Middle Tennessee State University

As part of creating a new tradition, Middle Tennessee State University held special ceremonies to present top universitywide student awards as well as 12 other True Blue Honors Bolt individual award recipients or organizations and introduction of the new Student Government Association officers for the coming academic year.

Five years after launching, Middle Tennessee State University's Tourism and Hospitality Management program has been designated as the first and only accredited hospitality degree program in the state by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. Learning about MTSU's tourism and hospitality program was a game-changer for junior Kenady Rix, who was awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association Education Fund. "I have a natural passion for serving others, and I've always worked above and beyond in any employment role that I'm in to serve guests well," Rix said.

Middle Tennessee State University recently announced the newest class of "True Blue 100" recipients - high school freshmen from across Tennessee identified by guidance counselors and teachers as students who demonstrate the ideals of the university's True Blue Pledge. "True Blue 100" represents 100 outstanding high school freshmen who share the university's core values and commitments and live up to them each day - all while excelling academically. Those core values and commitments include honesty and integrity; respect for diversity; engagement in the community; commitment to nonviolence; and academic achievement.