GREENEVILLE – Board of Trustees members, donors and staff members witnessed the transformation of a residence hall lobby at Tusculum University and celebrated the financial gifts that paid for it and other enhancements at a ceremony Thursday, Oct. 12.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, speaks during the ceremony.
Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement, thanked Janet Welty and Dr. Scott Niswonger during the ceremony.
The higher education institution honored Janet Welty for her generous $25,000 donation in memory of her husband, which covered the costs of an updated two-section Stanley R. Welty Jr. Lobby at Welty-Craig Hall. Tusculum also recognized Dr. Scott Niswonger, a board member, prominent businessman, civic leader and philanthropist, who donated $10,000, by naming a room in Welty-Craig after the Niswonger Foundation.
Welty and Dr. Niswonger contributed to the Dorm Refresh Campaign, which is paying items such as new furniture, flooring and ceiling fans as well as fresh paint and enhanced lighting in the residence halls. Additional items the money from Ms. Welty and Dr. Niswonger supported in Welty-Craig included a new television and a refresh of the laundry room.
“Thank you, Ms. Welty, and thank you to Dr. Niswonger for his gift as well,” said Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement. “We’re grateful for the people who have helped us carry out our mission since 1794 of growing young people into impactful, prominent, thoughtful, good, solid citizens.”
Ms. Welty participated in the ceremony via the Zoom platform, and she expressed her happiness about being present for this celebration. She learned about the Dorm Refresh Campaign through Tusculum’s alumni newsletter and knew her husband would have contributed to this cause were he alive today. Her husband received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tusculum in 1951, supported his alma mater financially as an alumnus and served on the Board of Trustees. A successful businessman, he earned an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2005 from the university.
Claire Hensley, left, associate vice president of student affairs and retention, and Jim Durham, a Board of Trustees member, admire improvements to the Stanley R. Welty Jr. Lobby.
Top row, left to right, Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, Dr. Greg Nelson, chair of the Board of Trustees; and Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement, stand as Janet Welty watches via Zoom. Dr. Hummel is holding the plaque for the Stanley R. Welty Jr. Lobby.
Dr. Niswonger earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tusculum in 1987 and received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the university in 2006. He said the Dorm Refresh Campaign contributes to the overall learning that occurs in college. He also liked the way this fundraiser will stimulate a fun and inviting environment in the residence halls and help students progress in their studies.
Tusculum set a goal of raising $110,000 and has exceeded that by $13,000. Tusculum is continuing to accept donations for the Dorm Refresh Campaign through National Day of Giving on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
“There is still a lot more that we can do with some additional money to help with our residence halls, but this has been a fantastic outcome so far,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “I’m really appreciative for those who have made this Dorm Refresh Campaign possible. It’s not just the donors who have given money even though they were not students but also the ones who gave because they are alumni. I love to see that link between alumni and this generation of students.
“We know that an important part of the Tusculum experience is not just an outstanding education but also for residential students to build memories and establish friendships. We love our students, and we want them to have the best experience at Tusculum.”
Dr. Hummel said a particularly profound moment during the Dorm Refresh Campaign came on move-in day in August when students living in the Charles Oliver Gray East residence hall, the first one to be refreshed, saw the new look.
“To watch the expressions on the faces of our students who were returning and saw the difference that occurred over the summer brought us great joy,” he said.
Anyone who is interested in donating to the Dorm Refresh Campaign can visit www.tusculum.edu/giving. Donors can also mail a check, made payable to Tusculum University, to the Office of Institutional Advancement at P.O. Box 5040, Greeneville, TN, 37745. Please note that the check is for the Dorm Refresh Campaign.
Additional information about the campaign is available at https://site.tusculum.edu/dorm-refresh/. Further detail about Tusculum’s residence halls is accessible at https://site.tusculum.edu/housing-2/. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.