Named in commemoration of the year when ETSU was founded, the 1911 Society recognizes the university’s most notable graduates from undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The selection committee evaluates applicants on academic achievement; sustained service; honors, awards, recognitions, publications and presentations; demonstrated leadership; work experience, such as study abroad, internships, externships and clinicals; and personal narratives.
ETSU President Brian Noland said, “For more than a century, ETSU has carried forth a mission to improve the quality of life for the people of this region. The 1911 Society recognizes an elite group of graduates who have embodied that very mission. We are delighted to honor these distinct members of the Class of 2024 throughout Commencement exercises this week.”
The 1911 Society was established in 2020. Honorees receive special recognition and tartan stoles to wear during Commencement. Their contributions and accomplishments will be showcased on the 1911 Society wall located on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Student Center.
“These students have distinguished themselves in their service, their scholarship and their commitment to the mission of ETSU,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, ETSU provost and senior vice president for Academics. “Their leadership on this campus has made an impact, and we look forward to watching them continue their journeys.”
Elayna Chavis
Elayna Chavis of Hickory, North Carolina, completed her undergraduate degree in health sciences in May 2023 and is graduating with a master's degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology. At ETSU, Chavis served with Volunteer ETSU, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Quillen College of Medicine and the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement. In the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, she studied the impact of COVID-19 on international students on campus.
Ahauve Orusa
Ahauve Orusa of Clarksville, Tennessee, is a fourth-year medical and public health student in ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine and College of Public Health who engaged in community service initiatives, including yoga and aftercare programs for children, alongside her academic pursuits. She contributed to a CDC COVID study and presented her research at the Tennessee Public Health Association Conference.
Bryce Sutton
Bryce Sutton of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration degrees concurrently. Throughout his academic journey, Sutton demonstrated strong leadership by spearheading donation drives and immunization clinics, representing ETSU nationally in pharmacy competitions, and now aims to serve Southern Appalachia as an independent community pharmacy owner.
Janika Raynes
Janika Raynes of Nashville, Tennessee, is an MD candidate from the Quillen College of Medicine. During her time at Quillen, she served in multiple leadership roles, assisted rural communities locally and globally through volunteer organizations, and was awarded prestigious medical scholarships. She pursued research projects with the Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pathology, and OB/GYN. She will complete her residency training in OB/GYN at ETSU.
Cooper Reaves
Cooper Reaves, a Johnson City native, graduated from ETSU with a bachelor's degree in media and communication, engaging in campus life as a tour guide, Preview/Orientation leader and member of student alumni and marketing councils. He also held leadership roles in the Public Relations Society of America-Tri Cities, the City of Johnson City Growth Management Plan Advisory Committee and the Blue Plum Organization. Cooper now serves as the Director of Marketing & Communications for the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce.
Levi Jones
Levi Jones of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, is graduating with a B.S. in political science,
alongside double minors in communication studies and theatre. Levi founded the College
Democrats at ETSU and served as National Council Chair for the College Democrats of
America and as the Head Delegate of ETSU’s Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature
(TSIL) delegation.
Brooke Patterson
Brooke Patterson of Lenoir City, Tennessee is graduating with a B.S. in political science. Patterson was elected as the Alpha Delta Pi President, during which she earned chapter of the year awards, the highest national award, and the highest individual honor. She has served in all three branches of the Student Government Association, with her most recent role as the SGA Executive Vice President.
Caleb Vaughn
Caleb Vaughn of Kingsport, Tennessee, is graduating with a B.S. in political science and a B.A. in Theatre (Acting Concentration), both through the Honors program. He has been involved with the Preview and Orientation Leader Organization, Expedition Leaders, Pre-Law Society, Mock Trial, New Student and Family Programs, various theatre productions, ETSU Ambassadors, and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. He plans to further his education in law school upon graduation.
