Susan D. Vance as been named Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Tusculum College, Acting President Dr. Angelo Volpe has announced. Vance, a 1991 Tusculum alumna, had been fulfilling duties of that role on an acting basis since February.

Vance, a Greene County native with extensive experience in working with nonprofit community organizations, joined Tusculum College in October 2003 as Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. She was promoted to Director of Development and Alumni Relations in July 2005 and was named Acting Vice President in February 2007.

In making the announcement, Dr. Volpe said, “We are fortunate to have Ms. Vance in this leadership role. In addition to being a 1991 alumna of Tusculum College, she has more than 10 years of experience in fund raising. I am delighted to welcome Ms. Vance to her new position, and I look forward to working with her.”

Even before joining Tusculum College, Vance was well known in Greene County for her successful work in community service organizations, including Family Ministries, a nonprofit Christian child and family care ministry located in the Camp Creek community. She was marketing and corporate development manager for Family Ministries.

At Family Ministries, Vance assisted in raising $1.1 million dollars in a capital campaign, organizing key events and orchestrating a Campaign Operations Committee consisting of key individuals from across the region.

She also generated a donor base of more than 500 individuals and corporations from Knoxville to Southwest Virginia, the primary marketing area for Family Ministries. Vance was also instrumental in efforts to increase the Family Ministries visibility in the community and its participation in other community programs such as Greeneville-Greene County Promise and Partners In Education. One of her major accomplishments was the creation of a Greeneville Christian Leadership Roundtable this spring, based on similar organizations in the Tri-Cities.

Vance also organized a 2003 fundraiser for the Hope Center, a crisis pregnancy center and division of Family Ministries, that generated more than $25,000 for the center, which operates entirely on donations.

Vance is active in the community, having been a chairman of the Kidney Walk for Greeneville and Greene County, serving on the steering committee for Kid’s Day and as chairman of the Champions Dinner, both projects of the Boys and Girls Club.

She serves or has served on the boards of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County, the Volunteer Center of Greeneville and Greene County, the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Mountain Empire Chapter, and the National Kidney Foundation. She has also served on the National Philanthropy Day Committee, Interagency and in the Kiwanis Club of Greeneville.

Vance was named a “40 Under Forty” designee in 2002, an award presented to 40 young men and women throughout East Tennessee under the age of 40 who are considered rising business leaders.

She has also been named a “Successful Single” in Northeast Tennessee by Marquee Magazine.

During Homecoming 2006, Susan received The Frontier Award, presented annually to an outstanding alumnus or alumna in recognition of meritorious advancement in his or her career.

Vance’s professional experience also includes six years of service at the Greene County Partnership, including three years as director of Keep Greene Clean, now Keep Greene Beautiful. Keep Greene Clean/Keep Greene Beautiful program was named the number one program of its kind in the country in 2000 under Vance’s leadership.

She also served as director of EcoQuest International’s first internal public relations department during 2001-02.

Vance lives in the South Greene community with her son, Austin Dale, and attends Victory Church of God, where she is the organist.

The TC Bookstore is bringing back the Mother of all Sales!

Buy two, and get one for a penny on all clothing items!

For example, if you buy two of our popular hoodies, you get a third one for 1 penny! Or, if you buy two of our trendy Rainbow Tees, get the third for a penny!

The sale applies to clothing items only. This is limited time offer so drop in and check us out. Items are available to ship, so if you can’t make it in, give us a call we’ll send it to you!

The TC Bookstore is located in Niswonger Commons next to the Post Office. We are open Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.

This spectacular sale ends Friday June 15th at the close of Business. No other discounts apply.

TC Bookstore
PO Box 5056
Greeneville, TN. 37743
(423)636-7307
(423)798-1639 Fax

Bos promoted to professor at Tusculum College

Dr. Antonio Bos, who has taught at Tusculum College for 11 years, has been promoted to professor of business administration.

Dr. Bos’ promotion was approved by the college’s Board of Trustees during its meeting on May 19.

He earned his doctorate at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and was a post-doctoral fellow in Health Economics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md.

He has research interests in health economics, especially concerning the relationship between the social-economic circumstances and the health status of the elderly in Brazil, his home country.

“I provide a unique perspective based on my international background, personal experiences and research endeavors,” Dr. Bos says. “In all my years at Tusculum, I have always been able to maintain a good rapport with students and I enjoy teaching at our college.”

Professional organizations in which he is involved include the American Economics Association, International Health Economics Association, and American Health Economics Association.

