Serving Those Who Have Served

Each November, we celebrate National Veterans and Military Families Month, offering us an opportunity to reflect on the spirit of service demonstrated by our military personnel and their families. At East Tennessee State University, we strive to honor and give back to our veterans and military service members year-round. I have previously shared some of the work the institution has undertaken on this front, but it is worth revisiting as we continue to expand and improve our efforts. ETSU has a long and proud tradition of military service and excellence. Our university has produced 17 generals and flag officers — an astounding number for a non-military institution of this size. Nearly 1,000 military-affiliated students are currently enrolled, and our campus is home to the?number one ROTC program in Tennessee?and one of the premier battalions in the country.

For more than a decade, ETSU has annually received the prestigious?"Military Friendly" designation, a badge of honor that signifies our continued efforts to provide the best possible education and resources to our military-affiliated students and their families. We also were recently recognized as a "Best for Vets" institution, an honor fewer than 10 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. receive.

Through our?Military and Veteran Services Center, we provide numerous resources to support active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, veterans, and their families. These include assistance navigating VA benefits, priority registration, scholarships and financial aid, academic coaching and mentoring, career services, and more. This summer, we launched the Green Zone Training program, an initiative to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to create a welcoming and supportive environment for student veterans and military-affiliated individuals. The inaugural session, held at the Academic Advisement Council meeting earlier this semester, trained 24 staff members, each earning a Green Zone Military Friendly Area of Operation decal for their offices.?An additional training was held during the sixth annual Equity and Inclusion Conference in September, allowing for the training of 12 additional members of the ETSU community.?

ETSU's support for our military community extends beyond the campus grounds. Our?Veterans Upward Bound?program can help veterans prepare for and pursue various types of postsecondary education. The College of Business and Technology's?STRIVE program?offers free entrepreneurship training to help veterans, reservists, and National Guard members transition their skills into successful business ventures. The university also recently announced a new AmeriCorps program funded by a $75,000 grant from Volunteer Tennessee to support the veteran population in the surrounding seven-county area.

Through ETSU's close-knit partnership with the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, students, faculty, and staff work together to ensure we provide veterans with the highest quality health care. The Martin Center for the Arts, too, provides benefits for veterans. Since its opening day, the Martin Center has regularly donated tickets to?Vet Tix, ensuring that veterans have the opportunity to partake in the enriching experiences of the performing arts.

In recognition of the contributions and sacrifices of veterans throughout our region, we will hold our annual?Veterans Day Ceremony?on Friday, November 15, at 3:45 p.m. Additionally, on that day, we invite all veterans to join us in the Dining Hall in the D.P. Culp Student Center for a free dinner?as an expression of our immense gratitude. This invitation extends to all veterans, not just those enrolled at ETSU.?

These efforts are undoubtedly insufficient to repay the debt we owe our military service members and their families. We offer them, however, out of heartfelt gratitude for those who have given so much to our country. I encourage each member of our campus community to reflect on ways you can give back to a cause greater than yourself. In doing so, we will not only strengthen our community but also uphold the values for which our veterans have served.

Thank you to our veterans and military families. Your courage, commitment, and sacrifice represent the very best of our nation.?

Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Festivities

ETSU's annual Holiday Lights Celebration returns this year, featuring a new 16-foot walk-through ornament display and an array of festive activities.?The community is invited to the lighting ceremony on Monday, November 18, at 5:45 p.m. at the ETSU Foundation Carillon and Alumni Plaza. In addition to the lighting ceremony, the evening will include several other festivities:?

• As part of the ETSU Alumni Arctic Adventures winter series, the ETSU National Alumni Association will host a cookie-decorating party before the lighting ceremony. This event will be held from 4:15-5:15 p.m. at the Alumni House, located on campus at 908 West Maple Street. Alumni and families are encouraged to RSVP online at?etsualumni.org/arcticadventures.?
• In partnership with?Brightspeed,?this evening marks this year's grand opening of the synthetic ice-skating rink, a popular addition to ETSU's University Commons. After the holiday lights are turned on, skating will be free to all community members during this special event. Find the regular rink hours and rates?online here.
• Returning for a second year are the free screenings of holiday children's classics?at?ETSU's Bud Frank Theatre?in Gilbreath Hall. "Mickey's Christmas Carol" will be shown at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m.?

The holidays are a magical time at East Tennessee State University, and the community is invited to join our celebrations. From light displays throughout campus to skating and arts events, discover all the ways ETSU can add joy to the season by visiting our holiday hub at?etsu.edu/holidays.

Marching Bucs Send-Off Party

In just three weeks, the ETSU Marching Bucs will become the first collegiate marching band from Tennessee to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in more than 60 years! The community is invited to join us on Sunday, November 24, at 10:45 p.m. in front of University School on Martha Culp Avenue as we prepare to send them off in style when their buses depart for New York City.?

The Office of University Marketing and Communications has put together some resources to help spread the word about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Send-off Celebration:

• Bucs on Parade website?(etsu.edu/parade)
• A Facebook event page
• A?toolkit?that includes:Printable signs of supportMessaging and resources?(including photos and b-roll of the band)Social media graphicsScreen graphic

Please feel free to use and share these resources widely to promote this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Marching Bucs – and please join us as we cheer them on their way the night of Sunday, Nov. 24.