On Wednesday, Sept. 21, ETSU hosted its very first ETSU Together ceremony to celebrate International Day of Peace. The event, which took place from 7-9 p.m. in University Commons, welcomed hundreds of students, faculty and staff, as well as the Johnson City community.

A variety of student and campus organizations, including Circle K International, the Department of Housing and Residence Life, the Office of Equity and Inclusion and more collaborated to provide food, tie dye, games and free ETSU swag for this special event.

Attendees worked together to paint miniature cranes as part of a new permanent art installation that will be placed on display in the Culp Cave, under the direction of Joy Fulkerson, director of leadership and civic engagement. The cranes part of this project serve as an expression of hope for a world at peace.

At 8 p.m., the formal portion of the evening began with several guest speakers discussing what International Day of Peace means to them and the ETSU community.

“Choosing empathy underscores our shared humanity and has the power to bring people together, regardless of common experiences or even shared language,” said Jess Rodriquez, an ETSU student. “As humans, we will spend the remainder of our lives in a social landscape. Everything that will ever come to us, that we will ever do, is through and by people.”

Organizers for ETSU Together arranged a one-of-a-kind aerial drone show, featuring over 100 drones synced together to create a uniquely beautiful performance. Produced by Pixis Drones, this free, remarkable show was crafted specifically for ETSU Together. It featured various aerial formations that replicated the Tennessee flag, ETSU logo and even the beautiful Appalachian Mountains that overlook campus. 

With a considerable turnout and the feature of an exceptional drone show, this special event strengthened a sense of camaraderie within the ETSU and Johnson City community.