[454]COLUMBIA NATIVE WINS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AT MTSU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

COLUMBIA NATIVE WINS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AT MTSU
Political Science Major Captures Award Named for Washington Insider

(MURFREESBORO) – Cory Brunson, a 2008 graduate of Central High School in Columbia, Tenn., and 19-year-old political science major at Middle Tennessee State University, is the recipient of MTSU’s James C. Free Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship is named for James C. Free, president of the Smith-Free Group, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm. Free served as Special Assistant to the President for Congressional Affairs under President Jimmy Carter, and he managed Al Gore’s presidential bid in 1988. In 1993, he was presented with an MTSU Distinguished Alumni Award. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Woodrow Wilson House and the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association. Brunson is the son of Ken Brunson and Elaine Russell, both of Columbia. A triplet, Brunson’s sister, Cayla, is enrolled at Austin Peay State University and his brother, Collin, is a student at Columbia State Community College.

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