Roan Scholars Leadership Program

Roans Macy Strader ‘26, Eliza Smith ‘27, Savannah Henry ‘28, and Emerson Couch ‘28 rolled up their sleeves and joined others from ETSU to support the Habitat for Humanity ‘Women Build’ event! They had the opportunity to learn and contribute hands-on to the construction of a home. 🏠👷‍♀️

Rappelling, hiking, ziplining, an adventure ropes course, an ETSU football game, and so much more—Roan Physical Vigor Weekend was an absolute blast! These three days were packed with adventure, laughs, and unforgettable moments of camaraderie. Special thanks to Mahoney's, Dan and Katie, and everyone who helps make this annual tradition so special. Also, thank you to Doe River Gorge for being such a great host! 🧗🏞

We just got the photos back from the 25th annual Roan Outdoor Leadership Challenge, and what a week it was for the Roan Class of 2028! From hiking and camping along the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina to learning new outdoor skills, the '28s gained valuable insights about themselves and their classmates. We're incredibly proud of you, Roan '28s! 🌲⛺️

A special thanks to our friends at ETSU Campus Recreation for their outstanding leadership and for helping create these unforgettable moments.

Congratulations to Helen Harmon on winning two weekend passes to Bristol's Rhythm and Roots celebration - enjoy!
And thank you to Brightspeed for partnering with us to offer this special opportunity!

Hi Roan Friends,

Are you interested in winning two weekend passes to the Rhythm and Roots celebration in Bristol? If so, be sure to follow us and post your name below. A drawing will be held and the winner will be announced tomorrow (Wed, Sep 11) at 5 pm. Tickets MUST be picked up at ETSU’s Alumni Office (602 Sevier Street, Suite 100) between 8 am – 4 pm on Thu, Sep 12.

Thanks to Brightspeed for partnering with us to provide this special opportunity.

🎉 We kicked off the semester with our first All-Roan Meeting of the year! It was great to reconnect with returning Roans and officially welcome the '28s to the family. We dove into the fall calendar, shared exciting updates, and outlined our continued focus on impact and community engagement. Here’s to another amazing year together! 😁

Welcome back Bucs!! Wishing everyone a great start to the year! 💛💙📚

The Roan Class of 2028 wrapped up their orientation with an unforgettable Amazing Race competition, hosted by the '27s!

The race took them all around Johnson City, where they completed tasks and collected clues along the way. This year’s theme? A wedding! 💍 Team one represented the bride’s family, while team two was the groom’s side. In the end, the groom’s team claimed the victory! 🏆 Congrats to all the '28s for making it such a fun and memorable event!

Nora Honeycutt ‘27 traveled to Europe for her Roan Summer of Service experience, volunteering with an organization dedicated to sustainability and organic farming in Brandbu, Norway. “The farm's main goal is to promote sustainability and use organic practices to produce better food for their community,” Nora explained.

“Being in Norway really tested my ability to adapt. As I went through the weeks, I found it easier to go with the flow and not have to have my full day planned out - something that was a need in the past. I think in terms of leadership, this is a good skill to have, being able to adapt and not let it bog you down if something doesn't go to plan. This is something I am still working on, which the farm and the renovation work taught me; it is a lesson I learn every day."

Reagan Sparks ‘27 traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, for her Roan Summer of Service, where she made an impact by teaching in understaffed schools. “I am so incredibly grateful for my time here and have truly enjoyed getting to challenge myself mentally and physically,” Reagan shared.

“My experience has contributed greatly to my understanding of leadership and has allowed me to actively work on my leadership skills—empathy, adaptability, patience, open-mindedness, not micro-managing, and personability. I have been exposed to a plethora of strong, selfless, and empathetic leaders who have inspired me to lead like them, and to express gratitude in every aspect of my life. This experience has strengthened my value in servant leadership and has been a life-changing experience in so many aspects, but especially in aiding my understanding of what type of leader I want to be.”

Applications for the Roan Scholars Leadership Program are now officially OPEN! If you’re a high school senior eager to develop your leadership potential and make a meaningful impact, this is your opportunity to join an exceptional community of leaders. Apply today and embark on a transformative journey! 📣

https://roanscholars.org/

Eliza Smith ‘27 spent her Roan Summer of Service in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, volunteering with the organization Manos Juntas. "Manos Juntas seeks to uplift the surrounding community through education and healthcare, working to achieve a better quality of life for its neighbors," explains Eliza.

“Summer of Service has afforded me the tremendous opportunity to not only evaluate my own leadership in a new setting but also to witness the leadership of a diverse array of leaders ranging from my supervisors at Manos Juntas and Casa de la Esperanza Children’s Home to the trip leads for various mission teams. Personally, I have observed in myself both strengths and weaknesses previously unexplored in my approach to leadership while also gaining opportunities to take leadership initiative myself."

Campus move-in was a success!! 💙💛✅

The next adventure for the Roan Class of 2028: the Outdoor Leadership Challenge! Now in its 25th year, the OLC has been an essential part of the Roan Experience for every Roan Scholar since the inaugural class arrived at ETSU in 2000. Wishing the Roan ‘28s an amazing week on the Appalachian Trail; we’re thrilled to have you with us!