Casteel promoted to associate professor at Tusculum College

Dr. DiAnn Casteel, who has taught in both the traditional and adult programs at Tusculum College, has been promoted to associate professor of education.

Dr. Casteel’s promotion was approved by the college’s Board of Trustees during its meeting on May 19.

She taught in Tusculum’s Graduate and Professional Studies program for eight years and began teaching traditional classes in the fall 2004 semester.

Dr. Casteel has 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in the Greene County School System. She has also taught as an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Intermont College, Walters State Community College, and for Tusculum in the early 1990s.

She earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis at East Tennessee State University and also received an M.A. as a reading specialist from ETSU. She is also a Certified Novell Administrator, has written book review articles for a professional journal, “The School Administrator,” and presented a paper to the Mid-South Educational Research Association.

Dr. Casteel has also served as a grant reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Education. Active in the community, Dr. Casteel has served and provided leadership in such organizations as 4-H, the Girl Scouts, and USS Greeneville Inc, the organization that helped work for a naming of a U.S. Navy submarine for Greeneville and provides support for the sailors on the boat. She was a member of Rotary International’s first Women’s Group Study Exchange Team to visit India. As a result of this trip, she began to contribute books and materials that led to the formation of a Library/English Medium School in Chirala, India, and also obtained sponsors for more than 20 cases of materials and books for use in the library/school.

Darko promoted to associate professor at Tusculum College

Dr. George Darko, who has taught at Tusculum College since 2003, has been promoted to associate professor of economics.

Dr. Darko’s promotion was approved by the college’s Board of Trustees during its meeting on May 19.

He teaches organizational management courses, primarily Finance and Economics, in the Organizational Management program.
Previously an instructor at Mid-Continent College in Kentucky, Dr. Darko earned his Doctorate of Arts in economics from Middle Tennessee State University, and also received his master’s degree from that school. He completed undergraduate studies at Arkansas State University.

He is involved in a number of community service projects in the Knoxville area. He recently published an article in the Journal of International Trade and Economic Development entitled, “The gains from trade in a small monetary economy” (with Richard Dusansky & Pankaj Maskara & Nadeem Naqvi).

McCallister promoted to associate professor at Tusculum College

Ron McCallister, who has taught at Tusculum College since 2000, has been promoted to associate professor of computer science.

McCallister’s promotion was approved by the college’s Board of Trustees during its meeting on May 19.

McCallister was born in Alaska but grew up in Nashville. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and received a B.A. in history. He earned a master’s in history at East Tennessee State University, then later a second master’s, this time in computer science.

He joined Tusculum College’s history department in 1994-95, served there two years, then became Director of Institutional Research, the Director of Advising, the Director of Registration, and the Coordinator for the Society of Cicero. After leaving administrative work he rejoined the Tusculum faculty in computer science and served as program chair for three years. He is currently serving as Chair of the Admissions & Standards Committee, and is working on a doctorate from the University of Tennessee. He is an avid pilot and motorcyclist and enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter.

McCallister was recently appointed the Director of the School of Arts and Sciences at the college. He will assume these duties beginning July 1. As school director, he will serve as the key coordinator for all academic programs in the Arts & Sciences disciplines, both in the traditional college programs and the Gateway program of the Graduate and Professional Studies program.

Paulling promoted to professor at Tusculum College

Dr. John Paulling, who has taught at Tusculum College for 12 years, has been promoted to professor of mathematics.

Dr. Paulling’s promotion was approved by the college’s Board of Trustees during its meeting on May 19.

He serves as the Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science at the college where he has taught all mathematics courses except for Trigonometry and basic Math.

Dr. Paulling previously held professorial appointments at the University of South Carolina, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Wofford College, and Texas Tech University.

He is the author of 17 books and two research papers in mathematics and has translated an advanced mathematics text for Springer Verlag. Dr. Paulling has conducted workshops on the use of graphing calculators, and taught courses in programming, foreign languages (German and Spanish), culture (German, Spanish, and Caribbean), and literature. Dr. Paulling completed a doctorate in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University and joined the US Army, where he completed language school qualified in at least seven foreign languages, served in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Pentagon, and was a member of the team responsible for directing and advertising the transfer to an all volunteer force. Interested in many areas of knowledge, he studied German at the Universität Freiburg, and had extensive undergraduate coursework at Georgia Institute of Technology in physics, English, and German.

On Tuesday (May 29), Tusculum College welcomed Tennessee Technological University President Emeritus Dr. Angelo Volpe as temporary Acting President of Tusculum College in the absence of President Dr. Dolphus Henry.

