Pilloni Elected to Tusculum College Board

Tusculum College trustees elected William Pilloni of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to the Board at its recent spring meeting held in Knoxville. Mr. Pilloni, a 1960 graduate of Tusculum College, is a retired Building Manager with Prudential Life Insurance in northern New Jersey. His wife is also an alumnus, Jane Shanks Pilloni, Class of 1959, and a daughter of Dean Cecil Shanks, who had many ties to the Greeneville/Greene County community.

Mr. and Mrs Pilloni have been active in alumni work through the years and leaders in both of the recent capital campaigns at the College. "We are delighted to welcome Bill to the Board," said Stanley R. Welty, Jr., following the election. "I know you will bring much expertise and wisdom as well as a love for Tusculum College with you as you conduct your work on the Board." Mr. Pilloni, who has extensive experience in business, will serve on the enrollment and services committee.

In preparation for his candidacy, Mr. Pilloni had earler reflected on the College and its mission. He wrote: "Curriculum, heritage, leadership, and a scholarly attitude have enabled the College to survive for 200 years. At present, its unique curriculum and leadership are its strength." The Pillonis are members of the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Mr. Pilloni is a member of the Glen Ridge Historical Society, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Montclair Art Museum and the Newark Junior Chamber of Commerce. He was honored with the chairmanship of the Prudential Eastern Home Office Centennial celebration.

The Pillonis have two children, William Craig Pilloni of Raymond, New Hampshire, and John Richard Pilloni of Garmisch, Germany. James F. Durham, chairman of the Trusteeship committee, noted on Pillonis election that the College had filled 42 of the 45 positions on the board. Out of this group, he said, 19 are alumni, 17 are from Greeneville and 12 are members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

In other action, Scott M. Niswonger, chairman of the Tusculum College 2000 Campaign, reported that commitments to the capital campaign now , total over $16.4 million. Niswonger acknowledged William Converse of Alpine Industries for the company's recent commitment of $1 million to the campaign. "The $1 million commitment by Bill and his partner, Mike Jackson, makes Alpine the first corporate Benefactor and the seventh Benefactor in the long history of the College. Their magnificent response could not have come at a better time as we are entering the home stretch in the campaign and needed that kind of boost."

Niswonger also told trusteees that over $11.5 million has been committed for either unrestricted or for capital improvement support and over $1.2 million has been designated for endowment.