{"id":21478,"date":"2022-12-10T21:30:06","date_gmt":"2022-12-11T02:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=21478"},"modified":"2022-12-10T21:30:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-11T02:30:06","slug":"tusculum-university-celebrates-the-graduation-of-139-students-earning-bachelors-masters-and-associate-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2022\/tusculum-university-celebrates-the-graduation-of-139-students-earning-bachelors-masters-and-associate-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"Tusculum University celebrates the graduation of 139 students earning bachelor’s, master’s and associate degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 With all remaining projects completed and final exams taken, 139 Tusculum University<\/a> students moved into celebratory mode Saturday, Dec. 10, as graduates of Tennessee\u2019s first higher education institution.<\/h3>\n
\"\"

From left, Xavier Clemmons, Will Shellenback, Tyler Forde and Houston Johnson relax before the start of commencement.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Sarah Calfee, middle, celebrates her graduation with Dr. Hollie Pellosmaa, left, and Dr. Kate Smith.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tusculum held its fall commencement ceremony Saturday in Pioneer Arena, an occasion marked by joy as the graduates make the transition to the next phase of their lives. Their proud family members, faculty members who mentored them and university staff members who supported them beamed with satisfaction knowing these career-ready professionals will positively impact communities they serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of us remember when our undergraduate students began their studies with us and have watched them develop academically, socially and personally,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWe know they will leave us more conscious of the importance of civic engagement as they put their degrees into practice. Our graduate students will be well positioned through their advanced studies to achieve even higher levels of success in their careers, grounded in principles taught by their professors and embedded in our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Dr. Jeff Burleson, left, places the master\u2019s hood on Jennifer Fincher.<\/p><\/div>\n

The student experience at Tusculum includes multiple opportunities to grow professional skills through active and experiential learning, including internships, student teaching and research. Tusculum enriches their lives through abundant social activities, participation in clubs and athletic teams and spiritual growth opportunities, all of which occur within a caring Christian environment.<\/p>\n

These experiences build memories these new alumni will carry with them long after the tassel has been moved from side of the cap to the other.<\/p>\n

The university is home to many students who will be the first in their families to obtain a college degree or come from low-income households. Forty-six percent of the students receiving a bachelor\u2019s degree Saturday were members of Student Support Services<\/a> or Adults Reaching Career Heights and Educational Success<\/a> programs.<\/p>\n

Tusculum attracts local students as well as others who live in other parts of Tennessee, the nation and the world. One student, Ethan Lau, came to Tusculum from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, and graduated Saturday with a bachelor\u2019s degree in communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ethan Lau, right, shakes hands with Dr. Scott Hummel.<\/p><\/div>\n

During his years at Tusculum, he played soccer<\/a>, was a member of the debate team and the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was assistant fiction editor for Volume 18 of The Tusculum Review<\/a>, the university\u2019s international literary journal. His ambition is to write for food and drink media and publications.<\/p>\n

Lau was one of the student speakers during Saturday\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is not just a celebration of each and every one of us but also a celebration of all the people that helped us get here,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom the faculty, staff, coaches and fellow students here at Tusculum, to the kindred souls who upload stuff on Quizlet, we all owe it to them to be proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished. Today is the closing of one chapter, but it is also the opening of another. This is the time to be curious, try new things, screw up and regret none of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other student speaker was Ashley Harbison, who came to Tusculum from Knoxville has been a resident assistant and played for the softball team<\/a>. She graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in biology<\/a>, with a medical pre-professional concentration, and minors in psychology<\/a> and chemistry<\/a>. She plans to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy.<\/p>\n

In her remarks, Harbison cited a quote she recently read: \u201cChange is hard at first, messy in the middle and glorious at the end.\u201d She said graduates\u2019 transition from students after graduation will be challenging, and she said she would love to advance straight to the glorious part. She then shared the best piece of advice she had ever received.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ashley Harbison, right, receives congratulations from Dr. Scott Hummel.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cOne afternoon, I was talking with my grandparents about all the possibilities in front of me, and honestly, I was very overwhelmed,\u201d Harbison said. \u201cAnd to that I remember them asking me, \u2018Are you standing on the rock?\u2019 My grandparents went on to explain that when you are standing on the rock, you are standing on God\u2019s word. You are relying on His strength and holding fast to His promises.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harbison challenged everyone in the audience and others supporting the graduates to stand on that rock and trust God\u2019s promises.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not to say there won\u2019t be sickness, sadness or struggles because God does not promise that for us,\u201d she said. \u201cIt will be hard and messy because life is full of changes, even after graduation today. But he does promise everlasting life, and that is the most glorious ending. And that is something to celebrate today, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Tricia Hunsader, Tusculum\u2019s provost and vice president of academic affairs, said the university looks forward to watching the graduates\u2019 future achievements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will remember these alumni<\/a> with great affection because they have impressed us with their desire to learn, their commitment to serve and their pioneering spirit,\u201d Dr. Hunsader said. \u201cWe are confident they will represent their alma mater with distinction and be strong contributors to the well-being of their communities. When they return for a visit, we will be excited to hear how a Tusculum education factored into their accomplishments following graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n

More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 With all remaining projects completed and final exams taken, 139 Tusculum University<\/a> students moved into celebratory mode Saturday, Dec. 10, as graduates of Tennessee\u2019s first higher education institution.<\/h3>\n

Tusculum held its fall commencement ceremony Saturday in Pioneer Arena, an occasion marked by joy as the graduates make the transition to the next phase of their lives. Their proud family members, faculty members who mentored them and university staff members who supported them beamed with satisfaction knowing these career-ready professionals will positively impact communities they serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of us remember when our undergraduate students began their studies with us and have watched them develop academically, socially and personally,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWe know they will leave us more conscious of the importance of civic engagement as they put their degrees into practice. Our graduate students will be well positioned through their advanced studies to achieve even higher levels of success in their careers, grounded in principles taught by their professors and embedded in our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,137,138,136,139,135,19,142,169,1,6,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nTusculum University celebrates the graduation of 139 students earning bachelor's, master's and associate degrees :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2022\/tusculum-university-celebrates-the-graduation-of-139-students-earning-bachelors-masters-and-associate-degrees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tusculum University celebrates the graduation of 139 students earning bachelor's, master's and associate degrees :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 With all remaining projects completed and final exams taken, 139 Tusculum University students moved into celebratory mode Saturday, Dec. 10, as graduates of Tennessee\u2019s first higher education institution. Tusculum held its fall commencement ceremony Saturday in Pioneer Arena, an occasion marked by joy as the graduates make the transition to the next phase of their lives. Their proud family members, faculty members who mentored them and university staff members who supported them beamed with satisfaction knowing these career-ready professionals will positively impact communities they serve. \u201cMany of us remember when our undergraduate students began their studies with us and have watched them develop academically, socially and personally,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWe know they will leave us more conscious of the importance of civic engagement as they put their degrees into practice. 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