Dr. Henry began a leave of absence last week. Since Monday, the president’s duties have been covered by Provost and Academic Vice President Dr. Kimberly Estep, but on Tuesday, Dr. Volpe, a member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees, will take on the acting president role until mid-June.

When Dr. Volpe’s service period is completed, another trustee with presidential experience in higher education will act as president at Tusculum College for approximately another month. He is Dr. Edward Kormondy, retired as Chancellor Emeritus and professor of biology at the University of Hawaii-Hilo and at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu. After retirement, Dr. Kormondy served as Interim President of the University of West Los Angeles School of Law.

Board Chairman Dr. Ken Bowman, said Tusculum College is extremely fortunate to have two highly qualified, distinguished and dedicated trustees to serve the College through this transition period.

While Tusculum College is under trustee leadership, a search will be conducted for a longer-term Interim President to take over executive duties. Drs. Volpe and Kormondy will continue to share the presidential duties until a full-time Interim President can be on campus.

Tusculum College is consulting with the Registry for College and University Presidents to provide an Interim President. That organization is made up of retired college and university presidents who are willing to take on interim presidencies during transitional periods such as that now facing Tusculum College.

The Registry, according to its web site, has contracts with more than former college and university presidents and more than 50 senior administrators, all of whom have been selected for membership based upon nominations and pre-screening evaluations.

VOLPE BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Angelo Volpe is retired President Emeritus of Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. He also taught chemistry at TTU.

In the 1980s, Dr. Volpe, a New York native, was vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of chemistry at East Carolina University. He has also been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina and a teacher of chemistry at East Carolina and the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. He received his doctorate from the University of Maryland and was a research chemist in the U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory in the 1960s. He is active in professional organizations and is extensively published in scholarly journals.

He and his wife, Jennette, live in Cookeville. The Tennessee Tech library is named in their honor as the Angelo and Jennette Volpe Library and Media Center

Dr. Volpe joined the Tusculum College Board of Trustees in 2005. His initial interest in Tusculum College derived from his friendship with Dr. Tom Garland, himself a former Interim President of the college. Garland headed the Tennessee State Board of Regents at the time Dr. Volpe was hired as president of Tennessee Tech. Drs. Volpe and Garland today work together as trustees of Tusculum College.

KORMONDY BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Edward Kormondy lives in Los Angeles and is in his second period of service as a trustee of Tusculum College. He was a trustee previously from 1970 through 1972, then rejoined the board in 1998.

Dr. Kormondy received his undergraduate degree at Tusculum College in 1950, then earned a master’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan.

In addition to his work with the University of Hawaii system, he has served in administrative and/or academic roles at the University of Michigan, Oberlin College, the University of Pittsburgh, Evergreen State College, the University of Southern Maine and California State University-Los Angeles.

Dr. Kormondy is known at Tusculum College for his faithful attendance at trustee meetings and other college functions despite the long distance between Los Angeles and Greeneville. He has been active on board committees and is currently the board’s vice chairman.

He has written and edited textbooks in biology and is a noted writer/editor even beyond the field of biology. He is currently completing preparation of a book profiling college and university presidents who have transformed the institutions they served. One of those profiled is former Tusculum College President Dr. Robert Knott.

One of Tusculum College’s most active Board of Trustee members and alumni was honored with the 2007 Distinguished Service Award Friday night, given each year to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the life and progress of Tusculum College.

James F. “Jim” Durham, a member of the class of 1979 and a trustee of the College for nearly two decades, was presented the award by President Dr. Dolphus E. Henry during the President’s Dinner in the Chalmers Conference Center of the College. Durham, 49, lives in Brentwood and is a full-time “community volunteer” who devotes his time to public service volunteerism.

Presented the framed award, Durham said he was surprised and “humbled” to receive the honor. He expressed his love for Tusculum College and “the community that supports Tusculum College.” The President’s Dinner is held annually to honor major donors of the college.

Present to see Durham honored was his wife, Lynee, who had been told of the award in advance. She provided many of the biographical details used to create the framed award document and the associated remarks given by President Henry in making the presentation.

Dr. Henry described Durham as a native Tennessean who has such a dedication to Tusculum College that he attended his first board meeting while he and his wife were on their honeymoon. Durham has missed only two meetings of the Board of Trustees in his years on the board, one of those during a major ice storm and the other because the Durhams’ daughter, Allison, was being born.

