GREENEVILLE – History on the national and local fronts will take center stage starting in July as Tusculum University observes the 250th birthday of the United States and the 232nd year of Tennessee’s oldest higher education institution.
This is the logo for the celebration.
The America 250/Tusculum 232 Celebration will be a yearlong series of events that are designed to highlight the founding of the nation on July 4, 1776, and the signing of the university’s charter on Sept. 3, 1794. Giving the series even greater stature will be the attendance of Mike Pence, who served as vice president of the United States from 2017-2021, at a patriotic-themed luncheon Thursday, Sept. 17.
“Tusculum University and the United States are intricately connected, with roots dating to the pioneer days,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, the university’s president. “We are honored to be part of this country and to play an important role in educating the electorate and inspiring civic engagement. The Tusculum experience transforms students into better citizens.
“Celebrating the United States and our university for the next year brings us tremendous pride during this momentous birthday for our nation.”
Tusculum will celebrate Charter Day on Sept. 3 as a way to recognize the university’s ongoing place in that nation’s history. One of the proudest moments in Tusculum’s history is a $100 donation from President George Washington while he was in office. Another distinction is the university was created two years before Tennessee became a state.
The university will honor the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania with an event on Friday, Sept. 11.
Tusculum will pay particular attention to Constitution Day on Sept. 17, with a group of events. The luncheon, with Pence as the keynote speaker, will celebrate the history of the country and the university. That day’s activities will also include a U.S. District Court ceremony on campus where new citizens of the United States from this region will take the oath. Additionally, Tusculum will hold an educational symposium for students.
Among the other activities during the coming year will a lecture series organized by the university’s history program that will discuss various aspects of the past and how it remains vibrant today. Plus, Tusculum will hold a student-led night of worship, which will serve a faith celebration, in honor of the United States’ Christian roots.
Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day on Friday, Sept. 25; Homecoming activities, including the parade, on Saturday, Oct. 17; and the Cicero Lecture, at a date to be scheduled, will incorporate the America 250/Tusculum 232 theme.
And Dr. Peter Noll, professor of public history and museum studies, is preparing a collection of stories about the various components of Tusculum’s history that will be shared on social media outlets as well as within the university family.
Tusculum is finalizing details for many of these events and will share updates and further information as they further develop, including the RSVP process, because some events might have limited seating capacity or require a ticket. Anyone who would like to initiate an event or sponsor one that has already been planned can email the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, chair of the America 250/Tusculum 232 Celebration Committee and the university’s director of spiritual life and special projects, at eswatsell@tusculum.edu.
“This will be an outstanding year as we reflect on our nation’s history and Tusculum’s contributions to the betterment of our region and country,” Swatsell said. “We look forward to highlighting our heritage as a university and demonstrating our pride in being Americans. We encourage everyone to join us in commemorating this special time.”
To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.