{"id":24100,"date":"2024-02-09T13:50:53","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T18:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=24100"},"modified":"2024-02-09T13:50:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T18:50:53","slug":"jubilance-and-fun-activities-abound-at-the-national-premiere-of-the-college-tour-episode-featuring-tusculum-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2024\/jubilance-and-fun-activities-abound-at-the-national-premiere-of-the-college-tour-episode-featuring-tusculum-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Jubilance and fun activities abound at the national premiere of “The College Tour” episode featuring Tusculum University"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 As students appeared on the screen to tell their story on \u201cThe College Tour<\/a>\u201d national show about what makes Tusculum University<\/a> and East Tennessee special, the first few words in the segments were frequently inaudible because their fellow Pioneers were cheering for them.<\/h3>\n
\"Seven

Seven of the cast members pose for a photo. They are, left to right, Kobe Funderburk, Todd Wallin, Josie Norton, Stephen Brewer, Grayson Patterson, Maggie Vickers and Isabelle Delbridge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, left, and Starr Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s first lady, pose on the orange carpet.<\/p><\/div>\n

Those moments were some of many examples showcasing the buoyant atmosphere at The Capitol Theatre in downtown Greeneville Thursday, Feb. 8, for the premiere of \u201cThe College Tour\u201d episode featuring Tusculum. Students, faculty and staff as well as alumni and community members packed the facility to share in the excitement of seeing Tusculum\u2019s strengths extolled for the rest of the country to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis fantastic event and episode emphasized the value of a Tusculum education as well as the caliber of our students and the faculty and staff who support them,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWhen prospective students across the country watch this episode and see how we will prepare them in a caring Christian environment to be career-ready professionals, they will conclude that Tusculum is the right fit for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Hummel expressed his appreciation to community members who attended the premiere. He said community support has been essential in helping the university to achieve its mission and students to succeed in their studies and in their lives after graduation.<\/p>\n

Details about the episode<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tusculum

Tusculum student Xavier Velazquez, center, who filmed a segment in \u201cThe College Tour\u201d episode, is flanked by April Grindstaff, right, manager of The Tusculum Campus Store, and Chuck Sutton, dean of student and interim associate vice president of student affairs.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Mike

Mike Maggert, the emcee, speaks during the premiere.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe College Tour\u201d filmed the episode in October and told the story through the lens of nine students and one alumnus. Each student discussed a different aspect of the Tusculum experience, such as active and experiential learning, affordability, athletics, the arts, civic engagement and the opportunity to grow in faith. Another message was about the beauty of the campus and the rest of East Tennessee and the ability to have fun in one of the more historic regions of the country.<\/p>\n

Mike Maggert, the premiere\u2019s emcee, the public address announcer at Tusculum home football and basketball games and an alumnus, expressed confidence that Tusculum\u2019s appearance on \u201cThe College Tour\u201d will make a difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to give Tusculum a leg up,\u201d he said. \u201cLarge universities are well-known. The majority of large universities have the state they are in in their name, and many times, smaller universities and colleges are passed over even though they have been turning out quality alumni for centuries. This episode is going to get many eyes on Tusculum University. This is the gateway to the future for Tusculum.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tusculum episode will drop on Amazon Prime May 28, but in the interim, the university will post the episode and segments on its website<\/a>, social media and incorporate it in messages sent to prospective new students. Dr. Jacob Fait, Tusculum\u2019s vice president of enrollment management<\/a> and financial aid<\/a>, led the project on the university\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Highlights of the premiere<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The

The Tusculum cheerleading team performs a routine during the premiere.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Left

Left to right, Cal Doty, Greeneville\u2019s mayor; Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum University\u2019s president; Alan Corley, the City of Tusculum\u2019s mayor; and Kevin Morrison, Greene County\u2019s mayor, stand with the proclamation.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tusculum pulled out all of the stops for the premiere. Tusculum family members and community guests walked an orange carpet and were photographed in front a Tusculum backdrop. Many wore Tusculum school colors \u2013 orange and black \u2013 and were greeted enthusiastically by the university\u2019s cheerleading team as they entered. The Tusculum band performed lively music with the cheerleaders performing routines. The mayors of Greene County, Greeneville and the City of Tusculum \u2013 Kevin Morrison, Cal Doty and Alan Corley, respectively \u2013 presented a proclamation highlighting the university\u2019s importance.<\/p>\n

Then came the big moment came when the lights went down and the 29-minute episode played. In addition to the rousing greetings many student segments received, others at Tusculum University who are making a difference earned similar greetings. For many, it was an opportunity to once again see the faces of those they have come to know so well on this tight-knit campus.<\/p>\n

Afterward, nine members of the cast — David Bowlin, Stephen Brewer, Isabelle Delbridge, Kobe Funderburk, Josie Norton, Grayson Patterson, Xavier Velazquez, Maggie Vickers and Todd Wallin \u2013 shared about their experience participating in the show and talked further about their lives as Tusculum students. Diont\u00e9 Grey, a 2012 graduate, filmed his segment on campus but lives in California, where he serves as executive director of the nonprofit organization UrbanPromise Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Student perspectives<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tusculum

Tusculum student David Bowlin shares his perspective during the premiere. He was one of the students who filmed a segment in the show.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tusculum

Tusculum student Josie Norton, right, speaks as fellow Pioneer Todd Wallin, listens during the premiere. Both filmed segments during the show.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIf you put your heart on your sleeve, your professors will walk hand in hand with you and they will get you wherever you want to go if you just put your mind to it,\u201d said Norton, a junior seeking a bachelor\u2019s degree in communication<\/a>. \u201cI feel like that\u2019s one of the best things about Tusculum.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his segment, Bowlin, a senior who is also a communication major, discussed meeting with Dr. Hummel in the President\u2019s Office. He said Dr. Hummel shared his values, passion and love of Tusculum with him. It became clear to Bowlin that the president cared for Tusculum students and wanted to emphasize the caring Christian environment component of Tusculum\u2019s mission. Bowlin said he wanted to participate in that aspect of Tusculum\u2019s journey as one of the university\u2019s students. He expounded on that after the episode\u2019s airing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat discussion was cool and unexpected and made an impact on me because I care a lot about my education but I care even more about Jesus Christ,\u201d Bowlin said. \u201cSeeing Dr. Hummel\u2019s heart for that and harnessing that in me and on the university was something I really loved being a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tusculum

Tusculum student Stephen Brewer speaks at the premiere. He was one of the students who filmed a segment in the show.<\/p><\/div>\n

Brewer, a junior seeking a bachelor\u2019s degree in sport science<\/a> and a member of the track and field<\/a> team, participates in Student Support Services<\/a>, which serves Pioneers whose parents have not earned a bachelor\u2019s degree, those from low-income families and others with disabilities. Fifty-eight percent of Tusculum\u2019s students are first-generation students.<\/p>\n

He highlighted in his segment that the program is one of the best resources at Tusculum and has played a crucial role in his success. In his remarks after the episode, he talked further about SSS\u2019 influence in keeping him moving forward academically.<\/p>\n

\u201cSSS is always mentoring to help make sure that we keep that student part of our title as student-athletes in front and maintain our grades,\u201d Brewer said. \u201cSSS is there to help us with anything and ensure we stay eligible for our sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did you know?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When he spoke during the event, Dr. Hummel highlighted Tusculum\u2019s many successes in a series of questions, each of which starting, \u201cDid you know?\u201d Among the facts he touted were:<\/p>\n