Professional assistance in filling out FAFSA to be offered by Tusculum in sessions at local high schools

Filling out the necessary financial forms for college can be challenging, and sessions are planned this month to provide assistance to high school students and their parents with this important step in preparing for higher education.

A series of “FAFSA Frenzy” programs have been scheduled by Tusculum College to help families find answers to their questions about the financial aid process as well as receive assistance with completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms that are required as a first step in the process to receive financial aid, including the Tennessee Promise program. Sessions are scheduled at each of the local high schools in Greene County.

Professionals from Tusculum College’s Financial Aid staff will provide their professional assistance at each of these “FAFSA Frenzy” events as a community service. The events are open to all high school students, not only those who may be interested in attending Tusculum.

The first event is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 7, from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Cocke County High School.

Sessions will be held at all five high schools in Greene County: Monday, Jan. 11, at Chuckey-Doak High School from 4 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 14, at North Greene High School from 3:30 to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 19, at West Greene High School from 3:30 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 21, at Greeneville High School from 5 to 7 p.m., and Monday, Jan. 25 at South Greene High School from 3 to 6 p.m.

The events will have a “drop in” format, and students and their families are welcome to come by anytime during the scheduled period to receive assistance. In case of school closures due to inclement weather on any of these days, the events will be rescheduled.

“Students and parents who are not familiar with the process can find the FAFSA and other financial forms puzzling, and we are looking forward to offering our assistance to these families,” said Melissa Ripley, executive director of enrollment management operations and traditional admission at the college. “Tusculum College is pleased to be able to provide this service to our community and share our expertise with students and their parents as they prepare for this important step in their lives.”

Students and parents are asked to bring their 2015 tax returns if available to the event.  If the 2015 tax return is not available, students and parents should bring their year-end paystubs, w-2 forms, and the 2014 federal income tax return.

FAFSA forms are used to determine eligibility for federal and state funds such as Pell grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans work-study programs and the Tennessee Promise program, and must be completed each academic year for which a student wishes to seek aid.

Students and parents are encouraged to apply for financial aid as soon as possible. The deadline for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award is March 1 for 2016. Tusculum’s Financial Aid Office recommends that students apply as quickly as possible to assure that their applications will be considered for aid types that typically become limited or exhausted long before school begins in August.

For more information about FAFSA Frenzy, please contact Ripley at 636-7374 or mripley@tusculum.edu or contact one of the Financial Aid counselors at 636-7377 or financialaid@tusculum.edu.

What’s happening with your fellow alumni? Learn in this month’s Class Notes edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Bailey '48 H'84

’40s

Robert H. Bailey ’48 H’84 of Greeneville, TN, received the Robert C. Austin Award for Distinguished Service to the Community during the 27th annual Farm-City Banquet on December 3. The banquet is a project of the Greene County Partnership’s Agribusiness Committee. Bailey was honored for his extensive community service activities, which includes his long membership in the Baileyton Ruritan Club. He has also served as the Ruritan zone governor, the organization’s national president, and is a Ruritan Forever. Bailey is a former president of the Greene County Heritage Trust and remains active in coordinating the organization’s Early American Christmas Dinner. He is a Life Trustee of his Alma Mater and also served on the board of directors for WSJK TV, the regional public television station, from 1983-2002. Bailey was also instrumental in the formation of the Baileyton Community Scholarship, which is awarded to students of North Greene High School. He has also helped with the Baileyton Community Chest and helped bring a medical clinic to the town. Bailey is a member of the First Church of God in Greeneville, where he serves on the church’s board of trustees, its board of elders and is a Sunday school teacher. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Locust Springs Christian Retreat Center, which is located on more than 160 acres of his Baileyton farm.

 

’90s

DeAnna Martin ’93 ’98 of Greeneville, TN, has been named the principal at Tusculum View Elementary School and will begin her new position in January. Martin will fill a position opened when  Pat Donaldson, wife of Tusculum Board of Trustees member the Rev. Dr. Dan Donaldson, was been named the new Teaching and Learning Coordinator for the Greeneville School System. Martin has been serving in the position of instructional specialist at Hal Henard Elementary School and as elementary math coordinator for the Greeneville School System for the past six years. During her tenure at Hal Henard, the school received top marks in both achievement and growth for three years in a row on the school’s report card from the state. She was selected as one of 20 educators to take part in the state of Tennessee’s mathematics coaching team and received extensive training from the University of Pittsburg’s Institute for Learning. Martin was the recipient of the school system’s Excellence in Professional Learning Award for 2015. Her husband, David ’93, is director of facilities at Tusculum.

