GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University recently recognized donors for their support of scholarships and heard students share about their positive experience studying at Tennessee’s first higher education institution during a recent Pioneer Promise dinner on campus.
Student Aidan Dark, middle, joins Marilyn duBrisk, left, and Wess duBrisk for a photo.
Dr. Scott Hummel, middle, takes time for a photo with students Aidan Dark, left, and Jaida Ellison.
The event in Chalmers Conference Center brought together donors with university leaders and Board of Trustees members to celebrate the support Tusculum and its students have received and to reinforce the benefits of continued giving. Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president; Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement: Rick Raum, a planned giving specialist who is assisting with Tusculum’s fundraising efforts; and students Jaida Ellison and Aidan Dark thanked the donors for their generosity.
The importance of estate planning
Raum shared how he learned about Tusculum when he and his wife retired in Greeneville about three years ago. He had a higher education background and quickly detected some of Tusculum’s strengths.
Rick Raum speaks during the Pioneer Promise dinner.
“It didn’t take long for me to recognize at Tusculum outstanding aspects of purpose, excellence and community,” he said. “It’s impressively clear to me that generations of men and women who have studied here have been blessed – truly and abundantly.”
He highlighted his role at Tusculum in promoting opportunities for planned giving, which enables people to transfer their assets to a desired party upon their passing. He said he would welcome the opportunity to meet with people to discuss their life experiences and connections with Tusculum and the way a planned gift to the university, whether it be a general allocation or for a designated purpose, such as scholarships, can shower blessings on students now and in future generations.
Raum expressed his appreciation to Wess and Marilyn duBrisk, two former Tusculum employees, who have included Tusculum in their estate planning. The couple attended the dinner and are now part of the university’s Heritage Circle as a result of their decision.
Students telling their scholarship stories
Participants at the dinner heard from Ellison, a junior communication major, and Dark, a junior history education major. They discussed the value of scholarships and a Tusculum education.
Student Jaida Ellison discusses her Tusculum experience.
Ellison designed a booklet for a $13.5 million fundraising campaign, called Frontiers, that Tusculum is launching, $8 million of which will go to scholarships. She said that experience helped her refine her skills in layout and graphic design. She poured her heart and soul into the initiative because of the direct impact on her and other Tusculum students.
“The scholarship opportunities that Tusculum has provided for me was the most important reason why I chose the university, along with the student atmosphere that I am able to experience,” Ellison said. “These scholarships have alleviated financial stress and helped me to put more effort on accomplishing my work as a professional student and pursuing my degree.”
She said her time at Tusculum has been fantastic. She serves as the lead guitarist for the Students Pray on Thursdays ministry at Tusculum Baptist Church and has built lasting friendships with fellow students. She also highlighted the ways her professors have assisted her outside the classroom – enabling her to support a foundation; participate in debates, which have grown her presentation and public speaking skills; analyze multiple perspectives on controversial topics so she can respond well to them; and develop her teamwork and business and management abilities.
Dark, who also plays on the football team, expressed his gratitude for the donations and scholarships.
Student Aidan Dark shares his story.
“Since I was 4 years old, it was always a dream to go to college as well as play college football,” he said. “Without people like you, I would not be standing here today. Starting my clinicals for my degree and playing football as well as trying to stay up to par on my studies and keeping that high grade point average, I have discovered it’s not doable to have a job to provide the income to go to college and pay tuition. I’m very thankful for you helping me to achieve my dream and be here today.”
The scholarships also helped convince Dark’s brother to sign to play football at Tusculum. Dark said his brother is receiving a lot of scholarship money because of his GPA.
Dark described his Tusculum experience as amazing. He cited the biblical passage Proverbs 35:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord, thy God, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will show which path to take.” He said God kept showing him that Tusculum was the best place for him, and he received confirmation of that in conversations with other people and through additional Bible verses.
“I really enjoy history education,” he said. “I’m ready to start this first semester of clinicals. I’m excited to teach these younger kids. But my favorite part about Tusculum has been the Christian events all over campus. You can go to one just about every day if you are able to go. I think of it like a second major. It’s been confirmation of why God brought me here.”
Hearing university leadership’s perspectives
As he spoke to the audience, Roberts said everyone in the room understood the importance of investment in another person.
Dr. Scott Hummel highlights the value of scholarships and other forms of support to help students achieve graduation.
Edward Roberts emphasizes impact and investment in his remarks.
“Every dollar we receive for a scholarship does have an impact,” Roberts said. “You’ve seen the evidence of that in the words of the students who spoke here. Thank you for going out of your way to invest. We deeply appreciate your support. We’ve been providing education on the frontier since 1794, and this new campaign is a terrific opportunity to further invest in our students.”
Dr. Hummel said it is an honor to serve at Tusculum, connect with students and watch them grow as individuals.
“There are few things more rewarding than seeing a college student grow, develop and be prepared to take that next step in life,” he said. “Tusculum has been doing a great job of preparing students to go forth. Another privilege is being able to spend time with alumni and hear their stories of how much Tusculum has meant to them over the decades and how that continues today.”
Dr. Hummel understands from personal experience the value of scholarships because they empowered him to go to college as a first-generation student. He said it would be a waste for incredibly talented students to not be able to attend Tusculum because of financial constraints. Through the generosity of donors for scholarships, that door is opened for Tusculum students, but he reinforced how the university goes to the next level to help students walk across the stage with a diploma.
“Affordability often determines access to college,” Dr. Hummel said. “A Tusculum education is affordable, and donor-supported scholarships are critical for keeping Tusculum affordable. However, access to college is only the beginning. Access to graduation is critical. That is why financial investments in student support as well as relational investments in the students are so important for their success.
“Donor support is more than financial. It lets our students know that they are not alone and that someone is coming alongside them. It lets them know that the community is embracing them. Tusculum University is producing phenomenal graduates because of your support. We need your continued support.”
To discuss support of scholarships, please call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.