JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., (WJHL) – East Tennessee State University hosted its third “ETSU Elevates” competition event on Monday night.

Five finalists delivered pitches developed in collaboration with faculty and community partners, each pinpointing a social issue and suggesting methods to guide a community through it.

Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement, Joy Fulkerson, noted that Elevates enables students to enhance professional skills, such as public speaking, while pinpointing causes they are passionate about.

“One of the aspects I appreciate most about the university is our dedication to enhancing the quality of life for individuals in our region and beyond,” she expressed. “Students truly have the chance to do that here. These are students’ ideas that they can pitch independently, offering them the chance to build their skills and confidence to make a positive impact in our communities.”

The top prize of $3,000 was awarded to Project Manna, an initiative to link Black farmers in the Appalachian region with Black mothers to deliver nutritious food choices for local children.

Winner Aliyah Smith shared that the concept sprang from her experiences as a young mother. She encountered challenges finding affordable, healthy food options for herself and her child. She embarked on the project in 2022 while pursuing her doctorate in public health.

Smith said she’s excited to get the opportunity to see the results of her work.

“I made my first delivery last weekend, and I had the chance to meet some of the mothers we assist,” she recounted. “It was fulfilling to connect with them and their families. One mom, who had a newborn just two weeks prior, introduced her baby to me, and it was heartwarming. Her face lit up with joy, and I cherish moments like that. I hope to experience more of those moments as the project advances.”

Smith said the prize money will go towards expanding the project, adding more mothers and farmers to the Project Manna network and bringing educational materials, such as recipe books, to mothers.

Competitor Shelby Koerten presented Spark the Future, a project offering leadership-centered workshops for kids in grades 4 through 8.

Koerten also serves as student body president. She said the skills she learned from her position prepared her for her pitch.

“I’ve learned to really take advantage of every opportunity presented to me and step forward in confidence knowing that I’ve had the experience and lessons that I need to move forward well,” she said. “That has really benefited me while going into Elevates, to be able to articulate my passions well and have the encouragement and drive to really put in the work to make this successful.”

A second prize of $2,000 and the People’s Choice Award went to Project Welcome Home, which works to support housing for veterans.

A third-place prize of $1,000 went to Confidence Kits, a project aiming to provide students at Doe Elementary School and across Johnson County with fully stocked hygiene kits.