 

 

 

 

’40s

Lt. Col. Charles L. Goode, USMC (Ret.) ’44 passed away on November 12, 2014.

Ben Kevin Britton ’76 of Morristown, TN, passed away November 30, 2015, from ALS. Mr. Britton worked at Holston United Methodist Home for Children, where he enjoyed his career as an educator. A member of First United Methodist Church of Morristown, he enjoyed singing in the choir and helped with the youth for many years. Mr. Britton was an avid sports enthusiast, outdoorsman and birder.

 

Faculty

Adrian Craig Sherman, who taught psychology at Tusculum, passed away on October 10, 2015, at Duke University Medical Center. As a clinical psychologist, he was a staff psychologist at Johnson County Mental Health in Tennessee and the Family Guidance Center in Hickory, NC. Mr. Sherman was also a clinical resident at Deer Oaks Mental Health in San Antonio, TX. At Tusculum, in addition to his teaching duties, he served a chair of the Psychology Department, dean of International and Travel Programs and director of the Wellness Center. He also taught at Appalachian State University, the Governor’s School of South Carolina and the School for International Training in Vermont. His interest in international education led him to become director of International Programs at Ithaca College, director of the Office of International Education and Programs at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and assistant provost for international programs and professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Mr. Sherman was a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Romania, a fellow at the Salzburg Seminars, and an interviewer for the Fulbright Foundation. Traveling extensively around the world, he spent a year as a visiting professor at Northeast University in Shenyang in China. Mr. Sherman was a writer, presenter, and consultant for programs on mental health issues in international education in this country and Europe. He was also a member of NAFSA (Association for International Educators) and the European Association of International Educators. Mr. Sherman loved culture and travel, nature and the outdoors, singing and harmonizing, swimming, surfing and boating, yoga, ice and his beloved dogs.

 

Former Trustee

Ellen Worthy Campbell of Johnson City, TN, a former Tusculum College Trustee, passed away on December 9, 2015. Mrs. Campbell moved to East Tennessee when she married Dr. Edward Malcom Campbell in 1950, becoming an active contributor to the community, both charitably and socially. The Campbells joined Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church in Johnson City, where she served as an elder and a weekly volunteer. At the time of her passing, she was the longest standing member of the congregation. Mrs. Campbell served on Tusculum’s Board of Trustees from 1976 through 1982. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Dawn of Hope Foundation and was active in the Junior Auxiliary (now know as the Junior League-Johnson City, Inc.) where she served a term as president. She enjoyed her weekly game of bridge and all her partners and opponents. Mrs. Campbell loved to read and savored her participation in the Fortnightly Book Club and the Dilettantes Book Club. She helped found a monthly women’s lunch group, FOF. Mrs. Campbell was one of the early members of the Mountain View Garden Club and served as its president in 1954, and she was recognized for her many years of involvement at the club’s 60th anniversary.

Nearly 200 receive degrees Saturday at Tusculum College

Graduating from Tusculum College during winter commencement ceremonies were 198 individuals in a ceremony held on Saturday, Dec. 12.

On Saturday 86 students earned Bachelor of Science degrees and 76 earned Bachelor of Arts degrees. In addition 20 graduates earned Master of Arts degrees and 16 received Master of Business Administration degrees.

The new graduates were addressed by Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody, who recognized the hard work of the path to graduation, saying “Commencement is an occasion of celebration and completion.” Adding, “Today is a testament to your efforts, to your persistence, and today is your day. Be proud of yourself and your accomplishment.”

She told the group, that while there was no doubt they were thinking about the many people in their lives who had helped them and supported them on this journey, that graduation day was a moment to celebrate the completion of a goal they had worked hard to attain.

Two student speakers addressed the graduates, including Pamela Ammons, a nursing graduate from Midway. Ammons returned to Tusculum to complete her Bachelor of Science in nursing after having earned her associate degree 1990. “I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to the faculty and staff of Tusculum College, without each and every one of you, we would not be here today.”

She added, “We have all had a goal to accomplish and that day is today. It will forever be a day we will never forget. It has been a journey well taken.”

Also speaking was Michael Scott, of Colorado Springs, Colo. who received his MBA, after earning his bachelor degree from Tusculum College in 2013.

“We are more similar to real Pioneers than we give ourselves credit for,” he told his fellow graduates. “We didn’t fight bears or wrestle alligators, but we did work day and night and studied for hours. We moved forward no matter the sacrifice.”

