Release date: Dec. 23, 2008
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
RETIRED MTSU BIOLOGY PROFESSOR EMERITUS WISER DIES
(MURFREESBORO) — Dr. C. Wymer Wiser, retired professor emeritus of biology who spent nearly 40 years teaching at MTSU, died Dec. 21 in Murfreesboro. He was 85.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Woodfin Memorial Chapel (615-893-5151 or woodfinchapel.com). Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.
“He served as adviser to the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society for many years and was highly thought of by many students,” Dr. George Murphy, chair of the MTSU biology department, wrote in an e-mail sent to biology faculty and others.
A native of the Fairfield Community in Bedford County, Wiser attended David Lipscomb College in Nashville. He earned his B.S. in 1945 from Harding College in Searcy, Ark., his M.A. from George Peabody College in Nashville in ’46 and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in ’56.
In addition to MTSU, where he taught from 1956 until 1995, Wiser also taught at Jacksonville State University, Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt.
For many years, Wiser taught Bible classes at Minerva Drive Church of Christ, where he preached when the regular minister was away. He also preached 65 years altogether, including 36 years at Fairfield Church of Christ.
Wiser is survived by Laura F. Gribble, his wife of 63 years; sons and daughters-in-law Cy and Rhonda Wiser of Murfreesboro, Gary and Gayle Wiser of Murfreesboro; a brother, Vernon Wiser, of Shelbyville; sisters Mildred Frazier of Murfreesboro and Eunice Driver of Wartrace; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
[241]MTSU WILL BE CLOSED DEC. 25-JAN. 1 FOR HOLIDAY
Release date: Dec. 22, 2008
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
MTSU WILL BE CLOSED DEC. 25-JAN. 1 FOR HOLIDAY
(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU will be closed from Christmas Day (Dec. 25) through New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2009) for the holidays, university officials announced.
All campus offices will be closed during this time. The holiday closures will include the James E. Walker Library, James Union Building and Keathley University Center. Additionally, no food service will be available Dec. 25-Jan. 1.
MTSU offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2.
MTSU undergraduate, graduate and transfer students and faculty are in the midst of a one-month winter break between semesters. Spring semester classes will begin on Thursday, Jan. 15.
After the Christmas Day through New Year’s Day closings, here are library, food service and JUB and KUC hours of operation:
James E. Walker Library – Open 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2, Jan. 5-9 and Jan. 12-14; closed Jan. 3-4 and Jan. 10-11; open from 7:30 until midnight Jan. 15; open 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Jan. 16; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17; and closed Jan. 18-19 for the Martin Luther King holiday.
Food service availability – Quiznos will open from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Jan. 2-10, serving soup, salad and sandwiches, with all other venues closed those days; coffee and doughnuts will be available (while they last) starting at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 2 and Jan. 5-9 in the KUC second-floor lobby; McCallie will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Quiznos will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Jan. 11-14, with all other venues closed those four days. All venues will be open their regular hours Thursday, Jan. 15. MLK weekend hours of operation will be announced later. Visit mtdining.com for more details.
KUC – Open the following hours and days: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 2, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 3-4, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 5-9, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 10-11, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 12-14 and resuming normal semester hours of operation Jan. 15.
JUB – Open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2; closed Jan. 3-4; open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5-9; open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5-9; closed Jan. 11-12; open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 12-14; and open normal semester hours of operation Jan. 15.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
MTSU WILL BE CLOSED DEC. 25-JAN. 1 FOR HOLIDAY
(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU will be closed from Christmas Day (Dec. 25) through New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2009) for the holidays, university officials announced.
All campus offices will be closed during this time. The holiday closures will include the James E. Walker Library, James Union Building and Keathley University Center. Additionally, no food service will be available Dec. 25-Jan. 1.
MTSU offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2.
MTSU undergraduate, graduate and transfer students and faculty are in the midst of a one-month winter break between semesters. Spring semester classes will begin on Thursday, Jan. 15.
After the Christmas Day through New Year’s Day closings, here are library, food service and JUB and KUC hours of operation:
James E. Walker Library – Open 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2, Jan. 5-9 and Jan. 12-14; closed Jan. 3-4 and Jan. 10-11; open from 7:30 until midnight Jan. 15; open 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Jan. 16; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17; and closed Jan. 18-19 for the Martin Luther King holiday.
Food service availability – Quiznos will open from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Jan. 2-10, serving soup, salad and sandwiches, with all other venues closed those days; coffee and doughnuts will be available (while they last) starting at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 2 and Jan. 5-9 in the KUC second-floor lobby; McCallie will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Quiznos will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Jan. 11-14, with all other venues closed those four days. All venues will be open their regular hours Thursday, Jan. 15. MLK weekend hours of operation will be announced later. Visit mtdining.com for more details.
KUC – Open the following hours and days: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 2, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 3-4, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 5-9, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 10-11, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 12-14 and resuming normal semester hours of operation Jan. 15.
JUB – Open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2; closed Jan. 3-4; open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5-9; open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5-9; closed Jan. 11-12; open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 12-14; and open normal semester hours of operation Jan. 15.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
[239]MTSU ANNOUNCES DEAN’S LIST FOR FALL 2008
MTSU ANNOUNCES DEAN’S LIST FOR FALL 2008
County-by-County Listing of Fall 2008 Dean’s List Available Online Dec. 18
(MURFREESBORO)—Beginning Thursday, Dec. 18, Middle Tennessee State University will release the names and hometowns of those undergraduate students who were named to the Dean’s List during the fall 2008 semester.
HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR COUNTY’S STUDENT LIST: To obtain a list for editorial use of those students from your county who are included on MTSU’s fall 2008 dean’s list, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs (NPA) Web site at www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Deans Lists” link on the upper, left-hand side of the page.
Next, click on the “Fall 2008” link, which will include an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of those MTSU students included on the fall 2008 semester’s dean’s list.
***Please note that this Web page also contains directions on how to download and save your county’s list for editorial use in your publication.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: If you encounter any problems downloading and saving your county’s dean’s list, please contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 for assistance.
County-by-County Listing of Fall 2008 Dean’s List Available Online Dec. 18
(MURFREESBORO)—Beginning Thursday, Dec. 18, Middle Tennessee State University will release the names and hometowns of those undergraduate students who were named to the Dean’s List during the fall 2008 semester.
HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR COUNTY’S STUDENT LIST: To obtain a list for editorial use of those students from your county who are included on MTSU’s fall 2008 dean’s list, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs (NPA) Web site at www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Deans Lists” link on the upper, left-hand side of the page.
Next, click on the “Fall 2008” link, which will include an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of those MTSU students included on the fall 2008 semester’s dean’s list.
***Please note that this Web page also contains directions on how to download and save your county’s list for editorial use in your publication.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: If you encounter any problems downloading and saving your county’s dean’s list, please contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 for assistance.
[234]DESCENDANT OF DOUGLASS, WASHINGTON TO SPEAK AT MTSU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 11, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
DESCENDANT OF DOUGLASS, WASHINGTON TO SPEAK AT MTSU Murfreesboro and MTSU NAACP Chapters to Sponsor Annual MLK Brunch
(MURFREESBORO) – Kenneth B. Morris, president of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, will be the honored speaker at the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building.
Morris is the great-great-great grandson of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, one of America’s most brilliant orators and the first African-American nominated as a candidate for Vice President, and the great-great-grandson of pioneering educator and Tuskegee Institute founder Booker T. Washington. His maternal grandparents were Dr. Frederick Douglass III and Nettie Hancock Washington Douglass.
Following a career on the concert stage and in theatre productions, Morris and a partner founded C & A Marketing in 1990. The firm develops marketing programs for cruise lines and resort hotels. Its entertainment division has served such clients as Great West Life Assurance, London Life and the Autozone chain of auto parts stores. In addition to his duties at the Douglass Foundation, Morris serves on the boards of directors for Kaleidoscope Arts Factory, a non-profit performing arts organization for children, the Booker T. Washington Family Committee and the Africa Global Partnership, Inc.
Local heroes, heroines and humanitarians also will be recognized at the brunch, which is co-hosted by the Murfreesboro branch of the NAACP and the organization’s MTSU collegiate chapter. Sponsorships of this event are available at the Ewell Willis Bronze Level ($25-$100), the William Butler Silver Level ($101-$500), and the Jerry Anderson Gold Level ($501-up). Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students under 25 years of age. For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Knox at 615-275-9974 or bknox@mtsu.edu or any NAACP member.