Lexi Vance
Alexis "Lexi" Vance of Burnsville, North Carolina, is graduating with a BBA with a major in Marketing and a minor in Digital Marketing. She has served as Vice President of Chapter Unity on the Panhellenic Executive Council and as Vice President of Events and Programming and Executive Vice President for the Gamma Delta chapter of Kappa Delta sorority. She also founded and reinstated Phi Beta Lambda and the American Marketing Association, as well as interned with a U.S. Senator.
Kaci Rae Bartley
Kaci Rae Bartley of Bean Station, Tennessee, is graduating with a B.S. in rehabilitative health sciences and a minor in communicative disorders. As an undergraduate, Bartley has served as a Preview and Orientation Leader (POLO), Buccaneer Involvement Guide (BIG), member of the ETSU Dance Team and a nurse aide at the Crumley House Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center.
Sally Chikomb
Sally Chikomb of Kingsport, Tennessee, is majoring in Health Science with a minor in Global Health and Development. A Roan Scholar, she has interned with Branch House Family Justice Center, participated in the Quillen College of Medicine & Ballad Health Medical Horizons program, served as an Expedition Leader, is currently participating in EQUIP, and is an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Omicron Delta Kappa and Alpha Epsilon Delta.
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ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility
Any East Tennessee State University student, domestic or international, who meets the eligibility requirements for their category are eligible to apply:
- Undergraduate seniors who received their baccalaureate degree in August or who will receive their degree in December 2024 or May 2025; or graduate students who received their master’s or doctorate degree in August or who will receive their degree in December 2024 or May 2025; or pharmacy and medical students who will receive their degrees in May 2025.
- Applicants are eligible one time only, as either an undergraduate, graduate, pharmacy, or medical student.
- Eligible students will have a GPA at the time of application which reflects academic excellence, as well as personal achievements which demonstrate and support the mission and values of East Tennessee State University.
To apply, students must submit a completed application by the deadline.
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SELECTION
Selection Criteria
From the applicants, the Selection Committee will choose no more than 12-15 students to be invited for an interview. The Committee will select no more than 11 students to be recognized during any one academic year (2-4 graduate and professional students and 6-8 undergraduate students) for induction into The 1911 Society.
Selections will not be based on GPA exclusively, but will be based on multiple criteria. The criteria listed below should be representative of activities and engagement outside the classroom or academic program requirements.
- Academic engagement
- Community service activities
- Student activities and organizations
- Paid or unpaid work
- Publications and/or presentations
- Honors, awards, and recognitions
- Demonstrated leadership
- Study abroad, internships, externships, and/or clinicals
- Personal narratives on application
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will be composed of the following representatives:
- President of Faculty Senate (or designee)
- Designee from Student Life and Enrollment
- Faculty designee from Graduate Council
- Faculty designee from Quillen College of Medicine or Gatton College of Pharmacy
- Vice President for Equity and Inclusion (or designee)
- Faculty Athletics Representative
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APPLICATION INFORMATION
Students should provide the information requested below as one MS Word document or a PDF file emailed to the Office of the Provost at provost@etsu.edu.
A complete application consists of one packet with the four (4) parts listed below.
I: Personal Information
- Name.
- E#.
- Email.
- Phone number.
- Current Address.
- Permanent Address.
- Major and minor, if applicable.
- Undergraduate, Graduate, Pharmacy, or Medical Student.
- Copy of Class Schedule
- Bio (150 words max, see previous winners for an example) highlighting your accomplishments as an undergraduate, graduate, pharmacy, or medical student. If you are selected for the 1911 Society, you may revise this bio for a press release.
II: Academic Engagement
Use the downloadable table to provide a list of Academic Activities; Service; Student Organizations; Paid or Unpaid Work; Publications and/or Presentations; Honors, Awards, and Recognitions.
Download Table(add/delete rows as needed; if a section does not apply, please leave blank or delete)
III: Essay
Essay (maximum of 750 words) explaining how your experience(s) at ETSU embodies the mission of the institution to improve the quality of life of the people of the region and reflects the tenets of 1911 Society.
IV: References
Reference letters are not needed. Please provide the name and number of two references who can attest to your academic involvement at ETSU. One should be a faculty member who taught you in your current academic program.
