GREENEVILLE – Community members can play a vital role in helping Tusculum University students become career-ready professionals with a financial gift that will make a degree at the higher education institution even more affordable and enhance their collegiate experience.
Student Keylon Reynolds works on the anti-cancer drug research project.
Tusculum is holding Pioneer Nation Day of Giving Thursday, April 25. From midnight to 11:59 p.m., the community can make an impactful gift to support general scholarships through the Tusculum Fund. Donors can also support the arts, athletics, campus ministries and many other programs and initiatives at Tusculum that appeal to them.
“Tusculum University has demonstrated a pioneering spirit and provided an outstanding education that has transformed the lives of students for 230 years,” said Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement. “We value our community connections and are grateful for the gifts we have received from our friends, neighbors and alumni. Now, we seek to build on that tradition of support through Pioneer Nation Day of Giving, which will help us prepare our students for the next step in their lives.”
Roberts said no gift is too small to assist the university and its students. More than 50 percent of Tusculum’s Pioneers are first-generation students, meaning their parents or guardians do not hold a bachelor’s degree. He noted that holding a college degree is the key that opens so many more doors for students in the job market and increases their earnings potential.
A Tusculum education has value. Roberts highlighted that Tusculum biology and chemistry students have worked with Dr. Dennis Ashford, associate professor of chemistry, to conduct research on potential new medications to fight cancer. The group has created about 20 compounds for testing and analysis and has been published in national journals. Also in the sciences, two Tusculum students discovered a potential new crayfish species while they were on the Tusculum Nature Trail in 2023.
Many Tusculum undergraduate business administration majors as well as Pioneers in other fields have applied their learning and specialized training from Dr. Harold Branstrator, associate professor of management, to prepare free tax returns for eligible community members. Students in the Tusculum Master of Business Administration program complete a Comprehensive Business Project course in which they explore in depth a need facing an organization and present solutions that have attained savings of tens of thousands to millions of dollars.
Tusculum students have also achieved in programs such as English, where they have worked on “The Tusculum Review,” the university’s literary journal, and “Sit Lux,” an entirely student-produced journal. Some history students are developing an exhibit for the James K. Polk Home and Museum. Art and design students have created murals for community organizations and a custom graphics package for the Ford Mustang.
The university also feeds the pipeline of new teachers with its robust teacher education programs. Tusculum students can also impact the sport science field after receiving an undergraduate degree or obtain the knowledge they need to be accepted in physical therapy and occupational therapy programs as well master’s degree programs for athletic training.
“Through abundant active and experiential learning and civic engagement opportunities, our students are well equipped for the workforce upon graduation,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “Our graduates will, in turn, strengthen the communities they serve through the caliber of their work, their contributions to the local economy and their commitment to civic engagement. Supporting our students by providing funds for scholarships gives them access to wonderful academic programs and pays short-term and long-term dividends.”
A donation to Tusculum not only enhances students’ academic experiences. Tusculum is focused on the holistic development of students, enriching their lives through spiritual offerings.
Bryce Jackson, right, drives with the ball in Pioneer Arena.
Students, faculty members and ministers participate in Stations of the Cross during Holy Week.
In 2023, Bible Keeper, a Christian website dedicated to helping followers of Jesus in their individual journey to eternal life, ranked Tusculum No. 1 in Tennessee in a list of the best Christian colleges. Tusculum students grow in their faith through weekly chapel sessions and ministries, such as Breaking Bread, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Bible studies on campus as well as programs provided at local churches.
Tusculum is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), but students of all denominations and those with no faith are welcome at the university. When they attend Tusculum, additional spiritual opportunities are available, such as trips to the Holy Land. In 2023, four students participated in a two-week trip to Israel, and three spent three weeks excavating a historic site in that country with biblical connections.
Athletics and the arts expand the horizons for students and provide an outlet for the community to directly participate. Tusculum has 23 athletic teams and is a member of the South Atlantic Conference. Student-athletes have a primary goal when they are on the field of winning the game or match, and many of the university’s teams have captured titles in recent years. But these Pioneers also accumulate other important skills, such as teamwork and leadership, as part of their participation in athletics.
Tusculum student Todd Wallin, gesturing, participates in a rehearsal for “Newsies.”
Tusculum has an extensive arts program, which includes theater, the student band and the community band, as well as the Clem Allison Art Gallery. Some students are pursuing degrees or minors related to the arts, while others take part as an extracurricular pursuit. The university usually offers two major theater performances each year and multiple musical performances. Community members appear in the cast of many productions or play in the community band.
“The cultural and spiritual avenues open to our students and the community demonstrate the comprehensiveness of Tusculum,” Dr. Hummel said. “Our arts program is exceptional and our spiritual activities and identity are strong and continue to grow. When one combines those with our stellar academic programs, a person can easily see why Tusculum is a wise investment. Our university is responsible for a $58.3 million annual economic impact on the region, so the health and well-being of Tusculum is essential to East Tennessee as well.”
To donate on Pioneer Nation Day of Giving or beforehand, please visit https://giving.tusculum.edu/pioneer-nation-day-of-giving-2024/?a=1. Anyone with questions can call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.