A total of 220 students received degrees Saturday as Tusculum College hosted its spring commencement for 2003.

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Weisz, campus chaplain and associate professor of religious studies, challenged the students in his commencement sermon to let the Lord be their shepherd in life, and to allow Him to be a shepherd to others as well through their lives.

Basing his sermon on the well-known 23rd Psalm, Dr. Weisz described his own journey from a position of youthful self-sufficiency to a time when he now welcomes the counsel of those who seek to give him guidance.

In his own experience, said Dr. Weisz, God has often used the counsel of other people as the avenue through which He has provided shepherding, and in many cases, those people have been the very students Dr. Weisz serves as chaplain and counselor.

Weisz encouraged the graduates to look to God for guidance, although popular culture encourages individualism. "The Lord alone is your Shepherd, and you will not be lacking of anything for a meaningful life if you are willing to be shepherded," he said. "The Lord is our Shepherd, may God allow us to shepherd others."

Also addressing the crowd were May 2003 graduates Teresa Tweed of Abindgon, Va., who is a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management graduate, and Joshua J. Quillen, of Greeneville, a psychology major in the Bachelor of Arts program.

Tweed spoke on the theme of leadership, encouraging the graduates to let their education support their leadership abilities. "Leaders are meant to help others to be the people God created them be," Tweed told the graduates. "We are all leaders."

"While we are leaving Tusculum with our degrees, let us commit to make a difference in the lives of the people we meet," she told the crowd that filled the Niswonger Commons' Alpine Arena.

"Five years ago I would not have dreamed that I would be graduating, that was not in plans. Where do you see yourself five years from now?" she asked the graduates.

Quillen's speech was a more personal reminiscence of his time at Tusculum. He used the occasion to thank his teachers, parents, and best friends, the latter group of which he named in a long sequence of nicknames.

Describing the progression of the class of 2003 through its time at Tusculum, Quillen said, "We at the moment of graduation, but what we thought would be a happy moment, is also a sad moment because we realize we will be leaving behind people we have grown close to through the years."

"Now we need to take our accomplishments at Tusculum and take all we have learned into the world," he said, adding thanks to Tusculum professors for their efforts to make students more complete people, not only academically, but also socially, and in the community.

Tusculum College President Dr. Dolphus E. Henry officiated over the ceremonies and also gave a charge to the graduates, encouraging them to go forward and do good in the world despite all resistance they may encounter or negative reactions they may receive.

Dr. Henry also noted that the graduation marked the beginning of a new tradition, the use of a podium made from a walnut tree that stood near the Old College building on campus. The podium was made by Tim Loos of Lawler-Wood, which provides facilities management on campus.

Of the 220 who graduated, 66 received Bachelor of Arts degrees through the Tusculum College traditional program. Nine received Master of Arts in Education degrees, nine received Master of Arts in Organizational Management degrees, and the remainder received Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management degrees. The latter three degrees are awarded through the Professional Studies program for working adults.

Music was provided by organist James Winfree, vocalist Jill Jones, and Scottish Pipers Scott McLeod and Jon Shell.