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a color jpeg photo of Kenneth B. Morris, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
DESCENDANT OF DOUGLASS, WASHINGTON TO SPEAK AT MTSU Murfreesboro and MTSU NAACP Chapters to Sponsor Annual MLK Brunch
(MURFREESBORO) – Kenneth B. Morris, president of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, will be the honored speaker at the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building.
Morris is the great-great-great grandson of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, one of America’s most brilliant orators and the first African-American nominated as a candidate for Vice President, and the great-great-grandson of pioneering educator and Tuskegee Institute founder Booker T. Washington. His maternal grandparents were Dr. Frederick Douglass III and Nettie Hancock Washington Douglass.
Following a career on the concert stage and in theatre productions, Morris and a partner founded C & A Marketing in 1990. The firm develops marketing programs for cruise lines and resort hotels. Its entertainment division has served such clients as Great West Life Assurance, London Life and the Autozone chain of auto parts stores. In addition to his duties at the Douglass Foundation, Morris serves on the boards of directors for Kaleidoscope Arts Factory, a non-profit performing arts organization for children, the Booker T. Washington Family Committee and the Africa Global Partnership, Inc.
Local heroes, heroines and humanitarians also will be recognized at the brunch, which is co-hosted by the Murfreesboro branch of the NAACP and the organization’s MTSU collegiate chapter. Sponsorships of this event are available at the Ewell Willis Bronze Level ($25-$100), the William Butler Silver Level ($101-$500), and the Jerry Anderson Gold Level ($501-up). Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students under 25 years of age. For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Knox at 615-275-9974 or bknox@mtsu.edu or any NAACP member.
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a color jpeg photo of Kenneth B. Morris, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
[233]GRANTS AVAILABLE TO INFUSE CURRICULUM WITH WOMEN’S ISSUES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 11, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
GRANTS AVAILABLE TO INFUSE CURRICULUM WITH WOMEN’S ISSUES
MTSU President’s Commission on the Status of Women to Select Three Proposals
(MURFREESBORO) – The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) is accepting applications from MTSU faculty for three grants of $1,800 each to be awarded in summer 2009 for integrating women’s issues into the curriculum. The grants are for use by tenured or tenure-track professors for the revision of a course, revision of a general education course for the Study Abroad program, the creation of a new course, the re-conceptualization of a current minor, or the creation of a new minor.
A proposal for a Curriculum Integration Grant should include a completed grant application form; a brief description of the project; a statement of goals and objectives; a timeline for completion and implementation of the project; a tentative bibliography, including materials on the theories and methods of curriculum integration; and a curriculum vitae.
The 2008 grants were awarded to Dr. Felicia Miyakawa, assistant professor of music, Dr. Bill Levine, associate professor of English, and Dr. Kari Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages
Miyakawa used her funding to create “Women in Music,” a course that covered “not only women composers in the Western tradition, but also women performers, women patrons and women as objects and symbols in the marketing and consumption of music,” states the syllabus. Students are challenged to “discuss cultural constructions of gender and the ramifications these constructions hold for musical experiences” and “articulate connections between diverse forms of feminism and their manifestations in music,” among other course objectives.
The premise of Levine’s course, “Women Writers of the Restoration and British Eighteenth Century, is that women writers’ contributions on modern principles such as human rights, imperialism, empirical knowledge, consensual marriage and contractual government have gone unacknowledged over time and should be examined. The course focuses on how “selected Restoration and 18th century women writers’ lives and works participated in the ongoing struggle for inclusion and legitimacy within a male-dominated public sphere,” according to the syllabus.
Neely’s course, “Women of the Middle East: Representations and Perceptions,” takes a look at “images of Middle Eastern women and their reception in the Middle East and the West,” states the syllabus. “Through an exploration of notable women such as Cleopatra, Mary (mother of Jesus), and the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, we address how political and social issues have been and are played out upon women.”
Proposals will be reviewed by the Academic Affairs Subcommittee of the PCSW. The deadline for faculty to submit grant applications is Jan. 30, 2009. Details are available at http://www.mtsu.edu/~pcsw/grants.htm. For further information, contact Dr. Samantha Cantrell in the Office of Research Services at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.
--30—
GRANTS AVAILABLE TO INFUSE CURRICULUM WITH WOMEN’S ISSUES
MTSU President’s Commission on the Status of Women to Select Three Proposals
(MURFREESBORO) – The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) is accepting applications from MTSU faculty for three grants of $1,800 each to be awarded in summer 2009 for integrating women’s issues into the curriculum. The grants are for use by tenured or tenure-track professors for the revision of a course, revision of a general education course for the Study Abroad program, the creation of a new course, the re-conceptualization of a current minor, or the creation of a new minor.
A proposal for a Curriculum Integration Grant should include a completed grant application form; a brief description of the project; a statement of goals and objectives; a timeline for completion and implementation of the project; a tentative bibliography, including materials on the theories and methods of curriculum integration; and a curriculum vitae.
The 2008 grants were awarded to Dr. Felicia Miyakawa, assistant professor of music, Dr. Bill Levine, associate professor of English, and Dr. Kari Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages
Miyakawa used her funding to create “Women in Music,” a course that covered “not only women composers in the Western tradition, but also women performers, women patrons and women as objects and symbols in the marketing and consumption of music,” states the syllabus. Students are challenged to “discuss cultural constructions of gender and the ramifications these constructions hold for musical experiences” and “articulate connections between diverse forms of feminism and their manifestations in music,” among other course objectives.
The premise of Levine’s course, “Women Writers of the Restoration and British Eighteenth Century, is that women writers’ contributions on modern principles such as human rights, imperialism, empirical knowledge, consensual marriage and contractual government have gone unacknowledged over time and should be examined. The course focuses on how “selected Restoration and 18th century women writers’ lives and works participated in the ongoing struggle for inclusion and legitimacy within a male-dominated public sphere,” according to the syllabus.
Neely’s course, “Women of the Middle East: Representations and Perceptions,” takes a look at “images of Middle Eastern women and their reception in the Middle East and the West,” states the syllabus. “Through an exploration of notable women such as Cleopatra, Mary (mother of Jesus), and the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, we address how political and social issues have been and are played out upon women.”
Proposals will be reviewed by the Academic Affairs Subcommittee of the PCSW. The deadline for faculty to submit grant applications is Jan. 30, 2009. Details are available at http://www.mtsu.edu/~pcsw/grants.htm. For further information, contact Dr. Samantha Cantrell in the Office of Research Services at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.
--30—
[232]MTSU HISTORY CLASS SHOWS THAT EVERY PENNY COUNTS
MTSU HISTORY CLASS SHOWS THAT EVERY PENNY COUNTS
Dec. 11, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
Dr. Amy Sayward, 615-898-2536
MURFREESBORO—What would 27,500 pennies get you? At least enough for a couple of trips to the grocery story or one stupendous night out on the town. How about to help build a school in Pakistan?
Dr. Amy Sayward’s history class at MTSU recently raised the equivalent of 27,500 pennies—or $275—for the Pennies for Peace program, an initiative to help support the building of schools in Pakistan where education is a luxury for most and nearly an impossibility for women.
Sayward, who also is chair of the university’s history department, said the idea came to her after hearing Greg Mortenson, founder of Pennies for Peace, speak at this year’s MTSU fall convocation last August.
“He has focused on the importance of education and the education of girls in particular,” Sayward said.
Mortenson founded the Pennies for Peace organization in 1993 after climbing Pakistan’s K2 Mountain in honor of his deceased sister, according to his official website, Gregmortenson.com. He recuperated in a nearby village, and while there, he promised to build a school for them. This gave rise to Pennies for Peace.
Sayward said the money raised will go to support a middle school program in Pakistan. She said the organization’s goal is to provide as many Pakistanis as possible with at least a 5th-grade education.
“I thought it was a good project that promoted giving to help out others in need,” said Deric Hunt, a sophomore in Sayward’s class.
“It was a good idea to get students to contribute to society,” added Annalisa Penhollow, a senior recording industry major.
####
Dec. 11, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
Dr. Amy Sayward, 615-898-2536
MURFREESBORO—What would 27,500 pennies get you? At least enough for a couple of trips to the grocery story or one stupendous night out on the town. How about to help build a school in Pakistan?
Dr. Amy Sayward’s history class at MTSU recently raised the equivalent of 27,500 pennies—or $275—for the Pennies for Peace program, an initiative to help support the building of schools in Pakistan where education is a luxury for most and nearly an impossibility for women.
Sayward, who also is chair of the university’s history department, said the idea came to her after hearing Greg Mortenson, founder of Pennies for Peace, speak at this year’s MTSU fall convocation last August.
