God and the world.

Allison has previously served as art department chairman and director of the division of arts and humanities at Tusculum College until his retirement in 1996. He continues to produce and exhibit his own art. He and his wife Beverly live in Greeneville and are the proud parents of twin daughters, Carrie and Jennifer.

 

Costume Shoppe to have ‘Purge and Splurge’ sale this weekend

These costumes are representative of some of the items to be on sale this weekend from the inventory of the Costume Shoppe.

Vintage apparel, children’s costumes and dance wear will be among the more than 300 items that will be available this weekend during the “Purge and Splurge” sale hosted by Tusculum College Arts Outreach’s Costume Shoppe.

The sale will be 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. The sale will be located both days in the Behan Arena Theatre on the lower level (side entrance) of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on campus.

All items will be priced between $2 and $5. A wide variety of items from the Costume Shoppe’s sizable inventory will be available during the sale including men’s and women’s vintage apparel, dance wear, hats and other accessories. In addition to children’s costumes, various costume pieces will be on sale as well as group pieces and dance wear.

Started in 2002, and funded in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Costume Shoppe provides costumes not only for Theatre-at-Tusculum productions, but also for local school performances and activities and community productions and programs.  The costumes are provided free of charge to schools and the community other than a small cleaning fee.

For more information about the sale, please call Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620 or email Barbara Holt, costume director for Arts Outreach, at bholt@tusculum.edu.

 

Air fare deals available for Rhine River alumni cruise in August

The Viking River Cruise will begin in Amsterdam, above, and explore the Rhine River to Basel, Switzerland.

Join us for the first trip as part of the new alumni travel program and explore the Rhine River valley in the Old World.

Make reservations before Aug. 31 and you may be able to take advantage of Viking River Cruise”s offer of all-inclusive round-trip air and transfers for $100 per passenger. To receive the offer, passengers must book  a”category D” and above, and departing from one of these airports: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington D.C. If you don’t see your city, call 423.525.7287 for air fare from your departure airport.

The Viking River cruise will be an eight-day cruise on the Rhine River during April 2017.

Viking River Cruises offers a wide range of opportunities to visit a number of World Heritage sites and to participate in guided tours of the cities that are visited. River cruising provides an opportunity to explore the towns along the river in an intimate way, strolling streets and exploring markets, churches and museums. Beginning in Amsterdam, the cruise will visit towns in four different countries, such as Cologne, Strasbourg and Basel.

The Viking Longship Kvasir has a total of 95 cabins and can accommodate 190 passengers. Space will fill up quickly on this itinerary. Book your cabin now to insure you get the cabin category you want.

Tusculum College is partnering with Kristin Small of Cruise Planners to manage the new travel program. For more information about the Alumni Travel Program please contact Joni Parker, Office of Alumni Relations at 423-636-7303 or Small at 855-278-9377. More information can be found about the Rhine River Cruise at this site.

The cruise will be aboard a Viking River Cruise Longship, which features comfortable cabins and opportunities for scenic dining on the deck.

Reception celebrates contributions of Doaks to Tusculum, community

Margaret Gaut '40 visits with Capt. Sam Doak '49 H'14 during the reception July 19.

The Pioneer Perk was filled with smiles and laughter the afternoon of July 19 as more than 100 people turned out for a reception July 19 to reminisce and share their well wishes with Capt. Sam Doak (USN-Retired) ’49 H’14 and his wife, Emily.

The reception was planned to give the Tusculum community, as well as the community at large, an opportunity to say a fond farewell to the Doaks and say thank you for their contributions to not only the College, but also the Greene County area. The reception was coordinated by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

The Doaks have made their mark on Tusculum and the community through their service to others and leadership.

“Captain Sam and Mrs. Emily Doak have throughout the years distinguished themselves, Tusculum College and the community,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College. “Through service, leadership and lifelong support of the College, the Doaks exemplify the Civic Art values that Tusculum College has promoted for 222 years.”

