Thursday, October 04, 2012

[103] Special MTSU ceremony highlights 20 top freshman scholars


For release:  Oct. 2, 2012

 
News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.eduHonors College contact: Dr. John Vile, 615-898-2596 or John.Vile@mtsu.edu

 
MURFREESBORO — The top scholars in MTSU’s 2012-13 freshman class — a “strong and diverse” group, said University Honors College Dean John Vile — formally have been recognized on campus.

 

The Honors College’s 20 newest Buchanan Fellows participated in the sixth annual inauguration ceremony Sept. 28 in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building.

 

“This class is as strong and as diverse as any,” Vile said. “I consider it a tribute to MTSU and to the Honors College that we have succeeded in attracting such an auspicious group of scholars.” 

 

Vile said the incoming students include band, choral and choir members; thespians, Advanced Placement Scholars, National Achievement Scholars and athletes; a member of the Civil Air Patrol, a recipient of a Presidential Volunteer Service Award, yearbook editors and the like. 

 

The Honors College awards the Buchanan Fellowship, named in honor of alumnus James M. Buchanan (class of 1940), recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. The fellowship is the highest academic award given to an entering MTSU student.

 

This marks the sixth class of Buchanan Fellows. 

 

This class of Buchanan Fellows includes five graduates of Siegel High School and three from Riverdale. The Buchanan scholars come from all across Tennessee, and from Georgia, Washington state and Mississippi. Four have declared aerospace as their major.  Pre-law, pre-med and early childhood education are a sampling of other majors in the group.

 

Notable Buchanan Fellows alumni include Adam Emerson, a Fulbright Scholar; Evan Craig, a Goldwater Scholarship winner; Lauren Rigsby, a Goldwater honorable mention; Jennifer Johnson, winner of Omicron Delta Kappa Foundation Scholarship; and Taffy O’Neil, who has written two books including her second novel that was her thesis.

 

“In terms of future achievement, the sky is truly the limit (for our Buchanan Fellows),” Vile said.

 

Junior Katelyn Stringer of Smyrna, Tenn., and sophomore Nick Myhre of Murfreesboro delivered the welcome on behalf of previous Buchanan classes. Senior Buchanan Fellow Kelsey Wells of Murfreesboro provided fiddle music for the entertainment.

 

MTSU Provost Brad Bartel provided welcoming remarks during the ceremony.

 

To compete for a Buchanan Fellowship, applicants must apply for undergraduate admission to MTSU by Dec. 1 of the year before full enrollment. They also must have a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and a composite score of 29 on the ACT, provide an official transcript and write an essay of 500 words or less.

 

For more information, call 615-898-2152 or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/honors/.

 

The 2012 Buchanan Fellows include:

 

• Emily Annette Ball, Christiana, Tenn., a graduate of Riverdale High School and an accounting major;

 

• Keaton Alexander Davis, Murfreesboro, a graduate of Siegel High School and a construction management major;

 

• Jacob Charles Goza of Cleveland, Tenn., a graduate of Walker Valley High School and a political science major;

 

• Chelsea Rebecca Harmon of Johnson City, Tenn., a graduate of University School and a science major;

 

• Morgan Gregory Hunlen of Decatur, Ga., a graduate of Chamblee Charter High School and an aerospace major;

 

• Zachary Kent Hutcherson of Greeneville, Tenn., a graduate of Greeneville High School and an aerospace major;

 

• Michele Kelley of Murfreesboro, a Siegel High graduate who is undeclared;

 

• Evan Michael Lester of Columbia, Tenn., a graduate of Hampshire High School and an aerospace major;

 

• Chloe McKenzie Madigan of Murfreesboro, a Siegel graduate and an English major;

 

• Kailey Dawn McDonald of Murfreesboro, a Siegel graduate and a mathematics major;

 

• Yusra Fatima Mohammed of Murfreesboro, a Siegel graduate and a science major;

 

• Erin Grace Paul of Smyrna, a Smyrna High School graduate and an early childhood education major;

 

• Linton Gene Prieskorn III of Murfreesboro, a graduate of Heritage Covenant High School and undeclared;

 

• Matthew Thomas Lyles of Everett, Wash., a graduate of Henry M. Jackson High School and a music major;

 

• Mason Trent Riley of Christiana, a Riverdale graduate and science major;

 

• Trevor Dillon Smith of McKenzie, Tenn., a graduate of McKenzie High School and forensic science major;

 

• Nathan Scott Tilton of Brookhaven, Miss, a Hinkson Christian Academy graduate and aerospace major;

 

• Logan Johnson Whiles of Blountville, Tenn., a graduate of Tennessee High School in Bristol and a biology major;

 

• Trevor James Wiemann of Murfreesboro, a Riverdale graduate and finance major; and

 

• Larissa Christina Wolf of Murfreesboro, a Blackman High graduate and biology major.

 

###

 Photo captions

 

Group photo.jpg caption

 

Pictured with the MTSU University Honors College’s top administrators, the 2012-13  Buchanan Fellows include: (first row, from left) Larissa Wolf, Yusra Mohammed, Michele Kelley, Kailey McDonald, Emily Ball, Keaton Davis, Chloe Madigan, Thomas Pyles and Morgan Hunlen; (second row, from left) Honors College Dean John R. Vile, Mason Riley, Erin Paul, Trevor Smith, Evan Lester, Chelsea Harmon, Zachary Hutcherson, Nathan Tilton and Associate Dean Philip Phillips; and (back row, from left) Linton Prieskorn, Logan Whiles, Jacob Goza and Trevor Wiemann. All participated in the sixth annual inauguration ceremony recently. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli/Creative and Visual Services)

 

Awaiting the inauguration.jpg photo caption

 

(From left) Emily Ball, Keaton Davis, Jacob Goza, Chelsea Harmon, Morgan Hunlen, Zachary Hutcherson, Michele Kelley, Evan Lester and Chloe Madigan await the start of the recent formal inauguration ceremony for the 2012-13 University Honors College Buchanan Fellows in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli/Creative and Visual Services)

 

 

Vile greets Buchanan Fellows

 

University Honors College Dean John Vile jokes with the 2012-13 freshman Buchanan Scholars, including (front row from left) Keaton Davis, Jacob Goza, Morgan Hunlen, Zachary Hutcherson, Michele Kelley, Evan Lester and Chloe Madigan, and others attending the formal inauguration ceremony in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. Also pictured is senior Buchanan Fellow Kelsey Wells, who entertained with fiddle music. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli/Creative and Visual Services)

 

 

 

               The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU continues its second century of service, Pride, Tradition and Excellence remain the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information any time, visit www.mtsunews.com.

 

-------

 

For MTSU news and information any time, visit www.mtsunews.com.

No comments: