{"id":31713,"date":"2025-06-28T20:56:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T00:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=31713"},"modified":"2025-06-28T20:56:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T00:56:27","slug":"incoming-tusculum-university-students-learn-more-about-academics-campus-life-during-pioneer-quest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/incoming-tusculum-university-students-learn-more-about-academics-campus-life-during-pioneer-quest\/","title":{"rendered":"Incoming Tusculum University students learn more about academics, campus life during Pioneer Quest"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Excited incoming students and their families experienced Tusculum University<\/a> firsthand during a recent orientation that enabled them to more completely understand the next step in their academic and personal lives.<\/h3>\n
\"New

New student Amya Parker, center, shares a photo with her family.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Incoming

Incoming student Alex Goodwin, center, and his family pose for a photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tusculum held Pioneer Quest Saturday, June 28, on its historic and scenic campus. The event enabled incoming students and their families to speak with Tusculum administrators and learn more about what they can expect in college and some of the finer details of campus life. Parents also had an opportunity to discover how they can support their child\u2019s success in college.<\/p>\n

Incoming students also met with the assistant deans and professors in the academic fields in which they are studying to discuss life in the classroom and review their course schedules. In addition, the university provided tours of a residence hall room. These students also heard about Student Support Services, a program at Tusculum that assists Pioneers whose parents or guardians do not have a bachelor\u2019s degree. This free program, funded by a federal grant, also assists students who are income-eligible and have a disability.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to have these incoming students join us on campus as they prepare to make Tusculum their home away from home,\u201d said Zack Kassebaum, vice president of enrollment management and financial aid. \u201cTusculum will provide them with an outstanding education, filled with active and experiential learning that will prepare them to be career-ready professionals. They will also have abundant opportunities to grow socially and spiritually through a variety of programs that keep their holistic development in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local students\u2019 perspectives<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two students from nearby Johnson County, Noah Brown are coming to Tusculum after discovering Tusculum was an excellent fit for them.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. Rhonda Fawbush speaks with incoming students who will be in the business administration program and their families.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"A

A new student takes part in a photo with a family member.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI chose it for the smaller atmosphere,\u201d said Brown, who will pursue a degree in sport science pre-physical therapy\/occupational therapy, with plans to become a physical therapist. \u201cWhere I come from, we have 500 students in our entire high school with 20 in a classroom, and it\u2019s kind of the same atmosphere here. Of course, Tusculum is a Christian college, and I can follow my walk with God and grow closer to him here as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tusculum\u2019s enrollment is about 1,100, and the university is taking the next step in helping people grow in their faith by establishing the Christian Leadership Institute. One of the key features in the early going will be for first-and second-year students to apply to reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center. Selected students will partake in weekly Bible study, including hearing from local pastors and other Christian leaders, and engage in other ministry activities that deepen their connection with the Lord.<\/p>\n

There are other benefits for Brown to attend Tusculum. The university is close to home so he can return home on a weekend if he would like but far enough away to enjoy the collegiate experience. He has also been to Greeneville a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreeneville\u2019s a beautiful place, so that\u2019s a big thing for me,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI\u2019m a big fisherman. There are three major lakes around here, so that\u2019s a key part of my choice, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. Chuck Pearson, right, speaks with Lindi Blaylock, an incoming student in the Tusculum cafeteria.<\/p><\/div>\n

Danielle Dugger is also coming to Tusculum after graduating from Johnson County High School. She is going to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a special education endorsement<\/a>. She plans to be an elementary school special education teacher. Like Brown, she liked Tusculum because of the smaller size, enabling her to focus better, and its status as a Christian university.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like I\u2019m fit to succeed here,\u201d Dugger said. \u201cI felt very drawn to this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dugger said she also knew of some students who are a few years older than she who came to Tusculum to study education as a career field. In addition, she knows she will be able to gain practical experience prior to graduation and stay in that field. She will be able to become connected to the local schools.<\/p>\n

The smaller size and the historical features of Tusculum appealed to William Wheelock as well. He likes historical campuses, and Tusculum has a special education as the first higher education institution in Tennessee.<\/p>\n

He comes from Knoxville and is entering the business administration<\/a> program with a major in entrepreneurship. He chose that degree as a way to have a secure financial future for himself. Another reason for Tusculum was its proximity to home.<\/p>\n

Out-of-state student\u2019s viewpoint<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is not just Tusculum students who choose Tusculum. Paige Martin lives in the Cocoa Beach, Florida, area but has visited the Gatlinburg area in Tennessee. She said she told her dad about her interest to be around North Carolina or Tennessee, so he searched Google for universities. During spring break of her sophomore year of high school, she visited Tusculum and loved the campus and the people. She then came to a prospect and enjoyed Tusculum even more.<\/p>\n

\"Jaileen

Jaileen Castro from the Office of Admission greets incoming students and their families.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. Nick Davidson, right, reviews a class schedule with a new student.<\/p><\/div>\n

Martin will study in the business administration program and play on the women\u2019s lacrosse team<\/a>. She said it was nice to meet the other lacrosse players and see their interactions with each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cTusculum is very family-like because it is smaller,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause of its size, everybody knows everyone. It\u2019s good to know everyone around you instead of being in a big school and not really knowing many people. The ratio of students to professor was nice, knowing I\u2019m not in a big classroom, so I am able to have a connection with the professor. That was very confirming.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next Pioneer Quest will take place Friday, July 18.<\/p>\n

Students who want to apply to Tusculum can visit https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/apply-visit\/apply\/<\/a>. Space is still available for the fall semester. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Excited incoming students and their families experienced Tusculum University<\/a> firsthand during a recent orientation that enabled them to more completely understand the next step in their academic and personal lives.<\/h3>\n

Tusculum held Pioneer Quest Saturday, June 28, on its historic and scenic campus. The event enabled incoming students and their families to speak with Tusculum administrators and learn more about what they can expect in college and some of the finer details of campus life. Parents also had an opportunity to discover how they can support their child\u2019s success in college.<\/p>\n

Incoming students also met with the assistant deans and professors in the academic fields in which they are studying to discuss life in the classroom and review their course schedules. In addition, the university provided tours of a residence hall room. These students also heard about Student Support Services, a program at Tusculum that assists Pioneers whose parents or guardians do not have a bachelor\u2019s degree. This free program, funded by a federal grant, also assists students who are income-eligible and have a disability.<\/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":"\nIncoming Tusculum University students learn more about academics, campus life during Pioneer Quest :: 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\/incoming-tusculum-university-students-learn-more-about-academics-campus-life-during-pioneer-quest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Incoming Tusculum University students learn more about academics, campus life during Pioneer Quest :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 Excited incoming students and their families experienced Tusculum University firsthand during a recent orientation that enabled them to more completely understand the next step in their academic and personal lives. Tusculum held Pioneer Quest Saturday, June 28, on its historic and scenic campus. The event enabled incoming students and their families to speak with Tusculum administrators and learn more about what they can expect in college and some of the finer details of campus life. Parents also had an opportunity to discover how they can support their child\u2019s success in college. Incoming students also met with the assistant deans and professors in the academic fields in which they are studying to discuss life in the classroom and review their course schedules. In addition, the university provided tours of a residence hall room. These students also heard about Student Support Services, a program at Tusculum that assists Pioneers whose parents or guardians do not have a bachelor\u2019s degree. This free program, funded by a federal grant, also assists students who are income-eligible and have a disability. 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