The Rev. Dr. Dan Donaldson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, the mother church of Tusculum College, and a member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees also spoke to the graduates.

He spoke in tribute to the late Mark Stokes, Tusculum College chaplain, who passed away suddenly this fall, and had for several years provided the commencement sermon. Dr. Donaldson said that in Stokes’ nearly 30 years of service to Tusculum College he saw a remarkable amount of change.

“The world is changing so rapidly and higher education is no different,” he said. “Take your education and change with it as you go.”

Download the December 2015 Commencement Program

 

Graduation speakers representing the Class of 2015 were Michael Scott, left, and Pamela Ammons.

Graduates walk the faculty gauntlet following Commencement services on Saturday at Tusculum College.

Tusculum students gain legislative experience at intercollegiate legislature

Six Tusculum College students learned the ins and outs of participatory government when they recently attended the 46th General Assembly of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, a mock legislature at the state capitol building in Nashville.

The Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature is a forum for the top echelon of the state’s campus leaders to exchange ideas, express their opinions and learn how government works.

The Tusculum delegation consisted of Michael Fernando, a senior accounting, international business and economics and general management major from Sri Lanka and president of the Student Government Association; Paul Johnston, a senior museum studies major from Smyrna, Del.; Stephanie Turner, a senior journalism and professional writing major from Shelbyville, Tenn.; Haylee Reed, a biology major from Winchester, Tenn.; William Mountain, a freshman criminal justice major from Memphis, Tenn.; and Toni Forbes, a freshman business management major from Bluffton, S.C.

Fernando, chair of the delegation, served as a senator, and Reed served in the House of Representatives.

Fernando said, “Haylee and I had the opportunity to go to the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, where [we] met with student leaders from across the state and beyond and had the ability to influence policy at a state level. [We] discussed issues ranging from the death penalty to abortion to student debt to the state beverage.”

In addition, Johnston and Mountain lobbied for the Tennessee Gun Association and Tennessee Law Enforcement groups.

“We were able to discuss a lot of important issues with people who were really informed,” said Johnston. “Everything passed by TISL goes to the governor, who takes some of our legislation to the state Senate and House. It was a wonderful opportunity.”

Turner and Forbes served as media personnel, focusing on print newsletters and social media.

Forbes said, “We met a lot of great people, and it was nice to be in a room full of young, productive people like myself. I recommend everyone to try TISL at least once.”

 

By Stephanie Turner, senior journalism and professional writing major from Shelbyville

 

Tusculum College delegates to the 46th General Assembly of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature included Haylee Reed, William Mountain, Michael Fernando, Stephanie Turner, Paul Johnston and Toni Forbes.

Two named to enrollment staff at Tusculum College

Bonnie Brown and Katherine Tassell have joined the staff of Tusculum College in the Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing.

Bonnie Brown has been named admission representative and will work with potential students and advise them through the college application and selection process. In her role she will conduct campus tours, as well as promote the college through travel and telecounseling.

Bonnie Brown

In working with prospective students, Brown can draw on her own experiences as a Tusculum student. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Tusculum College in 2014.

Prior to joining the Tusculum staff, Brown worked at Mountain View Bulk Foods and at the Johnson City Medical Center. While attending Tusculum, she gained experience in working with “The Tusculum Review” and with the Tusculum Theatre Box Office.

“Bonnie is going to be part of the team right from the start,” said Melissa Ripley, executive director of enrollment management operations and traditional admission. “Her attitude and her story of her experience at Tusculum make her the right fit for this team.”

Tassell, a 2010 graduate of Tusculum, has been named enrollment representative for the Tusculum College Graduate and Professional Studies program. She is also the owner of KFit, LLC, located in Greeneville. KFit is an in-home personal training business. During her time at Tusculum, she was a member of the Tusculum College cross country team.

“We are excited to announce Katie as our new enrollment representative,” said Lindsey Seal, director of GPS enrollment. “Katie is a good fit with our team and is ready to assist working adults who want to complete or begin their college undergraduate degree or those who are ready to begin their master’s degree program.”

In her new role, Tassell will work with potential students of the Graduate and Professional Studies program through all aspects of the enrollment process.  She will serve as a recruiter, but also as a resource for anyone interested in finding out more about continuing or starting their path to an advanced degree.

Katie Tassell

For more information on Tusculum College enrollment and admissions, call 888-488-7285.

New initiative provides opportunities for families to get involved in Tusculum’s mission

Pioneer Families is a new initiative at the College to provide parents and families greater opportunities to get involved and support Tusculum’s mission to provide a quality education to its students.

