![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/brock_honorary-degree.jpg\" "\\"brock_honorary")
Stan Brock, left, former star of \u201cMutual of Omaha\u2019s Wild Kingdom\u201d and director of Rural Area Medical, received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tusculum College. He was awarded the degree by Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of the college. At left is Dr. Joe Frank Smiddy, Kingsport pulmonologist and RAM volunteer, who introduced Brock.<\/p><\/div>\n
Also receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters was Stan Brock. An adventurer, author and servant to mankind, Brock grew up in Wales and has adventured throughout his life across the globe, including North Africa, Gibraltar, Spain and British Guiana. With the Amazon rain forest for a classroom and Wapishana Indians for teachers, Stan became a world-renowned authority on wildlife conservation and management. He became a Research Associate of the Royal Ontario Museum with the distinguished honor of having discovered a new species of bat.<\/p>\n
He has been frequently published and later joined the \u201cWild Kingdom\u201d television series where he was a co-host. He also wrote, produced, and directed a number of action-adventure-wilderness movies and television shows.<\/p>\n
Brock now devotes all his time \u2013 completely without pay \u2013 to directing the operations of Remote Area Medical. RAM runs about 25 clinics a year, serving hundreds of patients at a time in areas where access to medical care is limited. More than 70,000 people have donated their time and expertise to Brock\u2019s cause over the years. Many are full-time doctors and nurses who work at their own practices or hospitals during the week and then volunteer on the weekend.<\/p>\n
He was introduced by renowned Kingsport pulmonologist and RAM volunteer Dr. Joe Frank Smiddy who said, \u201cBecause of his tireless devotion to the well-being of others, every year, tens of thousands of impoverished people and their animals receive medical treatment or surgery, dental work, vision care and veterinary service. He is a selfless, caring and dynamic leader whose only criteria for taking a team to a tiny Appalachian mountain town or a South American Indian village is simply that they need him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brock expressed his appreciation and talked about his adventures and his work at RAM. Following a horse accident that left him injured and 26 days by foot away from medical care, the seed formed then that a way should be found to provide health care to underserved regions.<\/p>\n
The new graduates were addressed by Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody, who recognized the commencement ceremony as \u201can occasion of celebration and completion.\u201d Adding, \u201cEach of you have made sacrifices, adjustments and also made tough decisions along the way. You have worked hard and have earned the right to walk across this stage. This is a testament to your own efforts and to your persistence. Today is your reward.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/decgrad_moorebritton.jpg\" "\\"decgrad_moorebritton\\"")
Morning Commencement speakers Marci Moore and Jessica Britton, both of Greeneville. <\/p><\/div>\n
Jessica Britton, an education major from Greeneville, addressed the crowd as a representative of the residential college program.<\/p>\n
She told the group, \u201cMy hope for you is that you do indeed frame the well-deserved diploma that you receive today.\u00a0 I hope you provide it a place in your home where you can be reminded daily that you are a product of success. However, each time you walk past it, I hope that you are filled with the desire to do more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cheri Kelley of Morristown, spoke on behalf of the college\u2019s Graduate and Professional Studies education program. Kelley talked about the impact finishing her college degree has made in her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cA college education opens up the world to students. This program has given me the ability to manage my time and resources well, the ability to critically evaluate any situation, the ability to challenge the status quo, the ability to understand alternative theories, the ability to work as a team with all people and the ability to stand up for what I believe. I feel blessed to have been able to participate in this program with so many caring instructors, faculty members and classmates,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Marci Moore, a 2011 undergraduate from Tusculum College and a resident of Greeneville spoke on behalf of the Graduate and Professional Studies master\u2019s degree program.<\/p>\n
She told her fellow graduates, \u201cI encourage you as a new graduate to take your fresh ideas and opinions and run with them. You have come to school to learn new practices and new knowledge. Take what you have learned, combine that with a little common sense and make the world a new place with your ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lillian Burchnell of Greeneville spoke on behalf of the Graduate and Professional Studies program. She spoke about returning to higher education after raising her family and building a career.<\/p>\n
