Long before she applied to East Tennessee State University, Kamara Pennington had already found a reason to love it: a teddy bear affectionately named “Dr. Etsu.”

As a child, Pennington was hospitalized at Ballad Health’s Niswonger Children’s Hospital while battling a mysterious ailment – later diagnosed as septic arthritis – that, at times, left her unable to walk. During her hospital stay, which coincided with her ninth birthday, a nurse surprised her with a giant teddy bear donated to the hospital.

But while trying to decide on a name for her new friend, Pennington noticed “ETSU” written on a whiteboard in her room and mistakenly thought it was the name of one of her doctors she’d yet to meet.

“I looked at the board and said, ‘I haven’t seen Dr. Etsu,’ and my whole family started cracking up laughing,” she said, “and I was like, ‘What? Did I say it wrong?” Then they explained ETSU was a university down the road and said, ‘Well, that has to be the name of the bear.’”

The misunderstanding sparked something much bigger for Pennington.

“I just knew ETSU was where I wanted to go,” said Pennington, who graduated from Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, as valedictorian. “After seeing all of the amazing staff who were connected to ETSU while I was in the hospital, I always knew that’s where I wanted to be.”

On Monday, that childhood dream became a reality, as Pennington moved into Governors Hall as a member of ETSU’s Class of 2030, majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences.

A lifelong commitment to serving others has shaped Pennington’s path to becoming a Buccaneer. Inspired by her mother, who works as an activities director at a nursing home, Pennington spent her childhood volunteering in healthcare settings before earning her certified nursing assistant credential through her high school’s technical education program.

At just 16, she was the youngest CNA hired at Norton Community Hospital, where she intends to keep working on weekends while in school. And while working with patients helped confirm her desire to make a difference, it also steered her toward a possible career in research.

“I knew I wanted to help people,” said Pennington. “I want to do research, cure diseases, and make an impact that way.”

That passion made ETSU a natural fit, as she plans to pursue opportunities in biomedical research while taking advantage of the university’s commitment to hands-on learning.

“I’m just ready and excited – I know it’s where I’m meant to be,” Pennington said.

Pennington’s journey at ETSU will begin as a member of the Pre-Health Living and Learning Community, which brings together students pursuing careers in healthcare through social gatherings, study groups, tutoring sessions and group enrollment in certain prerequisite courses.

As Tennessee’s largest public Academic Health Sciences Center, ETSU prepares future health professionals and researchers through hands-on learning opportunities, faculty mentorship and interprofessional collaboration.

Nearly a decade after leaving Niswonger Children’s Hospital with “Dr. Etsu” under her arm, Pennington is looking forward to experiencing that firsthand.

“What eight-year-old knows what college they want to attend? But I knew where I was going, and I am so thankful for the resources I have, the connections I’ve made and the hard work I have put in,” Pennington said. “I’ve got a plan, I’ve got a goal and I am excited to be a Buc.”  

Find your calling at ETSU at etsu.edu/admissions.