Entering its second year, the Midway Scholars Program has allowed transfer students from across the country, and now the world, the opportunity to join the ETSU Honors College and conduct research in their respected disciplines.
In 2005, the Honors College accepted 20 students into the Midway Scholars Program which was designed to attract exceptional transfer students who wish to continue their studies at ETSU.
Students accepted into the program must enroll in three honors-enriched courses, attend regular colloquium meetings, complete a research orientation course, and produce an honors thesis before graduating from ETSU.
The new scholars are from as far away as China and as close to home as the Tri-Cities. They are majoring in disciplines such as education, biological sciences, mathematics, digital media, sociology, history, nursing, psychology and social work.
Nine of the new scholars transferred from state com-munity colleges while the remainingsix are from other universities including Virginia Tech and Lanzhou University of Technology in China.
“We are very pleased with the diversity of the institutions from which the students come to us and with the fact that we are able to attract the top students from Tennessee community colleges,” said Dr. Jay Boland, director of the University Honors Program.
Midway Scholars receive full tuition and fees for four semesters of study at ETSU, including a book allowance. An extra $2,500 is available for students for a study abroad experience, funding for their respected research, or a fifth semester if needed.
“The purpose of the Midway Program was to provide access for students to transfer from other universities and to provide them with a special honors opportunity,” said Dr. Rebecca Pyles, dean of the Honors College. “We didn’t have a cross-campus program, unlimited by discipline, to really pick from the cream of transfer students, and we really wanted to attract those students to ETSU from community colleges or from other universities.”
Based on the experiences of the first year Midway Scholars, the Honors College made some minor adjustments to the program.
“This year’s class is taking an Honors Research Methods class in their first semester,” Boland said. “The hope is that camaraderie and a sense of shared purpose will be facilitated. I am confident that the program is a very valuable addition to the Honors College at ETSU and that the Honors College staff will continue to learn from the students what works and what modifications might benefit the program.”
Incoming Midway Scholar, Tyler Harvey from Kingsport, transferred to ETSU from Emory & Henry College. “I found out about the scholarship when I came in to talk to admissions and they said it would cover all tuition and fees so I thought it would be a great opportunity,” Harvey said.
Harvey, who wants to pursue a career in medicine, would like to do his undergraduate research at the College of Medicine. “It would help with connections and my rsum, and I think anytime you graduate from an honors program it shows distinction,” he said.
Most first year Midway Scholars are beginning their senior year at ETSU and many have already begun their research. Senior Erika Adams, who transferred from Northeast State, is currently studying the effects of in-come, education, and family situations on civic engage-ment in rural Appalachia.
Midway Scholars like Adams, say that the opportunity to leave the community college environment and conduct research at ETSU will be beneficial to their futures. “Being a part of the program has certainly opened the doors to a lot of other opportunities,” Adams said.
“The hands-on experience that has been provided . will certainly give me an advantage not only in applying to graduate programs but in the work force,” she said. “I feel like I am getting the very most from my college experience in part because of my involvement with the Midway Scholars Program.

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