\u201cSetting out to get a college degree is not an easy thing to do, but it is a worthy challenge. As an adult considering the reasons why I wanted to go to college, one of my inspirations came from working with students at the high school and college level. It was fascinating watching college students coming in as freshmen, seeing the personal growth as they advanced through their college career, and later as seniors looking at their options either pursuing careers or graduate school..\u201d<\/p>\n
Also speaking was Mark Stokes, director of religious life, church and community relations at Tusculum College. Stokes presented a sermon titled, \u201cOnce in a Blue Moon.\u201d Stokes told the story of astronaut Buzz Aldrin and the little-known story of Aldrin conducting communion on the moon.<\/p>\n
He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: \u201cThis is the LM pilot. I\u2019d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his her own way.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then ended the radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion.<\/p>\n
Stokes said, \u201cIt reminded me that for the fruit of God to ripen in our lives, we have to recognize the journey involved in getting there. That journey takes time, diligence, patience, hard work and God\u2019s cultivation to produce a vine that is mature, productive and successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graduates earning degrees during winter commencement included:<\/p>\n
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION CONCENTRATION<\/strong> ME169 \u2013 Greeneville<\/em> ME170 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> ME171 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> ME172 \u2013 Morristown<\/em> MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION HUMAN RESOURCE\u00a0 DEVELOPMENT CONCENTRATION<\/strong> MH021\u2013 Greeneville<\/em> MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING<\/strong> MT002 \u2013 Greeneville<\/em> BACHELOR OF ARTS<\/strong> BA067 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> BA068 \u2013 Morristown<\/em> BA069 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> BA070 \u2013 Morristown<\/em> BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN<\/strong> ORGANIZATIONAL <\/strong>MANAGEMENT<\/strong> BS567 \u2013 Gray<\/em> BS568\u00a0 \u2013 Greeneville<\/em> BS569 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> BS570 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> BS571 \u2013 Greeneville<\/em> BS572 \u2013 Morristown<\/em> BS573 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> B.S. Others BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION<\/strong> BB002 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> BB003 \u2013 Morristown<\/em> BB004 \u2013 Gray<\/em> BB005 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em> Ceremonies celebrate accomplishments of those earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. An honorary doctorate was also presented to adventurer, author and servant to his fellow man, Stan Brock.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[91,19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nME156 \u2013 Gray<\/em>
\nRusty Ferril Harrison<\/p>\n
\nLindsey Hope Barrett, Honors
\nCassandra Louise Beeler
\nKathy Walters Coleman
\nPamela Gail Foister, High Honors
\nTimothy Daniel Foshie, High Honors
\nStacey Leigh Skillman
\nJennifer DeAnn Slover<\/p>\n
\nAmanda Helton Boyd
\nLaura Christine Randolph
\nKimberly Shun Watkins*<\/p>\n
\nLeigh Elizabeth Edmonds
\nHollie Christine Hillard
\nJacqueline Noelle Money
\nMelissa Ann Parks
\nJulie Crossman Redden
\nJessica Michelle Valentine*
\nAmanda Rachel Waggoner, High Honors*
\nDarla Fraker Williams, High Honors*<\/p>\n
\nBrittany Rae Bradley, Honors
\nOlivia Rene\u00e9 Breeding, Honors
\nLindsay Paige Davenport, High Honors
\nMatthew Brent Davenport, Honors
\nSharon Ann Grooms
\nJennifer Mae Justus
\nBrian Andrew McLaughlin, Honors
\nRobin Elizabeth Moore
\nKasey Paige Shropshire<\/p>\n
\nMH020 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em>
\nAmparo Carmen Atencio, Honors
\nRhonda Vanessa Cinnamon
\nAmber Lee Goins
\nMelissa Ann Jackson, Honors
\nStephanie Coward Jinkins, Honors
\nBrandon Wayne Salley, High Honors<\/p>\n
\nChassity Dawn Bird
\nLynette DeMay Britton
\nLori Cassell Clarke
\nEric Chandler Conley
\nSusan Lori Davis*
\nJamie Garrett Housewright
\nDeidre Renee Johnson, Honors*
\nHannah Marie Laposky*
\nLisa Marie Lobdell
\nMarci Elizabeth Moore*
\nCory Nathaniel Pratt
\nWilliam Brandon Steele
\nSamuel Clay Wilkerson*<\/p>\n
\nMT001 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em>
\nJonathan Andrew Arnold
\nAllison Desiree Beard
\nJeremiah Lawson*
\nAngela G. Roberts, Honors*
\nJennifer Goodwin Roberts*<\/p>\n
\nJames Alexander Gray, Honors
\nDawn Elizabeth Mason<\/p>\n
\nThomas J. Abounader
\nJustin Wendel Arrington
\nLinda Renee Aughburns
\nDeznic O’Neill Blakeney
\nJessica Lee Britton, Summa Cum Laude
\nJabari Ali Bunch
\nCassandra Joy Burchnell
\nKimberly Christine Carter, Cum Laude
\nSarah Anne Chait
\nJames Arthur Charron III
\nJohn Michael Clarke
\nCourtney Alyse Conley, Cum Laude
\nKendra Deanna Dunn, Magna Cum Laude**
\nSarah Danielle Edens
\nHeather Denise Genereux
\nJavier Portillo Gonzalez
\nNathan James Grabowski
\nPreston Hugh Halstead
\nClinton R. Haun
\nAllegra Lynn Herrera
\nStaci Marie Hicks, Cum Laude
\nBranfy Mariano Infante Arias
\nJasen Wayne Keplinger
\nCatherine Elizabeth Kolb
\nDavid Lamar Little Jr.
