JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 15, 2014) -- East Tennessee State University men’s track and field standout Desmond Pierce (Morristown, Tenn.) has been selected as the State of Franklin Bank/ETSU Community Service Student-Athlete of the Month, an award recognizing the exemplary community service efforts of ETSU student-athletes.

According to his teammates and coaches, Pierce bleeds Blue and Gold and does whatever he can to support and promote ETSU in any endeavor.

When Pierce is not winning championships for his track and field team, he is out in the community leading the ‘A Buccaneers’ Christmas’ community service project for underprivileged children as Santa’s leading elf. Coach Lee Morrow also added that he wanted Pierce to be the representative from the athletic department to be the "voice"(announcer) at the ‘A Buccaneers’ Christmas’ this year.

“Des performed this function last year to great effect," added Morrow. "I like his enthusiasm, and his ability to transfer that to the microphone in front of a young crowd. This task is not that easy and everyone does not have the ability to do it. He gets it done, follows the task at hand, and has fun with the crowd at the same time. Win, win all around."

Pierce is not only a great student-athlete, but a great person as well and more people in this world should aspire to be as relentless, caring, and dedicated as him.

Congratulations to Desmond Pierce on winning the State of Franklin Bank and East Tennessee State University’s Community Service Student-Athlete of the Month award for the month of December.

State of Franklin Bank and ETSU are proud to recognize Pierce for his efforts in the Johnson City community.

For more information on Buccaneer athletics, visit ETSUBucs.com.