KINGSPORT (Feb. 15, 2013) – Forty-five new members of East Tennessee State University’s Distinguished President’s Trust were welcomed by ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland during a formal dinner held at MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center Friday evening (Feb. 15).

Distinguished President’s Trust (DPT) members consistently rank among the most loyal supporters of the university through the ETSU Foundation. The DPT point of entry for individuals, organizations and businesses is cumulative giving in excess of $10,000, usually the result of annual giving or combinations of significant major or planned gifts.

Dr. Richard A. Manahan, vice president for University Advancement and president/CEO of the ETSU Foundation, noted that DPT members have contributed over $208 million to benefit the university.

“Your continued generosity has enabled ETSU to provide scholarships and educational support for our students, and critically needed resources for our faculty and staff, too,” he told the gathering.

“The recognition of our new, as well as existing, Distinguished President’s Trust members is always a privilege for the university and the ETSU Foundation,” Manahan said. “We are always very pleased and so honored to add these individuals, businesses and organizations to our Trust membership. They will serve as sterling examples for future donors to follow in annual giving and significant gift planning – joining together with other alumni and friends to build the ‘Margin of Excellence’ for our students, faculty and staff at the university.”

Noland described this group of more than 1,350 contributors as the backbone of the university’s scholarship and educational efforts. “This group of donors has distinguished itself by providing, over many years, valuable resources for student scholarships and for faculty and staff support,” he said. “I am deeply grateful for the continued leadership and the tremendous spirit of giving demonstrated by these outstanding donors. For over 100 years, alumni and friends have given to build an outstanding institution of higher education at ETSU, and I am confident that they will join us to meet new challenges and create new opportunities for ETSU.”

D. Roger Kennedy, chairman of the ETSU Foundation Board of Directors, stated that “The ETSU Foundation continues to benefit greatly from the leadership, support and service of these new members and all Distinguished President’s Trust members. They each provide exemplary support for ETSU that empowers the university in providing access to high-caliber educational opportunities for our students and resources for our faculty and staff.

“I encourage other alumni and friends to join the Distinguished President’s Trust in enabling ETSU to continue its enduring legacy of service for our region, nation and world.”

The newest DPT members from Johnson City are Dr. Fred J. Alsop III and Jo Ann Alsop; Johnson City Honda – Joe Trujillo; Dr. B.J. King and William E. King; Dr. David and Sherri Linville; Elizabeth F. and Kenneth S. Lowe; Andrew and Barbara Massimilla (In Memory of Joseph J. and Yvonne T. Massimilla); Dr. Cecilia A. McIntosh; In Memory of Henry C. and Marie Sims Miller; Dr. Jack and Martha Rhoton; Frank M. and the late Doris M. Smith; Pat Van Zandt; and Dr. Edwin and Calvert Williams. New members also include Jeffrey A. Blake and Janice and the late Carl Randolph, Jonesborough; William F. Hamilton Jr. and Kimberly A. Hamilton, Kingsport; Dr. Robert G. and Mona C. Miller and Dr. Laura O. Moody, Memphis; Dr. Brenda T. Gulledge, Herber Springs, Ark.; Ray Baskette and Mary Ruth Gilly Baskette, Tucker, Ga.; the Estate of Nathan Yokum, Indialantic, Fla.; Red Barn Radio, Lexington, Ky.; WWOZ, New Orleans; Bluegrass Review, St. Paul, Minn.; Art of the Song Creativity Radio, Albuquerque, N.M.; Estate of Julia Hudson – James Burke/In Memory of Katie Burke, Cameron, N.C.; Stephen J. and Liz LaPorte, Houston; WFIU, Bloomington, Ind.; Jason and Courtney Berry, Abingdon, Va.; Jan David Brown, McLean, Va.; WQED, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Mr. and Mrs. George Woloch, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.