Five teams ready to ‘elevate’ our region

JOHNSON CITY (Feb. 18, 2020) – Seven minutes – that’s how long each of the five competing teams will have to convince the audience that their service project is worthy of a $5,000 service grant from East Tennessee State University. The public is invited to be a part of this “Shark Tank Style” competition at the ETSU Millennium Center ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

The ETSU Elevates initiative, which supports service projects aimed at improving the lives of people across the region, was introduced by ETSU President Brian Noland last fall. So far, six teams have collectively won $30,000 to elevate their projects and the region.

Five competitors were randomly drawn last week from the pool of applicants. Those teams will attempt to earn audience votes and ultimately service grants of $5,000 to fund projects. This free event is open to the public and 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):

• Feeding 5,000 – Avoca Christian Church and Dr. Amy Greene, associate professor in the Clemmer College, will present their plans to expand the existing Feeding 5,000 program that helps students in Sullivan County overcome hunger during the summer months. Families in five locations receive nonperishable food items weekly and ETSU Elevates would allow Feeding 5,000 to expand to 1-2 more locations this year.
• STREAMWORKS – Interns, a parent and a young student will pitch their idea to form a community-based MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) underwater robotics team for one middle and one high school (up to 30 students). These teams would participate in a regional competition in May.
• SHP/VETSU Bunkheads – The Sullivan County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. has formed a team with Volunteer ETSU and Liv Detwiler from ETSU’s Department of Literature and Language. Together, they will outline their idea to hold a “ETSU Build Day” to build and deliver beds equipped with mattresses, sheets, pillows and a blanket to children in need.
• Ralph E. Davis Leadership Scholars Academy – The Langston Centre has joined forces with faculty and staff from ETSU’s Clemmer College and Multicultural Center. The team will share their plans to offer a scholars academy for youth 4-18 years old from each of Johnson City's designated afterschool programs who will participate in citizen leadership workshops and summer volunteer service internships.
•  Treasure and Tales – United Way Elizabethton/Carter/Johnson Counties and ETSU Department of Media and Communication student Britney Rochette will pitch phase two of Tri-Cities Treasure and Tales, a platform that introduces familiar voices reading stories for children in pre-k through 3rd grade who may not get story time with a parent.  

The response to ETSU Elevates continues to exceed expectations,” Dr. Noland said. “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 45 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. Winners of the second competition, held in January, were Unicoi County Animal Shelter ‘Critter Crew,’ SHEroes (International Storytelling Center), Inspiring Girls to Become Engineers (Girls Inc. of Johnson City/Washington County).

The forthcoming competition is the third 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 project and the region. Three grants will be awarded each round.  The next application deadline is March 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 March 24.

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.