Awardees will be recognized during Oct. 17 Homecoming Week reception
MURFREESBORO — Middle
Tennessee State University alumni bring the university prestige and distinction
through their outstanding professional careers and loyal support.
From 1960 to present, the MTSU Alumni Association has
recognized accomplished alumni with the association’s highest honor: the
Distinguished Alumni Award. A younger alumnus who is making a positive impact
in the world receives the Young Alumni Achievement Award.
New this year is the True Blue Citations of Distinction.
Categories include Achievement in Education (current or retired MTSU faculty);
Achievement in Education (outside MTSU); Service to the University; and Service
to the Community.
This year’s mix of honorees includes two people with strong
aviation backgrounds, one of whom features the nickname “FlyGirl;” two lifelong
educators and a third individual whose vision and passion for education also
have affected thousands of young people; and a politically driven alumna whose
talents have taken her to The White House and beyond.
During Homecoming Week activities, the six will be
recognized at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, reception at the MT Center in the Ingram
Building and also several times Homecoming Day Saturday, Oct. 18. Here is a
glance at the 2014-15 honorees:
Distinguished Alumni
— Vernice Armour (Class of 1997)
Armour, who is nickmed “FlyGirl,” went from being a beat cop
to a combat pilot in three years and became America’s first African-American
female combat pilot, serving two tours overseas. Following in her father and
stepfather’s military career footsteps, Armour, a resident of Stafford,
Virginia, enrolled at MTSU and joined the Army ROTC program, graduating with an
exercise science degree and becoming a second lieutenant and pilot in the U.S.
Marine Corps. A noted author and speaker, Armour has been featured on the Oprah
Winfrey Show, CNN, Tavis Smiley, National Public Radio and others.
Young Alumni
Achievement Award — Ashley Elizabeth Graham (Class of ’12)
Graham’s passion for politics landed her a role with a state
senator’s campaign while an MTSU student. It catapulted her to Washington, D.C.
Early in her career, she was writing speeches for the General Services
Administration that required a security clearance. Graham later found herself
working at The White House for the Bush administration as deputy director of
presidential writers. She was one of six speechwriters for a recent Republican
National Convention, and the Nashville resident serves as deputy communications
director for U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn. Graham received the Maverick
PAC 40 under 40 Award in 2013.
True Blue Citations
of Distinction
Ray Phillips (Class
of ’66) — Achievement in Education (current or retired MTSU faculty)
Phillips, who lives outside of Bell Buckle, Tennessee,
enjoyed a lengthy history as an MTSU educator, serving as a Department of
Mathematics faculty member and chair, associate dean in the College of Graduate
Studies and interim dean in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences from 1990
to 2003. He was active in research, curriculum development, crucial grant
writing that earned the university several million dollars and STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math) leadership. He established the Tennessee STEM
Education Center at MTSU. “… [A]n illustrious career in education that has brought
distinction to MTSU,” a colleague said of him.
Linda Gilbert
(Classes of ’72, ’79 and ’91) — Achievement in Education (non-MTSU)
Gilbert, a Murfreesboro resident, has served many years as a
Murfreesboro City School administrator, currently as director of schools. Her
leadership and knowledge have benefited the city schools and MTSU. This
includes co-authoring grants for MTeach, an MTSU program designed to increase
the quantity and quality of math and science teachers in Tennessee and the
U.S., and facilitating dual enrollment between MTSU and Rutherford County
Schools. Her involvement and service with the university includes sitting and
chairing many advisory boards and committees in everything from the College of
Behavioral and Health Sciences advisory board to Band of Blue Executive Board.
Donald McDonald
(Class of ’63) — Service to the University
McDonald and his wife, Francis, remain avid MTSU supporters,
both with their time and resources. They are 1911 Society members, giving to
the university through their estate plans, and scholarship benefactors. The
Donald McDonald Aerospace Maintenance Laboratory is named for him at the Flight
Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport. He has served and currently serves
on the MTSU Foundation Board and Aerospace Advisory Board. The McDonalds open
their home and personal hangar to aerospace students and faculty, and attend
many MTSU functions. Their love and passion for MTSU is exemplified by their
financial commitment to the MTSU’s future and their continued involvement in
university boards.
Matthew Little (Class
of ’08) — Service to the Community
Little, who lives in Huntsville, Alabama, has been involved
in service for 20 years. He has been a part of numerous initiatives: running
camps for 2,000 students, providing leadership for Tennessee’s statewide
service day and creating a national park educational program. Tennessee named
Little as a delegate to its first Truancy and Dropout Prevention Conference and
he participated in the Mayor’s Summit on Children and Youth in Nashville. He
serves ServeAlabama as a member of a nonprofit to support the work of
volunteers. Little’s leadership has guided three institutions to being named to
the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. He is senior associate
director of admissions at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
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