Audience will choose winners at ETSU Elevates Pitch Competition
JOHNSON CITY (Jan. 28, 2020) – Following the successful launch of a new initiative introduced by East Tennessee State University President Brian Noland last fall, the second ETSU Elevates Pitch Competition will take place Thursday, Jan. 30.
Five competitors were randomly drawn last week and will pitch their service project ideas to a live audience in the ETSU Millennium Center ballroom beginning at 6:30 p.m. During this “Shark Tank” style competition, teams will attempt to earn audience votes and ultimately service grants of $5,000 to fund projects aimed at improving the lives of people across the region. The event is free and open to the public. Each audience member physically present will have the opportunity to vote and ultimately choose which three projects are awarded ETSU Elevates service grants.
The teams selected to participate in the pitch competition are (in the order drawn):
- Tree Team – Employees from Tusculum University’s Doak House Museum and College of Science,
Technology, and Mathematics are joining faculty and staff from ETSU and Heritage Home
Scholars to pitch their “Arboretums for All” project aimed at expanding the existing
arboretum on the TU campus with a focus on historical landscaping. If selected, the
team would plant an orchard on the Doak House property and additional trees of historical
significance. Interpretive signs would be added to the property and a footpath would
be renovated to physically connect the two areas of campus.
- SHEroes – The International Storytelling Center is teaming up with Dr. Donna Cherry from
the ETSU Department of Social Work and others in hopes of launching a curriculum of
workshops and activities, called “The SHEro's Journey,” for ACE (Adverse Childhood
Experiences) affected adolescent-aged females in the region. Using stories that involve
strong female characters, participants will explore empowerment messages found in
these stories through traditional storytelling, engaging new media and hands-on activities.
Students would also be introduced to “fractured fairytales,” in which they see classic
characters making new decisions.
- ART: Blue Plum Gives Back and Johnson City Public Arts – The Blue Plum Gives Back Organization will pitch a plan to recruit a local artist
to design and begin a mural in downtown Johnson City. Members of the community will
complete the collaborative “paint-by-the-numbers” project during the Blue Plum Festival
in June. “ART: Awakening the Region’s Talent” intends to use art to capture elements
of Appalachian Highland heritage while also exposing the region and students to art
and a sense of community.
- Unicoi County Animal Shelter (UCAS) Critter Crew – Volunteers from the Unicoi County Animal Shelter are working with faculty, staff
and students from ETSU to develop plans for a “UCAS Expansion for the Critters” to
create more room for incoming animals. The expansion has the potential to save thousands
of cats and kittens.
- Inspiring Girls to Become Engineers – The Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology and Surveying at ETSU and the student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) would use an ETSU Elevates grant to join forces with Girls Inc. of Johnson City/Washington County. Together, they would host a series of events to bring members of Girl Inc. to campus to spark girls’ interest in Engineering and Technology and build supportive environments through mentoring.
The response to ETSU Elevates continues to exceed expectations. The enthusiasm, creativity
and passion shown by the groups pitching their service project ideas is an indication
that we are more successful when we come together to elevate our region.
More than 40 teams have applied to participate in ETSU Elevates thus far. The first pitch competition was held in November and the inaugural winners were Leadership Kingsport, Johnson City Library Teens and Appalachia Service Project.
The forthcoming competition is the second of five competitions scheduled through April. Teams consisting of at least one member of the ETSU community (faculty, staff, students, organizations, departments, colleges) and surrounding community (individuals, non-profits, faith-based organizations, schools, civic groups etc.) are eligible to submit applications outlining how they would use ETSU Elevates service grants to elevate their projects and the region. Three grants will be awarded each round. The next application deadline is Feb. 10 at 10 p.m. New applications meeting eligibility requirements, as well as those not selected in previous rounds will remain eligible for the next drawing on Feb. 13.
Through ETSU Elevates, $90,000 will be awarded to fund service projects across the region. Grand prizes will be awarded to two of the grant recipients to extend their projects.
To learn more about ETSU Elevates, including application information, deadlines and event dates, visit www.etsu.edu/ETSUelevates. For additional information, contact ETSUelevates@etsu.edu or 423-439-4317.