Members of the leadership team for the Tusculum College Pioneer Club campaign for 2003-2004 met July 31 to kick off the campaign. Shown are, from left on front row: Mark Easterly, Thomas Wood, Karen Strange, John Strange, and Billy Williams; on second row: the Rev. Dr. Dan Donaldson, Doug DeBusk, Mark Williams, and Julie Payne. Team members who could not be present were Shane Hite, Rodney Bell, Ken Earl, and Mike Sauls. (Tusculum College photo)

2003-2004 campaign for the Pioneer Club under way

The 2003-2004 Pioneer Club campaign is now under way, an annual effort that raises scholarships for Pioneer student athletes.

The campaign is chaired this year by Greeneville's Mark Williams, a long-time supporter of Tusculum athletics and also a member of the college's board of trustees. Team members are now calling on more than 400 area businesses and individuals, through phone calls and personal visits, to ask support for the Pioneer Club.

Pioneer Club membership is available at several giving levels, ranging from $250 to more than $10,000. Last year's campaign surpassed the goal of $50,000 to a level of nearly $60,000. This year's goal is $60,000. Dozens of Tusculum College athletes receive scholarships thanks to donors' generous help.

Several members of Tusculum's athletics staff and other college leaders and staff members attended the campaign's kickoff breakfast on July 31 to greet and thank the community volunteers present. Tusculum President Dr. Dolphus E. Henry spoke briefly and informally, saying that Tusculum College is poised at the beginning of an academic year that will bring about "a lot of new definitions."

Football Coach Frankie DeBusk has "written the definition of 'away game'" by scheduling the Aug. 30 season opener at North Dakota State University, Dr. Henry noted. Tusculum is writing a new definition of student enrollment as well, he said, anticipating 870 students in the residential college this fall – a new record. "We're also rewriting the definition of "real nice library" as the college is preparing to start construction on a renovated and greatly expanded main library building, he said. Right now preliminary work, mostly demolition, is already under way on the project, and the college is awaiting a final okay of the plans from the state fire marshal before beginning construction in earnest this fall.

Most of all, however, volunteers, area businesses, and the good people of our town redefined the idea of "community." A community is not just a collection of houses and people. Community is a mindset of commitment and cooperation from which Tusuclum College benefits greatly. In turn, Tusculum College is growing in its ability to serve the region. That's what community is all about. Dr. Henry thanked the Pioneer Club community volunteers for their help to the college.

Introduced by Williams, Tusculum Athletic Director Ed Hoffmeyer introduced coaches and support staff from the athletic department. Hoffmeyer then turned the program over to DeBusk, who discussed the upcoming Pioneer football season.

With 24 seniors returning to the 158-member squad this year, Tusculum anticipates a strong season – continuing the college-wide tradition of getting "bigger and better" as each year goes by, he said. But past gridiron successes have made it harder for the Pioneers to find teams eager to face off with them, he said. This season, the NCAA Division II Pioneers are playing three Division I teams, DeBusk noted. This year the Pioneers will "continue to throw the ball a lot on offense and blitz a lot on defense," he said.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Myron Davis reminded the group that sturdy "Pioneer Spirit" yard signs, in Tusculum's school colors of black and orange, are available to the general public at no cost. Free signs, along with metal sign holders designed to be planted in yards, may be picked up at the Tusculum College Bookstore in the Niswonger Commons building. Anyone who would like a sign for home or business display is welcome to obtain one or more, he said. Bookstore visitors are also invited to peruse a wide array of other Tusculum memorabilia – including themed clothing – available for sale at the bookstore.

While picking up their signs, visitors are also invited to walk around campus, perhaps stopping in at the Pioneer Perk coffee house near the bookstore, Greeneville's only establishment offering popular Starbucks Coffee drinks and other items to the general public.

Anyone interested in joining the Pioneer Club, but who is not contacted by a volunteer, is invited to call the Tusculum College Institutional Advancement office at 636-7303, or visit in person on the second floor of McCormick Hall on the TC campus.