Saturday’s Commencement ceremony will not only mark the graduation of many students who are finally getting the ultimate payoff for their years in college, but it also marks the landmark graduation of the first ETSU Roan Scholar.
The Roan Scholars Leadership Program was created by Johnson Citian Louis H. Gump, president of Impact Management and an entrepreneur, who envisioned a leadership development program based on performance and merit and modeled after the Morehead Scholars Program at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
The Roan Scholar awards cover full tuition, room and board, and books, as well as a fully equipped laptop computer and printer provided by DELL Computer Corp. The awards are renewable for three years.
Each nominee goes through a rigorous selection process and personal interview with a committee that includes regional business and community leaders as well as faculty and administrators.
Dr. Nancy Dishner is the program’s director.
Heather Jones is the first from this program to graduate, although more will follow in May.
She is an Admissions Ambassador and member of the distinguished President’s Pride. She was a member of the ETSU Women’s Tennis Team and received the Academic Honors Award.
During her junior year at ETSU, she served as a volunteer with NET Academy, a group home for troubled boys. She also served at Appalachian Christian Village retirement and nursing facility, and at Doe River Gorge.
Jones’s senior year has included the development of her Roan Scholars Capstone Project, directing her efforts toward assisting with the Bristol Motor Speedway Children’s Charities.
Her immediate plans involve beginning her business career and pursuing her master of business administration (MBA) degree.

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