This year marks the 25th anniversary of Tusculum College’s Graduate and Professional Studies program, and the milestone is being marked by anniversary celebration activities and events planned for Knoxville, Morristown, the Tri-Cities and Greeneville.
The Tri-Cities event is set for Saturday, June 20, at MeadowView Convention Center from 7:25 p.m. to 9:25 p.m. The event will feature a celebration reception with a chance to meet and mingle with others associated with the GPS program, as well as a brief program that will feature Tusculum College President Dr. Nancy B. Moody.
“We hope to see all the alumni of the GPS program for the Tri-Cities area come out and celebrate this milestone for a program that has helped so many attain their dream of higher education,” said Brandon Redwine, a procurement professional for the Global Chemical and Energy group at Eastman Chemical Company and a 2003 graduate of the GPS program. Redwine has served on the planning committee for the event.
The event is planned for all GPS graduates, including those who participated in the TALL and TAG programs, as well as for faculty, staff, current students and all who have helped this program develop into one of the top adult education programs in the state over the past 25 years.
Since 1984, more than 10,000 working adults have realized their dreams by earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree at Tusculum College. The program is specifically designed with working adults in mind, allowing them to continue to work while achieving their dream of higher education.
“We are celebrating 25 years of making dreams of a college education come true for non-traditional students,” said Dr. Lisa Johnson, director of the Graduate and Professional Studies Program in Northeast Tennessee and assistant professor of education at the College.
“Tusculum College has helped aspiring professionals complete both undergraduate and graduate degrees while working full-time, raising a family and seeking job advancement. For 25 years this program has helped working adults advance their education. This year, we celebrate the success not only of the program, but of the students,” said Rev. Lester D. Lattany, a member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees, a GPS graduate in both in 1987 and 1991 and president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Washington County Tennessee. Lattany has also participated on the planning committee for the Tri-Cities event.
The event is free of charge, however, registration is encouraged.
The Graduate and Professional Studies portion of the Tusculum College Web site has been redesigned to provide information on all the 25th Anniversary events and to allow for online registration. On the site, visitors are able to get information on each of the events, register for one or more events and see a list of those who are planning to attend each event. For more information about the celebrations, to make reservations or get updates on the events, please visit www.tusculum.edu/adult/anniversary.html.
“This is a year-long celebration of all the successes of the Graduate and Professional Studies program, and there are many exciting things planned,” said Cindy Necessary, also a member of the planning committee and a 2001 and 2004 graduate of the GPS program. Necessary is a human resources representative at Brock Services, Ltd.
A reception event is planned for the Country Club in Morristown on June 26, from 5:25 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. and a tailgate party and football game event in Greeneville is set for October 17.
For more information about the GPS celebrations contact Cody Greene, coordinator of development and alumni relations at Tusculum College at 423-636-7303 or email ccgreene@tusculum.edu.