More than 275 individuals received degrees during Tusculum College’s spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, including the presentation of an honorary doctorate to businessman and friend of the college, Don Raber.

Eighty-two students earned Bachelor of Science degrees and 155 earned Bachelor of Arts degrees. In addition 38 graduates earned Master of Arts degrees.

The new graduates were addressed by Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody, who recognized the commencement ceremony as “an occasion of celebration and completion.” Adding, “Each of you has made sacrifices, adjustments and also made tough decisions along the way. You have worked hard, and you have given something of yourself to earn the right to walk across this stage. This is a testament to your own efforts and to your persistence. Today is your reward.”

She told the group, “Thank you for allowing Tusculum College to be a part of your life. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will always be a part of Tusculum College.”

Walking with this spring’s graduates were 17 representatives of the Tusculum College Class of 1963 who are celebrating their 50^th anniversary year. Representatives walked in the procession, clothed in golden caps and gowns and were recognized during the ceremony by Dr. Moody.

The Golden Pioneers, along with the Class of 2013, presented a check to Dr. Moody for $1,125.39 as a gift to the college.

Receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters was Raber, who is a member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees. He has brought to the board many strengths, chief among them a lifetime of experience in banking, investment and finance. He has served effectively as chair of the Business Committee, as a member of the Executive Committee, the Audit, Finance, Investment and Buildings Committee, the Institutional Advancement Committee and as Foundation Investment Advisor. He is a recipient of the Tusculum College Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the college.

His devotion to education, shown through service to Tusculum and other colleges and universities, is rooted in his days in the U.S. Navy. As he served aboard the USS Aldebaran AF-10 in 1962 during the Cuban blockade, and a year later on the USS Preserver ARS-8, he noticed that junior officers were college-educated. After his military service, he enrolled at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he earned a BBA. He later earned an MBA from Marshall University and completed specialized programs at Northwestern University and the University of Tennessee.

He started his financial career as a management trainee for the Jamaica Savings Bank and joined an options trading firm on Wall Street. From there he launched a distinguished career in finance and banking, culminating with the founding of Aldebaran Financial in 1991. He has also taught at several colleges and universities and has established scholarships at Tusculum College and other institutions.

According to President Moody, “Don has lived a life that adheres to the tenants of the Tusculum College mission. He has strived for success in his personal life, while never forgetting his sense of community.”

Participating in the degree conferral was Raber’s son, Peter W. Raber, vice president of operations and chief compliance officer for Aldebaran Financial.

Four student speakers addressed the graduates, including Andy Goellner, a triple major, studying business management, accounting and sport management from Denver, Colo., who represented the Residential College.

Goellner provided advice about future achievement. “Do it scared,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. If you’re scared that probably means you are doing something that is really worthwhile. So even you if are scared get out and do it anyway, you will feel so much better for having stepped out of your comfort zone.”

Also speaking at the morning ceremony was Alexander Smith, a graduate from the master’s program. Smith is from Greeneville and completed his bachelor’s degree at Tusculum College in 2010.

“Each of us can think of a teacher or professor who pushed us to learn more, to work harder and to achieve our goals,” Smith told the audience. “Many of those people are here in the audience today. Their excellent leadership taught us many essential elements for success in the profession of teaching. Just a few of those elements include, remaining calm despite uncertainty, greeting each day with a fresh perspective but to remember lessons learned each day and admitting mistakes and moving on.”

In the afternoon ceremony, speakers were Stephanie Trent, an education major from Washburn, and Elba Marshall, a business major from Knoxville.

Trent talked about the difficult decision to return to school later in life.

“For many years I had come up with excuses to ignore what my heart and mind were trying to tell me. In reality, I was afraid that I would not be able to meet the challenges this change in my life would bring, and that I would let my family down in the process.”

