GREENEVILLE – The Tusculum University Alumni Association has honored four individuals from the higher education institution for their achievements and support.
Left to right, Belle Kemp, Carol Eggert, Angelo Botta and Bob Kleinertz celebrate Botta’s award.
Left to right, Belle Kemp, Bob Kleinertz and Tiffany Greer honor Erika Witt, who participated virtually in the ceremony and can be seen on the screen.
During the Alumni Association meeting Saturday, Oct. 14, which occurred during Homecoming, the group presented these recipients the following awards:
- Erika Witt, a 2012 Tusculum graduate – Frontier Award
- Angelo Botta, an assistant professor of sport science at Tusculum and a 1975 graduate of the university – Pioneer Award
- Tricia Hunsader, Tusculum’s provost and vice president of academic affairs – Honorary Alumni Award
- Dennis Ashford, an associate professor of chemistry at Tusculum – National Living Faculty Award
“We congratulate these men and women for their outstanding performance and contributions to the university’s success and influence in the community,” said Bob Kleinertz, whose presidency of the Alumni Executive Board concluded at the end the Alumni Association meeting. “They represent Tusculum with distinction and are inspiring examples to alumni, today’s students and the community. This track record of great work assures me that we will learn about further success from these four well into the future.”
Frontier Award
The Frontier Award, created in 1995, goes to an outstanding alumnus or alumna in recognition of outstanding or meritorious advancement in that person’s career. The former student must have graduated between five and 15 years ago to be eligible, and judges take into account continuing and loyal service to Tusculum.
Witt graduated from Tusculum with a bachelor’ degree in museum studies and a minor in history and then earned a master’s degree in museum studies and cultural preservation from Southern University in New Orleans. She is now pursuing a doctorate from Louisiana State University. She serves as director and chief curator of the Southern University at New Orleans Museum of Art.
Tiffany Greer, a 2015 graduate, said Witt is a successful independent museologist who is engaged primarily with collections management and museum education. She said Witt’s goal is to make museums more meaningful, impactful and inclusive to underserved communities as well as educate communities on traditional African art history.
Pioneer Award
The Pioneer Award was created in 1962 and is presented to an outstanding alumnus or alumna in recognition of outstanding or meritorious achievement in that person’s chosen field; distinguished service to his or her church, community, country and humanity; and continuing and loyal service to Tusculum.
Carol Eggert, a 1976 Tusculum alumna, presented the award to Botta and noted his service to the university as a faculty member, chair of the Alumni Executive Board and twice as Tusculum’s women’s basketball coach. He also served as a student assistant coach for the Tusculum men’s basketball team. At the conclusion of the Alumni Association meeting, Botta began serving again as AEB president.
In addition to earning his bachelor’s degree from Tusculum, he received a master’s degree from East Tennessee State University and has completed post-graduate studies at three universities. Eggert noted that Botta is a leader in the community and at church, holding many roles.
Honorary Alumni Award
Left to right, Belle Kemp, Bob Kleinertz, Jackie Rose and Dr. Dennis Ashford pose for a photo after Dr. Ashford was honored.
Left to right, Belle Kemp, Bob Kleinertz, Carolynn Kinser and Dr. Tricia Hunsader pose after Dr. Hunsader received her award.
The Honorary Alumni Award dates to 1996 and goes to a Tusculum employee who did not attend the university but has made outstanding contributions to the higher education institution and the community. The person must be currently working for the university and have served in the Tusculum family for at least five years.
Dr. Hunsader earned her Bachelor of Arts in finance and her Master of Arts in elementary education from the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She served in multiple leadership roles at the USF, Sarasota-Manatee, before coming to Tusculum.
She has coauthored two books and published more than 20 articles and book chapters. She has presented her research in mathematics assessment across the globe. She has also made multiple mission trips to Cambodia and helped found Hope for Cambodia, which raises funds for orphan care, kindergarten through sixth grade education for orphan and village children and high school tutoring.
National Living Faculty Award
The National Living Faculty Award was created in 1996 and is presented to a Tusculum faculty member. The award’s purpose is to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Tusculum’s academic programs. To qualify the faculty members must have been a Tusculum employee for at least five years.
Dr. Ashford earned a bachelor’s in chemistry from Northern Kentucky University. He then earned his doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of North Carolina. His dissertation was “A Molecular Solution to Solar Fuels,” and he has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in the artificial photosynthesis field. He then worked at Eastman Chemical Company as a research chemist before joining the Tusculum faculty in 2017.
During his time at Tusculum, Dr. Ashford has guided chemistry and biology students in the study of potential new anti-cancer drugs. The project has brought about 25 students to the chemistry lab to create compounds and perform some of the testing on them. Students have published a paper on their research in Dalton Transactions, a chemistry publication for research results. They have also made presentations within the industry, including at the American Chemical Society Conference in San Diego.
Additional information about the Alumni Association is available at https://web.tusculum.edu/alumni/. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.