[180] Prospective students from Alabama strongly consider MTSU

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Jordyn Lee is in the Jefferson County, Alabama, International Baccalaureate program at Shades Valley High School.

Lee wants to pursue a degree in video and film production. She knows Middle Tennessee State University has an outstanding program in this field. Lee applied and has been accepted at the Murfreesboro school, where she also plans to compete for an Honors College Buchanan Fellowship — the best scholarship MTSU offers.

The Vestavia resident and daughter of Roxie and Brad Lee was one of many Alabama (and several Tennessee) residents attending the university’s True Blue Tour events in Birmingham Nov. 8 and Huntsville Nov. 7. They were the last of 12 tour events across the South as MTSU recruits prospective students for 2018 and beyond.

“I like the campus and the video and film production is better than any I’ve seen,” said Lee, who visited in November 2016 and also received a private tour. “The campus is big, but not too big, and everyone is really nice.”

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee ended the Birmingham student reception at the Embassy Suites Hoover-Birmingham by offering Taylor McGill, 17, a senior at Vestavia Hills High School, a $5,000 scholarship. She has a 3.45 GPA and scored a 26 on her ACT.

Currently undecided but strongly considering forensics or criminal justice as her major, McGill visited MTSU for the Nov. 4 fall preview day “and was blown away by all of the science buildings.” Alli McGill, her mother, called the scholarship “a blessing” and said her daughter’s “been talking nonstop about visiting MTSU.”

Brought by her aunt and uncle, Sandra and James Harris, Katie Smith, 16, of Cullman and a Holly Pond High School junior, attended both Huntsville and Birmingham events. In Birmingham, James Harris told the audience that in his 30 years as an educator he had never witnessed a recruiting event conducted as well as the two he attended back-to-back nights.

David and Deanie Yoest brought grandson David Shoulders, 18, of Statesville, Tennessee, in Wilson County, quite a distance to attend in Huntsville. Shoulders is a Watertown High School senior.

MTSU military science alumni William N. “Bill” Phillips (Class of 1976), a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general living in Madison, Alabama, and Keith Cromartie (’74), a retired lieutenant colonel also living in Madison, were among the Huntsville attendees at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Cromartie recalled running track for Dean Hayes, who has coached at MTSU for more than 50 years.

McPhee and Division of Student Affairs Vice President Deb Sells and Linda Olsen, director of undergraduate recruitment, discussed the Dec. 1 application deadline for eligible students being considered for scholarships. The president touted MTSU’s new and prominent programs and numerous other features about the campus. Feb. 15 is the deadline for transfers to apply.

For more information, call email admissions@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-2233.