GREENEVILLE – Achievement brought abundant smiles from graduates and loud cheers from family members as Tusculum University celebrated these students’ transition to alumni during the commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13.
Dorian Craven is hooded by Dr. Chris Kauffman.
Graduation begins at Tusculum University.
More than 100 students completed their studies for an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree and will now proceed with their careers or pursue further studies. The graduating class included students from nine states and four countries, reflecting the wide array of students the university attracts and the cultural enrichment that variety brings to Tusculum family members’ lives and the community.
“We are thrilled to mark the culmination of these students’ studies and recognize their personal and professional growth,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “A Tusculum education transforms lives by not only instilling the academic knowledge students need but also helping them become even better citizens and strengthening their faith. This form of learning will undergird them as they enter the workforce or proceed to the next phase of their studies.”
The ceremony came at the conclusion of a challenging week for the Tusculum family. Freshman Payton Cook, who was in the business administration program and a member of the men’s lacrosse team, passed away Friday, Dec. 5, in a car accident. Tusculum held a memorial service for him Monday, Dec. 8, and observed a moment of silence during graduation.
“The service showed, in a powerful way, what the Tusculum family truly is – a Christian community that shows up for one another, grieves honestly, prays faithfully and surrounds those who are hurting with compassion and care,” said Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, who is not related to Payton. “As we continue to lift up Payton’s family, his teammates and the four other students who were injured and are now recovering, we are reminded that even in moments of deep loss, God is near and present among His people.”
Highlighting graduates
Forty-seven graduates earned master’s degrees in Tusculum’s business, education and sport management programs. Forty-six obtained bachelor’s degrees in fields such as business administration, elementary education, communication, history, biology, computer science, psychology, sport science and sport management. Twelve earned associate degrees in general studies.
Xavier Velazquez, middle, stands with Chuck Sutton, right, from the Office of Student Affairs and Steve Anderson from Student Support Services after the ceremony.
The additional degree will empower graduate students to take their careers to another level or offer them a chance to switch directions in their professional lives. A good example is the Master of Arts in Teaching, which enables students who have earned a degree in a noneducation field to become certified teachers. One of the graduates was Callie Kersey, who teaches in a rural area that was devastated by Hurricane Helene. She chose Tusculum because of the weekly synchronous Zoom sessions in which all of the students interact with one of the professors.
One of the recipients of a Master of Sport Management was Sierra “Nic” Doherty, who was a graduate assistant coach for Tusculum’s baseball program and then worked for Major League Baseball as a replay operator. She helped decide the winner of this year’s Home Run Derby.
Many undergraduates have made the most of their time at the university and offer compelling stories.
Xavier Velazquez, who came from Florida and earned a degree in business administration, developed into one of the more recognizable and beloved people on campus through his magnetic personality. Velazquez played football for part of his time at Tusculum and later became a real estate agent. His path to Tusculum was not the sunniest, but he did not let that stop him.
During an episode of the national television show “The College Tour” that featured Tusculum, Velazquez shared he was a first-generation student who lost his father when he was 4 and was homeless during his senior year of high school. He highlighted through personal experience how affordable Tusculum is and the additional help he received through Student Support Services.
That program provides academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial aid and scholarship support, financial literacy guidance, cultural and social activities and visits to graduate schools to first-generation and income-eligible students as well as those with disabilities.
“Tusculum helped prepare me as a student for life’s endeavors,” he said. “My Tusculum experience helped show me that even through the ups and downs, anything is possible as long as you remain true and faithful. It helped me learn the true value of friendship and relationships.”
Velazquez relishes his conversations with Chuck Sutton, vice president of student affairs and retention, who provided advice on everything, including life, finances and religion.
Zoey Seay, left, stands with her family after the ceremony.
Todd Wallin, right, wears his mascot boots as he shakes hands with Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president.
Todd Wallin, who earned a bachelor’s in history education 6-12, played a significant role in the campus environment through his extracurricular activities. He was the male lead in the productions of “Mamma Mia” and “Newsies” and a member of the cast of “The Glass Menagerie” at Tusculum. He was also a producer for the Tusculum Young Actors Studio Showcase and appeared in “The College Tour episode” to talk about Tusculum’s arts programs.
In addition, he specialized in entertaining audiences by wearing the costume of Zeke, Tusculum’s mascot, once nailing a half court shot at a special event.
“There has been a lot to enjoy at Tusculum, but for me, the best part has been the people – the teachers who showed me that I could always strive for more, the opportunities they presented to me, the chance to put smiles on children’s faces as the mascot and the fellow students who I had the pleasure of embarking on this journey with,” Wallin said. “Another thing that I certainly enjoyed was the opportunities I had in the theater program at Tusculum. The chance to tell so many stories to people as I was walking through my own – I will never forget that.”