While Tusculum has a number of outstanding students who are excelling in the classroom and faculty, staff and administrators who are dedicated to helping students succeed, the College still needs the involvement of parents, alumni and friends to continue to provide that quality education.

Pioneer Families provides an additional vehicle for current and past parents and family members to support the mission of Tusculum College.  The College is appreciative of the first families to join this new initiative: John and Cindy Cordell, Aubrey Ducker and Laurie Weatherford, and Philip and Catherine Horrell.

To become a Pioneer Family, parents/family members are asked to contribute a specific amount to Tusculum each year they wish to be members. Gifts may be designated to either the Tusculum Fund, Pioneer Club, scholarships, academic programs, technology, or another area that supports the College.  Gifts may be contributed in entirety as one payment or may be contributed through installment payments throughout the fiscal year (beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of each year).

Members of the Pioneer Families will receive an invitation for two people to attend two annual events on campus: an event on the Friday evening of Family Weekend at the President’s House to honor Pioneer Families and the President’s Dinner in May, which is a formal event to recognize and thank those who support Tusculum’s mission.

A care package will also be delivered by the Office of Institutional Advancement each semester to students whose parents or families are members of Pioneer Families.

Members will receive Pioneer Club benefits that include a 20% Tusculum bookstore discount, a football media guide, two general admission All-Sports Passes that grant admission into regular season Tusculum athletic contests throughout the year, President’s Box access for games held at Pioneer Field, free admission to three Pioneer Club events on campus, and a Pioneer Club window cling, stadium chair, T-shirt and polo shirt.

For more information about the Pioneer Families initiative or to join, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303 or bcantrell@tusculum.edu.

 

Reverse Transfer program allows transfer students at Tusculum College to receive associate degrees

Students enrolled at Tusculum College who started their college journey at a Tennessee community college may be eligible to receive their associate’s degree through a program called Tennessee Reverse Transfer.

Reverse Transfer makes it possible for students who transferred from a Tennessee community college before earning a two-year degree to retroactively receive that credential when requirements are met in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

“Tusculum College is committed to providing seamless transitions for our transfer students. We are very pleased to announce our participation in the Tennessee Reverse Transfer program,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College. “This complements our existing articulation agreements with regional community colleges and offers prospective students an opportunity to complete both their associate and bachelor degrees.”

The program represents a partnership involving the state’s three public and private higher education systems and is an example of Tennessee’s commitment to helping more students earn college degrees. Approximately 2,300 students transfer each year from Tennessee’s community colleges to four-year colleges and universities, with at least 45 of the 60 credit hours required for most associate degrees.

“The process allows students who early-transfer the opportunity to have their completed four-year courses and grades combined with their completed community college courses and grades to determine if they meet the requirements for an associate degree,” said Gloria Gammell, project coordinator for Tennessee Reverse Transfer and program manager for the University of Tennessee System.

Eligible transfer students are those admitted and enrolled at Tusculum College and who have earned a minimum of 15 college-level credits from a Tennessee community college, transferred before earning an associate degree and completed a combined total of 60 college-level credits post-transfer.

Participating students will be contacted in the late fall by their former community college and notified if the degree will be awarded or if courses for an associate degree are lacking. Eligible transfer students will be identified and notified each semester.

“The benefits of a Tennessee Reverse Transfer degree include having a credential that matters in the world of work, serving as a motivator to complete the bachelor’s degree and having the satisfaction of receiving a degree already earned,” said Gammell.

The program is funded by a State of Tennessee appropriation and a “Credit When It’s Due” grant from Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based private foundation dedicated to expanding access to and success in education beyond high school.

For more information about Tennessee Reverse Transfer, visit www.tnreversetransfer.org or contact the Tusculum College Admissions Office at 800.729.0256.

Tusculum College voter drive results in tripling of registrants

More than 125 students were registered this year during Tusculum College’s recent annual voter registration drive.

Tusculum’s Constitution Day program, coordinated by the Student Government Association under the leadership of Michael Fernando, a senior from Sri Lanka, majoring in accounting, general management and international business and economics, and Jeff Lokey, assistant professor of management, was critical in helping triple the number of registrants statewide.

“Everyone who votes has an impact on public policy and government leadership,” said Stephanie Turner, a senior journalism and professional writing major. “Voting is a learned behavior, and when people don’t vote, it undermines representative democracy. We can’t take democracy for granted; it needs our help to succeed.”

Tusculum College registered 127 during this year’s National Voter Registration Month.