“As friends, supporters and neighbors of the College, their presence on campus has

Andy Daniels '69 shares her well wishes to Emily Doak during the reception, which more than 100 people attended.

been continually felt, as they are frequently seen supporting art programs, athletic events, lecture programs and other outreach programs of the College,” Dr. Moody continued. “Sam and Emily have been generous contributors to Tusculum College throughout their lives, supporting the growth, expansion and mission of the College at the highest levels. These gifts have impacted the lives of thousands of students who lead better lives today because of their time spent at Tusculum College.”

Captain Doak has deep roots at Tusculum as the great, great, great, great grandson of Samuel Doak, who founded Washington College Academy, and the great, great, great, great, great grandson of Samuel Witherspoon Doak, who founded Tusculum Academy. He has provided leadership to the College as director of alumni affairs and as a valued and influential member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees.

Emily Doak has been a familiar face to visitors of the museums on campus. She has served as hostess at the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library and the Doak House Museum. She has also served as an officer in the Andrew Johnson Heritage Association, which supports the educational programming of the museums.

The couple have been active and dedicated members of the Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church and maintain a relationship with First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

’60s

Dr. Ruth Lane Carpenter ’60 of Morristown, TN, celebrated her 86th birthday with her church family on July 3. Gatway Church in Morristown declared that Sunday as “Ruth Carpenter Day” to celebrate her life and impact on the local community and Lakeway region. A native of East Tennessee, she achieved her goal of marrying a “preacher man” when she became the wife of Rev. Allen Carpenter 60 years ago. The couple had two children, and Ruth has also mothered a number of foster children and a host of spiritual sons and daughters through the years. She began her teaching career at a one-room school for grades one through eight in Grainger County and served as the basketball coach. During her educational career, she taught every grade through secondary school and eventually became a professor of educational psychology at Walters State Community College where she later served as the head of the behavioral science department before her retirement in 1992. After retiring from education, she began her second and third careers as a Christian therapist and an ordained minister of Gateway Church. In this season of her life, she has counseled a multitude of individuals, served as an advisor to several community organizations – including Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System and the Morristown Police Department, where continues to act as a chaplain. She is a sought-after speaker for churches and women’s groups throughout the region.  She is also known in the community as a “prayer warrior” who has faithfully interceded for her church, her community and those who come to her for counsel.

 

Andy Susong Daniels ’69 of Greeneville, TN, and her husband W.T. Daniels celebrated their wedding anniversary last month with a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, where they honeymooned 50 years ago. Andy and W.T., who is now serving as mayor of Greeneville, were married on June 17, 1966, at the Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Roy E. Blakeburn, who graduated from Tusculum in 1984 and passed away earlier this year. The Daniels have two daughters, Angela Daniels ’90 and DeAnna Pillar, and seven grandchildren.  Andy graduated second in her class at Tusculum and later earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from East Tennessee State University.  She operated a private nursery school, Miss Andy’s Nursery, for nine years. For more than 20 years, Andy served as an adjunct faculty member at Walters State Community College and as an instructor at the YMCA. Both Andy and W.T. are active in community activities and in 2012, they purchased and renovated one of the oldest homes in downtown Greeneville.

 

‘80s

Beth Maupin Frye ’85 of Chuckey, TN, has been named athletic director at Chuckey-Doak High School for the 2016-17 academic year. A math teacher at the school, she has also served as the head girl’s basketball coach since 2000. She has served as head volleyball coach, assistant softball coach and started the cross country teams at both the high school and Chuckey-Doak Middle School.

 

’00s

Heather Sellers ’02 of Huntsville, AL, has joined the staff of the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur, AL, as the exhibits coordinator. The new Cook Museum is scheduled to open to the public in late 2017.

Hope Sims Malone ’05 of Bluff City, TN, has been named the new principal at Church Hill Elementary School.

