ETSU is continuing its longstanding tradition of honoring and supporting military-affiliated students, earning recognition as a Gold Status Military Friendly School and a 2025 Yellow Ribbon School while hosting its first on-campus Quilts of Valor event this November.
For more than 15 years, ETSU has been recognized as one of the nation’s top universities for veterans and military-connected students. Dan Bishop, director of Military and Veterans Services, said this year’s gold distinction reflects the university’s deep commitment to those who have served.
“I really think we’ve been a top military-friendly school for over 15 years now, and it really indicates the level of support that the university gives to military-affiliated students, and specifically our veterans,” Bishop said. “We are one of only close to 30 larger institutions that have gotten this gold level distinction for this last year. We are one of the top campuses in the nation in terms of supporting military-affiliated students.”
ETSU currently serves over 1,200 military-affiliated students through its dedicated Military and Veterans Services Office. The office offers priority registration, in-state tuition for all veterans and dependents, tuition and fee deferments for those awaiting government benefits and exclusive scholarships for service members and their families.
“Our military-affiliated students all get the in-state rate, so we treat all of them as if they’re Tennessee residents,” Bishop said. “We also recognize that sometimes the federal government doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to when it comes to benefits, so ETSU allows our population to pay that bill the last day of the term.”
The university also provides a 24-hour student lounge in Lucille Clement Hall as a space for veterans to connect and unwind — one more sign, Bishop said, of ETSU’s dedication to service members.
The recognition as a 2025 Yellow Ribbon School further highlights ETSU’s affordability and accessibility for veterans. The Yellow Ribbon Program bridges tuition costs that exceed the VA’s maximum payment cap, with the university and the VA splitting the difference.
“We’re a Yellow Ribbon school, but because ETSU is so affordable, the vast majority of our students do not need to use the Yellow Ribbon benefit,” Bishop explained. “We are certainly a proud partner and a proud Yellow Ribbon School.”
Bishop said ETSU’s commitment to veterans aligns with the makeup of the surrounding Tri-Cities community, where 12-15% of residents are veterans — a number that rivals some military towns.
“When you look at that high percentage of our local population that have served, it’s important for the university to reflect what our community looks like,” Bishop said. “By catering to and supporting our military-affiliated students, it makes sense because that’s who our community is.”
This year, ETSU is adding a new tradition to its Veterans Week programming with its first on-campus Quilts of Valor ceremony, organized by the Sherrod Library. The event honors 11 ETSU veterans among staff and faculty with personalized, handcrafted quilts symbolizing comfort and gratitude for their service.
“The way that Quilts of Valor works is each veteran shares background information about their military career, and an artisan creates a personalized quilt based on that service,” Bishop said. “It’s a personalized gesture — not just a one-size-fits-all gift — but something that took hours to make and reflects each veteran’s unique story.”
The Quilts of Valor Foundation, established in 2003, has awarded over 140,000 quilts nationwide to veterans and active-duty service members. This is the first time ETSU has hosted the event.
The university will also hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, in front of Memorial Hall at the Veterans Memorial. Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Arnold W. “Arnie” Bunch Jr., now superintendent of Hamblen County Schools, will serve as the guest speaker.
“Our ceremony is unique because we combine recognition for those who have served, those who will serve and those who have fallen,” Bishop said. “You’ll hear the names of ROTC cadets who were commissioned and later killed in action.”
Following the ceremony, ETSU, with support from the Sherrod Library, the D.P. Culp Student Center and Sodexo, will provide free meals for veterans and military personnel at the campus dining hall.
“We do a lot of things here in the community around Veterans Day,” Bishop said. “But this year’s events — the Gold distinction, Yellow Ribbon recognition and Quilts of Valor — all show just how deeply ETSU values our veterans and military families.”
For more information about ETSU’s Military and Veterans Services, visit etsu.edu/veterans.
