{"id":30604,"date":"2025-04-09T14:06:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T18:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=30604"},"modified":"2025-04-09T14:06:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T18:06:33","slug":"graduating-students-honor-faculty-staff-and-students-who-have-supported-them-will-carry-on-the-tusculum-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/graduating-students-honor-faculty-staff-and-students-who-have-supported-them-will-carry-on-the-tusculum-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduating students honor faculty, staff and students who have supported them, will carry on the Tusculum tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Tusculum University<\/a> recently celebrated the contributions of faculty and staff members and the promise of students during a special tradition-rich ceremony that highlights the higher education institution\u2019s motto \u201cSit Lux,\u201d or \u201cLet There Be Light.\u201d<\/h3>\n
\"Kevin

Kevin Watson, second from the right, recognized, left to right, Dr. Scott Hummel, Jerry Ricker and Dr. Robert Gall.<\/p><\/div>\n

The annual Lantern Festival has its roots in the motto and is an emotional and heartfelt ceremony for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

Soon-to-be-graduates from multiple majors awarded pins to honor and thank faculty and staff members who made the biggest impact on their journey as Tusculum students. They were also able to recognize a fellow student who they believe exemplifies the Tusculum spirit and will carry on the university\u2019s tradition.<\/p>\n

Twenty-one seniors honored at least one person at the festival. Students were able to choose one or two faculty members, and most students also chose an undergraduate student.<\/p>\n

One senior, Kevin Watson, celebrated fellow student Jerry Ricker with a lantern, the event\u2019s namesake and symbolic representation of passing the torch.<\/p>\n

\u201cJerry and I worked together during Tusculum\u2019s Upward Bound<\/a> and Upward Bound Math and Science<\/a> Summer Academy,\u201d Swanson said. \u201cAs a commuter, it felt a bit different living on campus during the academy, but Jerry was here to welcome me. I quickly took note of his work ethic. It will always be a memorable experience working with Jerry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watson also gave pins to Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, and Dr. Robert Gall, assistant dean of the Social Sciences Division.<\/p>\n

\"Angela

Angela Sanchez, second from the right, honored, left to right, Dr. Harold Branstrator, Cheyenne Hewitt and Trea King.<\/p><\/div>\n

Another senior, Angela Sanchez, recognized Trea King, the Tusculum dance coach, with a pin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is truly an honor to speak today about someone who has had an immeasurable impact on my personal journey at the university,\u201d Sanchez said.\u00a0\u201cWhen I first started as a freshman, I had nothing but a dream and a lot of uncertainty. Coach Trea believed in me when I didn\u2019t believe in myself, standing by my side through every challenge and giving me support I didn\u2019t even know I needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanchez also awarded a pin to Dr. Harold Branstrator, associate professor of management, and gave a lantern to student Cheyenne Hewitt.<\/p>\n

Twenty-five faculty and staff members were honored at the event, as well as 19 undergraduate students. The graduating students spoke highly about each of them.<\/p>\n

The Lantern Festival is one of the many ways Tusculum celebrates graduates and the people who helped them along their journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event reminds me just how well Tusculum University does at not just providing access to college but also access to graduation,\u201d Dr. Hummel, Tusculum said. \u201cMany of the students who walk across the stage are there because they have support from family, faculty and staff. This is evidence of those who really invest in our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chuck Sutton, vice president of student affairs and retention, commended all the students, faculty and staff in attendance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lantern Festival leaves a lasting impact, reminding us how special each of our students is and the meaningful connections we continue to build here at Tusculum.\u201d<\/p>\n

More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Tusculum University<\/a> recently celebrated the contributions of faculty and staff members and the promise of students during a special tradition-rich ceremony that highlights the higher education institution\u2019s motto \u201cSit Lux,\u201d or \u201cLet There Be Light.\u201d<\/h3>\n

The annual Lantern Festival has its roots in the motto and is an emotional and heartfelt ceremony for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

Soon-to-be-graduates from multiple majors awarded pins to honor and thank faculty and staff members who made the biggest impact on their journey as Tusculum students. They were also able to recognize a fellow student who they believe exemplifies the Tusculum spirit and will carry on the university\u2019s tradition.<\/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":[131,91,7,19,142,169,146,1,6,148,147,149,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nGraduating students honor faculty, staff and students who have supported them, will carry on the Tusculum tradition :: 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\/2025\/graduating-students-honor-faculty-staff-and-students-who-have-supported-them-will-carry-on-the-tusculum-tradition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Graduating students honor faculty, staff and students who have supported them, will carry on the Tusculum tradition :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 Tusculum University recently celebrated the contributions of faculty and staff members and the promise of students during a special tradition-rich ceremony that highlights the higher education institution\u2019s motto \u201cSit Lux,\u201d or \u201cLet There Be Light.\u201d The annual Lantern Festival has its roots in the motto and is an emotional and heartfelt ceremony for everyone involved. 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