“He has focused on the importance of education and the education of girls in particular,” Sayward said.
Mortenson founded the Pennies for Peace organization in 1993 after climbing Pakistan’s K2 Mountain in honor of his deceased sister, according to his official website, Gregmortenson.com. He recuperated in a nearby village, and while there, he promised to build a school for them. This gave rise to Pennies for Peace.
Sayward said the money raised will go to support a middle school program in Pakistan. She said the organization’s goal is to provide as many Pakistanis as possible with at least a 5th-grade education.
“I thought it was a good project that promoted giving to help out others in need,” said Deric Hunt, a sophomore in Sayward’s class.
“It was a good idea to get students to contribute to society,” added Annalisa Penhollow, a senior recording industry major.
####
[231]STATE FARM GIVES $35K TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AT MTSU
STATE FARM GIVES $35K TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AT MTSU
Dec. 11, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—State Farm Insurance Company recently presented MTSU with a check for $35,535 to support a professorship in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business as well as the MTSU Science Olympiad, the annual Invention Convention and various activities that support the Salute to Armed Services/Veterans.
G. Ron Nichols, vice president of operations for State Farm Insurance Companies, presented the check to several MTSU officials.
The largest portion of State Farm’s donation, $25,000, was earmarked for supporting a professorship in the Jones College of Business. Dr. E. James Burton, business dean, said that State Farm has been a generous supporter of the college for many years.
“This grant will help address numerous needs,” Burton commented. “Our need now is to recognize and reward excellent professors.” Burton also stated that this will be particularly helpful now because the anticipated budget cuts will mean it is unlikely they will be able to raise the income of their professors.
Nichols noted that the company’s support for the Science Olympiad and Invention Convention programs stems from a concern about America’s falling behind other nations in the sciences.
“We need high school students to get excited about math and science with hands- on activities. These programs at MTSU are stimulating their creativity,” Nichols said.
Dr. Tracey Ring, professor, elementary and special education, and Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, accepted the donations earmarked for the education and science programs.
Cheatham said, “The donation [$4,000] for the Science Olympiad program will allow us to fund several teams of high-school and middle-school students to come to the Olympiad in the spring. We bring in teams from as far away as Chattanooga to participate.”
Ring, organizer of the Invention Convention, which is sponsored every year by State Farm, added that the gift [$3,335] will have a similar impact on children who participate in the program. “We bring in 4th- through 6th- graders for the convention. …We take the students through all the stages of an invention. They must come up with the invention, write and explain the invention, and all the math and the parts or the invention must be identified,” she said.
-MORE-
The students create either a new game or something to make life easier. More than 300 students come each year and exhibit between 150 to 175 inventions, she noted.
Nichols also spoke about State Farm’s support of the Salute to Armed Services/Veterans program. “We want to show our appreciation to MTSU for saluting our veterans,” he said. Representatives of MTSU said that State Farm, with this most recent contribution of $3,200, has been instrumental in keeping the program running.
Everyone who attended the check presentation agreed that State Farm and MTSU enjoy a strong relationship based on several years of partnership.
####
PHOTO CUTLINE: G. Ron Nichols, center, vice president of operations for State Farm Insurance Companies, recently presented a check for $35,535 to MTSU to support programs in various disciplines. Recipients are, from left to right, Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean, College of Basic and Applied Sciences; Dr. Tracey Ring, professor, elementary and special education in the College of Education and Behavioral Science; Nichols; Dr. Jim Burton, dean, Jennings A. Jones College of Business; and Joe Bales, vice president, Development and University Relations.
Dec. 11, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—State Farm Insurance Company recently presented MTSU with a check for $35,535 to support a professorship in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business as well as the MTSU Science Olympiad, the annual Invention Convention and various activities that support the Salute to Armed Services/Veterans.
G. Ron Nichols, vice president of operations for State Farm Insurance Companies, presented the check to several MTSU officials.
The largest portion of State Farm’s donation, $25,000, was earmarked for supporting a professorship in the Jones College of Business. Dr. E. James Burton, business dean, said that State Farm has been a generous supporter of the college for many years.
“This grant will help address numerous needs,” Burton commented. “Our need now is to recognize and reward excellent professors.” Burton also stated that this will be particularly helpful now because the anticipated budget cuts will mean it is unlikely they will be able to raise the income of their professors.
Nichols noted that the company’s support for the Science Olympiad and Invention Convention programs stems from a concern about America’s falling behind other nations in the sciences.
“We need high school students to get excited about math and science with hands- on activities. These programs at MTSU are stimulating their creativity,” Nichols said.
Dr. Tracey Ring, professor, elementary and special education, and Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, accepted the donations earmarked for the education and science programs.
Cheatham said, “The donation [$4,000] for the Science Olympiad program will allow us to fund several teams of high-school and middle-school students to come to the Olympiad in the spring. We bring in teams from as far away as Chattanooga to participate.”
Ring, organizer of the Invention Convention, which is sponsored every year by State Farm, added that the gift [$3,335] will have a similar impact on children who participate in the program. “We bring in 4th- through 6th- graders for the convention. …We take the students through all the stages of an invention. They must come up with the invention, write and explain the invention, and all the math and the parts or the invention must be identified,” she said.
-MORE-
The students create either a new game or something to make life easier. More than 300 students come each year and exhibit between 150 to 175 inventions, she noted.
Nichols also spoke about State Farm’s support of the Salute to Armed Services/Veterans program. “We want to show our appreciation to MTSU for saluting our veterans,” he said. Representatives of MTSU said that State Farm, with this most recent contribution of $3,200, has been instrumental in keeping the program running.
Everyone who attended the check presentation agreed that State Farm and MTSU enjoy a strong relationship based on several years of partnership.
####
PHOTO CUTLINE: G. Ron Nichols, center, vice president of operations for State Farm Insurance Companies, recently presented a check for $35,535 to MTSU to support programs in various disciplines. Recipients are, from left to right, Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean, College of Basic and Applied Sciences; Dr. Tracey Ring, professor, elementary and special education in the College of Education and Behavioral Science; Nichols; Dr. Jim Burton, dean, Jennings A. Jones College of Business; and Joe Bales, vice president, Development and University Relations.
[227]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GILES COUNTY FARM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 9, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GILES COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Mize Farm Designated as County’s 28th Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Mize Farm in Giles County recently was designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is on the MTSU campus.
“The Abernathy family has been associated with Giles County since its earliest days.,” said Hankins, who noted the Mize Farm is the 28th property in Giles County to be certified as a Tennessee Century Farm.
Charles Clayton Abernathy, a native of Brunswick County, Va., came with his father, William, to Davidson County, Tenn., in 1808. In that same year, Charles entered Cumberland College, which later became Nashville University. Among his classmates was John Bell, later a senator and presidential candidate in 1860.
Charles followed his father to Giles County, settling there in 1810, just a year after the county was established. In 1813, Abernathy, with a volunteer Rifle Company under the command of Lt. Nathan Davis, left Pulaski and joined General Jackson’s army at Fort Strother. He was in the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend in 1814. After he returned from the war, Abernathy founded a farm about four miles southeast of Pulaski.
He studied law and eventually was appointed clerk and master, a job he filled until he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court in 1836, where he remained until 1860.
Charles and Elizabeth Hamilton Abernathy were the parents of James Polk, Hibernia, Ada Elizabeth, Robert, Delia, Charles M. and Albert Sidney. On just more than 191 acres, the family and their slaves raised horses, cattle, swine and corn.
In 1877, James Polk Abernathy inherited the farm from his father. Although married twice, he had no children. His sister, Ada Elizabeth Abernathy Aymett, and her husband, F. D. Aymett, became the third owners of the farm in 1886. The couple had four children: Lizzie, Julius, Mattie and McCollane.
Today, the seventh generation of the Abernathy family to own the farm is Sarah Abernathy Mize, who acquired the property in 1947. She is the great-great-grand- daughter of the founder. She and her husband, the late James Mize, had one daughter, Peggy.
Currently, the land is worked by Sarah’s nephew by marriage, Kenny McAfee, who is married to Cathy Johnston, a direct descendent of the founders. The farm supports cattle and hay.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
—more—
MARKS
Add 1
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
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**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GILES COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Mize Farm Designated as County’s 28th Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Mize Farm in Giles County recently was designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is on the MTSU campus.
“The Abernathy family has been associated with Giles County since its earliest days.,” said Hankins, who noted the Mize Farm is the 28th property in Giles County to be certified as a Tennessee Century Farm.