Keith Lambert ’08 of Powell, TN, graduated from the 264th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, in June. Lambert, who serves as the deputy chief of the University of Tennessee Police Department, was one of five law enforcement officers from Tennessee in the class. The academy is an invitation-only opportunity offered to the top one percent of the law enforcement community. Lambert completed 17 hours of college courses during the 10-week program, which covered drug enforcement strategies, legal updates for command level officers, advanced leadership, forensic science and other subjects in addition to the physical training associated with the program. The 29-year veteran of the UT department completed the Marine Corps Obstacle Course, called the “Yellow Brick Road.” The grueling 6.1-mile course has come to symbolize attendance and completion of the academy.  Lambert received the coveted Yellow Brick for completing all weekly physical challenges.

 

’10s

Dr. Rebecca Hunley ’12 of Talbott, TN, has been named the new assistant principal at Cherokee High School. Hunley comes to the Hawkins County School from Jefferson County High School, where she was a biology teacher for the past 11 years.  During her time in the Jefferson County system, she served as a DATA Team coach, Science Club sponsor. Science Bowl coach and STEM representative for the county.

 

Justin Reed ’13 has finished his MFA at Washington University in St. Louis and has had his first book published, “A History of Flamboyance” (YesYes Books, 2016). His first full-length book of poetry, “Indecency,”  is forthcoming from Coffee House Press in 2018. His work appears—or soon will—in “Best American Essays,” “Callaloo,” “The Iowa Review,” “The Kenyon Review,” “Obsidian,” “PEN American,” “Vinyl” and elsewhere.

 

Altoine Wilson ’13 of Covington, GA, has joined the coaching staff of the Alcovy High School football team in Covington as an assistant coach. Alcovy is Wilson’s high school alma mater and he played football for the Tigers. He teaches in the Covington school system.

 

Cameron Carney ’16 has signed a professional contract to play for the Alpine Cowboys of the Pecos League, an independent professional league in the desert mountain region in the Southwest. Carney, a native of Niagara Falls, NY, was a pitcher for the Pioneers and made 17 appearances this past spring, including seven starts where he posted a 4-0 record and a 4.40 earned average. He combined on a pair of shutouts and posted a save against Catawba. He pitched in 47 innings where he tallied 44 strikeouts against 10 walks and limited the opposition to a .272 batting average. In his two years at Tusculum, he finished with a perfect 5-0 record in his 29 appearances, including two saves and a 5.38 ERA. He tallied 65 strikeouts against 20 walks. Carney graduated in May with a degree in criminal justice, while minoring in psychology.

 

Yared Mamo ’16 has accepted the position of intensive care unit nurse at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.

 

 

 

Brooke Wilhoit ’15 and Matt Ripley ’09 ’15 were married May 21, 2016, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Greeneville. The couple is living in Greeneville. Brooke and Matt are both teachers in the Greene County School System. She teaches English language arts and he teaches mathematics.

 

 

 

 

Dorothy “Dotti” Park Range ’45 of Burlington, NC, passed away June 14, 2016. Mrs. Range lived life with zest, enthusiasm and with appreciation for her many blessings, and she served others in many ways with equal enthusiasm. She graduated as salutatorian from Tusculum and continued her studies in history at the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State College. She began her teaching career when she and her husband, Harold, moved to Raleigh, NC, and subsequently to Burlington. She taught at North Carolina School for the Blind in Raleigh, then at EM Holt Elementary School in special needs, returning to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to expand her knowledge as she began teaching Bible studies at both Williams and Cumming high schools. Mrs. Range was active in her church and civic communities. She was a member of Front Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and dearly loved her church family. She participated and taught Sunday school, Bible school, Christian Women’s Fellowship as well as serving on the board of trustees and as a deacon and elder. Mrs. Range served as a counselor at Christmount Christian Camp in Black Mountain and was often invited to lead Bible study group in many local churches. Her community activities included League of Women Voters, Lady Lions, Garden Club competitions, Church Women United and Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Range was an avid golfer and enjoyed many other sports and outdoor activities, including bridge, duct pin team bowling at the YMCA and camping with the Girl Scouts as leader. She was active in the Senior Olympics. She also supported and attended the high school athletics games and matches, having been involved in sports in her own high school and college. Her many activities came second to her love of family – too immeasurable to describe.

 

Ken Hood Jr. ’50 of Greeneville, TN, passed away on July 16, 2016, after enjoying 91 years of life. Mr. Hood was one of the more decorated veterans from East Tennessee, having served with the 407th Infantry Regiment of the 102nd “Ozark” Division as a Platoon Sergeant of “Rogers Raiders” during World War II.  After the war, he came to Greene County and opened a photography studio before joining the Greeneville Sun as the newspaper’s first staff photographer in 1950. Mr. Hood worked at the newspaper until he retired in 2007 as its executive editor. He was active in his church, Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served in various capacities through the years. Mr. Hood  also served for several years as a member of the Greeneville City School Board, providing leadership and guidance during the time of desegregation and the construction of Hal Henard Elementary School and Greeneville Middle School. He was a member of the Greeneville Rotary Club for many years until his health precluded him from attending, serving for many years on its board of directors and as an officer of the club. Mr. Hood enjoyed people and kept up with family and friends from near and far through email and Facebook. He was always fascinated with a good gadget and enjoyed keeping up with the latest technologies. He enjoyed telling jokes, teasing his friends, smoking his ever-present pipe, and eating anything chocolate. He was devoted to his family and throughout his life, he invested himself, his values and his work ethic in his family and friends. He will be remembered for his many acts of kindness, his words of encouragement, his firm handshake, his keen sense of humor and his warm, friendly smile.

 

Diane Leslie Russell ’70 of Asheville, NC, passed away June 29, 2016. Mrs. Russell was an educator, businesswoman and church leader. She served as guidance counselor and admissions director at Asheville Country Day School. Mrs. Russell was the founding president and director of Career and Educational Planning Service, which guided the choice of colleges and careers for students and adults. She continued in the field until the end of her life, helping many make mid-life career changes. She was a leader in the Episcopal church and served as senior warden of the vestry at The Cathedral of All Souls. Mrs. Russell led numerous committees in early career planning, teaching and consulting in an educational environment. She served on the education committee of the Western North Carolina Diocese of the Episcopal Church.

 

Carrie Ann LaPolt ’04 of Greeneville, TN, passed away July 10, 2016, due to complications from a brain hemorrhage. Ms. LaPolt was a certified yoga instructor and enjoyed her pets, arts and crafts, and watching Tennessee Volunteer football games. Toward the end of her life, she was embracing a newfound spirituality. Ms. LaPolt attended St. James Lutheran Church and her final act of kindness was to share the gift of life through organ donation.

 

Faculty

Dr. Robert Orr passed away on June 23, 2016, due to injuries received in an automobile accident. Dr. Orr had taught courses related to American history and environmental studies at Tusculum in the 1990s. A local historian with interests in East Tennessee and the Civil War, he had also been a lecturer at the College on numerous occasions. Dr. Orr was a talented musician and had also performed at various College events.

 

 

 

Update on construction of the new Tusculum College science and math building

Progress continues on the construction of the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math at Tusculum College, with the exterior brickwork progressing to completion.

According to David Martin, director of facilities for Tusculum College, brick and brick washing is progressing and the drywall is now completed on the ground floor.

Elevators are being installed this week. According to Martin, temporary enclosures have been installed to seal up the building at the large openings in order to condition those areas for lab casework and millwork.

It is expected that the construction will be completed by the end of the year and will be ready for utilization when students return for spring semester 2017.

The Meen Center for Science and Math, expected to be completed in January 2017, will be a four-story structure of approximately 100,000 square feet. Interiors include wings for biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science and environmental science. There will also be lab space and research areas for both faculty and students.

The ground floor features the environmental science wing with a loading dock, as well as large general classroom spaces and classrooms equipped for distance learning programs. A large lecture hall will be included on the ground floor. Space is also allocated to house the Bachelor of Science degree program in nursing and the Master of Science degree in Nursing.

