Middle Tennessee State University

The Middle Tennessee State University Honors College proudly introduced two new scholarships this year-the Jeff Whorley Endowment Scholarship and the Mary Wilgus Honors Endowment Scholarship-as part of its annual celebration of student excellence.

Middle Tennessee State University graduate Brandon Toungett has been selected for a prestigious position in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, becoming the first MTSU student ever appointed as a Coordinator for International Relations.

Each year, the University Honors College proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. From academic excellence and leadership to dedicated service and creative accomplishments, this year's award recipients represent the very best of what it means to be True Blue.

A spring graduate from Middle Tennessee State University's College of Media and Entertainment is celebrating his success a mile at a time after dedicating his focus to one major goal - graduating with his bachelor's degree in interactive media. As a nontraditional student, Lee Johns commuted six hours round trip twice a week from his hometown of Loretto, Tennessee, for five semesters so he could attend classes in person. He also completed an internship in Nashville last summer.

MTSU's Arianella Myers has received the $400 Vincent and Stacy Windrow Scholarship for textbooks.

MTSU's Elif Nalan Mutlu is the recipient of the $200 Bart McCash Honors Scholarship, awarded to a student actively participating in the Honors College.

Madison Kilgore and Sydney Westerman have each received the $750 Michael Martinelli Memorial Scholarship, recognizing junior or senior Honors students for academic excellence and commitment to personal growth through Honors participation.

MTSU's Trinity Johnson has received the $400 Lawrence R. Good Scholarship, given in recognition of academic excellence, with preference for students majoring or minoring in psychology.

MTSU's Ayushi Prajapati has been selected for the $1,000 Julia W. Powell Endowed Scholarship, which supports Honors students enrolled in at least two Honors courses, with preference for those studying nursing or older adult health.

MTSU's Handan Mutlu received the Joseph and Teresa Santiago Olmstead International Scholarship, which supports international Honors students with a preference for those of Hispanic/Latino or Asian ethnicity and business majors.

MTSU's Aniya Dean, Chelsea Hall, and Ali Nurhussien each received a $1,000 Academic Achievement Scholarship in recognition of their academic performance and Honors College participation.

Ambrose Jones is the recipient of the $1,500 June Hall McCash Founders Award Endowment, supporting Honors students majoring or minoring in a foreign language with plans to study abroad.

MTSU's Hannah Ferreira received the John and Linda Vile Scholarship and Outstanding Second-Year Student Award.

MTSU's Emma Turner has received the Hanna Romans Witherspoon Scholarship, which supports junior or senior Honors students

MTSU's Jester Bowen was awarded the $500 Hannah/Harris Honors Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship to support a high-quality international learning experience.

MTSU's Hailey Harrison was awarded the Ralph and Elizabeth Gwaltney Centennial Scholarship.

Emily Callison (Biochemistry), Muny Chet (Chemistry), and Veronica Seipel (Chemistry) were awarded Philip and Marilyn Mathis Scholarships.

David Kiely was awarded Ingram-Montgomery Scholarship.

Olivia Vickers was awarded Liz Rhea Centennial Scholarship

Michael Marking, a physics and mathematics double major at Middle Tennessee State University, has been selected for a prestigious Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Central Florida for summer 2025. He is one of seven MTSU students to earn a competitive REU placement this year.

Each year, the University Honors College at MTSU proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Middle Tennessee State University Public Health Program students spent the spring semester planning and producing the inaugural observance on campus of National Public Health Week. The student-led events highlighted one of the nation's most pressing health issues - addiction - and brought attention to climate change and potential careers for public health professionals.

Middle Tennessee State University senior journalism major Tiffany Parker has been focused on working with local media outlets to gain expertise in her field. But during the spring semester, her academic career took a different turn after the Murfreesboro resident was recruited to work in the office of Tennessee Rep. Mike Sparks, an MTSU alumnus, during the 114th General Assembly, which concluded recently.

Cameron Morelli, a physics and mathematics double major at Middle Tennessee State University, has been selected to participate in a prestigious Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in physics at the University of Arkansas during summer 2025.

Four Japanese language students at Middle Tennessee State University earned runner-up in Level 1 of the competitive 2025 Tennessee Japanese Video Skit and Presentation Contest. Held annually each spring semester, the contest is open to college students studying Japanese across Tennessee and includes both group skits and individual presentations depending on student proficiency.

Middle Tennessee State University Honors College student Olivia Vickers, a Chemistry major, has been selected for a highly competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at the University of Minnesota, where she will spend the summer conducting full-time, hands-on research in polymer chemistry.

Middle Tennessee State University Honors College senior John Tate has been accepted into the prestigious Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, a significant step toward his dream of working in Japanese television. Tate, a Video and Film Production major with a concentration in Live Production, graduates this semester and will head to Japan in August to serve as an Assistant Language Teacher.

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.

Middle Tennessee State University's Isaac Puckett, of Whites Creek, has been named a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship, an award recognizing the nation's most promising undergraduate students in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics.

The Middle Tennessee State University chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has announced Kylie Petrovich as the second recipient of the prestigious Chapter 246 Graduate Scholar Award. The award, a one-time scholarship of $1,000, is granted to active Phi Kappa Phi members pursuing graduate studies at MTSU.