Charles Clayton Abernathy, a native of Brunswick County, Va., came with his father, William, to Davidson County, Tenn., in 1808. In that same year, Charles entered Cumberland College, which later became Nashville University. Among his classmates was John Bell, later a senator and presidential candidate in 1860.
Charles followed his father to Giles County, settling there in 1810, just a year after the county was established. In 1813, Abernathy, with a volunteer Rifle Company under the command of Lt. Nathan Davis, left Pulaski and joined General Jackson’s army at Fort Strother. He was in the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend in 1814. After he returned from the war, Abernathy founded a farm about four miles southeast of Pulaski.
He studied law and eventually was appointed clerk and master, a job he filled until he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court in 1836, where he remained until 1860.
Charles and Elizabeth Hamilton Abernathy were the parents of James Polk, Hibernia, Ada Elizabeth, Robert, Delia, Charles M. and Albert Sidney. On just more than 191 acres, the family and their slaves raised horses, cattle, swine and corn.
In 1877, James Polk Abernathy inherited the farm from his father. Although married twice, he had no children. His sister, Ada Elizabeth Abernathy Aymett, and her husband, F. D. Aymett, became the third owners of the farm in 1886. The couple had four children: Lizzie, Julius, Mattie and McCollane.
Today, the seventh generation of the Abernathy family to own the farm is Sarah Abernathy Mize, who acquired the property in 1947. She is the great-great-grand- daughter of the founder. She and her husband, the late James Mize, had one daughter, Peggy.
Currently, the land is worked by Sarah’s nephew by marriage, Kenny McAfee, who is married to Cathy Johnston, a direct descendent of the founders. The farm supports cattle and hay.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
—more—
MARKS
Add 1
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
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**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
[226]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 9, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
109-Year-Old Marks Farm Designated as County’s 27th Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Marks Farm in Montgomery County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, announced Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
In 1899, Mary Hunt Marks Gholson acquired a farm of more than 700 acres. Mary’s son was named Albert Smith Marks II. The family, including Mary’s husband, Alexander Gholson, produced tobacco, corn and wheat. The Tennessee Central Railroad constructed a part of its rail system through the farm.
The second generation to own the farm was the founder’s son, Albert S. Marks II. Married to Louise Hunter, their children were Arthur, Dempsey, Albert and Mary. Under this ownership, the family raised tobacco, corn, wheat and beef cattle. According to the family’s reports, a general store was opened at the Gholson Railroad stop and Albert served as a John Deere dealer and operated a grain mill in the community.
In 1958, the children of Albert and Louise inherited the property. Each of the children married and had several children. Arthur wed Cynthia Patch and they had three children, Arthur, Albert P. and George. Dempsey married Julia Wilcox and they also had Connie, Julia and Robert. Albert married Madeline McAlarney and they had one son, Albert, and three daughters, Mary A., Rebecca and Emily. Richard wed Mary and they had three children names Richard, Albert M. and William. During this period, the farm produced tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, beef cattle and dairy cattle. The dairy was started by Arthur and is one of the few dairies still operating in the county.
Today, the farm is owned by the great-granddaughter of the founder, Mary A. Marks, the great-grandsons George Marks and William Powers, and Julia W. Marks.
Currently, the land is worked by George, who raises corn, wheat, soybeans, tobacco, beef and dairy cattle. In addition to his farming duties, George is active in the farm bureau, the Montgomery County Cooperative and the Burley Stabilization Board.
A farmhouse that was constructed by the second-generation owner as a residence is Mary’s home. In addition, a mill that was originally used to grind grain, a tobacco barn that was built in the 1880s and a log corncrib remain standing.
“The Marks Farm is the 27th century farm to be certified in Montgomery County,” Hankins confirmed.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
—more—
MARKS
Add 1
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farm, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
109-Year-Old Marks Farm Designated as County’s 27th Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Marks Farm in Montgomery County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, announced Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
In 1899, Mary Hunt Marks Gholson acquired a farm of more than 700 acres. Mary’s son was named Albert Smith Marks II. The family, including Mary’s husband, Alexander Gholson, produced tobacco, corn and wheat. The Tennessee Central Railroad constructed a part of its rail system through the farm.
The second generation to own the farm was the founder’s son, Albert S. Marks II. Married to Louise Hunter, their children were Arthur, Dempsey, Albert and Mary. Under this ownership, the family raised tobacco, corn, wheat and beef cattle. According to the family’s reports, a general store was opened at the Gholson Railroad stop and Albert served as a John Deere dealer and operated a grain mill in the community.
In 1958, the children of Albert and Louise inherited the property. Each of the children married and had several children. Arthur wed Cynthia Patch and they had three children, Arthur, Albert P. and George. Dempsey married Julia Wilcox and they also had Connie, Julia and Robert. Albert married Madeline McAlarney and they had one son, Albert, and three daughters, Mary A., Rebecca and Emily. Richard wed Mary and they had three children names Richard, Albert M. and William. During this period, the farm produced tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, beef cattle and dairy cattle. The dairy was started by Arthur and is one of the few dairies still operating in the county.
Today, the farm is owned by the great-granddaughter of the founder, Mary A. Marks, the great-grandsons George Marks and William Powers, and Julia W. Marks.
Currently, the land is worked by George, who raises corn, wheat, soybeans, tobacco, beef and dairy cattle. In addition to his farming duties, George is active in the farm bureau, the Montgomery County Cooperative and the Burley Stabilization Board.
A farmhouse that was constructed by the second-generation owner as a residence is Mary’s home. In addition, a mill that was originally used to grind grain, a tobacco barn that was built in the 1880s and a log corncrib remain standing.
“The Marks Farm is the 27th century farm to be certified in Montgomery County,” Hankins confirmed.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
—more—
MARKS
Add 1
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farm, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
[225]MTSU ANNOUNCES GRADUATES FOR FALL 2008
CONTACT: News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919
MTSU ANNOUNCES GRADUATES FOR FALL 2008
County-by-County Listing of Fall 2008 Graduates Available Online Dec. 8
(MURFREESBORO)—Beginning Monday, Dec. 8, Middle Tennessee State University released the names and hometowns of those students who graduated during the fall 2008 commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Murphy Center on the MTSU campus.
Of the 1,613 set to graduate during the 97th fall commencement, 1,400 were undergraduates and 213 were graduate students.
The dual-commencement event featured Darrell Freeman, who serves president and CEO of information-technology provider Zycron Inc. and chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, as the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony.
Dr. Charles Manning, who has served as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents system since April 2000, was the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. commencement ceremony. Prior to joining the TBR, Manning served as chancellor of West Virginia’s university system. During his eight-year tenure with TBR, Manning—who earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland—is credited with improving innovation, efficiency and responsiveness regarding the needs of Tennessee college students, with an emphasis on collaboration among TBR institutions.
Following the ceremonies’ respective guest speakers, degree candidates from the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, and College of Education and Behavioral Science will be conferred with their degrees in the morning ceremony, while degree candidates in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mass Communication, and the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, will be conferred during the afternoon event.
HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR COUNTY’S STUDENT LIST: To obtain a list for editorial use of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s fall 2008 commencement, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs (NPA) Web site at www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link on the upper, left-hand side of the page.
Next, click on the “Fall 2008” link, which will include an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of those MTSU students who graduate on Dec. 13, 2008.
***Please note that this Web page also contains directions on how to download and save your county’s list for editorial use in your publication.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: If you encounter any problems downloading and saving your county’s dean’s list, please contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 for assistance.
MTSU ANNOUNCES GRADUATES FOR FALL 2008
County-by-County Listing of Fall 2008 Graduates Available Online Dec. 8
(MURFREESBORO)—Beginning Monday, Dec. 8, Middle Tennessee State University released the names and hometowns of those students who graduated during the fall 2008 commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Murphy Center on the MTSU campus.
Of the 1,613 set to graduate during the 97th fall commencement, 1,400 were undergraduates and 213 were graduate students.
The dual-commencement event featured Darrell Freeman, who serves president and CEO of information-technology provider Zycron Inc. and chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, as the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony.
Dr. Charles Manning, who has served as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents system since April 2000, was the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. commencement ceremony. Prior to joining the TBR, Manning served as chancellor of West Virginia’s university system. During his eight-year tenure with TBR, Manning—who earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland—is credited with improving innovation, efficiency and responsiveness regarding the needs of Tennessee college students, with an emphasis on collaboration among TBR institutions.
Following the ceremonies’ respective guest speakers, degree candidates from the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, and College of Education and Behavioral Science will be conferred with their degrees in the morning ceremony, while degree candidates in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mass Communication, and the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, will be conferred during the afternoon event.
HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR COUNTY’S STUDENT LIST: To obtain a list for editorial use of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s fall 2008 commencement, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs (NPA) Web site at www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link on the upper, left-hand side of the page.
Next, click on the “Fall 2008” link, which will include an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of those MTSU students who graduate on Dec. 13, 2008.
***Please note that this Web page also contains directions on how to download and save your county’s list for editorial use in your publication.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: If you encounter any problems downloading and saving your county’s dean’s list, please contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 for assistance.
Monday, December 08, 2008
[223]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES 2 ROBERTSON COUNTY FARMS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 5, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES 2 ROBERTSON COUNTY FARMS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Yates Farms Designated as County’s Newest Tennessee Century Farms
(MURFREESBORO)—Two Robertson County farms, the Yates Cave Farm and the Ernest Yates Farm, descended from the same founders and recently were designated as Tennessee Century Farms, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
• More than 102 years ago, Walton Yates and wife Lucy Groves Yates founded a 91-acre farm near the Cross Plains community, the Yates Cave Farm. The couple had four children—Alice, Sowell, Inez and Paul—and the family grew tobacco, corn and wheat and raised hogs and dairy cattle.
Located farm was located near the site of Yates Cave, a place that served as a favorite summertime recreation and community-gathering place because of its cool shade from the hot summer days. Many church and family reunions were held on the grounds in front of the cave’s entrance, and people came from all around the country to visit and explore the cave.
In the 1930s, Walton Yates built a large room with a concrete floor and electric lights onto the side of the cave for people to use for dinners and other special occasions. Yates also installed electric lights in the cave and offered boat rides into the previously dark interior. After Walton died in 1937, his son and his wife Ruth continued to welcome friends and relatives to the cave.
In 1942, the founder’s son, Sowell J. Yates Sr., became the farm’s owner. He and his wife Ruth Neely Yates were the parents of Sowell “Jeff” Jr., Mary Alice, Ernest and Stephen. Sowell, Ruth and their family raised many of the same crops and added soybeans. Fox hunting was a sport enjoyed in Cross Plain from the 1940s through the 1960s. Sowell Yates raised foxhounds and was a professional judge of the breed. Also for many years, on the first day of dove season, the Yates Farm served as host for its annual dove hunt and picnic at the cave.
The current owner of the property is Sowell “Jeff” Yates Jr., who acquired the property in 1983. Today, Sowell manages and works the land that yields tobacco, corn, wheat, soybeans and cattle. The family reports that a tobacco barn that is used for dark fired tobacco, a part of a log barn and a hay and livestock barn are some of the outbuildings. The cave and the large room that was constructed for gathering remain, but the family reports that time and storms have worn away some of the wooden structures near the cave.
• The Ernest Yates Farm is a parcel of the original farmstead founded by Walton and Lucy Yates in 1906 and follows the same line of ownership until 1983, when Ernest, the son of Sowell and Ruth Yates, and his wife, Maria, acquired 34 acres. They are the parents of four daughters, Candace, Alisha, Maresa and Courtney.
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Ernest’s brother, Sowell J. Yates Jr., who cultivates hay and corn, works the land. Their sister, Mary Alice, lives on a part of the farm while their brother, Stephen, owns a separate tract that was purchased by Walton Yates in 1919.
“With the addition of the Yates Farms, Robertson County has 34 certified Century Farms,” Hankins noted.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farms’ owners or request jpegs of the farms, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES 2 ROBERTSON COUNTY FARMS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Yates Farms Designated as County’s Newest Tennessee Century Farms
(MURFREESBORO)—Two Robertson County farms, the Yates Cave Farm and the Ernest Yates Farm, descended from the same founders and recently were designated as Tennessee Century Farms, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
• More than 102 years ago, Walton Yates and wife Lucy Groves Yates founded a 91-acre farm near the Cross Plains community, the Yates Cave Farm. The couple had four children—Alice, Sowell, Inez and Paul—and the family grew tobacco, corn and wheat and raised hogs and dairy cattle.
Located farm was located near the site of Yates Cave, a place that served as a favorite summertime recreation and community-gathering place because of its cool shade from the hot summer days. Many church and family reunions were held on the grounds in front of the cave’s entrance, and people came from all around the country to visit and explore the cave.
In the 1930s, Walton Yates built a large room with a concrete floor and electric lights onto the side of the cave for people to use for dinners and other special occasions. Yates also installed electric lights in the cave and offered boat rides into the previously dark interior. After Walton died in 1937, his son and his wife Ruth continued to welcome friends and relatives to the cave.
In 1942, the founder’s son, Sowell J. Yates Sr., became the farm’s owner. He and his wife Ruth Neely Yates were the parents of Sowell “Jeff” Jr., Mary Alice, Ernest and Stephen. Sowell, Ruth and their family raised many of the same crops and added soybeans. Fox hunting was a sport enjoyed in Cross Plain from the 1940s through the 1960s. Sowell Yates raised foxhounds and was a professional judge of the breed. Also for many years, on the first day of dove season, the Yates Farm served as host for its annual dove hunt and picnic at the cave.
The current owner of the property is Sowell “Jeff” Yates Jr., who acquired the property in 1983. Today, Sowell manages and works the land that yields tobacco, corn, wheat, soybeans and cattle. The family reports that a tobacco barn that is used for dark fired tobacco, a part of a log barn and a hay and livestock barn are some of the outbuildings. The cave and the large room that was constructed for gathering remain, but the family reports that time and storms have worn away some of the wooden structures near the cave.
• The Ernest Yates Farm is a parcel of the original farmstead founded by Walton and Lucy Yates in 1906 and follows the same line of ownership until 1983, when Ernest, the son of Sowell and Ruth Yates, and his wife, Maria, acquired 34 acres. They are the parents of four daughters, Candace, Alisha, Maresa and Courtney.
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Ernest’s brother, Sowell J. Yates Jr., who cultivates hay and corn, works the land. Their sister, Mary Alice, lives on a part of the farm while their brother, Stephen, owns a separate tract that was purchased by Walton Yates in 1919.
“With the addition of the Yates Farms, Robertson County has 34 certified Century Farms,” Hankins noted.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farms’ owners or request jpegs of the farms, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
[222]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GREENE COUNTY FARM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 5, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GREENE COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Neas Mountain View Farm Designated Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Neas Mountain View Farm in Greene County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
Progressive farming and community/civic involvement are hallmarks of the Neas family, whose founders aptly named their farm for its spectacular landscape. On Feb. 13, 1906, Joseph Felix “J. F.” Neas and Vertie Elizabeth Love Neas founded a farm near Greeneville. The couple’s five children were Curtis, Lawrence Estil, Coy, Haskill and Maggie.
During their ownership, the farm produced corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, beef cattle and swine. According to the family’s records, Felix was one of several community members who worked to construct St. James School in 1895. In addition, he donated rock from a rock quarry on the farm that was used to build and improve Allen’s Bridge Road, a main route between Greeneville and Newport. In 1918, Felix sold five acres of land for the Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church, which borders the farm.
Lawrence Estil Neas was the second generation to own the farm. He and his wife, Hazel Hadeen Gammon Neas, were the parents of Ernestine and Buford. The farm had many changes during this ownership, including the addition of 16.75 acres and the construction of a frame house, two tenant houses and three barns. The family grew wheat, oats, corn, tobacco, vegetables and fruit and raised dairy cattle, chickens and pigs.
In 1951, Ernestine and Buford divided the land. Ernestine married Rufus Miller; they named their daughter Brenda. Buford wed Billie Joyce Johnson, and they had two children, Sherrian Lynn and Jerry Allen. During this time, both farms produced a wide variety of crops and livestock, including wheat, oats, tobacco, corn, cattle, chickens, pigs and vegetables.
In addition to managing the farm, Buford served as an educator and was the first principal of Nolachuckey Elementary School located near the farm. He served in that role from 1979 until his 1990 retirement. Buford also was active in many agricultural related organizations and served as a board member of the Greene County Fair Association, a member and president of the Greene County Livestock Association, vice president of the Tennessee Beef Cattle Improvement Association and vice president of the Tennessee Simmental Association.
In 1987, Jerry and wife Helen Galyon Neas purchased his aunt’s portion of the farm. Prior to owning the farm, Jerry was an active member of the FFA at South Greene High School and received an award for his scholarship, leadership and supervision of a farm program. In addition, he won the district FFA Public Speaking Award in 1968 and
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won first place for Greene County in the 1967 Annual Co-op Essay Contest. Jerry has also been a member of the Greene County Angus Association, the East Tennessee Angus Association, the Tennessee Angus Association and the American Angus Association.
