MARYVILLE, Tennessee, July 28 -- Maryville College issued the following news: * * * Canton, North Carolina, Mayor Zeb Smathers to speak at Maryville College Convocation * The annual Convocation ceremony to open the 2026-27 academic year at Maryville College will look a little different this year, as Zeb Smathers, mayor of Canton, North Carolina, has accepted an invitation to serve as its guest speaker. Not without precedent, the decision to invite a guest speaker to Convocation, and Smather  more