 

Brickwork is nearing completion on the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math at Tusculum College. Completion of the construction is expected by the end of the year.

 

Tusculum College is a stop on the Tennessee Civil War Trail

Summer is in full swing and what better time to check out local and regional history by hitting the Tennessee Civil War Trail. There are seven sites in Greeneville, including Tusculum College.

The President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library (Old College), as well as the College itself is part of the state wide history trail. An interpretive sign in front of the museum details the College’s experience during the Civil War and provides information about Andrew Johnson’s connection to the college.

Located in the oldest building on campus “proper,” the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library houses exhibits and personal artifacts of the Johnson family as well as Andrew Johnson’s personal library. This museum also serves as the repository for the college archives. Tusculum College is the oldest college in Tennessee and the 23rd oldest permanent college in the country.

The “Scholars then Soldiers: Tusculum College and the American Civil War” exhibit opened in 2012. The student-created exhibit features information about the 19 alumni who fought during the war and the effect that the Civil War had on Tusculum College, including the merger with Greeneville College that had most of its assets destroyed due to the conflicts. This exhibit won an Award of Excellence from the Tennessee Association of Museums.

The Tennessee Civil War Trails is part of the national Civil War Trails program that has installed nearly 800 markers at Civil War sites in the country to increase awareness of these sites and enhance tourism to the sites. Driving tours of sites have been created. Maps and other information about the Tennessee trails can be found at http://www.civilwartraveler.com/WEST/TN/index.html.

Other Civil War Trail sites in Greene County include the Battle of Blue Springs, the death of General John Hunt Morgan, the Dickson-Williams Mansion, the hangings at the Depot, the Pottertown bridge burners and Greene Conty’s role as a Unionist stronghold. Each of these is marked with an interpretive sign.

Tennessee is the only state designated in its entirety as a Civil War Heritage Area and is second to Virginia in number of Civil War sites. When Tennessee entered the program, the goal was to have at least one marker in all 95 counties.

Participating in trail programs covering the various topics that touch local history and attractions helps draw new visitors to the region who may not have planned to visit otherwise.

 

 

Civil War Trail sign at the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library

 

Higher education for veterans offered tuition-free at Tusculum College through Yellow Ribbon program

Veterans of all branches of the U.S. Military can get their bachelor’s or master’s degree at Tusculum College tuition-free with the College’s participation in the federal Yellow Ribbon program.

The voluntary “Yellow Ribbon” program, commonly referred to as the New GI Bill, makes it possible for eligible veterans who meet the college’s admissions requirements to attend tuition-free.

“Tusculum College has a long history of providing programs that allow the adult student to achieve their dream of higher education while balancing the responsibilities of career and family,” said LeAnn Hughes, vice president for enrollment management and marketing and director of Graduate and Professional Studies at Tusculum College. “With the Yellow Ribbon program we can provide the opportunity to the men and women who have served our country and do it in a way that meets the needs of their current life situation.”

Formally known as the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Yellow Ribbon program is an effort to pay for veterans’ college expenses to a similar extent that the original GI Bill did after World War II by providing for payment of tuition and fees, a housing allowance and a stipend for books and supplies. The program is available for eligible veterans who have served at least three years on active military duty, or at least 30 days for someone released for a service-connected disability, since September 11, 2001.

“We are proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program and sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to serve many of the returning veterans in our areas,” said Tusculum College President Dr. Nancy Moody. “With the variety of locations, programs, majors, degrees and scheduling options offered at Tusculum College, we are uniquely suited to serve those who educational path was interrupted or who are considering higher education for the first time.”

The Yellow Ribbon Program is applicable towards all Tusculum College degree programs, which include traditional undergraduate programs, as well as the Graduate and Professional Studies programs. Tuition benefits under the program are also available to both full and part-time students.

Tusculum College has long offered assistance to veterans returning to higher education and for information on the Yellow Ribbon program or others assistance provided by the College, contact the Veterans For more information, contact Pat Simons, veterans affairs coordinator, at  psimons@tusculum.edu.