She added, “As I watched my children grow older, I knew that I had to be a better role model for them. I wanted them to see that no matter what obstacles you think are standing in your way, it is possible to succeed if you do your best and never give up. If I wanted to convince them to follow their dreams, I knew I had to face my own fears and insecurities and put myself on a path to make my own dreams come true.”

Marshall said, “When I first decided to pursue my college degree, I thought I was doing it to get the proverbial ticket to success. What I discovered was that it turned out to be so much more than that. It became a place where my beliefs were challenged, my desire for learning was nurtured and my life was forever changed.”

Mark Stokes, director of religious life, church and community relations at Tusculum College, presented a sermon titled, “Seize the Day.”

“We must take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way to fulfill our purpose in life,” he told the crowd. “Forget the past, face the present and live life as it comes. We need to seize the day and live every moment of our lives with purpose.”

Receiving the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership award for the Residential College was Heather Patterson, chair of the English Department and assistant professor of English. Receiving the award for the Graduate and Professional Studies program was Dr. DiAnn Casteel, professor of education, and Dr. Betsy Loveday, assistant professor of education.

 

Sam Underwood, a senior from Muncie, Ind., was recognized as “Student of the Block” for the eighth block at Tusculum College in recognition of her academic achievements and leadership on campus.

Underwood, a business administration major with minors in international business and economics, was presented the honor during a ceremony in the Living Room of the Niswonger Commons, where a plaque recognizing her accomplishments will be displayed. The award was established by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize students for their academic achievement, leadership on campus and contributions to the college community.

As a recruit to the Pioneer volleyball team, Underwood made an immediate impact on the campus community as she forged her career as a student-athlete, excelling in the classroom, on the volleyball court and as a leader on campus.

She has served as the president of the Study Abroad and Global Awareness Organization and was a co-founder and monitor for the Help Me Help You small business consulting organization and co-founder and division director for the new Center of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship.

Underwood represented Tusculum at the Salzburg Global Seminar, was a student speaker at the Appalachian College Association Summit in Knoxville and tutored other students in English, math, science and business courses. She was a member of the Honors Program and the Tusculum chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

A four-year starter on the volleyball team, Underwood served as captain for three years. She was named to the SAC All Freshman team in 2009, second team All SAC in 2010 and first team All SAC in 2011. Not only did she help lead Tusculum to its very first NCAA II Tournament appearance, she also led the Pioneers to four consecutive appearances and their first ever birth to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. She was named to the SAC Preseason All Conference Team and helped lead this year’s team to a 24-8 record overall.

Michael Robinson, head coach for the volleyball team, wrote of Underwood in his nomination, “Samantha is an extremely motivated person who sets high goals for herself and then rises to any challenge to attain them. She is no stranger to hard work and dedication or to striving to better herself in every aspect of life. Between her hectic academic and athletic responsibilities, Samantha also finds time to give of herself in the most unselfish ways. When you envision the “cream of the crop, you see Samantha.

“I can honestly say that not many others hold a candle to her character and to her overall contributions to the athletic program, institution and the Tusculum College community,” Robinson continued.

In addition to her academic and athletic responsibilities, she has served as a volunteer with the Greene County Animal Shelter, the Nathaniel Greene Museum, theater events at Tusculum and in the Bonner Leader student organization.

Underwood credits her parents, Scott and Tammy Underwood, as her consummate role models and appreciates all of the sacrifices, support, love and kindness they have shown in their parenting. She also credits her coaches, professors and friends as influences in her life as well.

Appreciative of the educators in her life, Underwood attributes her academic success at Tusculum to the business department faculty for their role in her life. “I have so much respect and love for Dr. [Antonio] Bos, professor of business administration; Dr. [Tom] McFarland, associate professor of business, and Dr. [Michelle] Freeman, associate professor of business administration. They have each shaped my mind and experience at Tusculum in huge ways. Taking international marketing with Dr. [Geir] Bergvin, associate professor of marketing and director of the Center for Global Studies, while in Barcelona, Spain, was a unique and thrilling learning experience. They [all] have supported my endeavors in and out of the classroom, acted as mentors when called upon and inspired me to believe I was capable of anything.”

