MURFREESBORO — Kanashia
Jenkins of Nashville almost missed the MTSU True Blue Tour event at Rocketown
in Nashville Sept. 30.
While she is a regular attendee of Rocketown, an entertainment venue
and teenagers’ hangout, and while she has had her sights set on attending MTSU
starting in 2015, Jenkins was within a whisker of not visiting the MTSU
recruiting event, only to make a last-minute decision to go.
It may have been a life-changing decision to attend the True Blue Tour
student reception, one of six held across the state to pitch the university to
outstanding student for the 2015-16 academic year and beyond.
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee drew her name out of an MTSU bag full
of other attendees’ names. He was presenting the recipient with “an almost full
scholarship,” compliments of several alumni.
“I almost didn’t come,” said Jenkins, a 2013 McGavock High School
graduate. “I was already trying to get into this school. I felt maybe I should
go, that this (information-gathering session) would help because I have a hard
time (finding transportation) trying to visit Murfreesboro.”
Knowing Jenkins’ situation — being a young, single mother to
1-year-old daughter Kaylee Marshall and her desire to pursue higher education —
Rocketown director of operations Mary Virginia Settle became emotional when
discussing Jenkins’ new opportunity.
“Kanashia’s very determined,” said Settle, who has known her for
nearly four years. “This will encourage her that she’s making the right
decisions without much help (from family). There was a whole lot of emotion
(knowing she was receiving the scholarship). She’s really excited about it.”
Jenkins plans to study biology.
Alexis Marks, 23, a Nashville State Community College sophomore also
studying biology, said she had “heard about and can’t wait to see” the recently
opened Science Building, which will have a 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, grand
opening.
“I’m pretty sure I’m going to come (to MTSU),” Marks said. “My mom (Shirley
Marks) got her master’s degree in criminal justice there. She’s really pushing
MTSU.”
MTSU Student Government Association President Andrew George of
Nashville told the prospective students and their parents that university
faculty “develop you as both campus and future leaders. MTSU is here to help
you out, not only in the classroom, but in the future, too.”
Young alumnus Michael Burrows of Murfreesboro, one of about 10 alumni
attending the function, said his current impression of MTSU is that it is “the
best public university in Tennessee.”
“I’m proud to be here as an alumnus, and answering students’
questions,” said Burrows, who opened H3O Aquatics, an exercise therapy
underwater treadmill with many features, this summer in Murfreesboro. “I’m
impressed with the high caliber of men and women who make up the faculty.”
Other alumni who met briefly with McPhee included Murfreesboro
businesswoman Paula Mansfield, 2014-15 Alumni Board president; Ashley Elizabeth
Graham, 2014-15 Young Alumni Achievement Award winner; alumni board members
Jill Napier and Latreace Sankey-Wells; and Richard Stone. Later, alumni Paul
Ladd, Woody Bomar and alumni board member Neil Lambert attended the reception.
Prospective students have multiple opportunities for a firsthand look
at campus.
The final Fall Preview Day will be held Saturday, Nov. 1. True Blue
Experience Days will be held Oct. 17 for prospective students in the College of
Basic and Applied Sciences; Jan. 23, 2015, for prospective students in the
Colleges of Behavioral and Health Sciences and Liberal Arts; and Jan. 30 for
prospective students in the Colleges of Mass Communication, Business and
Education. Also, the Office of Admissions has special Saturday tours planned
for Oct. 11, Nov. 15 and Dec. 6, with all starting at 10 a.m. in the Student
Services and Admissions Center. To register, visit www.mtsu.edu/rsvp.
The priority deadline to apply and receive scholarship consideration
is Dec. 1.
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