Middle Tennessee State University

For seven Middle Tennessee State University students, learning about Chinese history, culture and society extended far beyond the classroom this summer. Led by Jun Da, professor of linguistics and Chinese in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, students spent more than two weeks in Hangzhou and Shanghai as part of MTSU's faculty-led Study Abroad Program.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is proud to announce the recipients of a 2026 Pioneer Award. The awards are designed to reward undergraduate members for developing the research, engagement and leadership skills necessary to become a successful scholar

Through a recently awarded $200,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Middle Tennessee State University biology professor Manuel Giannoni-Guzman and his student research team hope to develop ways to better understand the biological clock inside honeybee brains - research that could ultimately help protect pollinators responsible for producing about one-third of the world's food. The data could also bleed into research that benefits humans.

Phi Kappa Phi recently announced the recipients of a 2026 Fellowship. The prestigious $8,500 fellowships were awarded to 40 students nationwide.

Middle Tennessee State University has released the final graduate list and congratulates the students who received their degrees at its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies. MTSU's spring commencement saluted members of the first Class of 2026 during two ceremonies in Murphy Center to confer their degrees.

Middle Tennessee State University student leader and recent spring graduate R.J. Ware has been recognized as one of the recipients of the 2026 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award.

Middle Tennessee State University Honors student Mollie Bedwell, a psychology major, has earned national recognition after being selected to present her Honors thesis research at the spring 2026 National Hurricane Conference, one of the country's leading gatherings for emergency management professionals and researchers.

Middle Tennessee State University is congratulating 5,971 students who appear on the dean's list for the Spring 2026 semester. To qualify for this distinction, an undergraduate student must maintain a current semester grade-point average of 3.5 or above and earn at least 12 semester hours. The complete list of honorees, compiled by the MTSU Registrar's Office and alphabetized by the students' surnames and home counties or country, also is available as a searchable PDF in this story at MTSUNews.com, the university's news site: https://mtsunews.com/deans-list-spring-2026/.

Middle Tennessee State University Honors student Alina Caldwell is the latest guest on Honors Spotlight, the Honors College podcast highlighting the research, creative work and accomplishments of Honors students and faculty.

Middle Tennessee State University Honors student Luis Esmurria recently shared his research on the growing role of artificial intelligence in accounting as a guest on the "Honors Spotlight" podcast.

Two students from Middle Tennessee State University have been selected for competitive National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates, or REU, programs at universities across the country this summer.

Middle Tennessee State University Student Government Association and Division of Student Affairs honored its top student leaders and organizations during the 2026 MTSU Bolt Awards, recognizing "True Blue" excellence in leadership, service and campus engagement.

Middle Tennessee State University graduating senior Elizabeth Lawrence of Nashville will extend her academic journey beyond campus borders as she heads to Finland this summer on a Fulbright-University of Jyvaskyla award.

For the first time in over a decade, Middle Tennessee State University's Blue Raider Debate Team recently played host to the International Public Debate Association National Championships and Convention, welcoming hundreds of the nation's top debaters to campus for rounds of friendly sparring on topics of the day.

Students from Middle Tennessee State University earned top honors at this year's Tennessee Japanese Video Skit and Presentation Contest, with awards recently presented during the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival.

Kaitlyn Jackson has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Psychology major Batoul Sawas recently presented her work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), held this year in Richmond, Virginia. NCUR is a nationally recognized conference dedicated to showcasing undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity across all academic disciplines.

The latest episode of the Middle Tennessee State University "Honors Spotlight" podcast features finance major Truvell Haddox, whose commitment to community service has gone far beyond occasional volunteerism. The episode explores Haddox's three-year dedication to feeding food-insecure and unhoused individuals across Middle Tennessee through a faith-based outreach focused on dignity, consistency, and human connection.

Madee Bedwell has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Jessica Pruitt has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Middle Tennessee State University alumni and students continue to distinguish themselves on the national stage, with four MTSU-affiliated scholars awarded National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships for 2026.

Alexis Katz has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Jessica Whicker has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Tiara Sokol has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Mollie Bedwell has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Chelsea Hall has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Jillian Edleblute has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Erin Westerman has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Carly Coleman has successfully defended her Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of her work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.

Drew Hair has successfully defended his Honors thesis at MTSU. The defense marks the culmination of his work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research.