Jerry’s and Helen’s children, Staci, Brian and Kelli, were involved in 4-H and FFA and showed Angus cattle for eight years at local, state and national competitions. According to the family, they won many division championships and at times, took Grand Champion at regional competitions. Today, the farm raises hay, small grain, Angus cattle, pigs, vegetables, blueberries and blackberries.
Over the years, the farm has been recognized for its agricultural contributions in the community. In March 1988 the farm was featured in the Greeneville Sun because of its use of fungus-free fescue in the pasture fields. The farm has also been selected as “Farmstead of the Month” by the Agriculture Council of the Chamber of Commerce in Greene County, an award is presented to farmers who do an above-average job of keeping their place neat and clean. Then, in December 2007, the Tennessee Cooperator also focused on the farm and highlighted the cattle-handling equipment and an immobilizer manufactured by Numark Inc. that is partially owned by Jerry.
“The Neas Mountain View Farm is the 45th Century Farm to be certified in Greene County which, after Wilson County, has the most Century Farms in Tennessee,” Hankins said.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farms, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GREENE COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Neas Mountain View Farm Designated Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Neas Mountain View Farm in Greene County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
Progressive farming and community/civic involvement are hallmarks of the Neas family, whose founders aptly named their farm for its spectacular landscape. On Feb. 13, 1906, Joseph Felix “J. F.” Neas and Vertie Elizabeth Love Neas founded a farm near Greeneville. The couple’s five children were Curtis, Lawrence Estil, Coy, Haskill and Maggie.
During their ownership, the farm produced corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, beef cattle and swine. According to the family’s records, Felix was one of several community members who worked to construct St. James School in 1895. In addition, he donated rock from a rock quarry on the farm that was used to build and improve Allen’s Bridge Road, a main route between Greeneville and Newport. In 1918, Felix sold five acres of land for the Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church, which borders the farm.
Lawrence Estil Neas was the second generation to own the farm. He and his wife, Hazel Hadeen Gammon Neas, were the parents of Ernestine and Buford. The farm had many changes during this ownership, including the addition of 16.75 acres and the construction of a frame house, two tenant houses and three barns. The family grew wheat, oats, corn, tobacco, vegetables and fruit and raised dairy cattle, chickens and pigs.
In 1951, Ernestine and Buford divided the land. Ernestine married Rufus Miller; they named their daughter Brenda. Buford wed Billie Joyce Johnson, and they had two children, Sherrian Lynn and Jerry Allen. During this time, both farms produced a wide variety of crops and livestock, including wheat, oats, tobacco, corn, cattle, chickens, pigs and vegetables.
In addition to managing the farm, Buford served as an educator and was the first principal of Nolachuckey Elementary School located near the farm. He served in that role from 1979 until his 1990 retirement. Buford also was active in many agricultural related organizations and served as a board member of the Greene County Fair Association, a member and president of the Greene County Livestock Association, vice president of the Tennessee Beef Cattle Improvement Association and vice president of the Tennessee Simmental Association.
In 1987, Jerry and wife Helen Galyon Neas purchased his aunt’s portion of the farm. Prior to owning the farm, Jerry was an active member of the FFA at South Greene High School and received an award for his scholarship, leadership and supervision of a farm program. In addition, he won the district FFA Public Speaking Award in 1968 and
—more—
NEASMOUN
Add 1
won first place for Greene County in the 1967 Annual Co-op Essay Contest. Jerry has also been a member of the Greene County Angus Association, the East Tennessee Angus Association, the Tennessee Angus Association and the American Angus Association.
Jerry’s and Helen’s children, Staci, Brian and Kelli, were involved in 4-H and FFA and showed Angus cattle for eight years at local, state and national competitions. According to the family, they won many division championships and at times, took Grand Champion at regional competitions. Today, the farm raises hay, small grain, Angus cattle, pigs, vegetables, blueberries and blackberries.
Over the years, the farm has been recognized for its agricultural contributions in the community. In March 1988 the farm was featured in the Greeneville Sun because of its use of fungus-free fescue in the pasture fields. The farm has also been selected as “Farmstead of the Month” by the Agriculture Council of the Chamber of Commerce in Greene County, an award is presented to farmers who do an above-average job of keeping their place neat and clean. Then, in December 2007, the Tennessee Cooperator also focused on the farm and highlighted the cattle-handling equipment and an immobilizer manufactured by Numark Inc. that is partially owned by Jerry.
“The Neas Mountain View Farm is the 45th Century Farm to be certified in Greene County which, after Wilson County, has the most Century Farms in Tennessee,” Hankins said.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farms, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
[221]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TROUSDALE COUNTY FARM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 5, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TROUSDALE COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Holder Farm Becomes County’s 12th Designated Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Holder Farm in Trousdale County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
On the Macon-Trousdale County line is the Holder Farm. In 1906, Lucy Anne (Mrs. John) Akers, a widow with four children, moved from Kentucky to a farm of 112 acres north of Hartsville to be close to her brothers who already lived in the Goose Creek area. Lucy and her children, Dewitt, Fell, John Jr. and Edna, raised sheep, hogs, cattle and tobacco.
Edna Akers Holder and husband George acquired the farm in 1910. Their children were George A., Ras H. and Sam. The family reported that during this time the home and farm was the site of community picnics as well as family reunions for the Celsor and Holder families. In addition, the farm was the site of agricultural and equipment manufactures field days. The land supported cattle, tobacco and hay primarily.
In 1973, George G. Holder passed away and bequeathed the land to his three sons who subsequently divided the farm. Ras H. Holder obtained 300 acres, including the original 112-acre tract.
Today, the farm is owned by Charla N. Holder, the widow of Ras, and their son, Stanley Holder, who raises hay, cattle and tobacco. A farmhouse, a log washhouse, a large feed barn and an outhouse constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1939 illustrate the development of this farm throughout the twentieth century.
The Holder Farm is the 12th Century Farm to be certified in Trousdale County, Hankins said.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
—more—
HOLDER
Add 1
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farm, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947
STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TROUSDALE COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Holder Farm Becomes County’s 12th Designated Tennessee Century Farm
(MURFREESBORO)—The Holder Farm in Trousdale County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
On the Macon-Trousdale County line is the Holder Farm. In 1906, Lucy Anne (Mrs. John) Akers, a widow with four children, moved from Kentucky to a farm of 112 acres north of Hartsville to be close to her brothers who already lived in the Goose Creek area. Lucy and her children, Dewitt, Fell, John Jr. and Edna, raised sheep, hogs, cattle and tobacco.
Edna Akers Holder and husband George acquired the farm in 1910. Their children were George A., Ras H. and Sam. The family reported that during this time the home and farm was the site of community picnics as well as family reunions for the Celsor and Holder families. In addition, the farm was the site of agricultural and equipment manufactures field days. The land supported cattle, tobacco and hay primarily.
In 1973, George G. Holder passed away and bequeathed the land to his three sons who subsequently divided the farm. Ras H. Holder obtained 300 acres, including the original 112-acre tract.
Today, the farm is owned by Charla N. Holder, the widow of Ras, and their son, Stanley Holder, who raises hay, cattle and tobacco. A farmhouse, a log washhouse, a large feed barn and an outhouse constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1939 illustrate the development of this farm throughout the twentieth century.
The Holder Farm is the 12th Century Farm to be certified in Trousdale County, Hankins said.
About the Century Farms Program
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of
documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign denoting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
—more—
HOLDER
Add 1
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
**ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farm, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
[220]MTSU SCHOLAR COMPILES BOOK ON PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 4, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
MTSU SCHOLAR COMPILES BOOK ON PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON
Dr. John Vile Assembles Variety of Perspectives on “Father of the Constitution”
(MURFREESBORO) – As Washington, D.C., prepares to welcome the 44th President of the United States to the White House, a new book co-edited by an MTSU professor puts the Founding Father who went on to become the fourth President of the United States into perspective. Dr. John R. Vile, Dean of the MTSU University Honors College, edited James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, and Statesman (Ohio University Press) with William D. Pederson, professor of political science at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, and the Honorable Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. “Madison was one of the most influential thinkers in American history,” Vile says. “Madison’s contributions to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were especially important.” Vile, who grew up near Madison’s home in Virginia, often portrays Madison for celebrations of the Constitution. Dressed in period clothing, complete with white wig and stockings, Vile’s characterization of the “Father of the Constitution” brings history to life for audiences of all ages and educational levels.
