GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University will welcome back alumni and celebrate this special time of year with a variety of family friendly activities that will simply be out of this world during the institution’s annual Homecoming in October.
Tusculum enjoys seeing its alumni back on campus for Homecoming. In this photo is alumna Angela White-Wilson, left, with Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, on the right. They are joined by Karl Wilson, Angela’s husband.
Homecoming is a great time for alumni to gather. In this photo are two alumnae – Jackie Rose, far left, and Dr. Jane Lovvorn Morse, third from the left. They are joined by Glen Rose and Ginny Alexander.
Homecoming kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 11, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 15. Alumni, community members and the Tusculum family will find plenty to enjoy on campus, including the Glow Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run; the Homecoming parade; the football team’s game against UVA Wise; a men’s beach volleyball tournament; and a showing of the first vampire movie made. The five days of exciting activities will provide another reason for guests to visit Tennessee’s first higher education institution.
The full schedule can be viewed at https://site.tusculum.edu/homecoming-2/, and people can register for activities by visiting https://go.tusculum.edu/homecoming/. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 6. Homecoming’s theme this year is “Out of This World.”
“Coming home is an important part of our alumni’s lives as Tusculum Pioneers, and I am honored to invite them to return to their alma mater,” said Belle Kemp, director of alumni and community engagement. “Homecoming will reunite alumni with classmates and friends to reminisce and revitalize their ties to Tusculum. Their participation is important to the success of our university and today’s students, and we are excited to see them on campus again.”
Former students will especially benefit from returning to their alma mater by participating in the Alumni Dinner and Dance, an alumni breakfast, decade photos, the annual alumni meeting and memorial service, a tailgate before the football game, a cheerleader reunion and an alumni men’s basketball get-together.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, will update alumni during the breakfast about all of the initiatives that are preparing today’s students in a caring Christian environment to be career-ready, civically engaged professionals.
Local ministers participate in the Pastors’ Prayer Breakfast during Homecoming in 2022.
The Tusculum cheerleading team rides a fire truck during the Homecoming parade in 2022.
The community will also contribute to the success of Homecoming. Ministers will kick off Homecoming Oct. 11 with the annual Pastors’ Prayer Breakfast, during which they pray for the students, faculty and staff at the university. The next night features Glow Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, with participants having the option to wear glow sticks as they run. This activity will also feature the participation of Paul Codispoti, who has been diagnosed with ALS and will be pushed in a cart by friends as they run.
Friday, Oct. 13, will fit the bill for that particular date’s reputation with a showing of “Nosferatu,” a silent film that is also the first vampire movie. The horror film will be projected onto the Doak House Museum, and Tusculum students will sell concessions. Dr. Peter Noll, professor of public history and museum studies, said the movie is another way to inject fun into Homecoming.
Tusculum student-specific events are the Cosmic Cookout with alumni and a student bonfire and pep rally.
In addition to all of these activities, Tusculum will hold an open house for potential new traditional students, and a crew from “The College Tour” will be on campus to film an episode about the university that will air in 2024. Plus, the university will hold ceremonies for the naming of the Stan R. Welty Jr. Lobby in Welty-Craig Hall and the Niswonger Foundation Room as part of the Dorm Refresh Campaign.
“Our campus will be buzzing throughout these five days, and we look forward to spending time with our alumni and the community,” Dr. Hummel said. “Whenever I meet alumni, I hear great stories about the way Tusculum enriched their lives and positioned them for success after graduation. We are also pleased to build on our connections with the community by engaging with our guests while they are on campus. We are thrilled Homecoming has arrived.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.