Twelve 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 students will join 31 returning Roan Scholars on campus in the fall as part of the prestigious four-year scholarship program.
“Last fall marked 25 years since the Roan’s inaugural class started at ETSU,” said executive director Scott Jeffress. “As we celebrate that milestone, we also celebrate the legacy of excellence and impact that began with Mr. Louie Gump’s founding vision, and that continues with current Roans and Roan alumni. We are so excited to welcome the ’30s as they become part of that legacy.”
High school seniors from across Tennessee and the bordering states of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia applied for the Roan last fall. Of those, 150 were selected for initial interviews in December, with 24 of the most outstanding candidates invited to campus for Roan Finalist Days in February.
“Members of the Roan Class of 2030 bring a remarkable set of academic, athletic and extracurricular achievements at local, state and national levels,” Jeffress said. “From captaining multiple athletic teams and earning national championships, to founding numerous school clubs and organizations and volunteering with countless non-profits and service organizations, they are already serving and leading well in their communities, and we look forward to seeing all the ways they will make a positive impact on the ETSU campus and our region in the years to come.”
Seven of these 12 newest Roans are also the first to be selected from their respective high schools.
The Roan Class of 2030
Iyla Freed
Watauga High School, Boone, North Carolina
Freed is a thoughtful, driven leader who brings grit, empathy and energy to everything in which she’s involved. A three-sport athlete and captain of her school’s cross-country team, she leads with encouragement and a deep commitment to team culture. In the arts, she is a three-time All-State Chorister and serves as vice president of both her concert and treble choirs. Her leadership is rooted in service. Following Hurricane Helene, Freed spent weeks helping deliver meals and clear debris, showing up when her community needed it most. Whether building homes on a mission trip in the Dominican Republic, leading worship at her church or mentoring younger peers, she consistently leads through action, compassion and a genuine desire to bring people together. Frankie Lancaster, choir director at Watauga High School, shared, “Iyla fosters community and steps outside her comfort zone to form meaningful connections. Her directness builds trust, and her compassion makes others feel seen and valued.”
Nash Gates
West Henderson High School, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Gates is a communicator, learner and competitor who brings intensity and heart to everything he pursues. Through the AP Capstone program, he conducted advanced research and embraced rigorous academic challenges. His passion for public health led him to intern with the Western North Carolina Health Network and attend the National Association of County and City Health Officials 360 Conference. A varsity track and field athlete, Gates competes in discus and shot put and is aiming for a school record in the discus this spring. When Hurricane Helene devastated his community, Gates stepped up. Helping organize neighbors, clear debris and restore access to homes, he led through resilience and action. “Nash always strives to improve himself and his peers, not just his résumé strength or reputation. He always cracks through the surface of any problem, question or prompt to plumb the possible depths of understanding in every scenario,” said Gates’ AP English teacher, Thomas King.
Austin Glass
Volunteer High School, Mount Carmel, Tennessee
Glass is a servant-leader whose drive, resilience and integrity define his impact. A four-time National Champion male soloist in clogging, he has performed in locations across the country and serves on the Clogging Champions of America Youth Leadership Council. He captains his school’s wrestling teams, has earned multiple student-athlete honors and finished in the top three at the Tennessee State Wrestling Championships both of the past two years. Beyond athletics, Glass serves as chief audio/visual engineer for his school’s broadcasting program; he also runs his own landscaping business, which he started at age 15. Janelle Bowker, Clogging Champions of America board member, said of him, “Austin leads with integrity, humility and a genuine desire to serve others. When he commits to a task, he works diligently to not only meet expectations but to exceed them.”
Jackson Haren
Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, Tennessee
Haren is a disciplined leader, accomplished musician and servant-hearted mentor. As first sergeant of his 113-member Air Force Junior ROTC corps and Tenor Drum Squad Leader in one of the nation’s top marching bands, he leads with composure and conviction. He is a multi-year All-East and All-State percussionist, a past patrol leader in his scout troop, a certified lifeguard and a devoted weightlifter. In his endeavors, Haren strives to put others first, leading with courage and steadiness. His Air Force JROTC instructor, Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Melanie Blankenship, shared, “Whether he is navigating a historical debate, leading a scout troop or performing on stage, Jackson brings thoughtfulness, excellence and integrity to everything he does.”