In addition to co-authoring the introduction, which provides background on Madison and on the essays, Vile contributed essays on “James Madison and Constitutional Paternity” and “James Madison’s Report of 1800: The First Amendment, Freedom of the Press, and the Common Law.” He also compiled the index. Other contributors to the book examine Madison’s enduring impact on today’s America, including his views on citizenship and leadership in popular government, religious freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court, impeachment, and political parties.
The book grew out of a 2006 conference directed by Pedersen on the LSU-Shreveport campus. Essayists include political scientists and historians from Auburn University, the University of Virginia, Brigham Young University, and numerous other distinguished American institutions, as well as the University of Padova and the University of Pisa, both in Italy. “I was especially pleased to have been able to select and edit the best papers from a conference and present the findings in a way that would be accessible not only to the scholarly community, but also to laypersons,” Vile says.
--more--
MADISON
Add 1
John P. Kaminski, an historian from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, observes that it is especially “appropriate that this magnificent compilation of original essays is being published in the year that James Madison’s mansion at Montpelier has been restored to its original simple elegance.” Kaminski, who has edited volumes on the state ratification debates of the U.S. Constitution as well as a chapbook on Madison, adds, “Every student of the early republic will enjoy and profit from this fascinating, well-crafted anthology.”
For an interview with Vile, call 615-898-2596 or send an e-mail to jvile@mtsu.edu. For photos of Vile and/or Vile as James Madison, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
--30--
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
MTSU SCHOLAR COMPILES BOOK ON PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON
Dr. John Vile Assembles Variety of Perspectives on “Father of the Constitution”
(MURFREESBORO) – As Washington, D.C., prepares to welcome the 44th President of the United States to the White House, a new book co-edited by an MTSU professor puts the Founding Father who went on to become the fourth President of the United States into perspective. Dr. John R. Vile, Dean of the MTSU University Honors College, edited James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, and Statesman (Ohio University Press) with William D. Pederson, professor of political science at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, and the Honorable Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. “Madison was one of the most influential thinkers in American history,” Vile says. “Madison’s contributions to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were especially important.” Vile, who grew up near Madison’s home in Virginia, often portrays Madison for celebrations of the Constitution. Dressed in period clothing, complete with white wig and stockings, Vile’s characterization of the “Father of the Constitution” brings history to life for audiences of all ages and educational levels.
In addition to co-authoring the introduction, which provides background on Madison and on the essays, Vile contributed essays on “James Madison and Constitutional Paternity” and “James Madison’s Report of 1800: The First Amendment, Freedom of the Press, and the Common Law.” He also compiled the index. Other contributors to the book examine Madison’s enduring impact on today’s America, including his views on citizenship and leadership in popular government, religious freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court, impeachment, and political parties.
The book grew out of a 2006 conference directed by Pedersen on the LSU-Shreveport campus. Essayists include political scientists and historians from Auburn University, the University of Virginia, Brigham Young University, and numerous other distinguished American institutions, as well as the University of Padova and the University of Pisa, both in Italy. “I was especially pleased to have been able to select and edit the best papers from a conference and present the findings in a way that would be accessible not only to the scholarly community, but also to laypersons,” Vile says.
--more--
MADISON
Add 1
John P. Kaminski, an historian from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, observes that it is especially “appropriate that this magnificent compilation of original essays is being published in the year that James Madison’s mansion at Montpelier has been restored to its original simple elegance.” Kaminski, who has edited volumes on the state ratification debates of the U.S. Constitution as well as a chapbook on Madison, adds, “Every student of the early republic will enjoy and profit from this fascinating, well-crafted anthology.”
For an interview with Vile, call 615-898-2596 or send an e-mail to jvile@mtsu.edu. For photos of Vile and/or Vile as James Madison, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
--30--
[216]MORE THAN 1,600 GRADUATES SET TO PARTICIPATE IN FALL COMMENCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 2, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Office of News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919
MORE THAN 1,600 GRADUATES SET TO PARTICIPATE IN FALL COMMENCEMENT
TBR Chancellor Charles Manning & Zycron Inc. Founder Darrell Freeman
Will Serve as Featured Speakers for Dual-Ceremony Graduation Event at MTSU
(MURFREESBORO)—Some 1,600-plus degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 97th fall commencement during the university’s upcoming graduation ceremonies, reports Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost, Enrollment Services.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, MTSU will again feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Of the 1,613 set to graduate during the 97th fall commencement, 1,400 are undergraduates and 213 are graduate students.
Candidates from the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, and College of Education and Behavioral Science will receive their degrees in the morning ceremony. That afternoon degrees will be conferred on candidates in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mass Communication, and the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, said Dr. Diane L. Miller, executive vice provost and chairwoman of the commencement committee.
•Darrell Freeman, who serves president and CEO of Zycron Inc., an international information-technology services firm that is headquartered in Nashville, will serve as the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony.
As leader of Zycron, Freeman founded the firm in 1991 and oversees its daily operations, which include providing IT solutions to a global client base within diverse industries such as health care, transportation and logistics, telecommunications, automotive and retail, and financial services. During its 17-year history, Zycron has become a primary IT provider for numerous Fortune 500 companies.
A two-time graduate of MTSU, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987 and his Master of Science degree in 1990, Freeman also currently serves as chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is the first such chairman in recent history to be re-elected for a second term.
During his first term, Freeman led the chamber in modifying its infrastructure, a move that is credited with yielding a substantial financial surplus and reversing the chamber’s downward trend in membership. Also during his tenure as chamber chairman, Freeman helped increase sponsorship revenue and enacted more efficient sizes for the executive board and committees.
A member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and the Governors Club of Tennessee, Freeman was a recipient of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business Exemplar Award in 2002, an honor that is presented to MTSU alumni whose achievements since graduation are exemplary for current students.
•Dr. Charles Manning, who has served as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents system since April 2000, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. commencement ceremony. Prior to joining the TBR, Manning served as chancellor of West Virginia’s university system. During his eight-year tenure with TBR, Manning—who earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland—is credited with improving innovation, efficiency and responsiveness regarding the needs of Tennessee college students, with an emphasis on collaboration among TBR institutions.
—more—
FALL2008
Add 1
Regarding the upcoming commencement event, Miller said she wanted to remind all degree candidates of the importance of appropriate dress, decorum and respect for the commencement ceremony.
“We believe this is a very important day in the lives of many people,” Miller said. “Commencement is a day that families always remember as special. It is difficult to give the ceremony the dignified atmosphere it deserves if people are using air horns or leaving before the completion of the ceremony.”
Additionally, per Miller, the graduation committee also emphasized that students who participate in commencement will be required to stay for the entire ceremony. The ceremony should last about two hours. If candidates are planning celebration activities, please be aware of this commitment, she said.
“To make this a special day, it requires cooperation from everyone in attendance,” Miller said. “We believe it should be a dignified ceremony, which adds to its enjoyment of all in attendance.”
On Dec. 13, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 o’clock for the morning ceremony and candidates are expected to be in their assigned areas, dressed in their caps and gowns, no later than 8:30 a.m. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon and candidates are expected to be in their assigned areas and ready at 12:30 p.m.
Officials report that students who are not in their assigned gyms at the proper times will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony. Because commencement rehearsals are no longer conducted, timely attendance is mandatory for students to receive important instructions.
• For more information about commencement or receiving a degree in absentia, please visit the Records Office Web site at www.mtsu.edu/~records/grad.htm. Questions about graduation may be directed to the Records Office at 615-898-2600.
MTSU FALL 2008 COMMENCEMENT AT A GLANCE
Who: Approximately 1,613 graduates* (1,400 undergraduates, 213 graduate students)
What: 2008 MTSU fall commencement
When: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 13
Where: Murphy Center on the MTSU campus.
Commencement speakers:
• Darrell Freeman, MTSU alumnus and president and CEO of Zycron Inc., at 9 a.m. ceremony.
• TBR Chancellor Charles Manning at 1 p.m. ceremony.
*— Approximate number as of Nov. 19, 2008.
—30—
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Office of News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919
MORE THAN 1,600 GRADUATES SET TO PARTICIPATE IN FALL COMMENCEMENT
TBR Chancellor Charles Manning & Zycron Inc. Founder Darrell Freeman
Will Serve as Featured Speakers for Dual-Ceremony Graduation Event at MTSU
(MURFREESBORO)—Some 1,600-plus degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 97th fall commencement during the university’s upcoming graduation ceremonies, reports Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost, Enrollment Services.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, MTSU will again feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Of the 1,613 set to graduate during the 97th fall commencement, 1,400 are undergraduates and 213 are graduate students.
