▁learning ▁environment ▁and ▁benefits ▁the ▁regional , ▁national , ▁and ▁global ▁communities ▁served . ▁ ▁E TS U ▁strongly ▁supports ▁and ▁encourag es ▁fac ulty ▁and ▁student ▁research . ▁In ▁F Y 1 2 , ▁E TS U ▁was ▁awarded ▁over ▁$ 5 0   mill ion ▁in ▁research , ▁public ▁service , ▁and ▁training / inst ruction ▁gr ants . ▁ ▁The ▁E TS U ▁Office ▁of ▁Research ▁and ▁Sp ons ored ▁Program s ▁Administration ▁( OR SP A ) ▁organ izes ▁an ▁annual ▁event , ▁the ▁App al ach ian ▁Student ▁Research ▁Forum , ▁for ▁students ▁to ▁show case ▁their ▁research ▁via ▁poster ▁and / or ▁or al ▁present ations . ▁At ▁the ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁event , ▁over ▁ 1 5 0 ▁student ▁poster ▁and ▁or al ▁present ations ▁were ▁made ▁and ▁over ▁$ 5 0 0 0 ▁was ▁given ▁in ▁prize ▁money ▁to ▁under grad uate , ▁gradu ate , ▁medical ▁students , ▁medical ▁residents ▁and ▁post do ctor al ▁fell ows . ▁ ▁Athletics ▁ ▁E TS U ▁colleg iate ▁athlet ic ▁teams , ▁nick named ▁Bu cc ane ers , ▁comp ete ▁in ▁the ▁NCAA ▁Division ▁I ▁Southern ▁Conference . ▁The ▁Bu cc ane ers ▁rejo ined ▁the ▁Southern ▁Conference ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁after ▁compet ing ▁in ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁Sun ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁when ▁they ▁dropped ▁football . ▁In ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 - 0 7 ▁year , ▁E TS U ▁won ▁both ▁the