Middle Tennessee State University

Several Middle Tennessee State University students were recently honored for their exceptional creative talents through the Spring 2025 Creative Expression Awards, presented by Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression. The biannual awards recognize outstanding student work across a variety of artistic and literary categories. Established in honor of Martha Hixon - chair of the 2004 Collage Ad Hoc Committee and longtime advisory board member - and memory of art professor Lon Nuell, the awards celebrate artistic and literary excellence at MTSU.

Assistant professor of cello and academic studies Bryan Hayslett, along with Annalisa Thomas, a senior majoring in music, and Jayna Powell, a graduate teaching assistant working on her Master of Music, led the event for around 30 students ages 5 to 20 at John Gray High School in George Town, Cayman Islands. The workshop gave participants opportunities to take part in lessons and small and large ensembles to help expand their playing techniques. Each Caymanian student plays multiple instruments, and Thomas said they had an "astute ear" for listening to each other.

Middle Tennessee State University students connect with potential employers at the annual Tourism and Hospitality/Leisure and Sport Management Career Fair on campus.

Middle Tennessee State University students Anna Jacobellis, communications major from Smyrna, Tennessee, and Claire Holbrook, recording industry major from Meridianville, Alabama, were named Trailblazer Award recipients at the inaugural Women's Celebration Dinner and annual Trailblazer Awards held Wednesday, March 5.

Middle Tennessee State University's debate team will participate in two friendly debates against the Irish Times National Debate Champions from Ireland this week, continuing a decade's long relationship. The Irish Times National Debate Champions team typically visits five to seven universities around the United States during their visit, with MTSU being the first stop.

Middle Tennessee State University College of Education senior Haley Ferguson of Spring Hill was among 15 "Everyday Americans" invited as special guests by first lady Melania Trump to attend President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, in Washington, D.C.

All the hard work and preparation paid off for Middle Tennessee State University senior Carley Vogel, fresh off a second runner-up at the Miss America pageant earlier this month in Orlando, Florida. "Participating in the pageant itself was surreal. It was an honor to share the stage with such incredible women and to represent Tennessee, a state I love dearly," said Vogel. "The connections I made and the stories I heard reinforced my belief in the power of community and advocacy." A music business major in MTSU's College of Media and Entertainment minoring in musical theatre in the College of Liberal Arts, the Kennesaw, Georgia, resident called preparing for the Jan. 5 pageant one of her life's most challenging and rewarding experiences.

The second MTSU Jazz Artist Series concert is set for Feb. 6 on campus featuring vocalist Sandra Dudley, who will perform with members of MTSU Combo 1. The concert will feature members of the top student and graduate combo in the jazz studies program, including Dylan Kubilus (alto saxophone), Daniel Kuk (piano), Ethan Assad (bass) and Miles Damaso (drums). The concert will also include a guest appearance by faculty jazz saxophonist Don Aliquo.

Three Middle State University School of Journalism students were among 12 students from across the state immersed in real-world media through participation in The Tennessean's second annual Journalism Academy. Hannah Carley, Shauna Reynolds and Brianna Sorrell from MTSU's School of Journalism and Strategic Media joined professional journalists for three days of learning, networking and mentorship at the newspaper and digital outlet's Nashville office in early January. The Tennessean Journalism Academy allowed students to see a professional news organization and expand their contacts with experienced journalists and students across Tennessee. Participants also learned about writing and reporting, investigating, digital production, and applying for jobs.

Each semester, Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression honors outstanding submissions with its prestigious Creative Expression Awards. In December 2024, several MTSU students were recognized for their exceptional creative works.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is proud to announce the recipients of a 2024 Pioneer Award. The awards are designed to reward undergraduate members for developing the research, engagement and leadership skills necessary to become a successful scholar

Middle Tennessee State University political science major Yusuf Dogan contributed to a nonbinding resolution later passed by Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. During the spring semester of his freshman year at MTSU, Dogan was required to write a mock piece of legislation for a project. That experience would translate from the classroom to the real world as part of his internship with Metro-Nashville Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield.

The Middle Tennessee State University College of Behavioral and Health Sciences annual Academic Awards Presentation was held Tuesday, April 23, in the Student Union Ballroom. Nearly 200 seniors were spotlighted as Honors Students, which requires a scholastic average between 3.75 and 4.0. Representatives from the Departments of Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice Administration, Human Sciences, and Health and Human Performance presented certificates to students for their academic achievements.

Phi Kappa Phi recently named the recipients of its 2024 Marcus L. Urann Fellowships. The prestigious $20,000 fellowships were awarded to six students nationwide.

Middle Tennessee State University interior design students recently took home top honors at the Formica Form, a national furniture design competition that held regional awards at the Inspire Nashville trade show. As part of the experiential learning, or EXL, capstone course for juniors taught by assistant professor Carrie Pavel, students designed a piece of furniture that utilizes Formica as a material in the project based on the theme of maximalism.

Six Middle Tennessee State University students spent the summer exploring pathways to graduate degrees during the pilot Undergraduate Experiential Training, or U*NEXT, a 10-week immersive grant program meant to help increase diversity of underrepresented groups to have access to STEM careers.

Phi Kappa Phi recently announced the recipients of a 2023 Fellowship. The prestigious $8,500 fellowships were awarded to 54 students nationwide.

Middle Tennessee State University political science major Victoria Grigsby has received one of the most competitive overseas fellowships in the country - the Fulbright Summer Institute in Wales in the United Kingdom.

The John and Linda Vile Award, sponsored by the current Middle Tennessee State University Honors College Dean and his wife, goes to Laney Denton.

Three MTSU students were among 80 undergraduate and graduate students nationwide selected for the U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship program Spark Award for Summer 2023.

Each year, the Middle Tennessee State University Honors College awards Outstanding Student Awards to high-achieving Honors students who set themselves apart from their peers through academic achievement and extra-curricular activities both on and off campus.

This year, five MTSU graduates were accepted into the Japan Exchange and Teaching, or JET, Program. These individuals will work in schools, boards of education, and government offices throughout Japan.

Ten MTSU undergraduate students and researchers attended the annual Posters at the Capitol event at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, to share their STEM research projects with legislators and peers, personally meet with state representatives and hear a short address from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. "It's an excellent opportunity for students to be able to engage with their legislators and for their legislators to know more about their undergraduate research," said Kevin Ragland, associate director of the Tennessee STEM center and event organizer. "It's important for their legislators to know that undergraduate research exists and to know the scope of what they're able to do as undergraduates."