Durham is the “seven-times great-grandson of Samuel Doak, one of Tusculum’s founders,” Dr. Henry noted. He added that Durham’s father, Walter, is the official state historian for Tennessee. Durham’s mother, Anna, was a student at Tusculum College during the 1940s.

“The values of volunteerism and public service are so much a part of the spirit of this year’s honoree that he retired at a young age so he could devote his life to being a full-time community volunteer,” Dr. Henry said of Durham. “He is highly active in his church, serving in leadership roles and taking part in ministry programs to the homeless and in prison ministries.”

Durham has served as a teacher and mentor for prisoners in the Metro-Nashville Jail and the Riverbend Maximum Security Prison in Nashville, the location of Tennessee’s Death Row.

He has also been a volunteer teacher in schools in Nashville devoted to helping troubled teenagers who are in alcohol and drug recovery. He is also a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity for projects in Davidson and Williamson counties.

“In short”, Dr. Henry said, “this year’s honoree stands as a fine example of the kind of citizen Tusculum College seeks to develop. He exemplifies successful living on many important levels – success in business, community life, church life, and family life. And because he has involved his successful life with the life of Tusculum College, this College is itself a more successful enterprise than we ever could have been without him.”

Also at the dinner, incoming Student Government Association President Duane Randolph, Crossville, spoke to the group, thanking the college’s donors for their support of students. He said he looked forward to his year as SGA president and would work toward helping make Tusculum College a “healthy and happy institution.”

Dr. Kenneth Bowman, chairman of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees, brought greetings to the group from the board, calling his alma mater “a wonderful place with a wonderful future.”

Dr. Henry also addressed the group, giving an update on the college and passing along the text of an email that was recently received via the college web site from a Florida resident who met Tusculum College’s baseball team while the team took part in a tournament in Tampa.

The text of the email is as follows:

“On May 16, 2007, three colleagues and I went to Ya Ya’s for lunch in Tampa, Florida. When we got to the restaurant, we found your entire baseball team in line. They let us go first because we were a small group (and they let other small groups go before them as well). They were all as polite and well mannered as they could be. Without exception, these young men had a neat appearance. Even though they wore shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops, they were clean and neat. There were no too-baggy shorts, offensive slogans on t-shirts, or anything like that. In fact, a few of the shirts had the slogan, “It is NOT all about me”. These young men were truly wonderful representatives of your college. We chatted a bit with them in line, and they could not have been any nicer. My school-age sons love sports, and I would have loved for them to see such wonderful role models. There was no cursing to be heard, no pushing, and no loud behavior or antics in the restaurant. Their behavior is a credit to their families and to your school. Even though your team is playing a Florida team tonight in Tampa, my friends and I are all rooting for you.”

More than 100 visitors attended the President’s Dinner, which was catered by Sodhexo, the company that operates Tusculum College’s food services.

Professor Ron McCallister has been appointed the Director of the School of Arts & Sciences, upon the recommendation of Dr. Kim Estep, Tusculum College Provost and Chief Academic Officer, College president Dr. Dolpus E. Henry announced.

“Ron brings to this position a wealth of experience, as a faculty member (in two departments, history and computer science), as an administrator, as a program coordinator, and as a committee chair of Admissions & Standards. During ten years of service at Tusculum College, he has earned the respect of his colleagues for his tireless work ethic and his willingness to stand up for what is right for the college,” said Dr. Henry.

Professor McCallister will assume his duties beginning July 1. As stipulated in the Faculty Handbook, his appointment is for three years. As School Director, he will serve as the key coordinator for all academic programs in the Arts & Sciences disciplines, both in the Residential College and Gateway programs. In addition to the duties already enumerated in the Faculty Handbook for this position, Ron will be charged with:

• Undertaking responsibilities related to the SACS Reaffirmation process
• working with the other School Directors and Department Chairs on creating an adjunct faculty evaluation process, and
• ensuring that our programs across the college are delivered with academic quality and integrity

For the present time, Professor McCallister has been asked to work directly with the department chairs in Arts & Sciences on institutional leadership issues, as the three division directorships will be temporarily or permanently vacant as of Fall 2007. The academic leadership team will re-evaluate the needs for division-level leadership at some point next year.

” I am delighted to welcome Ron as a member of our academic leadership team at Tusculum College! Please give him your encouragement and support as he undertakes these critical tasks,” Dr. Henry said.

Three hundred and twenty-nine students earned degrees Saturday morning during the spring commencement at Tusculum College.

Twenty-four students earned master of arts degrees in rganizational management. Earning bachelor of arts degrees were 174 students. One hundred and ten earned bachelor of science degrees in organizational management.