\nAngie Marie Michaud, Cum Laude**
\nJessica Nicole Miller
\nKaitlyn Dian Morgan, Magna Cum Laude**
\nAmber Nichole Pool
\nKate Lynn Prisco
\nJordan Tucker Reams, Cum Laude**
\nElizabeth Christian Reed
\nHaley Lynn Rhoad
\nCrystal Darlene Roark, Magna Cum Laude**
\nAlexander Franklin Spivery IV
\nJoshua Eugene Stone
\nLauren Elizabeth Taylor
\nKevin T. Vest
\nJoseph John Vogt
\nPriscilla Marie Wampler, Magna Cum Laude**
\nErika Nicole Witt
\nMelanie Amber Wolfe
\nAntionette Elizabeth Young<\/p>\n
\nMelanie Dawn Henry, Cum Laude*
\nLeah Elyse Kane, Cum Laude
\nJason Richard Kirkpatrick
\nAngela Michelle Patrick
\nSophia Amjid Qureshi
\nVeronica Lynne Stott
\nTyler Michael Wolfenbarger<\/p>\n
\nBrittany Nichole Bowlin
\nMonica Danielle Cooper, Cum Laude
\nMisty Paulette Rasnic
\nAgatha Megan Simpson, Cum Laude
\nSarah Beth Underwood, Cum Laude<\/p>\n
\nCheryl Denise Arp
\nRebekah Marie Bays, Cum Laude
\nJessie Leigh Evans
\nCourtney Line Luttrell
\nJulia Monday, Cum Laude
\nAmanda Dawn Overbay
\nLeigha Marie Rudd, Cum Laude
\nJoyce Anna Thomas<\/p>\n
\nLesa LeShea Allen, Magna Cum Laude
\nLisa Renee Barnett, Cum Laude
\nJaymie LaShea Graham
\nAlfreda Faye Gregg
\nBrooke Nicole Hall
\nLisa Ann Miller
\nAmanda Mackinze Rigney
\nTiffany Lynn Romines, Magna Cum Laude*
\nChristen Renea Woodson, Magna Cum Laude*<\/p>\n
\nBS566 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em>
\nJeffrey Michael Bowles
\nPatricia S. Headrick, Cum Laude*
\nKyle Brian Hodges
\nSusan Carole Johnson
\nMorgan Page LaRue
\nBeth Rene\u00e9 Lawson
\nSharon Rebekah Morgan
\nAdam Cole Pipkin, Cum Laude
\nAngela Connell Reynolds
\nSondra Rene\u00e9 Sarten
\nClaude Jacob Tippens
\nSierra Anne Trame
\nShakeenah Qmar Watson<\/p>\n
\nBenjamin Jacob Crawford, Cum Laude
\nJoseph Arthur Dunn
\nDelores Ann Greer, Magna Cum Laude
\nStephanie Lauren Griffin
\nJoshua Michael Ison, Magna Cum Laude
\nJana Michelle Smith, Magna Cum Laude
\nAshley Marie Stewart, Magna Cum Laude
\nLaura Lynn Tipton<\/p>\n
\nRandy L. Ball, Summa Cum Laude
\nMelissa Dawn Fritts
\nCourtney Nicole Humphreys
\nTamatha Delane Jones
\nMichael Rex Leonard, Cum Laude*
\nJohnny C. Williams<\/p>\n
\nLee Michael Ellam, Cum Laude
\nSamuel Kent Ford
\nTeresa Anne Fritz-Powers, Cum Laude*
\nDarrell Dewayne Fuqua
\nRyan Swain Holliday
\nWhitney Suzanne Holliday
\nKimberly Ann Mialback-Houk
\nEric Benjamin Roop
\nJoseph Adam Thornhill
\nJoseph Lynn Tollett, Cum Laude
\nSonia Lynn Vance
