GREENEVILLE – As students enter finals week, their normal routines for eating and sleep can alter while they prepare for exams and other requirements for the end of the semester.
Dr. Greg Nelson, Tusculum’s acting president, shows off some of the cooked eggs.
Tusculum University has established a special tradition at this time of year that ensures students have at least one good meal – and it comes late at night. On Wednesday, Dec. 11, university administrators, as well as members of the Board of Trustees members, faculty and staff members prepared and served a delicious spread for students.
This meal, called the President’s Midnight Breakfast, was served from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 12:30 a.m. Thursday. More than 300 students poured into the cafeteria to enjoy pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage to fuel their stomachs before hitting the books again.
“Our students work extremely hard during the semester to succeed academically, and they expend even more effort during finals week,” said Dr. Greg Nelson, Tusculum’s acting president. “We are happy to give them some additional nourishment during this special time in the semester so they can focus on their studies.”
Dr. Jacob Fait, dean of the College of Business, left, and Doug Jones, vice president of athletics and university initiatives, make pancakes during the President’s Midnight Breakfast.
Emily Brinton, Katie Odoms and Emma McQuiston enjoy the breakfast.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria was jovial, as students chatted and laughed, with some heading back to the serving line for seconds. With the proximity on the calendar to Christmas, some students wore holiday attire to inject some seasonal cheer into the occasion.
River Donnelly, a senior English major, welcomed the opportunity to eat a late-night meal.
“Finals are stressful,” he said. “It takes a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of mental energy. The pancake breakfast helps. It relieves some of the stress, gives us a reason to take a study break and lets us recharge a little bit. The pancakes are also fluffy and tasty. They remind me of something out of IHOP or my mother’s home cooking.”