Speaking on behalf of the Class of 2007 during the ceremony were Keith Graybeal and Leanne Lietzke.

Graybeal challenged his fellow graduates to show compassion in whatever career fields they pursue because that compassion and kindness are what people remember.

Leanne Lietzke, who earned a bachelor of arts degree, said she had thought about what she would say to her fellow graduates and decided she did not want to deliver the typical commencement speech offering advice to those earning their degrees.

Rather, she said, she wanted to wish her fellow graduates the best in life, but also the bad times. While the good in life is to be enjoyed, Lietzke said, the difficulties provide individuals the opportunities to learn and grow to become better people.

“It’s a story, and it’s yours, and whatever happens, just make sure you feel your life,” she said.

In his baccalaureate address, campus chaplain Dr. Stephen Weisz told the graduates that their answers to two simple questions, who are you and what are you doing, can make a significant difference in the lives of others.

Weisz read a passage of the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus told his followers, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” He told the graduates that they can reflect God’s compassion and love to everyone they meet.

“You will always have people around you who long to know they matter and that they make a difference to someone,” he said. “If they can see in you kindness and thoughtfulness, it will make them feel much better about who they are.”

Weisz challenged the graduates to spend some time each day contemplating the questions of who they are and what they are doing. “If who we are and what we do is for the sake of others, we will be reflections of God,” he said.

Also addressing the graduates were Tusculum President Dr. Dolphus E. Henry and Susan Vance, director of development and alumni relations and acting vice president of institutional advancement at the College.

The graduates were led into Pioneer Arena for the commencement ceremony by seven members of the Tusculum College Class of 1957, this year’s “Golden Pioneer” (50-year anniversary) class. Wearing gold robes and caps, the Golden Pioneers also led the new graduates out of the arena as the ceremony ended.

Participating in the ceremony were Class of 1957 members Mary Sue Brakebill, Ralph Horne, Jack Kilday, Zella Malone, Tessie McCorkle, and Rome Weems, Jr., who are all from the Greene County area, and Jim de Baun, from South Carolina. They were recognized during the ceremony by Dr. Henry.

Conferring the degrees to the graduates were Dr. Henry and Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, provost and academic vice president.
Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a civic arts institution committed to developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. Twenty-nine hundred and thirty-eight students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and nine off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.

More than 320 students are expected to be graduated Saturday morning during the spring commencement at Tusculum College.

Ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m. in the Pioneer Arena located in the Niswonger Commons.

Keith Graybeal and Leanne Lietzke will present brief student addresses on behalf of the graduating class. The baccalaureate sermon, entitled “Who are You?,” will be presented by Campus Chaplain Dr. Stephen R. Weisz. Also addressing the graduates will be Dr. Dolphus E. Henry, president of the college, and Susan Vance, director of development and alumni relations and acting vice president of institutional advancement at Tusculum.

Special processional guests this commencement include members of the Tusculum College Class of 1957, this year’s “Golden Pioneer” (50-year anniversary) class.

Conferring the degrees will be Dr. Henry and Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, provost and academic vice president.

Two bagpipers, Jon Shell and Ben Pollard, will lead the commencement processional, as is traditional at Tusculum College. Organist James Winfree will provide musical accompaniment, with vocal music led by Jill Jones of the Tusculum College staff.

Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a civic arts institution committed to developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. Twenty-nine hundred and thirty-eight students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and nine off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.

Christine Riser, news director at WJHL-TV, describes a regional crisis communications system that is being opened up for use by higher education. The pager system allows higher education institutions and other participants the ability to instantly and simultaneously contact Northeast Tennessee broadcast media about emergency situations so that information can be communicated to the public. This communications system was previously only available to police, firefighters, and other emergency responders. Also part of the symposium were “round table” discussion groups on the issues of law enforcement/emergency response, communications, and counseling that gave participants an opportunity to ask questions and share with each other their institutional practices and procedures in emergency response.

Dr. Zdziarski also shared from his experience in working with student affairs at Texas A&M University in 1999 when a campus bonfire collapse occurred, causing 12 student fatalities and several student injuries. He emphasized that colleges need to think of crisis management as a process. While most institutions typically do well in responding to a crisis, more attention needs to be paid to planning and taking measures to prevent crisis situations, he said. Different levels of planning are needed to prepare for response to different type of problem events, whether they involve some environmental situation such as a hurricane or chemical spill, a situation involving a structure, or a human event, such as the shootings at Virginia Tech. More attention is also now being paid to the recovery of the campus from a crisis and addressing the long-term needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Dr. Eugene Zdziarski, dean of students at the University of Florida, shares his expertise in campus crisis response with participants in the regional Critical Response Symposium on Tuesday. Tusculum hosted and facilitated the symposium to allow regional colleges to learn more about planning for crisis situations and share with one another their best practices and procedures for responding to campus crisis situations. Sixty-nine people participated in the symposium, including 49 registered guests from 18 colleges and universities and 11 from emergency and law enforcement agencies and community organizations. Three non-registered participants also took part. Colleges included several from the Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia region as well as from other areas in Tennessee as far west as Jackson.