2024 Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on Monday, October 21st, to the Office of the Provost provost@etsu.edu.
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INDUCTEE RECOGNITION
Inductee Recognition
Students selected for induction into The 1911 Society will receive a medallion to wear with their regalia. New inductees will be identified during the Commencement program.
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PAST MEMBERS
Class of 2023 Inductees:
Piper Floyd
Piper Floyd of Kingsport, Tennessee, studied computing and foreign languages. With a long-held passion for international endeavors, Floyd was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship for her year abroad in Granada, Spain. She has also participated in an international Hackathon composed of students from Iraq and the Palestinian Territories, where they created a website focusing on the global water crisis. As an ambassador in the ETSU College of Business and Technology Leadership Academy, she provided opportunities for women in STEM by co-founding the Women in Tech event at ETSU and by volunteering as a computing instructor to migrant women during her time in Spain. Additionally, Floyd conducted undergraduate research in machine learning, for which she became the first ETSU student to win the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. She will attend EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) in Switzerland in the fall of 2023 to pursue a master’s degree in robotics and a minor in space technologies.
Sadie King
Sadie King of Kingsport, Tennessee, graduated with a B.S. degree in rehabilitative health sciences and a double minor in communicative disorders and nutrition. During her undergraduate career, King has been a part of the Dr. Brenda White-Wright Emerging Leaders Academy, Preview and Orientation Leader Organization, and Buccaneer Involvement Guides, and has served in the Student Government Association as a senator and secretary of state, taking on the role of homecoming director for two years. She was also selected for ETSU’s “First and Triumph” video series that recognized her successes as a first-generation college student. In addition to being active on campus, King worked part time to assist individuals at The Crumley House who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. She is continuing at ETSU for her graduate degree in speech-language pathology.
Jessica Rodriguez-Potter
Jessica Rodriguez-Potter of Cleveland, Tennessee, majored in psychology with a concentration in child psychology and a double minor in early childhood development and trauma and resilience. Rodriguez-Potter was involved in undergraduate research under the mentorship of Dr. Diana Morelen and presented research at ETSU’s Appalachian Student Research Forum and Boland Symposium. On campus, Rodriguez-Potter served with the Preview and Orientation Leader Organization and the Center for Academic Achievement, where she was an academic coach and the Honors College representative on the student advisory board. She also interned as a medical advocate and labor doula with Atlanta’s Embrace Refugee Birth Support group. Rodriguez-Potter was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship and will spend 10 weeks in Tanzania before returning to Atlanta to continue her services with Embrace as part of a graduate fellowship. She hopes to use these experiences to advocate for maternal and child welfare in the humanitarian aid sector.
Dr. Jarred Millard
Dr. Jarred Millard of Burns, Tennessee, earned his M.D. from the Quillen College of Medicine. Before medical school, he spent nine years working as a first responder, both as a paramedic and a critical care flight paramedic. He stayed involved with EMS locally and globally throughout his time at ETSU by serving as an instructor for the EMS-XTLS conference, as well as traveling to Georgetown, Guyana, to train the country’s first class of Advanced EMTs. He served as class president for all four years of his medical education and is one of the founders and first president of the ETSU Street Medicine Outreach, an interprofessional coalition of students and faculty dedicated to providing care for the unhoused in the community. He was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in recognition of his compassionate patient-centered care and service to others. He will complete his residency training in emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Katelyn Haun
Katelyn Haun of Dandridge, Tennessee, graduated with a BBA in general management and marketing communications. She is continuing her education at ETSU in the Master of Business Administration program in the fall of 2023. As an undergraduate, Haun served as president of both Alpha Delta Pi and College Panhellenic and as a member of the Preview and Orientation Leader Organization. Her greatest accomplishment was helping create EPIC, a seminar for Fraternity and Sorority Life members on risk management and community awareness. She was awarded the ADPi National Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award and Orientation Leader of the Year and Sorority Woman of the Year honors. While she was chapter president, ADPi was named Chapter of the Year.
