ETSU announces new class of Roan Scholars - for Fall 2013
James William Grindstaff, a senior at Unaka High School, is the son of Jerry and Teresa Grindstaff of Elizabethton. Captain of the football team and senior class treasurer, he has also been actively involved in numerous other school organizations, including membership in the National Honor Society and serving as president of both the Spanish Club and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). During the 2012 statewide FBLA leadership competition, Grindstaff earned 4th place.
Within the Stoney Creek community, Grindstaff has volunteered his time with a local daycare service, the Christmas Angels project, Unaka Baptist Church, and a school restoration effort sponsored by Lowe's Home Improvement Store. He is a member of the local "Clean Teens" organization, and also volunteers weekly at a local elementary school, working directly with the students and serving as a basketball coach. In recognition of his community service, Grindstaff was presented with a special plaque by the mayor of Carter County.
Grindstaff plans to pursue a career in the environmental science field.
Carlee Dawn Haas is completing her senior year at North Greene High School in Greene County, where she is the co-founder of the school's anti-bullying awareness club and founder of the "To Write Love On Her Arms" (TWLOHA) organization, which organizes volunteer efforts at local rehabilitation centers, coordinates peer and professional counseling for students, and addresses mental health-related issues, such as depression, addiction, and suicide, that affect teens.
Haas also serves as captain of the Color Guard and Winter Guard teams, editor of the school newspaper, and vice president of both FBLA and Upward Bound. A member of the school's Science Club, she has earned recognition for academic excellence in ecology, creative writing and personal finance. Within the local community, she functions as student coordinator for annual events such as a breast cancer awareness walk and a "Keep Greene Beautiful" walk. She has also volunteered at Takoma Adventist Hospital and Baileyton Elementary School.
Haas is the daughter of Thomas Haas of Chuckey. Her career plans include attending medical school and becoming a surgeon.
Taylor Anne Martin is a graduate of the Bristol Youth Leadership program and is heavily involved as a youth leader in local community and church activities. A youth minister for Wyld Life, a Kingsport Young Life program for middle school students, Martin also serves as a student mentor at the YMCA and volunteers at Holston Middle School.
At Sullivan Central High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and both the Science and Math National Honor Societies. Additionally, she was a member of the varsity soccer team, a student minister with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and a member of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) team that placed second in the annual regional competition.
The daughter of Peter and Helen Martin, she resides with her mother in Kingsport, where she recently graduated early from Sullivan Central High School. She plans to pursue a career in nursing.
Chandler Caroline Parris hails from Canton, N.C., and is a senior at Pisgah High School. The first-ever female member of the school's Key Club, she currently serves as the club's president and is active in the organization at the district level.
A student council class representative during her sophomore, junior and senior years, Parris is a member of the National Honor Society and photo editor for the school yearbook. A member of the cross country and track teams, she is also involved with Pep Club, Leo Club, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Additionally, she serves as a freshman mentor at her high school, and she mentors elementary school students through the "Breakfast of Champions" program. Outside of school, Parris volunteers with Open Door Ministries and at a local soup kitchen, and she has been actively involved each year with the local Relay for Life event. Having participated regularly with "World Changers" and gone on multiple mission trips with that organization, she plans to take part in another trip before graduation.
Parris plans to pursue a career in pharmacy. Her parents are Stephen and Shawn Parris.
Millie Patricia Robinson is the daughter of Marc Robinson and Hazel Fulton Robinson and lives with her mother in Johnson City. A senior at Science Hill High School, she is co-founder and president of the Science Hill Ambassadors Club, vice president of the National Beta Club, a student leader with the "First Priority of Science Hill" club, and chapter president of the school's Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) team.
An active community member, Robinson has taught Sunday school throughout her high school career, volunteered with the Parent Teacher Student Association and the Rise Up! Mentoring program, and she has been an assistant tennis coach. During her senior year, she is also serving as a tutor. The recipient of numerous individual awards for academic excellence, Robinson has also helped her HOSA team earn many state and regional-level awards.
Robinson plans to major in nursing at ETSU, and then to pursue a career in the mental health care field.
"We're excited about this incoming class of Roan Scholars," says program director Scott Jeffress. "They bring a great deal of talent, impressive achievements to date, and – most importantly – a passion for leadership and for serving others. We look forward to them joining us on campus this fall, and to seeing the positive impacts they will have on ETSU and local communities."
New Roan Scholars Director Selected
Scott Jeffress, a retired Army officer who most recently led ETSU's Army ROTC program, has been selected to serve as Director of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program.
Scott, a Dartmouth College alumnus, served for 22 years in assignments all over the world, including tours in Korea, Germany, and Alaska; and deployments to Somalia, Macedonia, and Iraq. During those 22 years, he held a wide variety of positions, working as a human resource manager, communications director, and operations director. He led multiple organizations, and served in numerous key staff roles. A graduate of both the Army's Command & General Staff College and the prestigious School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), he's earned two masters degrees in Military Arts & Sciences and been part of profound organizational transformation. Throughout his time in the Army, he focused on leadership and striving to make a difference every day. "Leadership is all about people and problem-solving. Finding ways to motivate and inspire people as we work together to solve problems, come up with creative ideas, and positively impact others – that excites me! I know that I'll be able to stay excited as we continue to move forward in the Roan Scholars Program, developing leaders and making an impact wherever Scholars are."
Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and having lived in a number of places while growing up, Scott has now settled in Johnson City with his wife, Barb, and their three children: Hannah, Colin, and Julia. Happy to have found a home here, the entire family is actively engaged in the community (especially the local performing arts), while Scott is also involved in a number of ways on campus.
"Johnson City's truly become our home, so we're very thankful to have the opportunity to remain at ETSU as we transition out of the Army, and I'm thrilled to be joining the Roan family. I'm very much looking forward to learning a great deal about the Program in the coming months, but what I already know about this group is that – both individually and collectively – Roan Scholars make a tremendously positive difference both on campus and throughout the region, representing ETSU and our Program with distinction both during their undergraduate career and beyond. I'm humbled at having been chosen to serve as Director, but also very excited as I think about this Program's great legacy and the many opportunities for an even greater future."
Roan Scholars Program Earns Excellence Award
The Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University has again been recognized in the annual Excellence in Tennessee award program administered by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE). Awards are presented in four categories, with ETSU's Roan Scholars program honored with the Commitment Award. TNCPE evaluates organizations using the "Criteria for Performance Excellence," which were established by the national Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.
The Commitment Awards are presented to organizations that are beginning to demonstrate commitment to and implementation of performance improvement principles. These organizations have shown progress by "identifying and putting in place a measurement system to capture data and analyze results and some key process improvements, which are directly attributable to a fact-based improvement process," according to TNCPE.
"Tennessee is competing not just nationally but internationally for new jobs, and each award recipient contributes to the state's success at the regional, national and international levels," Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said. "Tennessee is a better place to live and work because of the commitment to excellence and continuous improvement embraced by these organizations. Strong organizations such as these bring in investment resources, playing a crucial role in making Tennessee the number one location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs."
"We are pleased and excited to receive the Commitment Award because it reflects our accomplishments in planning, tracking, analyzing and improving our organization," said Tom Krieger, Steering Committee chair for the Roan Scholars Leadership Program.