Professor Lokey said the annual drive is critical, as he feels it is essential to the “future of our youth that we not only register to vote but that we actually use this power to get out and vote.”

“Everyone, especially the youth, need to be active registered voters,” he said, and this idea helped fuel efforts to pull off the amazing accomplishment of registering 127 Tusculum College students in this year’s drive.

Others on campus were involved as well, including Dean of Students David McMahan, who encouraged students who had registered to “visualize themselves voting so that they could continue to develop a habit in support of good citizenship.”

 

By Kayla Freeman, freshman business major from Charleston, S.C.

 

Students fill out forms to register to vote at a display earlier this year that was part of the voter registration drive.

Auditions for Theatre-at-Tusculum’s production of ‘The Odd Couple’ Dec. 8-9

The Odd Couple are moving to Tusculum College.

Neil Simon’s award winning comedy, “The Odd Couple” will be the spring production of Theatre-at-Tusculum, and actors and actresses are being sought for the play to be directed by Marilyn duBrisk.

Open auditions will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, and Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the David Behan Arena Theatre in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum campus.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the auditions beginning at 6 p.m. on both days. No prepared audition pieces will be required. Auditions will consist of readings from the script.

The comedy has six roles for men and two roles for women of varying ages. The female roles are those of the giggly Pigeon sisters, Cecily and Gwendolyn, who are upstairs neighbors to Oscar and Felix.

Performance dates will be Feb. 26-28 and March 3-6 in the Behan Arena Theatre.

Theatre-at-Tusculum Technical Director Frank Mengel and Director Marilyn duBrisk discuss props and pause for a photo with the audition poster for the spring production of Neil Simon's comedy, “The Odd Couple.”

“The Odd Couple” follows the lives of two distinctly different best friends, Oscar Madison and Felix Unger. The tightly wound, hypochondriac Felix is forced to move in with the slovenly and brash Oscar. Hilarity ensues as they try to make peace with their opposing personalities. They are supported by their poker buddies – the police officer Murray, the gruff and sarcastic Speed, the henpecked Vinnie and the dry-witted Roy.

The play premiered on Broadway in 1965 with Walter Matthau and Art Carney portraying Oscar and Felix. The production was awarded several Tony Awards including Best Actor (Play) for Matthau and Best Author for Simon, and was nominated for Best Play that year. The play spawned the 1968 film of the same name, starring Matthau and Jack Lemmon, and also the hit 1970s television show featuring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. A remake of the series premiered on CBS in February 2015 starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon.

“The Odd Couple” helped Simon become one of the best known American playwrights of the 20th Century, and the play has become culturally iconic and an American theatre staple, leading The New York Times to opine, “There is scarcely a moment that is not hilarious.”

For more information regarding auditions please call Tusculum College Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620.

 

Alumni Paul Lawless reflects on Tusculum in the ’70s

During his visit at Homecoming 2015, Tusculum College alumni Paul “Rooster” Lawless ’70 graciously provided a “look back” at Tusculum College. In his reflections, he has, in great detail, described Tusculum’s physical qualities that differ from today. He also shared personal experiences.

Paul Lawless graduated in 1970. He describes his experience as viewing Tusculum in two pieces: the first few weeks and the rest of his four years. This is due to the first few weeks being filled with freshman hazing. The freshmen were “Rats,” while the upper classmen held the title of “Sir.” Following his third year, hazing had dwindled away due to the death of a student, not at Tusculum, involved in hazing.

“Survival at Tusculum was a tiny, square wooden building, the kind college students might try to cram into just to see if 50 people would fit inside, jammed cheek to jowl,” said Lawless. He goes on to describe Tusculum’s post office as a building that only held mail boxes for upper classman while the rest of the student body waited in lines extending out of the building to receive mail.

Paul Lawless and his wife, Martha, attend the keepsake preservation workshop during Homecoming.

The Quad during this time was an oval loop of asphalt that circled the middle ground between Haynes Hall, Craig, Rankin and the gym. Thinking of the quad, Lawless remembers it as Rankin’s front yard. The stairs in Rankin were a hangout for the mischievous. The metal furniture was not so popular during this time. “If you were foolish enough to sit on the metal furniture on the front porch of Rankin Hall, someone would notice you, fill a waste paper basket with water, and remind you of how foolish you were,” explained Lawless.

 

Excerpt by Kayla Freeman, freshman business major from Charleston, S.C.

 

 

You can read more of “Rooster’s” memories in the upcoming issue of Tusculum magazine.