This Saturday, the East Tennessee State University community will celebrate one of the most joyous occasions of life on a college campus: Commencement. More than 2,000 students will receive diplomas — symbols of the knowledge, skills, and experiences they have accumulated during their time at ETSU.
At ETSU, we believe the college experience goes beyond the classroom. The knowledge imparted by our faculty is just one piece of the puzzle (albeit a critical one). It is our hope that every student who attends our university will develop the tools and characteristics to ensure their lifelong success. I hope they will leave here with friendships. Hands-on experiences. Life lessons. And new perspectives.
I hope they will have found the support of a caring mentor. That they have learned how to communicate, build consensus, and respectfully argue and disagree. Most of all, I hope they leave here with a sense of purpose and a deep connection to this community.
In many respects, your education may have prepared you in ways that you may not realize in the short term, but that will evidence themselves in time. One of my favorite writers is Dr. Jesse Graves, who serves as the Poet in Residence at ETSU. In his poem “Emissaries,” Dr. Graves offers the following:
“Some mornings when I'm reading early, no light yet but the table lamp, my left hand will run through scales along the spine of the open book. My hands keep their own remembrance, buried in fine grooves of flesh, the fingers turned over ignitions or faucets with their proper force, knuckles never breaking things unless my brain overpowers them. They discovered spectacular terrains, soft enclosures I can never enter again. I send them ahead as scouts to survey, emissaries that flip the lights in every dark hallway of the future.”
We cannot instruct our students on how to handle every difficult situation they will face during their lifetime. The powerful story of soon-to-be graduate Ramsey Sentell (included below) reminds us of that. We cannot even fully prepare them for every job they will hold, especially given that many of our students will one day work in careers that do not even exist yet. But we can help them develop the character and skills they will need to navigate the unknowns of life with grace and agility. We can light a torch within them that will guide their way in the years to come — to flip on the lights in those dark hallways of the future, as Dr. Graves so eloquently puts it.
As we wrap up this semester and this academic year, take a moment to consider those who have helped you along the way — those who have kindled the light of learning in your life. Share your gratitude and tell them what they mean to you.
Celebrate the Spring Class of 2024
Few weeks of the year match the magic and excitement of Commencement week. Commencement will be held Saturday, May 4, in the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini-Dome) and feature special guest Timothy Busfield, an award-winning actor who has held roles on Broadway and in numerous television shows, including “thirtysomething,” “The West Wing,” and “Entourage.” Guest tickets are not required for the ceremony and there is no limit on the number of guests per graduate.
In addition to our ceremonies on Saturday, a number of other celebrations and convocations are scheduled for the upcoming days, all recognizing the accomplishments and achievements of the Class of 2024.
6:30 p.m. – College of Nursing Convocation (Martin Center)
Saturday, May 4
10 a.m. – Commencement: College of Arts and Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Clemmer College of Education and Human Development (Ballad Health Athletic Center)
2:30 p.m. – Commencement: College of Business and Technology, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, College of Graduate and Continuing Studies,* College of Nursing, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy - Bachelor of Science, and College of Public Health (Ballad Health Athletic Center)
* The graduate-level programs that participate with the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies are the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and Master of Professional Studies. All other graduate-level degree programs will participate with their corresponding college.
Additional information, including a link to the livestreams and virtual Commencement program, is available here. Congratulations to all members of the Class of 2024!
Bucs Go Beyond
ETSU Golf and Tennis Sweep the SoCon
ETSU Athletics has much to celebrate, as the Bucs accomplished the rare feat of winning four SoCon Championships within a week’s time. The Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf, Men’s Tennis, and Women’s Tennis teams all claimed the top title in the SoCon and will make appearances in the NCAA tournaments.
1911 Society, 2024 Inductees
This Saturday, 11 new members will be inducted into the 1911 Society. Named in commemoration of the year ETSU was founded, the organization honors the university’s most notable graduates from undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. For more than a century, ETSU has carried forth a mission to improve the quality of life for people in this region and beyond. The 1911 Society recognizes an elite group of graduates who have embodied this mission. We are delighted to honor these distinguished individuals. View the list of inductees.
Bucs Go Beyond
ETSU x Eastman
Developing the region’s workforce is a critical part of ETSU’s mission to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. At ETSU, we strive to provide our students with the skills they need to move seamlessly from enrollment to employment. Partnerships with businesses and organizations throughout our communities allow our students to gain hands-on skills and prepare for lifelong success. This video highlights how ETSU is connecting students to careers at Eastman Chemical Company, a global company with headquarters in Kingsport.
Board of Trustees Meeting
East Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees will hold its quarterly meeting and several committee meetings on Friday, May 24. All meetings will be conducted in person at the D.P. Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room. To access the agenda, meeting materials and live stream when they become available, visit etsu.edu/trustees. For more information, call (423) 439-4317. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at (423) 439-8346.
Soon-to-be Grads Share Letters to Their Younger Selves
This Saturday, more than 2,000 students will graduate, celebrating a milestone that, for most, has been years in the making.
Commencement is an ideal time to reflect upon all we have learned and those who have helped us along the way. We asked May 2024 graduating students to share letters to their younger selves, offering advice and wisdom.
Bucs Go Beyond
Meet Ramsey Sentell
This Saturday, Ramsey Sentell will cross the stage to receive her diploma. Her journey to this point, however, has taken some unexpected turns, challenging her to overcome obstacles she never could have imagined. This story highlights her bravery and resilience — as well as the community that supported her — during her time at ETSU.
ETSU student Samuel Adenekan contributed to the creation of this video.
Stay Informed with 'BucBeat'
The Office of University Marketing and Communications recently released a new podcast to help members of the university community stay up-to-date on all the latest news coming from ETSU. "BucBeat" is a weekly news roundup published on Fridays covering highlights from the week in roughly five minutes. Listen anywhere you find your podcasts.
People Come First
Annual Staff Social
This year’s Staff Senate Celebration will be held Tuesday, May 7, from noon-2:30 p.m. at the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini-Dome). This year’s theme is “These Bucs are Wild” and will feature Safari-themed contests and a chance to win prizes. Lunch from The Firehouse Restaurant will be provided. Our partners at Marsh Regional Blood Center will be on site from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Please reserve an appointment time in advance.
A highlight of this annual event is the presentation of the Distinguished Staff Awards and the Career Award. University offices will be closed from noon-2:30 p.m. to allow all staff who wish to attend the opportunity to do so. Formal remarks and the awards presentation will occur at 1 p.m. I look forward to joining members of our staff as we celebrate the close of the 2023-24 academic year. Thank you for all you do for ETSU.
'Wait, Wait — Don't Tell Me!'
ETSU music professor Neal Endicott made a surprise cameo on the popular NPR radio show “Wait, Wait — Don’t Tell Me!” You can listen to his segment at around the 14-minute mark.
Earlier this week, we celebrated Ms. Kim Maturo, who was named this year's ETSU Staff Woman of the Year. Ms. Maturo goes above and beyond to make ETSU a welcoming and caring place. I would like to express my deepest thanks to her and all of our faculty and staff for all they do to support this community and our students!
Follow @ETSUPrez
#BucsGoBeyond
From My Notepads is a twice-monthly newsletter published by the office of ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. The newsletter's title is a reference to the legal notepads Dr. Noland constantly carries to jot down thoughts, ideas, and notes.
During the summer break, “From My Notepads” will be published on the following schedule:
Week of May 27
Week of June 24
Week of July 29
We will return to the usual twice-monthly schedule the week of August 19.
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