GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University alumni who serve on the higher education institution’s Board of Trustees motivated today’s students to fulfill their aspirations during the Opening Convocation ceremony Friday, Oct. 4, to formally open the academic year.
Dr. Larry Brotherton, a member of the Tusculum University Board of Trustees, speaks during the Opening Convocation ceremony.
“Tusculum was the place where I gained vision,” said Dr. Larry Brotherton, a 1970 graduate and a business owner. “Once I got to Tusculum, I could start to see the opportunities that lay before me, and I would make a plan that I thought could be successful.
“Over the years, the plan in my mind codified to be like this: The Pioneer Way is changing aspirations into visions, changing visions into degrees and changing your degrees into life adventures. That’s what Tusculum has meant to me and why I am so pleased to be a graduate.”
Walter Johnson, who graduated a year later, said Tusculum played a major role in his success as a businessman, including traveling to 35 countries, securing two patents and participating in three company acquisitions. He also shared that during his life, he has lectured at Yale University three times and at Tusculum about 10 times.
“I would put our students up against the ones that I had in class at Yale,” he said. “Yale has a prestigious name. Tusculum produces prestigious people.”
Walter Johnson, a member of the Tusculum University Board of Trustees, speaks during the Opening Convocation ceremony.
Dr. Jane Morse, a 1977 graduate, said Dr. Robert Davis, one of her biology professors, was a key figure in her career. He encouraged her to set a goal and embrace the challenge of pursuing physical therapy school. She has now been in that profession for more than 40 years and has used that lesson from Dr. Davis throughout her career. His words also encouraged her to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy when some of her colleagues were reluctant.
Likewise, Dr. Morse urged today’s students who face a difficult challenge or who might be afraid to embark on a tough career to establish their goals and move forward with the opportunity in front of them.
Other trustees who spoke to the students were Dr. Ken Bowman, Dr. Judith Domer, Jim Durham, Sanford Miller, Dr. Scott Niswonger and Ann Westervelt.
Dr. Jane Morse, a member of the Tusculum University Board of Trustees, speaks during the Opening Convocation ceremony.