Restaurants, the Smyrna Bowling Center, Murfreesboro Post, churches and more businesses and organizations from the Murfreesboro and Rutherford County community met students, faculty and staff under two large tents on the MTSU campus Tuesday, Aug. 28.

The opportunity was the first day of the two-day “Meet Murfreesboro” event, held each fall in the Student Union Commons, where new and returning MTSU students and employees can learn what off-campus businesses, restaurants, ministries and more in the community have to offer.

The crowd of students, faculty and staff gathers for the annual “Meet Murfreesboro” Connection Point activity Aug. 28 under one of two large tents in the Student Union Commons. Day Two of “Meet Murfreesboro happens Wednesday, Aug. 29. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

The Office of New Student and Family Programs and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership sponsors the “Connection Point“event. Meet Murfreesboro continued Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the Student Union Commons.

Gina Poff, director of the Office of New Student and Family Programs, said the Student Employment Fair planned outside Thursday, Aug. 30, would be moved inside to the Student Union Ballroom because of a rainy forecast.

Marco’s Pizza, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ideas Tees, Hernandez Mexican Deli and Cedar Grove Church were only a sampling of organizations attending “Meet Murfreesboro” this year.

Freshman Rachel Petree, left, of Knoxville, Tenn., and junior Kaitlyn Berry of McMinnville, Tenn., check out the T-shirts offered by Raider Tees and Ideas Tees during Meet Murfreesboro Aug. 28 in the Student Union Commons. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Freshman Rachel Petree, 18, of Knoxville, Tennessee, an animal science/horse science major, called the event “super and super cool.”

“This is a great way to get involved in what Murfreesboro has to offer,” Petree said. “It’s a way to get connected outside of campus.”

“You get to see a lot of different companies who are in the area,” added a free-food-carrying Tommy Khounoudom, 21, of La Vergne, Tennessee, an athletic training major originally from Vientiane, Laos.

MTSU created the “Connection Point” series of events in 2013 as a way to get new and returning students connected to campus through extracurricular activities throughout the academic year. “Connection Point” replaced the “Week of Welcome” theme in 2015.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Sophomores A’Nesha Fennessee, left, and Kyra Randle talk with Greg, center right, and Connie Daniels from the Franklin Road Church of Christ during “Meet Murfreesboro” Aug. 28 in the Student Union Commons. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)