ETSU Today

Earlier this summer, our Men's Golf Team competed for a national title, ultimately placing 12th in the nation among a field of 30 competitors comprising primarily state flagship institutions. It was ETSU's fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Men's Golf Tournament, and we are one of just nine programs in the country to accomplish that feat.

Our golf team's ability to compete at an elite level against far larger schools is outstanding. But it is not unique — at least not at ETSU.

Our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are achieving national and international recognition in research, scholarship, athletics, the arts, health care, business, government, and service. In the last year alone, our marching band grew to one of the largest in the nation and was selected to perform on the world stage at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while Bluegrass alums Amythyst Kiah and Tray Wellington received national acclaim from the New York Times and PBS, among others. Our pharmacy students ranked second nationally for their scores on the NAPLEX licensing exam, and students and faculty in the College of Public Health claimed one of the nation's top awards for innovation in public service.

Trent White, a current ETSU student, received the highly competitive national Truman Scholarship, while alum Shivam Patel was a finalist for the Rhodes — one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. ETSU grad Craig Charles was named Tennessee's Small Business Person of the Year, and alum Missy Testerman was proclaimed National Teacher of the Year on CBS Mornings.

For far too long, our university has been among the nation's "best-kept secrets." This is a disservice not only to our students, faculty, staff, and alumni but also to our entire region, which has worked hand-in-hand with the university for more than a century to develop a world-class institution in the heart of Appalachia. We have done so without sacrificing our mission and remaining accessible to all. Nearly 40 percent of our May 2024 graduates were the first in their families to graduate from college.

East Tennessee State University is a place where anyone can grow, succeed, and compete with the best. I am incredibly proud of that fact, and I hope each of you is as well.

Godspeed, and go Bucs!

Brian Noland
President