ETSU student wins prestigious Truman Scholarship

The ruse seemed to work.  

Scott Jeffress, executive director of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University, had told junior Leah Loveday to meet him in his office before a big meeting with a potential donor. 

But when she walked into the Roan Scholars’ conference room, she was greeted not with a meeting, but with balloons, food and a room full of smiling (and tearful) faculty, staff and students ready to celebrate her selection as a recipient of the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. 

It’s one of the most competitive and prestigious awards in the United States – and the second straight year that ETSU secured a winner.  

“This moment feels good, but it’s also just me trying to think about how much growth I’ve had here at ETSU,” said Loveday. “If you would have told me a few years ago that I would be recognized for this, I wouldn’t have known what to say.”   

A native of Sevierville, Loveday is a Community Health major. Loveday’s work in the public health sphere has aimed to address Tennessee’s high rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. 

She recently co-authored an article in a leading public health journal and captured third place in the 2023 ETSU Elevates pitch competition.  

ETSU’s Trent White won the Truman scholarship last year. Before that, Betty Miles was the last university recipient in 1997.  

“Leah exemplifies the mission and values of East Tennessee State University, which are to improve the quality of life for people in the region and to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Her work, both in and outside of the classroom, is making a positive, tangible difference for our communities,” said ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. “This is an outstanding and well-deserved honor for Leah and her family. It is also a testament to the caliber and character of the education that we provide at East Tennessee State University. It is incredibly unusual for a regional public university to be competing at this level — and here we are with back-to-back winners.”  

The Truman Scholarship is intensely competitive. The Truman Foundation fields hundreds of applications each year, with only a few dozen scholarships awarded.  

“ETSU is redefining what’s possible for regional public universities nationwide. More than 120 U.S. universities boast endowments exceeding $1 billion and command the lion’s share of academic wealth,” said Dr. Carson Medley, assistant dean of the Honors College and director of Prestigious Awards. “Our success producing Truman Scholars, Rhodes Finalists and Fulbright winners is the result of deliberate investment in developing world-class scholars, a supportive academic environment and a mission to elevate opportunity across Appalachia and beyond.”

Medley led a team of ETSU faculty and staff that included ETSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Noland, Jeffress and more.  

ETSU has signaled a strong commitment to help students in applying for nationally and globally competitive scholarships. Students have won major awards in recent years, including a Goldwater Scholarship and one from the U.S. Department of State. White was a finalist for the internationally renowned Rhodes Scholarship last year.  

It’s a powerful reminder that at ETSU, students don’t have to choose between excellence and affordability. They get both.  

“We are incredibly happy for Leah, and I join the entire ETSU community in celebrating her achievements,” said McCorkle. “I likewise commend Dr. Medley and all those who worked to support Leah as she moved through the application process.”