MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —
David Butler wants MTSU’s
research, scholarly efforts and creative activity with Scholars Week to continue to flourish — and reach beyond university
borders to industry leaders, government officials and the public.
Led by MTSU students, a four-man team with a year-old
designer concrete business appears to be one of those groups and individuals
hitting the target for what Butler, the first-year vice provost for research
and dean of the College of Graduate Studies, envisions as avenues of growth.
The annual Scholars Week, a full week of scholarly efforts,
activities and performances, concluded with the universitywide Scholars Day March 31 in the Student
Union Ballroom and “The Garden Party,”
the annual Textiles, Merchandising and Design Runway Show April 1 in the Miller
Education Center.
To view video about MTSU Scholars Week, visit https://youtu.be/sygjcHI8-qA.
Scholars Week recognizes the research, scholarly efforts,
creativity and performance talents of undergraduate, graduate and high school
students and faculty.
“Scholars Week is a great idea.
It’s something we should have, and it needs to be built bigger and better each
year,” Butler said. “It is an ideal avenue to showcase all the research and
creative activity within MTSU. We can invite people outside the university to see
all the exciting research and creative activity going on at MTSU.”
The public, elected officials and
business leaders in the region — who will be targeted invitees in 2018 — are
atop Butler’s list.
“MTSU’s a large employer — a large
financial engine — and often people don’t know the exciting and cutting edge
research happening (on campus),” added Butler, just completing his first three
months on the job. “We’re moving forward and inviting key constituents. We’re
going to bring more visibility to Scholars Week and see it improve each year.”
MTSU alumnus and graduate student Thomas Harris, sophomore
Kirkland Atkins, senior Kendall Bacchus and Darian Robinson started Accoa LLC,
a designer concrete business, in March 2016. Their Scholars Week poster presentation
has made the finals of the Jones College of Business spring 2017 Business Plan
Competition.
“Scholars Week is a great week to exhibit talent that’s
inherent at MTSU,” said Harris, 26, of South Fulton, Tennessee, who is earning
his executive MBA in Concrete Industry Management. “Every student has worked
hard with their individual endeavors and exhibit what MTSU is producing into
the workforce.”
Approximately 225 posters were showcased at the
universitywide Scholars Day.
Three short plays, two dance performances and one theatre
performance were included in the universitywide Scholars Day activities in the
area outside the ballroom.
Destiny Donald
(“God’s Weapon”), Alex Irwin
(“World’s Best Mom”) and Laura Pickard
(“Her Daughter Angelo”) presented short plays under the guidance of faculty
mentor Claudia Barnett.
Dance performances featured “Ceremonial Figure,” a
re-imagining of a Mary Wigman
choreography, an Honors College
thesis by Ginny Whaley; and “Suite
from Orpheus ed Eurydice,” a preview of MTSU
Dance Theatre’s spring concert, with choreography by Isadora Duncan and staged by faculty member Meg Brooker.
The “Hear My Voice” theatre performance featured musical
theatre performers Beth Ann Stripling,
Brianna Smart and Paul Gary. The performance was a
selection of empowering pieces including the work of Dolly Parton, Jason Robert
Brown, Maltby and Shire and
others. The theatre faculty member is assistant professor Kristi Schamburger.
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