To start, the name for this new building is very mundane for such a beautiful, intricate design. Because Dolly Parton was raised in East Tennessee, it is only fair that East Tennessee State University honors her life and legacy in a meaningful way. The new academic building is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Dolly Parton was passionate about education throughout her entire career. In 1988, Dolly Parton launched the Buddy Program in her hometown, Sevier County, to help decrease high school dropout rates. In this program, she would give $500 to every seventh- and eighth-grader if they graduated high school. The dropout rate lowered from 35% to 6%. In 1995, Dolly Parton launched the Dollywood Foundation Imagination Library. This foundation was founded in honor of Parton's father, who could not read. The Imagination Library began by sending one book per month to each child enrolled from birth to their first year of school. Now, in 2026, the Imagination Library has gifted over 300 million books throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Parton founded the Dolly Parton Scholarship. This scholarship entails the Dollywood Foundation giving $15,000 scholarships to five high school seniors in Sevier County who have a dream they wish to pursue. In 2022, the Dollywood Co. announced that it would cover 100% of tuition, including books and fees, for Dollywood employees who wish to pursue a higher education.

The legacy Dolly Parton left behind is extraordinary. Her deeds affected millions of lives, young and old, across the country and especially East Tennessee. It would be an honor to attend a university that recognizes public figures who prioritize education and stay rooted in the area from which they came.