Nathan Dugger - Class of 2013
Spring 2021
“Participating in Wesley truly helped form me into the person I am today. Not only did I make lifelong friends to journey through life with, but Wesley also gave me the space to practice my faith on my own for the first time. Likewise, it provided me with the opportunity to watch others discern God’s path for them, and allowed me to do the same.”
- Dugger ‘13
Rev. Elizabeth Hamilton - Class of 2005
December, 2019
"Wesley gave me the confidence, experience, and opportunity to grow in my call, follow my call, and live into my call. Without the vital ministry of the Wesley Foundation, I would not be the person I am today."
-Rev. Elizabeth Hamilton, '05, ordained Elder in the Holston Conference serving Mountain View UMC in Kingsport, TN.
Garret Hammonds and Kalie Pierce
December, 2020
Over the years the ETSU Wesley Foundation has played an instrumental role in many people entering the ministry. Garrett Hammonds and Kalie Pierce are one story of how the Wesley Foundation impacts young peoples lives.
As students, Garrett Hammonds and Kalie Pierce both quickly found a home and a family with Wesley. “I was at the Wesley Foundation everyday, sometimes all day long,” said Pierce. Pierce met a fellow student at Wesley who shared with her about majoring in Parks and Recreation Management. This became Pierce's major and when the opportunity came to serve as the Wesley Recreation Intern she was able to do this as a practicum for her degree. While at Wesley, Kalie met Garrett Hammonds and they were married in 2018. Together they served as Chaplains for the Holston Conference on the Appalachian Trail.
“The Wesley Foundation is how I became connected to the United Methodist Church and because of Wesley I decided to go to seminary and pursue pastoral ministry,” said Hammonds. Hammonds is now in his first year of seminary at Duke Divinity School. He is seeking ordination in the Holston Conference. “People come to Wesley when they are wrestling with who they are, what they're going to do, and where they're going. At Wesley, God works through community creating a space for people to be together, worship together, live together, and care for each other and learn what it’s like to take that next step as being Christians and being disciples.”
Molly McGill – Class of 2025
Summer of 2026
Molly has been at ETSU Wesley for five years now. She had positive experiences with United Methodist spaces in the past and was hoping Wesley would give her more of the same, and, gratefully, she was not let down.
“Wesley created an environment where everyone was approachable,” Molly said.
Molly thrived. She made friends with ease and formed great connections. She even joined a D&D club through friends of Wesley, which she is still active in.
“There are so many wonderful people in my life today who I would have never know if not for Wesley...The Wesley building and the people in it got me through some of the hardest times of my college experience.”
Molly is now pursuing a master's degree in public administration. She expects to finish by next spring.
Curtis Reece - Class of 2025
Summer of 2026
Curtis was a student, leadership member, administrative intern, and RA at the ETSU Wesley Foundation. A Virginia native, he connected to the place immediately. He met many of his best friends and even managed to meet his girlfriend.
“I felt like I could truly be myself,” Curtis said.
As part of his experience, Curtis got the chance to go on a mission trip to Willow, Alaska. Being a nature enthusiast, it was a no brainer, and the trip did not disappoint. “It was such an incredible experience that gave me such a feeling of wholeness, happiness, and peace.”
Curtis graduated with a degree in Computing, specializing in Computer Science. He now works as a consultant for an IT company.
“I truly do not believe that I would have finished college had it not been for all the incredible people that were there for me through the good times and the difficult times.”
Ben Riddle and Leslie Weller-Riddle
December, 2020
The ETSU Wesley Foundation made a huge impact on our lives, both individually, and together as a couple. The friends we made during our time at Wesley are still the same people that we look up to, go to for advice, or call when we just need a listening ear. Ben and I recently married, and these friends were part of our special day. Most of the friends in our wedding party were friendships built because of Wesley. Of course our special day would not have been the same without our Wesley friends to dance alongside us. We could not imagine being where we are today without the relationships that we built at Wesley."
Anthony Vaughn - Class of 2024
Summer of 2026
Anthony Vaughn was a student, house resident, and A/V runner at Wesley. Coming in, he had a decent idea of what he was getting into. His father is a pastor, and he knew the former Wesley Director from childhood. Despite that, his years at Wesley turned out to be a blast.
“Wesley is where some of my best college memories were made.” He said. “Sharing a meal with friends, dominating at ping pong, hunting for Easter eggs.”
Anthony graduated in 2024 with a bachelor's in physics and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching two years later. He will begin teaching Physics at Dobyns Bennett High School this fall.
Ryan Walsh - Class of 2015
December 2019
"Wesley was a place I called home away from home. Wesley was a place where I met some of my best friends and a place where I grew in my faith through service, prayer and discipleship. Wesley helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m now only working part-time as a nurse in Nashville, while also working on different tours in the music industry, with the end goal of eventually becoming a Tour Manager for artists. Wesley was instrumental in my faith journey and helped me listen to His still small voice, and so although these are completely different careers, I couldn’t be happier or more certain I’m where God wants me to be.
- Walsh ‘15
Wesley Graduate Trades Graduation Gown for Frontline Work
By: Allison Winters
December, 2020
Hana Lee Auchterlonie was the first face many Wesley members saw each Tuesday evening before the service. She would greet them, ask for their name and give them a name tag scribbled with their name on it, as well as their answer to the question of the week in the corner of the tag.
After being a part of the Wesley Foundation for over four years, Auchterlonie graduated this December from ETSU’s College of Nursing with a bachelor’s degree of science in nursing. She will be entering the workforce as a nurse in her home area of Greeneville, Tennessee, at the Greeneville Community Hospital East. She will be working in the emergency department, meaning she will see a variety of people including COVID-19 patients.
“In Greeneville we only have one hospital and one emergency department,” said Auchterlonie. “We literally get to see everybody who comes into the hospital, whether they stay there or we transfer them. We get every COVID-19 person; if they are really sick, then they will go up to our COVID unit. But no matter what, I will still get them first.”
Before entering the frontlines, Auchterlonie reflected on her fond memories as part of the Wesley Foundation. She often found it hard to get involved in other extracurriculars as a commuter and nursing student, but Wesley was accommodating to both her schedule and needs.
“They understand when I have to leave because I have to drive back an hour back home,” she said. “I am just so grateful for it because everybody has been here for me during my worst times and my best times and literally has been my family, the community I needed and helped me grow not only in my faith, but helped me through college.”
As for the legacy of the Wesley Foundation, she understands that it will continue to grow and flourish even after her departure thanks to the many people who contribute year-round to make the programming happen.
“It has meant a lot to me, personally, as a student, because I could not imagine where my life would be without Wesley,” she mentioned. “Just know that I am one student; imagine how it is affecting everyone here at Wesley. You are really changing lives and it really does help a lot having that community.”