What is a normal meal for the majority of people around the world?

The answer to that question was provided at the Oxfam Hunger Banquet on Wednesday (April 18) at Tusculum College.

For admittance to the banquet, individuals were asked to bring a canned food item or make a donation of at least $1. The canned food items are being donated to the Mission Soup Kitchen at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Greeneville and a majority of the donations will be given to local charities with a smaller percentage sent to Oxfam to support the organization’s international efforts to combat hunger.

The Hunger Banquet is designed to inform participants about the daily reality of the world’s population in terms of food resources, which finds a majority living on subsistence or less amounts of food. The event was sponsored by Sodexho, the Bonner Leaders Program, the Women’s Leadership House and the Center for Civic Advancement.

During the Hunger Banquet, participants were divided into three groups to illustrate the percentages of people living at different economic levels. The largest group represented the low income group. These sat on the floor and were given dry rice and water from a bucket with no utensils.

A much smaller group represented the middle income level, who served themselves beans and rice with water, but had utensils and sat in chairs. Another small group, representing the high income level, were seated at a neatly decorated table and served a three-course meal.

The event is part of “Poverty Awareness Week” on campus, which was student-organized to include activities each day to bring awareness of issues related to poverty, including homelessness and hunger.

On Monday evening, the college hosted a panel discussion about homelessness. Participating on the panel were Donald Minor, vice president and “Point-in-Time” chair of the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH); Andrew Hicks, a homeless veterans outreach clinician for the Mountain Home Veterans Administration Center; and Steve Edwards, a resident of Manna House, a transitional recovery home in Johnson City.

Minor described the activities of ARCH, a volunteer organization that works with more than 60 agencies that provide services to the homeless. Agencies that provide service to the homeless apply through ARCH to receive grant funding for programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). ARCH also conducts HUD-mandated “point-in-time” surveys of the homeless, which students at Tusculum have helped conduct in past years.

He also commented that ARCH itself receives none of the funding HUD provides for direct service to the homeless and depends on private donations for much of its activities. ARCH is having a fundraising dinner and silent auction on Friday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Millennium Center in Johnson City. Tickets for the dinner are $50 with a special price of $35 for college students. ARCH needs to raise thousands of dollars in matching funds to receive its grant or it may face ceasing its activities at the end of May.

There are a variety of reasons that people are homeless, such as health problems, mental illness, substance abuse, and financial problems that all have to be addressed in helping people become established in a home for the long term, Minor said.

Hicks discussed his work with veterans, going out to such places as homeless camps to try to locate veterans and then link them to services they may need.

Edwards told the students about his substance abuse problem that had resulted in his loss of his home and business. A veteran, he was treated in programs at Mountain Home, but relapsed after his return to the community. Edwards said Manna House had given him another chance to rebuild his life, and now he has maintained his sobriety and joined its staff.

Minor said that cases like Edwards’ point to the fact that ARCH is in the “restoration business” in trying to address people’s issues before they become homeless, noting that many are “one drink, one drug, one bill” away from homelessness.

Also as part of Poverty Awareness Week, informational displays have been set up in the Niswonger Commons highlighting organizations that fight poverty, and a canned food drive has been conducted.

Poverty Awareness Week activities end on Friday night with a “Sleep Out for Homelessness,” in which students will experience the homeless condition by sleeping outside overnight.

A large crowd of students, faculty, and staff gathered Wednesday morning for a community prayer service to offer intercessory prayers for all those who have been impacted by the tragic events at Virginia Tech earlier this week.

Led by the Rev. Dr. Steve Weisz, campus minister, a number of students took an active role in leading prayers, responsive readings, and scripture readings during the brief service that was held inside the Living Room of the Niswonger Commons building.

The prayer service was organized to allow the Tusculum community an opportunity to come together to reflect on the tragedy and pray for those at Virginia Tech, to remember and pray for those of the Tusculum community who may have connections to the victims at Virginia Tech, and for the Tusculum community itself, said Dr. David McMahan, vice president of student affairs for the college.