Kylee Mesimer
Pisgah High School, Canton, North Carolina
Mesimer is a compassionate leader, driven scholar and dedicated athlete whose faith shapes her service. She has pursued a rigorous academic path, completing extensive AP and dual-enrollment coursework while consistently challenging herself to grow. As co-founder and co-president of the GROW Club, Mesimer has built a lasting tutoring program that supports elementary students in her small-town community - organizing logistics, recruiting volunteers and personally investing in the confidence and success of these younger learners. She has been a four-year varsity soccer player and captain while also competing in club soccer, volleyball, basketball and track. Whether in the classroom, at practice or mentoring younger students, Mesimer leads with steadiness, empathy and perseverance. “Kylee is the most conscientious student I have ever taught, combining her strong intellect with a work ethic that is unmatched. She embodies resilience, integrity and compassion,” said Jennifer Cody, AP research teacher at Pisgah High School.
Harshita Nagar
L&N STEM Academy, Knoxville, Tennessee
Nagar is a visionary bridge-builder whose leadership blends science, service and empathy. As Student Council executive president, she has led initiatives that reshaped her school culture, including serving as a founding tutor and a key member of the leadership team of a student-led study center that now serves a significant portion of the student body. As president of the Technology Student Association, she guided her team to qualify for nationals. Nagar’s passion for medicine has been strengthened through hospital volunteer work, presentations on global food insecurity, and research projects that earned multiple awards at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair the past two years. In all of these and other areas – as her school’s valedictorian, and from working toward her Eagle Scout award to advocating for equitable health care systems - Nagar leads with resilience, adaptability and heart. Assistant Principal Steven York wrote, “Harshita's devotion to serving others is her most memorable trait. She is a true visionary and servant leader. Our school will undoubtedly reap the benefits of her labor for years to come.”
Emmajean Pergerson
Hillcrest High School, Simpsonville, South Carolina
Pergerson is a leader defined by strength, teamwork and heart. A varsity cheerleader, she helped lead her team to the state championships for the first time in over a decade, was honored with the Coach’s Award for her resilience and leadership and this past season was named an All-Region Athlete. As president of Beta Club and co-captain of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, she has poured into her school community through service initiatives and student leadership. Selected to attend Palmetto Girls State, she stepped courageously into new territory and was elected as lieutenant governor. Outside of school, Pergerson was a long-time volunteer with Izzie’s Pond Wildlife Rescue and currently serves on her church’s youth council board, consistently choosing to lead with compassion and action. Jerrell Rolack from the James F. Byrnes Foundation shared, “Service isn’t something Emmajean does — it’s who she is. She is a steady, thoughtful leader who uplifts others and leaves spaces better than she found them.”
Lexi Rodriguez Alvidrez
Sullivan East High School, Piney Flats, Tennessee
Rodriguez Alvidrez is a bold advocate, multilingual scholar, voracious learner and relentless servant-leader. Fluent in both English and Spanish, and conversational in numerous other languages, she has also participated in the middle college program and will graduate from high school with an associate degree. She serves as an administrative coordinator and head peer tutor for her school’s World Language Department and as president of the World Language Club. She has spoken before the Tennessee Board of Education to advocate for retaining world language requirements, volunteers with the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition and is a varsity athlete in cross-country, track and swimming. Whether advocating, mentoring or serving, Rodriguez Alvidrez leads with conviction and compassion. Her Spanish honors teacher said of her, “Lexi is a natural leader, yet she approaches every situation with kindness, conscientiousness and poise. She is the epitome of absolute selflessness, determination and precision.”
