GREENEVILLE – Family members enjoy many significant moments together, and the jubilant graduation ceremony Saturday, Dec. 14, at Tusculum University provided a memorable experience for one father and son in Greene County.
Tim Bailey, left, and his son, Tyler, share a moment together before the graduation ceremony.
Tim Bailey received a Master of Arts in education, with a concentration in curriculum and instruction, and his son, Tyler, collected a Master of Arts in teaching. These degrees were the latest accomplishment for the two Greene County teachers and meant even more because they graduated at the same time.
“It’s like adding the topping to the cake,” Tim said. “I was pleased to earn my master’s degree, but it was that much more special to share the stage with my son. I’m really glad I stuck with my pursuit of this degree. It was a lot of hard work, and I am thankful to Tyler and my daughter, Talley, for helping me through this process.”
Tyler said his father has had a major impact on him.
“He’s the reason I wanted to become a teacher and a coach,” Tyler said. “When I was younger, I was always at his practices and visiting his classrooms. I looked up to him and wanted to pursue the same career path as my dad. When I look at my diploma, I will think about how we went through this together.”
Tyler teaches math to juniors and seniors at Chuckey-Doak and North Greene high schools, and he is an assistant football, basketball and baseball coach. His father teaches eighth grade math and seventh grade English at Baileyton Elementary School. Tim has taught in the school system for 29 years and has served as a head football, baseball and softball coach.
Tim’s wife, Donna, encouraged her husband to pursue the master’s degree because he had stopped coaching this year and their children were grown. She also knew Tim had a longtime desire to return to school for his master’s. Tim and Donna helped Tyler as he explored his options for graduate school and talked with an extremely helpful Dr. Paul Fox, a former professor and dean at Tusculum, about the requirements.
Tim also received a bachelor’s in business administration and a minor in education from Tusculum in 1984, and Tyler received a bachelor’s in mathematics in 2017. Talley, who is also pursuing a Master of Arts in teaching, will be the next one on the Tusculum graduation list.
Graduation numbers
Between the master’s, bachelor’s and associate levels, 244 students participated in graduation with family members and friends in the audience and watching online. Tusculum added new elements to commencement – hooding master’s degree recipients on stage and having all faculty members from a student’s degree program greet the graduate when he or she exited the stage.
The university continued its beloved tradition of all faculty members and deans forming two lines through which all graduates passed at the end of the ceremony. The event also featured remarks from graduate student Sarah Yeaple and undergraduate student ReAnna Saunders, who were nominated by faculty members and selected by the Dean’s Council as commencement speakers. Yeaple received a Master of Arts in talent development, and Saunders received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, with a concentration in computer science.
Overcoming adversity
A few students have particularly compelling stories.
Deshawn Davis celebrates his graduation with fellow Tusculum University students, left to right, Malik Goodman, Marta Rodrigues and Maurice Gomillion.
Deshawn Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts in sport management and a minor in coaching. During his time at Tusculum, Davis experienced trauma that greatly impacted his life – the loss of his brother De’Mon to gun violence. In the midst of his understandable grief, however, Deshawn became motivated to succeed as he completed his studies and his time on the football team.
“It was tough to lose De’Mon because now you have to live off the memories,” Deshawn said. “It made me realize that life is short and that it is important to love everyone and enjoy your time on earth because you do not know when someone precious to you will be gone.”
De’Mon’s death pushed Deshawn to perform better and show his best effort on the field. Academically, he believed he owed it to his brother, himself and his family to accomplish this important goal of graduation.
Deshawn wants to remain involved in athletics and is focused on finding a job where he can use his degree. But he also has a goal of giving back to others, demonstrating his commitment to the Tusculum principle of civic engagement.
Katie Odoms earned a Master of Arts in talent development during Saturday’s ceremony.
Katie Odoms received a Master of Arts in talent development, a year after she earned a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing. Before Odoms arrived at Tusculum in 2014, she and her family experienced many challenges. They switched housing many times, and her parents dealt with joblessness and housing difficulties. At one point, the family lived out of a hotel.
Fortunately, this first-generation student was able to enroll at Tusculum with the help of academic scholarships, work-study programs and loans.
“I’ve never had a set home, so when I came to Tusculum as an undergraduate, it became like a permanent home to me,” Odoms said. “It was nice when I started at Tusculum to know that I didn’t have to move. I knew I was always going to be able to keep coming back. There was always support at Tusculum if I couldn’t see my family or they couldn’t see me and a feeling of security through those who work at this institution.”
For the last year, Odoms has served as a graduate student in the Office of Student Affairs. Now, she wants to work in a middle school or high school, be a resource for students and pay it forward. Her desire is to make them feel comfortable, understand they can be themselves and showcase their individuality.
Kim Kidwell, left, and Nicole Rader, who work in Tusculum’s Institutional Advancement Office, received a Master of Arts in talent development in Saturday’s graduation.
A message from Tusculum’s leadership
Dr. Greg Nelson, Tusculum’s acting president, congratulated all graduates.
“This is a major milestone in their lives, and we are extremely proud of them for the tremendous effort they have made during their studies at Tusculum,” he said. “When they have experienced difficulties, they have persevered, and when they have been given the opportunity to succeed, they have embraced it. We are ecstatic to now count them among our alumni, many for the second time, and look forward to their future success.”