Candidates from the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, and College of Education and Behavioral Science will receive their degrees in the morning ceremony. That afternoon degrees will be conferred on candidates in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mass Communication, and the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, said Dr. Diane L. Miller, executive vice provost and chairwoman of the commencement committee.
•Darrell Freeman, who serves president and CEO of Zycron Inc., an international information-technology services firm that is headquartered in Nashville, will serve as the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony.
As leader of Zycron, Freeman founded the firm in 1991 and oversees its daily operations, which include providing IT solutions to a global client base within diverse industries such as health care, transportation and logistics, telecommunications, automotive and retail, and financial services. During its 17-year history, Zycron has become a primary IT provider for numerous Fortune 500 companies.
A two-time graduate of MTSU, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987 and his Master of Science degree in 1990, Freeman also currently serves as chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is the first such chairman in recent history to be re-elected for a second term.
During his first term, Freeman led the chamber in modifying its infrastructure, a move that is credited with yielding a substantial financial surplus and reversing the chamber’s downward trend in membership. Also during his tenure as chamber chairman, Freeman helped increase sponsorship revenue and enacted more efficient sizes for the executive board and committees.
A member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and the Governors Club of Tennessee, Freeman was a recipient of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business Exemplar Award in 2002, an honor that is presented to MTSU alumni whose achievements since graduation are exemplary for current students.
•Dr. Charles Manning, who has served as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents system since April 2000, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. commencement ceremony. Prior to joining the TBR, Manning served as chancellor of West Virginia’s university system. During his eight-year tenure with TBR, Manning—who earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland—is credited with improving innovation, efficiency and responsiveness regarding the needs of Tennessee college students, with an emphasis on collaboration among TBR institutions.
—more—
FALL2008
Add 1
Regarding the upcoming commencement event, Miller said she wanted to remind all degree candidates of the importance of appropriate dress, decorum and respect for the commencement ceremony.
“We believe this is a very important day in the lives of many people,” Miller said. “Commencement is a day that families always remember as special. It is difficult to give the ceremony the dignified atmosphere it deserves if people are using air horns or leaving before the completion of the ceremony.”
Additionally, per Miller, the graduation committee also emphasized that students who participate in commencement will be required to stay for the entire ceremony. The ceremony should last about two hours. If candidates are planning celebration activities, please be aware of this commitment, she said.
“To make this a special day, it requires cooperation from everyone in attendance,” Miller said. “We believe it should be a dignified ceremony, which adds to its enjoyment of all in attendance.”
On Dec. 13, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 o’clock for the morning ceremony and candidates are expected to be in their assigned areas, dressed in their caps and gowns, no later than 8:30 a.m. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon and candidates are expected to be in their assigned areas and ready at 12:30 p.m.
Officials report that students who are not in their assigned gyms at the proper times will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony. Because commencement rehearsals are no longer conducted, timely attendance is mandatory for students to receive important instructions.
• For more information about commencement or receiving a degree in absentia, please visit the Records Office Web site at www.mtsu.edu/~records/grad.htm. Questions about graduation may be directed to the Records Office at 615-898-2600.
MTSU FALL 2008 COMMENCEMENT AT A GLANCE
Who: Approximately 1,613 graduates* (1,400 undergraduates, 213 graduate students)
What: 2008 MTSU fall commencement
When: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 13
Where: Murphy Center on the MTSU campus.
Commencement speakers:
• Darrell Freeman, MTSU alumnus and president and CEO of Zycron Inc., at 9 a.m. ceremony.
• TBR Chancellor Charles Manning at 1 p.m. ceremony.
*— Approximate number as of Nov. 19, 2008.
—30—
[215]MTSU STUDENT CAPTURES PRESTIGIOUS CLINTON SCHOLARSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 1, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081, gklogue@mtsu.edu
MTSU STUDENT CAPTURES PRESTIGIOUS CLINTON SCHOLARSHIP
Nashvillian Will Study Middle East Culture in United Arab Emirates for a Semester
(MURFREESBORO) – A Middle Tennessee State University senior is one of only 10 college students in the nation selected to study as a William Jefferson Clinton Scholar in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, next semester. Nick Mackie, who is a double major in archaeology and international relations with a minor in Middle East studies, will depart for UAE on Jan. 6 and study at American University in Dubai (AUD) through the spring 2009 semester, returning on April 30. His courses include Comparative Politics of the Middle East, Islamic Art and Architecture, Media Culture and Society, History of the Middle East, and second-year Arabic language studies.
“It pretty much matches up with the requirements for our minor, which is one reason I chose it, because the credits are the same, the system and the class and course descriptions are the same,” says the 21-year-old McNair Scholar from Nashville. “So the transfer is a lot easier than if you go other places.” American University in Dubai, according to its Web site (www.aud.edu), “is a private-non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995. It serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education.” Although a semester at AUD costs $15,000, the Clinton scholarship will absorb nearly $10,700 of that amount. Mackie will make up the rest with a Pell Grant, a scholarship from the Dell Foundation and a Presidential Scholarship from MTSU.
The Clinton scholarships, notes the AUD Web site, seek “to further the goals of the Clinton Presidential Foundation to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence.” United Arab Emirates, located between Oman and Saudi Arabia on the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, is slightly smaller in area than the state of Maine. Dubai, which is the richest of the UAE’s seven emirates, boasts the third largest oil deposits in the world.
“It is a very wealthy globalized place for the most part,” Mackie says. “It doesn’t have a large Arab population, per se, as much as it does an immigrant population.”
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In fact, 50 percent of the UAE’s total population is from South Asia and fewer than 20 percent of the total are emiratis (UAE citizens), according to CIA data. Ninety-six percent of the population is Muslim, and the nation is governed by Sharia law.
“He’s motivated, intellectual and thoughtful in his pursuit of knowledge, and I am so excited about this opportunity for him and for our program,” says Dr. Karen Petersen, an assistant professor of political science who has taught Mackie in several classes.
Mackie’s extracurricular activities include the Society for International Relations, of which he is president; Model United Nations; ROTARACT; and the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he works at a group home as an activities coordinator.
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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For head-and-shoulders shots of Nick Mackie and Dr. Karen Petersen, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
MTSU STUDENT CAPTURES PRESTIGIOUS CLINTON SCHOLARSHIP
Nashvillian Will Study Middle East Culture in United Arab Emirates for a Semester
(MURFREESBORO) – A Middle Tennessee State University senior is one of only 10 college students in the nation selected to study as a William Jefferson Clinton Scholar in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, next semester. Nick Mackie, who is a double major in archaeology and international relations with a minor in Middle East studies, will depart for UAE on Jan. 6 and study at American University in Dubai (AUD) through the spring 2009 semester, returning on April 30. His courses include Comparative Politics of the Middle East, Islamic Art and Architecture, Media Culture and Society, History of the Middle East, and second-year Arabic language studies.
“It pretty much matches up with the requirements for our minor, which is one reason I chose it, because the credits are the same, the system and the class and course descriptions are the same,” says the 21-year-old McNair Scholar from Nashville. “So the transfer is a lot easier than if you go other places.” American University in Dubai, according to its Web site (www.aud.edu), “is a private-non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995. It serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education.” Although a semester at AUD costs $15,000, the Clinton scholarship will absorb nearly $10,700 of that amount. Mackie will make up the rest with a Pell Grant, a scholarship from the Dell Foundation and a Presidential Scholarship from MTSU.
The Clinton scholarships, notes the AUD Web site, seek “to further the goals of the Clinton Presidential Foundation to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence.” United Arab Emirates, located between Oman and Saudi Arabia on the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, is slightly smaller in area than the state of Maine. Dubai, which is the richest of the UAE’s seven emirates, boasts the third largest oil deposits in the world.
“It is a very wealthy globalized place for the most part,” Mackie says. “It doesn’t have a large Arab population, per se, as much as it does an immigrant population.”
--more--
MACKIE
Add 1
In fact, 50 percent of the UAE’s total population is from South Asia and fewer than 20 percent of the total are emiratis (UAE citizens), according to CIA data. Ninety-six percent of the population is Muslim, and the nation is governed by Sharia law.
“He’s motivated, intellectual and thoughtful in his pursuit of knowledge, and I am so excited about this opportunity for him and for our program,” says Dr. Karen Petersen, an assistant professor of political science who has taught Mackie in several classes.
Mackie’s extracurricular activities include the Society for International Relations, of which he is president; Model United Nations; ROTARACT; and the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he works at a group home as an activities coordinator.
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For head-and-shoulders shots of Nick Mackie and Dr. Karen Petersen, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
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