The service followed a liturgical order of service with responsive readings, confessionary and intercessory prayers, and scripture readings, all led by students. Among the scripture readings were passages from Ecclesiastes and Psalms. The passage from Ecclesiastes 3 was the familiar passage about “a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

Also read was a passage from Psalm 91 about God’s protection and strength, as well as the well known 23rd Psalm.

Dr. Weisz then led the group in a prayer asking God to comfort and strengthen the families of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy, the survivors, and all the students, faculty, and staff of Virginia Tech.

After the service, Connie Kretchmar-Sitz, the college’s counselor, was available to speak to those wished to talk to someone about the tragedy.

The service also brought local and regional media to campus, including reporters from the local newspaper and radio station as well as those from two Tri-Cities television stations, WJHL and WCYB.

Student excellence in academics and outstanding service by faculty and staff were recognized during Tusculum College’s annual Honors Convocation Thursday, April 12.

The President’s Award was presented to Ashley Moreira, a senior majoring in English with a literature concentration who is from London, Ontario, Canada. The Bruce G. Batts Award was presented to Anup Kaphle, an international student from Katmandu, Nepal, who is majoring in English with a writing concentration. The two awards are the top honors presented to students.

Academic Honors

Senior Honor Key Awards were presented to students who have earned a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their major, shown achievement and aptitude in the major, and possess strong character. Following are the award recipients and their degree programs:

Biology – Justin Montgomery of Sevierville, Tenn.
English – Anup Kaphle of Katmandu, Nepal
General Management – Taylor Olsen of Bristol, Tenn.
K-12 Education – Allison Higgins of Greeneville, Tenn.
Management Accounting – Tori Buck of Jamestown, Tenn.
Mathematics – Frank Ottinger, Jr. of Greeneville, Tenn.
Physical Education – Joshua Fleenor of Sneedville, Tenn., and
Gerald Watt of Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Political Science – Daniel Estes of Talbott, Tenn.
Pre-Secondary Education – Samantha Harrell of Morristown, Tenn.
Psychology – Jessica Horton of Hendersonville, N.C.
Secondary Education – Shanna Malone of Greeneville, Tenn.
Special Education – Ginny Swaggerty of Afton, Tenn.
Sport Science – Rebecca Carreiro of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and
Luana Pereira of Salvador, Bahia Brazil,
Visual Arts – Ana Cantor of Troy, Va.

Recognized as Honor Students for having a 4.0 grade point average were:

Henrique Alves Rodrigues of Salvador, Brazil
Marne Louis Nash Armstrong of Afton, Tenn.
Cindy Lynn Barrett of Surgoinsville, Tenn.,
Ashley Claudene Bradford of London, Ky.
Erika Marie Carter of Chuckey, Tenn.
Lena Eidson-Kelly of Odenville, Al.
Andrea Christine Guinn of Limestone, Tenn.
Jarrell Dupree Nesmith of Russellville, Ala.
Jeremiah John Peterson of Unicoi, Tenn.
Alexander W. Smith of Mosheim, Tenn.
Kristin Marie Watkins of Middlebury, Vt.

Alpha Chi Seniors:

Sarah Alston of Morristown, Tenn.
Tori Buck of Jamestown, Tenn.
Jamie Gibson of Greeneville, Tenn.
Samantha Harrell of Morristown, Tenn.
Jessica Horton of Hendersonville, N.C.
Anup Kaphle of Katmandu, Nepal
Eliza Land of Greeneville, Tenn.
Leanne Lietzke of Bristol, Tenn.
Shanna Malone of Greeneville, Tenn.
Taylor Olson of Bristol, Tenn.
Luana Pereira of Salvador, Bahia Brazil
Alison Pierce of Hampton, Tenn.
Angela Webb of Chuckey, Tenn.
Eric Wilkerson of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Alpha Chi Academic Excellence Award: Amanda Kyker of Telford, Tenn.

Dr. Shirley Beck Award: David Goforth of Knoxville, Tenn.

Master of Arts in Organizational Management Award: Erin Williams of Limestone, Tenn.

David Behan Award: K. Marie Hodge of Lenoir City, Tenn.

Curtis and Billie Owens Literary Prize:

Fiction: Rebecca (Becca) Friddle of Honea Path, S.C.

Non-fiction: Eliza Land of Greeneville, Tenn.

