A LEGACY OF Connection & Community

SWEATERS FOR CAMERON*

If you visited ETSU’s University Commons last December you likely noticed a colorful – and meaningful – sight: a special tree wrapped in a lovingly crafted “sweater.”

“Sweaters for Cameron” was the brainchild of Abby Simpson ’25, who came up with the idea through the Roan Impact Focus initiative. Last year’s topic was ‘Healthy Habits.’ “I picked up crochet and it helped me with my stress levels, and so I wanted to do crochet for my healthy habit,” Abby said.

After learning from then-Roan Associate Director Dr. Jennifer Adler about a school in Indiana where students crocheted coverings around trees, Abby started a crochet and knitting circle that met on Thursday evenings during the fall semester. Circle participants, along with university employees and community members who heard about the project, created 96 8-inch squares, which were crocheted together and wrapped around the campus’ Cameron Tree, which is named after the late son of an ETSU faculty member and was dedicated in recognition of the personal losses experienced by members of the university family during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abby has ideas for widening the scope to make Sweaters for Cameron a community project. “We’re talking about getting more people involved and taking it offcampus,” she said, “allowing people who have lost loved ones to COVID to dedicate squares to those they’ve lost.”

*Extract of ETSU News article, originally published in December 2022

This year's Roan Impact Focus topic – selected by the Roan Scholars – was ‘Healthy Habits.’ The year not only saw Roan Scholars building new habits of their own but also leading initiatives to help others do the same, in order to improve lives and strengthen communities. Here we share a few of those initiatives.

Healthy Dialogue

Sarah Mohammed ’26 facilitated a day of what she described as "necessary, appropriate, and healthy dialogue ... by dispelling harmful narratives within the African Diaspora" during an event at Johnson City's Langston Centre. The event, which Sarah also conceived, planned, and coordinated, saw nearly 50 community individuals of all ages come together for these conversations and gain new connections and understanding of some important issues.

Letters Of Love

Shaina Thompson ’25 hosted a series of tabling events at which Roan Scholars, student organization members, and others wrote notes and letters to fellow students, offering encouragement and support in challenging times.

PHYSICAL VIGOR!

Braydon White ’26 and Trent White ’25 organized weekly running group opportunities, while Katie Jones ’25 started a competitive intramural softball team of Roan Scholars and friends.

HELPING ‘BEAUTIFY’ JOHNSON CITY

Sarah Mohammed ’26 and Kyah Powers ’26 joined ETSU's Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement, Joy Fulkerson; Johnson City Commissioner Jenny Brock; and a host of other community volunteers to clean up parks, roadways, and other spots around town during the inaugural Johnson City Beautification Day.

Tips For Healthy Eating

Morgan Blazer ’25 and Leah Loveday ’26 organized a panel of local nutrition experts to share tips on healthy eating.