Roan Scholars
Scholarship Sponsored by East Tennessee State University
Overview
The Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University inspires and develops transformative leaders who make a measurable impact on their communities and the wider world. The program provides scholarship support, leadership development, and mentoring designed to expand scholars' intellectual and practical capacities. Roan Scholars are expected to engage in sustained personal growth and to influence others through service and leadership. The program is positioned as a flagship opportunity for high-achieving students at ETSU.
Description: The Roan program identifies and cultivates students with strong character, intellectual curiosity, and leadership potential through scholarship and development opportunities.
- Mission-driven leadership development for undergraduate scholars
- Combines scholarship support with mentoring and experiential growth
- Focus on sustained impact and community engagement
What Are We Looking For?
The Roan selection seeks students who demonstrate outstanding character, intellectual curiosity, and clear leadership potential. Ideal candidates have already made a positive impact at school or in their community and show the capacity and desire to expand that impact. The program values self-starters who embrace challenge, demonstrate resilience, and motivate others to act. Selection favors individuals who combine initiative, perseverance, and a commitment to continual learning.
Selection Criteria: Candidates should exhibit leadership that inspires others, a record of community contribution, and the grit to grow through challenge.
- Proven leadership and community impact
- Intellectual curiosity and commitment to learning
- Resilience, initiative, and the ability to influence peers
Eligibility
Eligibility for the Roan Scholars program is limited to graduating high school seniors who meet residency or nomination requirements and who plan to enroll at ETSU the following fall. Applicants must be competitive candidates for admission to ETSU and meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements. The program accepts students from Tennessee and specified neighboring states or those nominated from eligible counties within the program footprint. Standard standardized testing (ACT or SAT) is required as part of the application process.
Eligibility:
- Graduating high school seniors who meet one of the following:
- Live in Tennessee or a bordering state (Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia) and complete a Roan application; or
- Are nominated by a high school in an eligible county (Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, or Western North Carolina); or
- Have residency in one of the eligible states but attend high school outside the Roan footprint and complete a Roan application.
- Competitive applicant to ETSU, on track to graduate high school in the current academic year and to matriculate at ETSU in the fall
- U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Required: ACT or SAT test scores submitted with the application
- Residency, nomination, or residency-with-exception pathways
- Admission to ETSU and timely matriculation required
- Standardized test scores are mandatory for consideration
Application
The Roan application process is open to eligible high school seniors, including homeschoolers and students enrolled in virtual academies, who live in Tennessee or one of the specified bordering states. Applicants begin by creating an account and completing the Roan application; some candidates may be nominated by their high school instead. The application evaluates academic readiness, leadership history, and the applicant’s potential for growth. Specific deadlines and required materials are provided on the program application portal.
How to Apply: Interested students should create an application account and follow the Roan application instructions; nominated students should coordinate with their high school.
- Open to seniors in Tennessee and neighboring states
- Includes homeschool and virtual academy applicants
- Start by creating an application account and submitting required materials
History
The Roan Scholars Leadership Program was established by Louis H. Gump in 1997 and welcomed its inaugural class in the fall of 2000. Since its founding, the program has grown into East Tennessee State University’s premier scholarship initiative, focused on developing leaders with the capacity to effect positive change. Over time, Roan has built a reputation for combining financial support with experiential leadership development. The program continues to evolve while maintaining its original mission of cultivating transformative leadership.
History of the Award: Founded in 1997 by Louis H. Gump; first cohort enrolled in fall 2000 as ETSU’s signature scholarship program.
- Founded in 1997 by Louis H. Gump
- First class matriculated in fall 2000
- Recognized as ETSU’s premier scholarship and leadership program