Poetry: Anup Kaphle of Katmandu, Nepal

E.H. Sargent Award in Science: Candace Allwardt of Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Doug Ratledge Environmental Science Scholarship: Aislynn Hartman of Greeneville, Tenn.

Warren Lynn Drain Award: Leanne Lietzke of Bristol, Tenn.

Theatre Arts:

Samantha Kidd of Boston, Va.
Eric Wilkerson of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Scott Howard of Wakefield, Mass.
Shanna Malone of Greeneville, Tenn.
TAHPERD Award (Tennessee Association Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Outstanding Major Award):
Nicole Ferris of Lebanon, Ohio

NASPE Award (National Association for Sport and Physical Education):
Michael Bujnik of Greeneville, Tenn.

Praxis Award – Given to students who are Education majors and scored in the top 5 percent of the scores on this national test:
Rodney Biddle of Athens, Tenn.
Miki Cruser of Knoxville, Tenn.
Kelly Day of Knoxville, Tenn.
Bradley Drinnon of Morristown, Tenn.
Keith Graybeal of Sevierville, Tenn.
Samantha Harrell of Morristown, Tenn.
Rebekah Hatfield of Tazewell, Tenn.
Rachel Hinkle of Midway, Tenn.
Carley Lester of Chuckey, Tenn.
Dustin Morrow of Lexington, Ky.
Laura Quemore of Lake City, Tenn.
Lisa Richardson of Knoxville, Tenn.
Amber Ridley of Whitesburg, Tenn.
Emily Waddell of Clinton, Tenn.
Christie Wolf of Sevierville, Tenn.
Jenny Wyatt of Morristown, Tenn.
Sandra Young of Robbins, Tenn.

Outstanding Education Students:
Alejandra Chavez and Angie Tulley, both of Greeneville, Tenn.

Service Awards

Service-Learning Award:
Becky Carreiro of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Kimberly Coapstick of Merritt Island, Fla.
Jeremy Jones of Marietta, Ga.
Shannon Palenkas of Maryville, Tenn.
Sarah Philipp of Hendersonville, N.C.
Charles Sullivan of Anderson, S.C.

Bonner Leaders Program Award:
Sudipa Shrestha of Nepal

Walter T. Dette, Jr. Memorial Athletic Spirit Award:
Luana Pereira of Salvador, Bahia Brazil

Faculty, Staff Awards

Kay W. Leonard Outstanding Service to Students Award:
Dennis Lingerfelt, assistant professor of computer science

Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award (Residential College):
Ron McCallister, assistant professor of computer science

Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award (Graduate and Professional Studies):
Dr. Richard Ross, professor of management

Staff Award:
Todd Eason, assistant men’s soccer coach

Recognition of Longevity:

20 years of service:
Joyce Combs, administrative assistant, residential student accounts
Chris Summey, network systems analyst
Nancy Thompson, registrar

15 years:
Marilyn duBrisk, artist-in-residence
Diane Urban, assistant professor of management

10 years:
Tim Carter, assistant professor of management
Karen Chapman, director of financial aid
Joyce Doughty, director of the Center for Civic Advancement
Kathy Joy, director of the Graduate & Professional Studies Tri-Cities Center
Mike Joy, head women’s soccer coach
Ron McCallister, assistant professor of computer science
Dee Roby, executive assistant to the provost and faculty secretary
Robin Underwood, coordinator of faculty services, SE

Recognition of Volunteers for the Library:
Anna Mooneyham

Recognition of Volunteers for the Museums of Tusculum College:
Doak House Museum and President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library:
Josh Ashby
Jolin Babcock
Amy Barnum
Camey Buck
Barth Cox
Dr. Bob Davis
Marilyn duBrisk
Sam and Emily Doak
Joyce Doughty
Eugenia Estes
Dr. Kim Estep
Angie Ellenburg
Dr. Paul Fox
Mark Freshour
Casey Freshour
Donna Freshour
Burke Greear
William Hardy
Delina Hensley
Kendra Hinkle
Tom Janaskie
Amy Jewell
Gayleen Kelley
Dr. Carol Hartman
Julia Jones
Dr. Angela Keaton
Jo Anne Lintz
Don Miller
Agnes Myers
Cody Neas
Jean Peek
Jane Pilloni
Jeannie Rademacher
Joy Seher
Dr. Don Sexton
David Smith
Joann Snyder
Shirley Snyder
Lillian Taylor
Karen Thies
Heather Tunnell
Dr. Joel Van Amberg
Leah Walker
Jean Weaverv Kayla Webb
Gloria Weiszv Dr. DiAnn Casteel
>Grant Collins
Alina Lucas