[053] MTSU Is Ready To 'Meet Murfreesboro' As Fall 2010 Begins

MTSU IS READY TO ‘MEET MURFREESBORO’ AS FALL 2010 BEGINS
Local Businesses, Organizations Invited to Welcome Students Aug. 31-Sept. 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 20, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Rob Patterson, NSFP coordinator, 615-898-2454

(MURFREESBORO)—MTSU is continuing a tradition started in 2001 by inviting area businesses and organizations to welcome students back to campus during the festive Week of Welcome—the first days of the fall semester—at Meet Murfreesboro days Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
Participants can visit with students and display products by reserving space in tents placed in the courtyard outside the Keathley University Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Display space costs $250 and includes a table and chairs, lunch for two people each day and access to electricity for both days. Merchants also will receive two visitor-parking passes per day.
“We encourage businesses to bring free samples, specialty giveaways and coupons to give students,” said Gina Poff, director of the Office of New Students and Family Programs.
“The students really enjoy the event, and in past years, we have had vendors tell us they gave away as many as 5,000 items per day.”
Poff added that if merchants want to participate but cannot attend Meet Murfreesboro days, the university will provide them with free welcome-back posters for display at their businesses.
Local agencies and campus groups may also participate in the Volunteer Fair on campus on Tuesday, Sept. 7, and share volunteer opportunities with MTSU students. There is no cost for volunteer agencies to participate in the event.
MTSU expects to enroll 25,700-plus students this fall, and economic-impact studies have shown that students spend more than $6 million locally during the school year. Recent estimates place MTSU’s total economic impact at more than $1 billion.
Deadline for participant registration is Monday, Aug. 30, and space is limited. For more information, contact Rob Patterson, NSFP coordinator, at 615-898-2454 or visit www.mtsu.edu/nsfp/PDFs/10meetmboro.pdf.
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IN BRIEF: MTSU is continuing a tradition started in 2001 by inviting area businesses and organizations to welcome students back to campus during the festive Week of Welcome—the first days of the fall semester—at Meet Murfreesboro days Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Participants can visit with students and display products by reserving space in tents placed in the courtyard outside the Keathley University Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Display space costs $250 and includes a table and chairs, lunch for two people each day and access to electricity for both days. Deadline for participant registration is Monday, Aug. 30, and space is limited. For more information, contact Rob Patterson, NSFP coordinator, at 615-898-2454 or visit www.mtsu.edu/ nsfp/PDFs/10meetmboro.pdf.

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