ETSU announces Roan Class of 2028

11 new Roan Scholars have been selected from more than 450 high school senior applicants from across Tennessee
and the bordering states of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Eleven outstanding high school seniors from across the region have been selected as the newest members of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University. These eleven students will join 24 returning Roan Scholars on campus in the fall as part of the prestigious four-year scholarship program.

“We are very excited about this newest class of Roan Scholars,” said Executive Director Scott Jeffress. “(Roan Founder) Mr. Louie Gump’s initial vision for the Roan included selecting at least 10 students each year from schools within a 250-300-mile radius. In addition to being our largest class to date, the Roan Class of 2028 is the first to include students from outside our historical core area of northeast Tennessee and the Virginia and North Carolina border counties. Realizing these two key elements of Mr. Gump’s vision is another significant milestone for the program, and we are grateful to ETSU and to all of the individual donors and business partners whose ongoing financial support makes that growth possible.”

More than 450 high school seniors from across Tennessee and the bordering states of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia started applications for the Roan last fall; of those, 120 were selected for initial interviews and 20 of the most outstanding candidates were invited to campus for Roan Finalist Days last month. Seven of the 11 newest Roan Scholars are the first-ever from their respective high schools.

“Members of the Roan Class of 2028 have been recognized for their academic, athletic and extracurricular achievements at local, state and national levels. From leading summer reading enhancement programs for elementary school students and rebuilding a school peer tutoring program, to spearheading initiatives to support local firefighters, establishing a school hygiene closet and creating a student-led arts festival, they are already leading and serving in their communities, and we look forward to seeing all the ways they will make a positive impact on ETSU’s campus and our region in the future,” added Jeffress.

The newest Roan Scholars are:

Reed Bull 

(Seymour High School; Seymour)

As National Senior Beta Club president and a Boys Nation Senator, Bull takes leadership and service seriously. He has helped drive positive change within his high school while serving as senior class president and contributed to his community through initiatives like a food and supplies drive for Sevier County firefighters, supporting the local American Legion Post and welcoming veterans returning from Honor Flight trips. Bull is also a member of his school’s golf team and an alumnus of the Smoky Mountain Youth Leadership Program. Seymour High School Assistant Principal Andrew Jackson said, “His unwavering drive and passion for making a difference are truly remarkable. It’s inspiring to witness his boundless energy and … his potential to create a significant positive influence in the world.”

Emerson Couch

(Girls Preparatory School; Hometown - Soddy Daisy)

Couch’s wide-ranging passions and talents have led her to be selected for an engineering camp in Maine, a summer in the United Kingdom with the Jersey College for Girls’ Leadership and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (LEAP) and an internship with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. A National Honor Society member, she has also founded a literary society at her school; served as one of her roller derby team’s captains; and created, organized and directed a student-led arts festival. Amanda Byars, director of Fine and Performing Arts at Girls Preparatory School, said, “I have been impressed with Emerson’s tenacity and leadership … she has solid credentials as a real team player (and) has experienced what it means to do "service" within the arts. She is organized, astute and can take lists of details and move things forward.”

Rylie Ditty 

(Cumberland Gap High School; Hometown - Harrogate)

A passionate advocate for education and health care access in rural communities, Ditty has participated in several health care-related programs - including HOSA, Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Health Investigators, Appalachian Regional Healthcare Scrubs Camp and the American College of Cardiology Young Scholars Program – and helped organize and lead a summer literacy program for elementary school students. She is her school’s representative for Leadership Claiborne and a student representative on the Claiborne County School Board. Rachel Fox, school counselor at Cumberland Gap High School, said of Ditty, “It is always impressive to see someone who puts their best effort in everything they do. Demonstrating excellence in every task is no easy feat and it is a testament to (her) hard work and dedication.”

 

Sophie Greear 

(David Crockett High School; Jonesborough)

Greear has a passion for leadership and giving back to her community. She has held numerous student leadership roles at her school and currently serves on the Student Council’s Executive Council, as secretary of Civinettes, vice president of HOSA and president of both FISH and Key Club. A member of her school’s varsity volleyball and track and field teams, Greear is also heavily involved in her church and serves as a representative in the Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE). “Sophie’s capacity for empathy is what sets her apart … she is full of life and a breath of fresh air in anything she is a part of,” said David Crockett High School Key Club sponsor Tonya Poteet.

Lucas Havely 

(Jefferson County High School; Jefferson City)

An accomplished student-athlete, Havely is a catcher on his school’s varsity baseball team, an All-Conference golfer, a National Honor Society member and a recipient of the College Board’s AP Scholar with Distinction award. A member of Jefferson County’s Youth Leadership Program, Havely volunteers in his community by providing landscaping services for seniors, is a member of the school’s Anti-Vape Committee and is currently preparing for his first acting role in this year’s JCHS senior musical. “Lucas is smart and hardworking (and) his selfless attitude, persistent humility and happy-go-lucky personality are rare to find. (He is) a genuine, goodhearted person … I am excited to see how he excels in the future,” said Chloe Hodge, AP Biology teacher and senior musical director at Jefferson County High School.

