Northeast State’s Eric Scott Stanton is one of 37 military veterans across the state honored with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Chancellor’s Commendation award.
The Tennessee Board of Regents and Chancellor Flora W. Tydings established the commendation in 2020 as a system-level award to honor military veterans’ service, bravery, and sacrifices at community and technical colleges. It supplements the Veterans Day ceremonies, observances, and recognitions that the colleges traditionally conduct.
“These 37 men and women represent the spirit and values of our colleges – student success, academic excellence, courage in adversity, and service to campus and community – and the highest ideals of military service,” Tydings said.
Stanton received the honor Nov. 11 at a Veterans Day ceremony held on the College’s Blountville campus.
Stanton, an assistant professor of Criminal Justice, enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1988 and was stationed at the Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. While there, he served tours in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Stanton returned to the United States in 1991 to pursue his education at East Tennessee State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology in 1993, a master’s of City Management in 1995, and a Community College Leadership certificate in 2018. In 2017, he received a master’s in Criminal Justice from Liberty University,
Lt. Col Eric Stanton, retired
Stanton joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in May 1994 as a Second Lieutenant after receiving an Honorable Discharge form the United States Air Force, where he served as a medical platoon leader. In October 2000, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, and was mobilized to support Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom. In October 2000, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, where he stayed until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the 7244th (Medical Support Unit) in April 2021.
During his National Guard and Army Reserve years, Stanton also had a career with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and East Tennessee State University Department of Public Safety.
Stanton has worked at Northeast State Community College since 2015. He serves as part of the College At Ease Ally program, which assists student veterans with their transition into the campus culture and the civilian world. He is also the faculty advisor for the College’s Criminal Justice Society student organization.
“At a young age, I always knew I wanted to serve my community and serve others,” Stanton said. “I always believed in something bigger than myself. The military was a natural fit.”
Stanton moved from Atlanta with his family to Johnson City in 1984. He enrolled at Science Hill High School and found himself drawn to the Junior ROTC program, advancing from squad member to cadet battalion commander in three years.
“I knew from that point on that the military would give me the direction, the camaraderie, and friendships that I was looking for and desiring,” Stanton said.
While Stanton said he is honored and humbled to receive the award, he gives credit for the commendation to the men and women he served with during his 32-year military career.
“This award is something much bigger than me. In the military, the first thing they teach you in any basic training is that you are no longer an individual; you’re part of a team,” Stanton said. “I wouldn’t be receiving this award that I had not worked with some of the finest Americans in the country. The award is not really for me, but for them.”
Recipients of the Chancellor’s Commendation were nominated by their college presidents. This year’s recipients include 14 Soldiers, nine Sailors, seven Airmen, six Marines and one Coast Guardsman.
TBR college presidents will present recipients of the commendation a special Challenge Coin on behalf of the chancellor. Challenge coins are a rich tradition in all military branches and signify notable achievement, excellence, hard work, unit pride, respect, and esprit de corps.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, 3,436 students in the College System of Tennessee self-reported as veterans and active-duty military personnel on their admission materials.
Underscoring their commitment to veterans, 11 Tennessee community colleges have earned VETS Campus certification as established under the Tennessee Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act enacted in 2014 by the state legislature. To earn VETS Campus certification, an institution must prioritize outreach to veterans and successfully deliver services necessary to create a supportive environment where student veterans can prosper while pursuing their education.
Northeast State’s Eric Scott Stanton is one of 37 military veterans across the state honored with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Chancellor’s Commendation award.
The Tennessee Board of Regents and Chancellor Flora W. Tydings established the commendation in 2020 as a system-level award to honor military veterans’ service, bravery, and sacrifices at community and technical colleges. It supplements the Veterans Day ceremonies, observances, and recognitions that the colleges traditionally conduct.
“These 37 men and women represent the spirit and values of our colleges – student success, academic excellence, courage in adversity, and service to campus and community – and the highest ideals of military service,” Tydings said.
Stanton received the honor Nov. 11 at a Veterans Day ceremony held on the College’s Blountville campus.
Stanton, an assistant professor of Criminal Justice, enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1988 and was stationed at the Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. While there, he served tours in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Stanton returned to the United States in 1991 to pursue his education at East Tennessee State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology in 1993, a master’s of City Management in 1995, and a Community College Leadership certificate in 2018. In 2017, he received a master’s in Criminal Justice from Liberty University,
Stanton joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in May 1994 as a Second Lieutenant after receiving an Honorable Discharge form the United States Air Force, where he served as a medical platoon leader. In October 2000, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, and was mobilized to support Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom. In October 2000, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, where he stayed until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the 7244th (Medical Support Unit) in April 2021.
During his National Guard and Army Reserve years, Stanton also had a career with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and East Tennessee State University Department of Public Safety.
Stanton has worked at Northeast State Community College since 2015. He serves as part of the College At Ease Ally program, which assists student veterans with their transition into the campus culture and the civilian world. He is also the faculty advisor for the College’s Criminal Justice Society student organization.
“At a young age, I always knew I wanted to serve my community and serve others,” Stanton said. “I always believed in something bigger than myself. The military was a natural fit.”
Stanton moved from Atlanta with his family to Johnson City in 1984. He enrolled at Science Hill High School and found himself drawn to the Junior ROTC program, advancing from squad member to cadet battalion commander in three years.
“I knew from that point on that the military would give me the direction, the camaraderie, and friendships that I was looking for and desiring,” Stanton said.
While Stanton said he is honored and humbled to receive the award, he gives credit for the commendation to the men and women he served with during his 32-year military career.
“This award is something much bigger than me. In the military, the first thing they teach you in any basic training is that you are no longer an individual; you’re part of a team,” Stanton said. “I wouldn’t be receiving this award that I had not worked with some of the finest Americans in the country. The award is not really for me, but for them.”
Recipients of the Chancellor’s Commendation were nominated by their college presidents. This year’s recipients include 14 Soldiers, nine Sailors, seven Airmen, six Marines and one Coast Guardsman.
TBR college presidents will present recipients of the commendation a special Challenge Coin on behalf of the chancellor. Challenge coins are a rich tradition in all military branches and signify notable achievement, excellence, hard work, unit pride, respect, and esprit de corps.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, 3,436 students in the College System of Tennessee self-reported as veterans and active-duty military personnel on their admission materials.
Underscoring their commitment to veterans, 11 Tennessee community colleges have earned VETS Campus certification as established under the Tennessee Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act enacted in 2014 by the state legislature. To earn VETS Campus certification, an institution must prioritize outreach to veterans and successfully deliver services necessary to create a supportive environment where student veterans can prosper while pursuing their education.
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