Zoey Seay, who now holds a degree in communication, was a member of Tusculum’s debate team for three years and rose to the position of team vice president. She was also in the Honors Program and SSS.
Lily Burgner, right, receives congratulations from Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president.
In addition, Seay served as managing editor and assistant fiction editor for “The Tusculum Review,” the university’s international literary journal, this year. She was the publication’s assistant poetry editor in 2024. Through that experience, she was able to read submissions from authors who wanted to appear in “The Tusculum Review,” perform the layout of the ones being published and correspond with the authors.
“I really enjoyed participating in extracurricular activities like debate and doing things with the Honors Program because I got to meet more people. I got to develop my public speaking skills. I learned a lot that is going to be transferrable to my career – stuff that wasn’t even part of my major. I definitely think that all of the classes I’ve taken and all the skills I’ve learned through my internships and through my courses have helped me prepare to enter the workforce.”
This year, the assistant poetry editor for “The Tusculum Review” was Lily Burgner, who earned her associate degree. What is particularly impressive about her degree is that she received it while she remains a student at Chuckey-Doak High School. She has been a dual enrollment student at Tusculum. She said she was honored to be a member of the publication’s staff and that it was special to work with the authors
“It’s really just working closely with all of these authors and all of these professionals and being able to be that mediating point,” Burgner said. “This is something important that’s going to be published. I have to make sure that it’s good. I have to make sure that it’s right. I have to make sure that it looks nice. It really helped push me into a world of, ‘Oh, this is probably my first step into adulthood.’”
Undergraduate speaker
The undergraduate speaker during Saturday’s graduation was Fisher Overton, who earned a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, elementary education K-5. His goal is to pursue a career in instructional leadership. As an online Tusculum student, he became a member of the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society and was selected for Teachers of Promise, a program that enabled him to spend a weekend with educators from Tusculum and other universities to advance his knowledge in the field.
Fisher Overton delivers the undergraduate student speech at graduation.
Overton follows in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Ronald Overton, who graduated from Tusculum 14 years ago. He described having a wonderful experience at the university, with professors who were committed to sharing their insights and creating a loving and caring relationship. In his remarks, he talked about impact and change.
“Regardless of the fields we will end up in, we will come across countless individuals that we can and should make a change for,” Overton said. “For myself, teachers have had the greatest impact on me and truly shaped my journey to pursue the educational field. I have been blessed to teach fifth grade as I finish my degree, and the moments that I have spent with my students through these five months are moments that are already irreplaceable. I am in a position of change. A position where my impact matters.”
No matter what the backgrounds are of the people one meets, the most fulfilling outcome one could desire for them is success, Overton said.
“We should encourage those around us to take risks, to stand up to challenges and act outside of their comfort zones because these key events help people discover who they are, what they want to become and ultimately, the path that they will take,” he said. “The time we are allotted with those we love and care for is not infinite, so act now and diligently.”
Graduate speaker
Speaking on behalf of the graduate students was Dalton Ramsey, who was hooded as a Master of Arts in Teaching recipient. He became an elementary school teacher in the summer. He focused his remarks on passion. He said that feeling helped him to persevere through his graduate studies and said it was what led many people to choose their particular fields of study.
Dalton Ramsey, the graduate student speaker, is hooded by Dr. Peggy Goodson-Rochelle during commencement.
“Passion is the spark that nudged us forward before we had the knowledge, the skills or even the confidence,” Ramsey said. “It was that inner voice saying, ‘This is where you belong.’ But passion isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a commitment to showing up, even on the days when enthusiasm feels out of reach. Throughout our college journey, passion did not just mean loving what we do. It meant learning to push through confusion, asking for help, stumbling, relearning and finally understanding. It meant discovering joy in the process, not just in the outcome.”
Ramsey said passion also supplies purpose.
“It reminds us that our jobs are more than just careers— they’re contributions to our fields. Each of us have the opportunity to make an impact, whether we’re designing safer communities, advancing technology, healing others or inspiring the next generation. When we bring passion to our occupation, we elevate not just ourselves but also everyone our work touches. So, I say to my fellow graduates, ‘Hold onto that spark you discovered during your time here. Let it guide you and push you toward excellence.’”
After the graduates walked the stage, Dr. Cook addressed them.
“Your legacy at Tusculum University will not be defined solely by what you accomplished while you were students here, but by how you live out what you have received. Our hope is that the Christian care you experienced at Tusculum will be a springboard for lives marked by service, generosity and love. Just as you were poured into, may you pour into others – excelling, as Scripture calls us, in faith, in knowledge and in love. Please know that we will continue to pray for you, and we look forward with great anticipation to seeing where God leads you next.”
Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.