Underwood will graduate in May and then take a position as executive team leader for Target in Indianapolis.

Alex Wiedemann, a senior from Rogersville, was recognized as “Student of the Block” for the seventh block at Tusculum College in recognition of his academic achievements and involvement on campus.

Wiedemann, a mathematics major who has minors in chemistry and biology, was presented the honor during a ceremony in the Living Room of the Niswonger Commons, where a plaque recognizing his accomplishments will be displayed. The award was established by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize students for their academic achievement, leadership on campus and contributions to the college community.

Graduating later this month with summa cum laude honors, Wiedemann has made his mark in the sciences and has become a great force of educational outreach on the campus and greater community.

He served as a teaching assistant in General Physics I and II for Dr. Katherine Stone, assistant professor of mathematics and geology, the first paid teaching assistant for the College. Wiedemann has served as peer tutor for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology as well as a tutor for students from local high schools and other local colleges.

Dr. Stone nominated him for the award, writing that “Alex’s professionalism, scholarly pursuit, and his overall demeanor sets him [apart]. Alex is the first teaching assistant that Tusculum has ever employed. Alex planned and led problem sessions, roughly nine hours per week, presented supplementary lectures, created study guides and clarified lecture material as requested. He did this on top of the Student Services tutoring hours.”

She noted that Wiedemann attended the Mathematics Association of America Southeast Regional meetings and competed in team mathematics competitions for the past two years. Wiedemann, along with fellow student Christopher Armstrong, was awarded the Appalachian College Association Ledford Award, which is granted to individual students performing research at member institutions of the association. The students presented their work at the Appalachian College Association 2012-2013 Summit in Knoxville.

“There is much more to Alex than his ‘book smarts,’” Dr. Stone also wrote. “Alex has been active in so many student activities and is well liked by everyone who meets him. I can’t find the words to express how honored I am to have been part of Alex’s life.”

In addition to his academic accolades in the classroom, he secured a prestigious internship with the Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport. “I received this aggrandized internship position through the generous help of (Tusculum) President Nancy Moody and Dr. Larry Brotherton (a 1970 Tusculum alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees),” he said. “It is our hope that this opportunity I was afforded will open doors for internships and jobs at Eastman for future Tusculum College students — especially with the chemistry major being added.”

During the past year, he has served as president of the Tusculum College Chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society and has served as president of the Pi-oneer Union. He served as a work-study student for the Office of Academic Affairs. He is also a member of the President’s Guild, Society of Physics Students, American Physical Society and Voices Against Violence.

A first generation college student and son of a German immigrant, Wiedemann was born into a military family, which moved to Rogersville when he was six. Not academically challenged in school, his parents decided to home school him. He was homeschooled through middle school and self-taught through high school.

These distinctive educational journeys allowed Wiedemann to experience and pursue a variety of interests, which translated to his current passions. He owns and currently operates a small bee farm for profit, which he founded at 14.

His experience as a homeschooled student was an influence on his decision to choose to attend Tusculum.  “The block system is, in essence, how I already did my schoolwork at home, so I assumed it would be easier to become acclimated to a school atmosphere if the structures were similar,” he said.

As he settled into Tusculum, Wiedemann found a supportive environment. “The faculty, staff and administration of Tusculum have played a major role in changing my life, he said. “I cannot count the number of people, from adjunct faculty to President Moody, that have taken a personal  interest in my development as both a student and an individual, going above and beyond in helping me succeed. The personal relationships I hold with many of the professors have greatly affected my life goals, and I see many of them as role models.”

Wiedemann plans to continue his education and will be attending the University of South Carolina in the fall to pursue a doctorate in mathematics. His future goal is to become a professor at a research university and be an advocate for science education for underprivileged or underrepresented minorities.