Avery Sharpe
Boyd-Buchanan School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Sharpe is a determined, independent leader whose optimism and compassion help her positively impact those around her. She balances rigorous academics with tremendous community engagement, volunteering with Chattanooga’s Family Justice Center, teaching a children’s class at her church, and serving with a local food bank. As a Chick-fil-A shift leader and manager, she is entrusted with overseeing team operations and mentoring her peers. At school, she has held multiple leadership roles within Key Club, been a varsity soccer player and is a founding member of the International Thespian Society. Whether organizing efforts to encourage and uplift others or striving to create a positive customer experience at work, Sharpe consistently leads with integrity and conviction. “Avery is a humble leader who is true to her convictions, outspoken yet gentle, and deeply cares about the community around her,” shared Anna McClung, campus minister.
Sarah Grace Slusher
Gallatin High School, Gallatin, Tennessee
Slusher is a relationship-builder, storyteller and community champion who brings energy, encouragement and team spirit to every space she enters. A four-time DECA state winner and International Career Development Conference qualifier, she serves as DECA president, captain of her school’s varsity flag football team, co-captain of the volleyball team and member of the Student Council Executive Team. Her leadership also extends beyond campus; as a marketing intern with the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce, she has led large-scale presentations and contributed meaningfully to projects that impact her hometown. She was also selected for a year-long internship with Good Circle Marketing, where she is gaining hands-on experience in meaningful marketing work while helping local businesses and nonprofits grow. Whether mentoring younger students through Amazing Shake, leading her school’s spirit section or capturing life’s quiet moments through photos, she consistently adds color, creativity and optimism to her community. “Sarah Grace is one of those rare young people who lead not just through words, but through presence and example. She combines intelligence, humility and a genuine desire to make a difference,” said Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kimberly Baker.
Becca Taylor
Daniel Boone High School, Jonesborough, Tennessee
Taylor is a steady leader, conscientious scholar and compassionate friend whose impact is felt both in and out of the classroom. As Student Council president, she led the vision-casting process as her school underwent a rebranding initiative. Outside of school, she volunteers with Waiting to Hear, serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and dedicating herself to learning sign language to better connect with those she supports. An outstanding student, athlete and leader, Taylor strives to live out a legacy of positive impact in all she does. Her assistant principal, Ginger Luya, said of Taylor, “She leads not for recognition, but out of a genuine desire to serve and uplift those around her - a quality that sets her apart in every setting she is in.”
McKinna Wiles
Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Wiles is a leader defined by willingness - willing to serve, improve and advocate. As president of the National Honor Society and a leader within her school’s house system, she works to build community and elevate the voices of her peers. Her passion for history and justice has guided her toward a future in law, strengthened by participation in Mock Trial, Constitution Bowl, the “Supreme Court in My Hometown” program, and an internship at the Joel W. Solomon Federal Courthouse. On the volleyball court, she progressed from YMCA leagues to varsity competition, embodying discipline and perseverance. Whether self-teaching piano, counseling at summer camps or respectfully advocating for herself in the workplace, Wiles leads with integrity, composure and courage. Her school’s college adviser, Jennifer Parris, shared, “The first word that comes to mind when I think about McKinna’s leadership skills is advocacy. She chooses to speak up and pursue possibility - for herself and for others - rather than taking the path of least resistance.”
About the Roan
“This is a special time for the Roan, having recently celebrated the program’s 25th anniversary and as we continue to see the growth and expansion that Mr. Gump envisioned, as well as the remarkable achievements and impact that Roan Scholars and Roan alumni are making as they lead and serve,” said Roan Steering Committee Chair Mark Kinser. “We are so grateful to the high school officials, community leaders and many other volunteers who are involved with the selection process, and to our supporters who give generously to provide the critical resources that sustain the program.”
The Roan inspires and empowers students to be leaders of excellence who will positively impact the ETSU campus, the region and the world. The Roan provides a full scholarship award for tuition, fees, room, board and books; and 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 Roan, which continues to be funded primarily by private donations, was established by the late Louie Gump in 1997. The inaugural class of Roan Scholars entered in 2000. For more information, contact the Roan office at (423) 439-7677 or RoanScholars@etsu.edu, or visit RoanScholars.org.
