GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University students who want to establish their own businesses and pitch them to potential investors will benefit from a new entity at the higher education institution that fosters an entrepreneurial spirit.
Left to right are Matt Sweeny, Dr. Scott Hummel, Dr. Scott Niswonger and Dr. David Cook. They met to discuss the Freedom Center.
Pioneered by entrepreneur Matt Sweeny, the Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, more commonly known as the Freedom Center, will provide the coursework and mentorship Tusculum students need to develop successful business proposals. Community members who might need additional guidance to start or grow a business can tap into some of these classes as well.
Tusculum is accepting applications to enroll at the university and participate in the Freedom Center. The program’s overarching goal is to provide a forum for Tusculum students, local high school students and community members to start businesses and pitch to investors, who might financially back their idea. The Freedom Center’s program launches in fall 2025. Tusculum has eyed spring 2026 to hold the first Pitch Day and plans to invite students from other universities who are members of the Appalachian College Association to participate.
“This initiative reinforces our mission to develop career-ready professionals who are civically engaged and eager to make their mark on the community,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “Our extensive work in developing the Freedom Center takes into account an important objective for our region – retaining young and talented entrepreneurs. We are ecstatic about the potential for the Freedom Center to further strengthen the economies of Greene County and other communities in East Tennessee and Central Appalachia.”
The Freedom Center’s originator
Sweeny, the Freedom Center’s director, teamed with Dr. Hummel and Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, on the Freedom Center’s development. Sweeny oversees the Freedom Center.
Earlier in his career, Sweeny graduated from Y Combinator, the leading start-up accelerator in America. He founded a start-up, called SkyDrop, which was previously known as Flirtey, with a drone in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. He served as that company’s CEO. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Sydney, where he studied government and international relations, philosophy, political economy, and global entrepreneurship and enterprise.
“We believe students who understand the philosophy of freedom will build start-ups that have positive impacts,” Sweeny said. “Participating in this first-of-its-kind program will be a great opportunity to be mentored by entrepreneurs who have graduated from leading start-up accelerator programs and become part of close-knit cohorts of ambitious students. Students will also be able to explore the founding principles of America, the Great Books of the Western World and the Bible, which will help guide them during their work with the Freedom Center and as philosopher-builders in their start-up journey.”
Academic and scholarship details
Tusculum is already engaged in recruiting new students who would be part of the Freedom Center during their studies at the university. These students can earn as much as $8,000 in scholarships during their time at Tusculum in addition to other financial aid they receive.
Left to right, Matt Sweeny, Dr. Scott Niswonger, Dr. Scott Hummel and Dr. David Cook discuss the Freedom Center.
Beginning in the fall, Tusculum will offer a concentration in its business administration bachelor’s degree that will be called free enterprise and entrepreneurship. Students who are not pursuing a degree in business can obtain a minor in that subject.
As part of the concentration, students will need to take six courses. Two delve into the political, legal and economic foundations of free enterprise, including historical and cultural perspectives as well as the relationship between free enterprise, material well-being and Christian morality. The other four are targeted toward the entrepreneurial process – new venture creation, business plan development, an entrepreneurship practicum and entrepreneurial operations for small businesses.
The minor carries the same requirements, except that those students are required to take a business essentials course and are able to choose between the practicum and entrepreneurial operations for small businesses courses. Students pursuing the concentration have to take business essentials as part of their overall business administration degree.
Tusculum’s experienced and expert faculty in the university’s business program and a professor in the political science program will teach the primary coursework. The courses help students prepare to develop their business idea and then pitch it to potential investors.
“That is the reason we are incorporating Pitch Day as part of the Freedom Center,” Dr. Hummel said. “It will provide a tangible outcome to a student’s studies and is the impetus for the tagline we have established for the Freedom Center – ‘Come to Tusculum for a degree and leave with your business.’ With the inclusion of potential entrepreneurs from the community, local high school students and other college students in the region, we will have strength in numbers to make Pitch Day a resounding success.”
In addition to the coursework for the concentration or the minor, Tusculum will offer co-curricular programs, such as guest speakers on entrepreneurship and mentorship from entrepreneurs. Sweeny will help develop these and lead or participate in them.
Dr. Cook is excited to see the Freedom Center moving forward.
“This well-designed program is an excellent addition to our academic portfolio and will accelerate our business students’ growth in the profession,” he said. “We are enthused about giving them and other students who pursue the minor a leg up in their entrepreneurial careers and look forward to seeing how God guides them in their pursuits. The Freedom Center is a differentiator for Tusculum that should bring additional college students to our university.”
Financial support
Tusculum has secured $200,000 for the Freedom Center, and those funds will cover student scholarships and all of the costs associated with the program. Dr. Scott Niswonger, Dr. Larry Brotherton, Dr. David Baker and Kelly Vogt, all of whom serve on Tusculum’s Board of Trustees, have donated significant funds toward the Freedom Center. The university has received generous donations from others as well.
“I am honored to be part of this initiative, which provides fundamental principles for students that will serve them well as young entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Niswonger, who has established multiple business and significantly improved the quality of life in East Tennessee through his philanthropy. “Having seen all that is involved in starting and growing businesses, I am confident the Freedom Center uses a model that will help entrepreneurs Learn-Earn-Return.”
Others who would like to make a gift toward the Freedom Center can visit www.tusculum.edu/giving and select the Freedom Center from the drop-down menu.
Applications for the Freedom Center’s program are now open to new students, existing students and members of the community wishing to start or grow a business. They can express interest by email to freedom@tusculum.edu.
Students who want to enroll at Tusculum can apply at https://site.tusculum.edu/apply-visit/apply/. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.