Tennessee Governor. Don Sundquist has appointed Derreck Whitson, a senior at ETSU, to a one-year term as student regent on the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The TBR, ETSU’s governing body, is the nation’s sixth largest higher education system, governing 45 post-secondary institutions. The TBR system includes six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers, providing programs to over 180,000 students in 90 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
One student representative is chosen to serve on the TBR. An organization comprised of student government association presidents from throughout the TBR system interviews candidates, nominates three choices, and sends the recommendations to the Governor, who then makes the final selection.
“We are extremely proud that Derreck’s accomplishments have earned him the honor of being named to the Tennessee Board of Regents by Gov. Sundquist,” said President Dr. Paul E. Stanton. “Derreck is a hard-working high achiever, and we are confident that he will devote the same amount of talent and perseverance to his position on the TBR that he does to everything with which he is associated.”
Whitson is the son of Dr. Martin and Catherine Whitson, Dandridge, and the grandson of Blanche Whitson.
The former SGA president (2000-01) is majoring in both philosophy and political science. He has been vice president of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, as well as fraternity educator and the fraternity’s North American Food Drive chair in the Tri-Cities.
The past chair of the university’s Homecoming Committee also served as a Preview orientation peer leader, was on the Division of Student Affairs Council and the university-wide President’s Council, was campus co-chair of the ETSU Pride committee, and was a member of the school’s Athletic Committee.
In addition, Whitson has been a Youth Empowerment Summit facilitator and a College Bound site volunteer.
He currently volunteers with Good Samaritan Ministries, is listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, and Order of Omega Greek honor society.
Whitson serves on the Articulation, Student Life, and Capital Outlay committees on the TBR. He is presently interning with Northeast Tennessee Rural Transportation, a division of the First Tennessee Human Resource Agency. He is scheduled to graduate in May 2002, and plans to attend law school.

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