Savannah Henry

(Portland High School; Portland)

An active student leader throughout high school, Henry was elected freshman class president and has served on the student leadership committee all four years, has been the president of her school’s FCCLA chapter the past two years and is captain of the volleyball team. Henry attended both Tennessee Governor’s School and Volunteer Girls State and has earned numerous state-level awards in FCCLA. She is also a CTE ambassador at her high school, helping recruit and mentor younger students and engaging with community leaders at outreach events. “I will always associate her with excellence,” said Portland High School CTE Department Head Brenda McNeil. “Her character is beyond reproach.”

Emma Hurley 

(John S. Battle High School; Hometown - Abingdon, VA)

Hurley’s passion for community and desire to serve her fellow students led her to start “JSB Gives Back,” a hygiene closet at her high school. Also passionate about the arts and writing, Hurley is a member of the Southern Appalachian Dance Collective and a fiction editor for her school’s Emerald Inkwell Literary Magazine. An alumna of Bristol’s Youth Leadership Program, Hurley also serves in several school leadership positions, including vice president of the National Honors Society, a member of the JSB 10 and Senior Student Government president. “She is always prepared in advance, thoughtful, respectful and generous in all she does,” said one of her high school teachers. “She shows up in every possible way and does not (stop) until she reaches her goal.”

Leia Richardson

(Unicoi County High School; Erwin)

Contributing to the betterment of her school and local community drives Richardson’s interest in leadership and service. As Student Council president, she has created initiatives to organize mental health resources and activities for students, including partnering with the school’s HOSA Chapter in hosting a Mental Health Week. Captain of the varsity cheerleading squad and a UCA All-American Cheerleader, Richardson also serves as yearbook editor-in-chief, mock trial team lead attorney, Scholars Bowl co-captain and FBLA treasurer. Outside of school, she is a member of Young Life Upper East Tennessee and volunteers with a middle school mentoring program. Jessie Sutherland, lead college access counselor with the Ayers Foundation, said, “Leia seeks out leadership roles because that is where she naturally thrives … she wants to be a voice for change in our school and is a passionate leader who finds opportunities to help not only students but teachers and staff as well.”

Savanna Shaw 

(Haywood Early College; Hometown - Lake Junaluska, NC)

Passionate about theater, science and people, Shaw interns with HART Theater near her hometown and performs, student directs, teaches and assists the tech team for their youth program, Kids At Hart. She attended the North Carolina Governor’s School for theater. A Peer Buddy for the past three years at “Camp Ability,” Shaw also volunteers with the Haywood County Special Olympics and serves as a Pack Leader for Haywood Early College – a role in which she gives tours to prospective students, mentors other students and leads a highly-successful initiative to revive the school’s peer tutoring program. Susan Roberts, a biology instructor at Haywood Community College, said: “Savanna is a hard-working, curious, bright and compassionate person who goes above and beyond in her work, both in and outside of school.”

Erick Trejo 

(Science Hill High School; Johnson City)

A technology and language enthusiast, Trejo serves as secretary for his school’s Coding Club, and as a writer, photographer and web developer for the “Hilltopper Herald.” Trejo’s wide-ranging interests have also led him to become vice president of the French Club and a member of the Latin American Culture Appreciation Club, Student Activities Council and Ultimate Frisbee Club. He attended the Governor’s School for Scientific Exploration of Tennessee Heritage and has made a lasting impact on the Keenburg Elementary School community by speaking and volunteering at alumni events. Tyler Malone, now a vice principal at Hampton High School, said, “Erick is a very kind, humble and caring person. (He) sees the possibility in life where others see limitations. He yearns to achieve things beyond what others view as achievable.”

 

Tyler Zepeda

(Daniel Boone High School; Johnson City)

Transferring to Daniel Boone High School as a junior, Zepeda worked hard to quickly integrate into that new community, becoming a member of the school’s Beta Club, Multicultural Club, HOSA, National Honor Society and Student Council. He will graduate as valedictorian. An outdoors enthusiast, two-sport varsity athlete (soccer and golf) and captain of his school’s soccer team, Zepeda also volunteers with youth athletic teams and Coalition for Kids and is pursuing his pharmacy technician license as part of his long-term goal to become a pharmacist. Nathan Gouge, an AP history teacher at Daniel Boone High School, said of Zepeda, “He has a warm and engaging personality, a zest for life, a great sense of humor and is a fantastic all-around student … He leads by example and helps others become their best as well.”

About the Roan

“With almost 100 alumni now leading and serving throughout our region and around the world, and with our largest-ever incoming class, it is so impressive to see the continued growth, expansion and impact of the Roan Program over the past two-plus decades,” said Roan Steering Committee Chair Mark Kinser. “We owe much of that success to our many partners – the high school officials who identify and encourage such outstanding students, the Roan committee members and staff who devote many hours to interviewing and selecting students, and our supporters who generate the resources that support the program. We’re grateful for everyone who makes up the extended ‘Roan Family.’”

The Roan Scholars Leadership Program empowers students to be leaders of excellence who will positively impact the ETSU campus, our region and the world. The Roan scholarship offers four years of unique, out-of-the-classroom experiences and opportunities designed to challenge and inspire students to grow and develop as leaders. The scholarship also includes a significant financial award for tuition and fees, room and board and books.

The Roan, which continues to be funded primarily by private donations, was established by the late Mr. Louie Gump in 1997. The first class of Roan Scholars entered in 2000. For more information, contact the Roan office at (423) 439-7677 or RoanScholars@etsu.edu, or visit the Roan website at RoanScholars.org.