Unicoi County High School senior Leia Richardson was among 11 area students chosen to join the East Tennessee State University Roan Scholars Leadership Program. She will be part of the Roan Class of 2028.
High school seniors throughout the region will have the opportunity to apply directly for the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University beginning in fall 2021.
Since the Roan selected its first class 20 years ago, students have been required to be nominated by their high school in order to be considered for the prestigious four-year scholarship program. The Roan has expanded to more than 90 high schools in 27 counties across Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina, but has remained limited to nominees from those schools. A new policy approved by the Roan Steering Committee removes that limitation.
âOur existing nomination process has served the program well, and we enjoy working with high school counselors and administrators each fall as they identify some of their top students as Roan nominees,â said Roan Director Scott Jeffress. âBut we also recognize that weâre missing some amazing students who arenât
Samuel Garcia, a sophomore Roan Scholar at East Tennessee State University, was recently named a recipient of the U.S. Department of Stateâs Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
Since 2001, Gilman Scholarships have assisted qualifying students with study or intern abroad experiences by providing them with skills critical to national security and economic prosperity. The program is administered by the Institute of International Education and congressionally funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Given the current pandemic, the Gilman Program is offering flexibility to participants by allowing for deferrals through the end of 2021 and supporting participation in virtual study abroad or international internship programs.