JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Aug. 31, 2026) – ETSU Athletics has opened a new fueling station designed to provide Buccaneer student-athletes with convenient access to nutritious options while strengthening a campus partnership that connects athletics with experiential learning opportunities for ETSU dietetics students.

The new fueling station, located on the third floor of the Ballad Health Athletics Center (Mini-Dome), will provide student-athletes with healthy snack and fueling options throughout the day, helping them meet the demands of training, competition, academics and travel. Beyond providing food and hydration resources, the station will serve as an educational space where student-athletes can learn more about nutrition and its role in performance, recovery and overall well-being.

"We are very excited to open the fueling station and provide this resource to our student-athletes," said Lauren Aksionoff, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA. "The primary focus of the fueling station is to give the student-athletes convenient access to healthy snack options that support their training, recovery, academic performance, and overall well-being. This addition further reinforces our commitment to providing a comprehensive student-athlete experience while also strengthening our partnership with campus.

"In collaboration with Dr. Johnson and her students, the fueling station will also serve as a space for nutritional guidance as it pertains to pre-workout fueling, post-workout recovery, protein and more."

The initiative brings together ETSU Athletics and the university's Dietetics program, creating a collaborative environment that benefits both student-athletes and students pursuing careers in nutrition and dietetics.

"The fueling station will serve not only as a nutrition support resource for student-athletes, but also as an experiential learning laboratory for the Dietetics academic program," said Dr. Michelle Johnson, Chair and Associate Professor of Nutrition and Integrated Sciences. "Through collaboration with athletics, dietetics students will have opportunities to design evidence-based fueling recipes, conduct nutrient analysis, develop hydration and recovery protocols, and provide peer nutrition education.

"The station will function as a hands-on training environment where students can apply coursework in sports nutrition, food service management, and medical nutrition therapy in a real-world setting."

Graduate dietetics students will have an active role in the station, giving them the opportunity to translate concepts learned in the classroom into practical experiences while working directly with Buccaneer student-athletes.

"Being part of the fueling station is a great opportunity for me as a dietetics graduate student to apply my nutrition knowledge and gain hands-on experience interacting with athletes," said Jenna Krahn. "It's so important for college athletes to be fueling throughout the day to keep up with all their intense training and competition, and this is a great way to provide convenient, nutritious options for athletes to support their performance."

The station also provides an opportunity for dietetics students to see firsthand how nutrition fits within the daily demands placed on collegiate student-athletes.

"The fueling station gives student-athletes access to the nutrition they need to help fuel their busy class, practice, and travel schedules," said graduate dietetics student Mattilynn Smith. "As a graduate student studying dietetics, it is rewarding to be a part of an environment that allows us to take what we learn in the classroom and apply it directly to supporting the athletes and their performance."

The addition of the fueling station is part of ETSU Athletics' continued investment in resources that support the complete student-athlete experience. By combining convenient nutrition resources with education and an interdisciplinary campus partnership, the station will support Buccaneers away from competition while also providing ETSU students with meaningful professional preparation.

For more information on ETSU Athletics, visit ETSUBucs.com.