For her Roan Summer of Service, Shelby Koerten ‘27 volunteered with a youth development program in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. "The kids had a massive impact on me. I have witnessed genuine empathy in such a pure form between the kids, and I have come to understand the power that even a small gesture of kindness holds," she explained. "Working in an entirely new environment with completely new people really allowed me to see my leadership strengths and weaknesses in a new light. The main trait that I embraced was adaptability. Between having to take over leadership of camps last minute to working with entirely different volunteer teams each day, I have learned to embrace the circumstances that I am given and find ways to make them beautiful."

We are so proud of our '27s and their involvement in the community - grateful for our partnership with the city!! 🤝

JC2: Roans ‘Go Beyond’ in civic engagement Members of ETSU’s Roan Scholars Leadership Program Class of 2027 are instrumental in establishing the new Johnson City Junior Council.

Olivia Nothnagel ‘27 completed her Roan Summer of Service with Isaiah 117 House in Elizabethton, TN. “This summer was full of blessings, growth, and reflection. My internship with Isaiah 117 allowed me to learn how empathy is truly everything. Working with all of the different kiddos and Isaiah 117 guests made me realize you never know the depths of what someone might be walking through. Going forward, I have learned to take nothing for granted. Whether that is a loving support system, or new pairs of shoes," Olivia shared. "This has impacted me so much more than I can ever give back and it has truly changed my life."

Peyton Gentry ‘27 dedicated her summer to rural medical care and youth support in Kingsport and Greenville, Tennessee. “I collaborated with two organizations: The Providence Medical Clinic, a free clinic serving those in need in Sullivan County, and Holston Home for Children, which offers educational, vocational, and recreational spaces for children and their families,” Peyton explained. “Everyone I encountered left an impact on me in different ways, whether they realize it or not. I hope I made a similarly strong and positive impact on them and these organizations.”

Maggie Martin ‘27 spent her summer in Nashville, Tennessee, interning as a Summer Camp Coordinator for Project Transformation. “I found my specific role as the coordinator of the art component of the camp, which I think is a great place to accomplish my goal of fostering creativity in the kids,” Maggie explained about her Roan Summer of Service experience. “Thanks to the Summer of Service and PT, I now have a whole new array of experiences to draw from. Maggie a year ago would have never taken a spontaneous trip to Memphis. Maggie a year ago wouldn't have fallen in love with salsa dancing because she wouldn’t have given it a chance. Maggie from a year ago wouldn’t have tried half the foods that have become my favorite this summer. I am so grateful for this time and the lessons that have been taught to me by the world around me, the kids that I am serving, and the coworkers that I serve with."

Grace Kellner ‘27 completed her Roan Summer of Service with two different non-profit organizations in Split, Croatia, focused on inclusive care and content creation. "One of the most significant strengths I discovered was my ability to adapt to new and challenging environments. Being abroad, I was constantly faced with situations that required me to step out of my comfort zone. This adaptability allowed me to navigate unfamiliar settings, understand different cultural norms, and work effectively despite the initial discomfort. I had the opportunity to explore my passions and motivations deeply. I realized that true leadership emerges when you find a compelling reason to create positive change."

Olivia Lamb's Roan Summer of Service experience took her to Miercurea Ciuc, Romania, where she worked with an organization dedicated to special needs care. “The entire purpose of this place is to take care of adults with special needs and disabilities, as well as develop their skills to be more independent. They have checked absolutely every box and more, in my opinion,” explained Olivia. "My experience here has definitely shaped the way I view myself as a leader. I knew that I was a very communicative teammate, coworker, and leader; however, I don’t think I realized how dependent I was on open communication. Due to language barriers, I had to figure out how to be helpful and present in different ways. This has pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to take initiative without any guidance."

Our final EOG recipient for summer 2024 is Leah Loveday ‘26. Leah has been participating in an internship program with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), where she collaborated on various community health initiatives. Her primary focus was the CSHD Mobile Unit Services Rapid Community Assessment project, which aims to efficiently gather community insights on local public health issues. We are so grateful to Eastman Credit Union for their ongoing, generous support in sponsoring these EOGs.

Our third Extraordinary Opportunity Grant (EOG) recipient is Trent White ‘25. Trent is interning with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office, Division of Administrative Procedures, in Nashville, TN. This internship provides Trent with hands-on experience in government operations and administrative law. In Nashville, he has the opportunity to work closely with state officials, like our Tennessee Attorney General, and contribute to important projects. Many thanks to our friends at Eastman Credit Union for providing support to sponsor these EOGs.

Our second EOG recipient is Abby Simpson '25. She is volunteering in Belize with an organization that provides speech and language therapy services abroad. Abby is excited about the professional and personal growth opportunities this experience will bring and looks forward to immersing herself in the rich culture of Belize. Thank you to our friends at Eastman Credit Union who provide financial support to sponsor EOGs.

We’re excited to announce the recipients of this year’s Roan Extraordinary Opportunity Grants (EOGs), powered by Eastman Credit Union! EOGs provide financial support to rising Roan juniors and seniors pursuing exceptional summer opportunities. Our first recipient is Morgan Blazer ‘25. She is currently participating in Remote Area Medical (RAM) in Rockford, TN. Morgan is excited about the opportunities this experience will bring and looks forward to providing essential medical services to underserved communities.

Congratulations, McKenzie!

ETSU alum selected for regional leadership cohort Programming and Engagement Director at the Northeast Tennessee Regional Hub McKenzie Templeton was recently announced to be part of Leadership Tennessee NEXT.