GREENEVILLE – With the end of the academic year approaching, Tusculum University recognized the accomplishments of its students as they become career-ready professionals and of the faculty and staff for their one-on-one work with these Pioneers.
Tusculum held its annual Honors Convocation Thursday, April 23, to spotlight academic achievement and other important elements of the university experience, such as civic engagement and school spirit. The event highlights the pioneering spirit that reverberates around the university and the focus on preparing student to lead successful lives following graduation.
“The Honors Convocation is an excellent way to conclude the academic year because it causes us to reflect on what has taken place in the classroom and extracurricular activities,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “When we stop for a moment and contemplate what our students, faculty and staff have achieved, we see excellence in so many facets. We are proud that the Tusculum family is making its mark on campus and in the community and are pleased to see everyone excelling in faith, knowledge and love.”
The most prestigious award came at the end of the ceremony, when Dr. Hummel named Nehemiah Storey as the recipient of the President’s Award. This honor goes to a graduating senior who has contributed the most to Tusculum and has been the highest attainer in the combined areas of academics, extracurricular activities, campus leadership and attitude. Tusculum bases the selection on the student’s complete time at Tusculum.
Dr. Hummel enumerated many of Storey’s accomplishments, including serving as a resident assistant. He also touched on his prowess in the classroom, such as placement on the President’s List, Dean’s List and Charles Oliver Gray List at Tusculum, the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the National Football Foundation Outstanding Academic Award winner in 2023 and the NFF’s Hampshire Honor Society.
He noted that Storey served on the Tusculum football team leadership council and was a student coach for Tusculum’s spring football practices. Dr. Hummel said Storey influenced the community as a student teacher and volunteer assistant coach for the football team at Chuckey-Doak Middle School. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a participant in Students Pray on Thursdays at Tusculum Baptist Church, and he organized a prayer walk on campus in 2025.
“I was pleasantly surprised to win the award, and I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition and the impact I’ve had on Tusculum,” said Storey, a sport science major. “Knowing that the sport science program nominated me for the President’s Award means the world to me. It reinforces the fact that my time at Tusculum has been meaningful and productive. It fills me with joy to know that the faculty values my contributions.”
Storey additionally won the David Bow Award, named in honor of Dr. David Bow, a sport studies professor who has served in multiple roles during his 49 years as a faculty member, coach and athletic director at Tusculum. Storey called Dr. Bow an exceptional Tusculum faculty member and said it has been a pleasure to take his classes this year.
Other awards that were issued included the Key Award, with students receiving one in virtually every academic program. To qualify, students have to attain the designated grade point average or higher in their academic field and stand out among their peers.
The Outstanding Faculty for Excellence in Teaching, Service and Scholarship award went to Dr. Melissa Burt, assistant professor of environmental science. Students credited her with being helpful and explaining and placing material into a usable context. They said she guides students while giving them freedom to explore and encouraging them with creative control of projects. They also said she thoughtfully shepherds and mentors her research students.
“She provided me with impactful learning experiences through literary exploration and now with publication opportunities,” student Jori Ray said. “Her guidance in examining graduate school opportunities has been encouraging and rewarding.”
Dr. Burt’s supervisor also praises her.
“From the first-year student in her environmental science course to the senior doing class-based research or studying ant specimens in her laboratory, Dr. Burt connects with her students, finds ways to encourage them to do their best work and sets them up for a more substantial future,” said Dr. Chuck Pearson, assistant dean of math and science.
The Outstanding Service to Students Award for a faculty member went to Holly Ratcliff, assistant professor of English. The award, voted by students, recognized her for the way she provided encouragement and support, was available, made learning interesting, encouraged those in her classes to think outside the box and guided and counseled them to grow.
In addition to these qualities, Ratcliff played a special role as the faculty speaker during the memorial service for Payton Cook, a freshman and a member of the men’s lacrosse team, who passed away in a car accident in December. She was one of Cook’s professors. Tusculum held a moment of silence for Cook at the start of the convocation.
Students also honored Chuck Sutton, vice president of student affairs and retention, and Nancy Leonard with the Outstanding Service Award to a staff member and cafeteria worker, respectively.
The School Spirit Award went to Jerry Ricker, a sport science major, who is a member of the track and field and cross country teams and a member of the Student Government Association. He is also a member of and mentor for Student Support Services, which serves students whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree, who meet income-eligibility guidelines and have a disability.
The Civic Engagement Award for an outstanding group went to the track and field teams.
Early during the convocation, members of the new executive board for the Student Government Association for the 20256-2027 academic year took their oaths.
They are:
President – John Ross
Vice President – Isabella Headland
Treasurer – AnnaLee Simpson
Secretary – BriAnna Higgins
Speaker of the House – Serena Hood