\nJoshua Sean Yarbrough<\/p>\n
\nMarc Rhea Chattin
\nAndrew Lamar Chesney
\nDaniel Wayne Dresser
\nDale Andrew Harold
\nJohn Emmett Higgins, Magna Cum Laude
\nMichael Doyle Johnson
\nJennifer Brooke Kirby
\nAndrea Marie Miles
\nAngela Joyce Parrott, Cum Laude
\nStacy Nicole Reed
\nKimberly D. Shirley
\nAristidis James Tampasis
\nClara Handly Toomey
\nMary Jane Watson<\/p>\n
\nJohnny Ray Bowling II, Cum Laude
\nTammy Stubblefield Clevinger, Cum Laude
\nTammy Michele Combs, Cum Laude*
\nChristopher Ryan Hicks
\nFeather Letisha Holt Payne<\/p>\n
\nSorka Sheenn Blanton
\nDonna Cunningham
\nChelsie Kasandra Dalton
\nMichael Wayne Dyke
\nShawna Lee Fultz
\nCheri McGuire Kelley, Magna Cum Laude
\nJohn Thomas Lowry Jr.
\nJessica Lynn McClaughry
\nAbigail Jane Messer
\nMark Lee Rich
\nMelissa Dawn Williams<\/p>\n
\nJoseph Keith Hickey
\nKatelyn Morgan Hodge
\nBrittany Lauren Joy, Cum Laude*
\nMeredith Joy Raths
\nAngela Suzzanne Reeves-Kramer
\nTiffany Dee Thiel-Rose
\nWarren Lee Wiser
\nHeather Chaffin Word<\/p>\n
\nLucas Andrew Clift
\nKenya Nicole Cutshall
\nJeremy Edward Earl
\nJames Riley Glasgow
\nLee Alan Haines
\nPamela Jo Holt
\nRobert Brandon Holt
\nTammy Darlene Kimery
\nMelissa Carson Patrick
\nChristopher Aaron Posey
\nDavid Robert Roller<\/p>\n
\nBB001 \u2013 Knoxville<\/em>
\nJoshua David Johnson
\nRachel Coulter Livesay<\/p>\n
\nKenneth Michael Brown
\nDebra Darlene Clark
\nKristie Schifferer Cziep
\nCraig Aaron Eichelberger
\nBrenda Lee Gilpatrick
\nJoshua Wayne Graham
\nLindsey M. McMillen
\nSteven Daniel Sitton
\nCraig Michael Strange
\nKimberley Diane Ammons Trimble,
\nMagna Cum Laude*
\nJoshua Aron White
\nAlysyn Cusick Williams<\/p>\n
\nDonald James Burchnell, Summa Cum Laude*
\nLillian June Burchnell, Summa Cum Laude*
\nMark Casey Collins, Cum Laude
\nSamantha Ann Horner
\nKimberly Dawn Livesay
\nCharlotte Duke Lowe
\nShay Elizabeth Roberts McAmis
\nJeremy Dwayne Messer
\nAdam Keith Parks
\nChristy Leigh Paysinger<\/p>\n
\nTravis Stuart Adams
\nMisty Mae Christian
\nAshley Evelyn Gilliam
\nMark Hugh McGaha
\nCarrie Rachel Sutphin
\nJessica Lynne Tankersley
\nAnthony James Thompson, Magna Cum Laude
\nTanya Lynn Trull
\nCarrie Lee Woodley, Cum Laude*<\/p>\n
\nDanielle LeeAnne Anderson
\nAmanda Arp Bookout
\nChad Edward Davis
\nDanny Winston Harkins, Cum Laude*
\nTyler Michael Schaefer
\nJohn Hatcher Sewell III
\nSeth Aaron Stieferma<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"