Efforts by Tusculum College students such as the "Power of Five" and "Lunch Buddies" programs have helped Greeneville and Greene County be named one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People."

The national recognition was announced Tuesday (Sept. 27) by the Greeneville-Greene County Promise organization, a program of the Volunteer Center of Greeneville and Greene County. The local community was one of the 100 selected from 1,200 submissions for the recognition by the America's Promise Alliance and one of only three communities in the state chosen for the distinction. Nashville and Memphis were the other two.

Greeneville and Greene County were selected for innovative approaches to address the challenges facing the young people of the area, said Mary Fitzpatrick, director of the Volunteer Center. A letter about the award from Alma Powell, national chairperson of America's Promise and wife Gen. Colin Powell, founding chairman of the organization, was read that stated, "Greeneville and Greene County serve as a role model by encouraging and inspiring those communities that have not yet found the solutions to their challenges. Your achievements will serve as a beacon of light guiding others to success. Thank you for your participation and for making your community a great place to grow up."

Materials to be submitted for the award had to be quickly compiled, Fitzpatrick said in thanking the team that helped put together the information which included Robin Fife, assistant professor of social science at Tusculum. Fitzpatrick also expressed special appreciation to Vanessa Boyd of the college's Center for Civic Advancement, who compiled all the award information into the electronic format needed for submission.

The award announcement also coincides with the fifth anniversary of the local Community of Promise program, the efforts of which have led to the national recognition.

Tusculum College and its students have been actively involved in the Community of Promise program and its efforts that focus on ensuring the well-being of children and youth through the fulfillment of five promises: caring adults who are actively involved in their lives, safe places in which to learn and grow, a healthy start toward adulthood, an effective education that builds marketable skills, and opportunities to help others.

Tusculum is a "College of Promise," and national recognition has been received for the "Power of Five" coordinated efforts between the college and local elementary schools to help youngsters learn a modified version of the five promises which encourage them to develop health and beneficial habits that will help them grow to be successful adults. Students from service-learning courses go to the local schools to teach students about the promises using interactive lessons.

Another of the college's programs serving local young people, the "Lunch Buddies" program, which pairs Tusculum football players with selected students at Doak Elementary School near the college campus, was highlighted during the award announcement as a news feature about the program that aired earlier this year on WCYB-TV was shown.

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