When Tusculum University held its Homecoming celebration in November, many alumni returned to remember their time at their alma mater, ride in the parade and inspire today’s students.
Some of the alumni who were back on campus have continued to visit the campus regularly since their graduation or in recent years. But for a few, it has been a considerable time since they set foot on the grounds of Tennessee’s first higher education institution.
Many shared their memories and thoughts upon their return.
Greg Pielich
Dr. Scott Hummel, left, speaks with Greg Pielich.
Pielich is originally from Garfield, New Jersey, but now lives in Johnson City, Tennessee. He was one of 13 from his high school class who came from New Jersey to attend Tusculum during the heydays of that southern migration.
A first-generation student, PIelich earned his bachelor’s degree in business and retired from Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin, Tennessee after 33 years of service. He met his wife on campus, but she was not a Tusculum student.
Pielich comes to Homecoming every year to see what is happening on campus and the progress being made at Tusculum. But he has also participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at Tusculum. In that initiative, students and community volunteers prepare eligible community members’ income tax returns for free. He will also come for an occasional football game.
“I come to campus to support the university,” Pielich said. “It opened a lot of doors for me. Financially, I really well – from borderline poverty to megabucks. I’m grateful for Tusculum.”
Janet Friedman
Janet Friedman stands in front of Rankin Hall.
A 1974 graduate who earned her bachelor’s degree in education, Friedman was back on campus for the first time in 50 years. She taught elementary school and middle school students. In addition to spending with her fellow alums, she witnessed today’s students by attending the Student Government Association Homecoming Kick-Off Bonfire. Her explanation for traveling from Yardley, Pennsylvania, Tusculum was understandable.
“You get very nostalgic,” she said. “I also had people on Facebook that went here and said they were coming to Homecoming. Then they changed the date (because of Hurricane Helene). I was encouraged to go. I decided to come down because I figure I will never come down again. I’m glad I did. It was good seeing everybody. It was good seeing the place and everybody and how much Tusculum has grown and how much the town has grown. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a great experience.”
One of the biggest memories for her was walking into Katherine Hall, where she lived when she was a student. It seemed to look the same to her. Another was the Charles Oliver Gray complex, where students ate during her time and reflecting on the meals and conversations there. She also remembers heading for her student teaching assignment in the dark.
Harold Svarplaitis
Harold Svarplaitis, left, and his sister, Ruth Staas, stand in the Quad in front of the Scott M. Niswonger Commons.
Svarplaitis is another 1974 graduate, and he has an interesting story about his connection with a well-known building on campus. Thomas Byrd, husband of Annie Hogan Byrd, after whom the Tusculum fine arts center is named, brought Svarplaitis’ family to America from Germany in 1950. Svarplaitis was born in 1952, followed by one sister in 1953. Another sister, Ruth Staas, was a student here and met her husband from the Class of ’62 at Tusculum. A brother of Svarplaitis graduated in 1971.
An interesting tidbit: He can see Annie Hogan Byrd’s gravestone from his house in Wingdale, New York. He was born there, returned there after graduation and worked for Kimberly Clark Corp. for 38 years.
Svarplaitis came back for commencement the first couple of years after he earned his degree and then came back for his 30th and 40th anniversaries of his graduation. He returned in 2021 for the 50th anniversary of his brother’s graduation and then came back for his own 50th anniversary.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Svarplaitis said his Tusculum education helped him tremendously by giving him an understanding of all aspects of economics.
“I had a great experience at Tusculum,” Svarplaitis said. “I loved it. The classmates were great, the teachers were great. I enjoyed playing sports and the camaraderie and competition between the dormitories. That was a lot of fun.”
Ruth Staas
She came to Tusculum at the suggestion of Thomas Byrd, who helped her obtain an application. Once she was enrolled. Byrd visited her a couple of times because he had a cabin near Asheville, North Carolina.
“I loved it here,” she said. “The first week, I was homesick. A week later, I got to know my roommate and I was fine. I just loved. It started dating my husband when I was a sophomore, and he was graduating. We decided to get married.”
Among her memories was helping an elderly lady with her spring cleaning during one spring break. Staas did not have the money that year to return home for spring break. She benefited from the experience because the lady shared a lot of history about this area.
Among the things she most enjoyed about her two years at Tusculum were the people and the religious elements of the university. Staas praised the professors and the help people provided. She also enjoyed the area because it reminded her of her hometown with the mountains.
Staas later became a math teacher.
David Misener
David Misener spends time in front of the Scott M. Niswonger Commons.
Misener, a member of the Class of ’78, came to Tusculum from outside of Baltimore, Maryland, having attended a regional high school that was four times the size of Tusculum’s population.
The last president of Rankin Hall, when it was a residence hall, Misener subsequently moved to what is now Welty-Craig Hall. He studied special education at Tusculum was able to obtain practical experience when Greene Valley Development Center brought children to campus. He later served as a special education teacher for 36 years, 30 of it in New Jersey.
He is now retired and lives in Johnson City. When he lived in New Jersey, Misener would return to campus every couple of years, but he now makes regular appearances on campus since he is so close. He said he loves to be at Tusculum as often as he can.
“I loved it here,” Misener said. “It was a great experience for me. You got to know everybody on campus. I loved that. Dean Hurley was one of the most supportive people I’ve ever known in my life. He made this experience awesome. He was your friend as well as a mentor here. That man made sure that he found a path for you to be successful. He wouldn’t give up on you.”
Misener, whose son is also a graduate, said it is vital for him to stay involved at Tusculum.
“Tusculum’s survival is important to me,” he said. “All across the country, small schools like Tusculum are hurting. Tusculum was a college when I was here. I’ve seen what philanthropy of many alumni and especially Scott Niswonger, who has shared his wealth. I think it’s important to do one’s little part. If I can get a kid to take a look at this place and maybe be a person who would come to school here, I’m all about it.”