Dr. Rhiannon Dunn
Dr. Rhiannon Dunn of Johnson City, Tennessee, earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership. She has earned the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and received various scholarships, including a dissertation scholarship, the Joan Brandon Hull Scholarship, multiple external scholarships, and a Quillen Scholars Award. Dunn actively contributed to Clemmer College’s CAEP accreditation committees as both a doctoral student and an intern supervisor. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for Educators and the Golden Key International Honors Society. With an extensive background as a teacher, teacher leader, and mentor teacher at Science Hill High School in Johnson City and a strong commitment to education in multiple placements spanning almost two decades, Dunn plans to continue her leadership in the field, serving the needs of both students and teachers alike.
Jeremiah Heyward
Jeremiah Heyward of Knoxville, Tennessee, majored in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science. During his time as an undergraduate, he was student leader with the Preview and Orientation Leader Organization (POLO), organizing the event, communicating with other POLO leaders, and serving as the person to welcome students and families to campus. He also served as a Buccaneer Involvement Guide, Peer Mentor, and on New Student Family Programs and as an intern with Game Day Operations in the Athletic Department. These leadership opportunities allowed him to impact the lives of new and current students, enhancing their college experiences. His leadership led to an opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to participate with other young men of color in a listening session with Vice President Kamala Harris focusing on the topics of mental health, economics, and criminal justice reform.
Mason Mosier
Mason Mosier of Piney Flats, Tennessee, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and media and communications. During his time at the university, Mosier demonstrated his leadership skills by actively engaging in community service, political organizations, and university programs, including the Student Government Association, the Honors College, and The Washington Center. He served as the SGA president for two years, was the first outreach intern for a congressional office, and combined his fields of study to create a working definition of 21st century American political candidates in his thesis. Furthermore, Mosier was appointed the community service chairman in his fraternity, Sigma Chi. Following his passion to expand his worldview, he took part in various leadership programs and study abroad opportunities in Israel and Rome. He was recognized for his exceptional leadership in 2022 with the Ronald and Edith J. Carrier Award. After graduation, Mosier plans to study abroad and pursue a career in business management.
Samuel Alejandro Garcia Olmos
Samuel Alejandro Garcia Olmos of Caracas, Venezuela, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a minor in culture and health. As a member of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program, he participated in The Washington Center’s academic internship program at the National Hispanic Medical Association, where he advocated for Hispanic health. He participated in research at the Quillen College of Medicine with Dr. Xiaohui Wang’s investigation of liver response to sepsis. Additionally, he served on the executive board of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Interfraternity Council and as a senator and vice president for finance and administration in the Student Government Association. He was a dedicated volunteer with the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and The Venezuela Project, which his family created to help his home country.
Paulina Ramirez
Paulina Ramirez of Medellin, Colombia, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with minors in culture and health and psychology. She has held several leadership positions in the Student Government Association and served as a PEAKS mentor for the Honors College. Ramirez has conducted cardiovascular research under the guidance of Dr. Krishna Singh and presented her findings at various conferences, including the Tennessee Posters at the Capitol event, the American Physiological Society at the Experimental Biology Conference, and ETSU’s Boland Symposium. Because of her diverse background, she is committed to community service and has volunteered and interpreted at the Remote Area Medical Clinic and Providence Medical Clinic. She aims to obtain an M.D. degree and specialize in cardiology to combat health care disparities in the Appalachian area.
William (Billy) Thompson
William (Billy) Thompson of Ocala, Florida, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences with a concentration in human health and a minor in psychology as a Midway Honors Scholar. During his time in the Honors College, Thompson conducted epilepsy research under the direction of Dr. Chad Frasier in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Quillen College of Medicine. He has presented his research at ETSU's Appalachian Student Research Forum and at the American Epilepsy Society’s annual meeting. He also completed a senior thesis on cellular energetics in epilepsy. He was involved in multiple experiential learning activities, including a study-away program in New York City and study abroad in England and France. Additionally, Thompson and his wife founded a nonprofit outreach, the Amazing Gracelyn Organization, that serves the citizens of Cocke County, Tennessee, via a blessing box program.