Tusculum College’s President’s Society is closing out its second year on campus and celebrating successes in building student leaders in the civic arts culture of practical wisdom and service to others.
The President’s Society is an elite student organization dedicated to promoting and fortifying the mission of the College. The students serve as ambassadors to the College, serve as hosts for campus visits, participate in leadership and ethics training and assist with campus events.
The current 14 President’s Society students have hosted student tours and assisted with College recruitment efforts and recently had the unique opportunity to serve as hosts to a community Economic Forum, where they were invited to spend one-on-one time with the keynote speakers of the event, Commissioner Greg Gonzales of the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and Regional Manager Gary Beasley, FDIC Division of Insurance and Research.
“These kinds of opportunities will hopefully prepare the students for the future and help them with the career choices and job searches in the future,” said Melissa Ripley, director of operations and marketing for the College’s Admission Office.
“We have a very structured process for recruiting students to the President’s Society, said Ripley. “Students must be nominated to be considered and are then selected based on demonstrated leadership skills, participation in campus life and ability to communicate with others.”
Nominations for candidates for the third year of the program are currently being sought, and the current group of students is making plans to increase their activities next year.
One thing the group has discussed is adding to their goals for next year a President’s Society service project, said Jessica McKay, a President’s Society member. “It would not only be a way for us to show our dedication to the community and the College, but it would also a bonding experience for us – a way for us to spend time together while doing a service-learning project.”
Ripley said that in addition to their duties as ambassadors and hosts for the College, the students receive college credit for the training courses they are required to attend. These courses include leadership skills, ethics, communication skills and business etiquette programs.
Students also participate in a team-building and goal-setting retreat and take a learning trip to explore business, government or a cultural aspect of an area. Last year’s group traveled to Washington, D.C.
Cody Greene, a recent Tusculum College graduate and former President Society member who now works as coordinator of development and alumni relations for the Department of Institutional Advancement at the College, said the experience was invaluable.
“Through the President’s Society, students learn to be professional and practice skills that will help them in their future careers,” Greene said. “Having that experience made me more confident when I began looking at job opportunities after graduation.”
Members of the Tusculum College President’s Society, front row, left to right, are Sharad Mani, Kristin Wonderley, Chanaine Hunter, Kelsey Longwell and Lynnsey Jett. Second row: Lucas Craig, Amber Sharp and Sierra Sims. Third row: Rachel Barnard, Simon Holzapfel and Jessica McKay. Back row: Glenn Vicary, Mark Persaud and Jason Seaton