MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For four women at Middle Tennessee State University, the June S. Anderson Foundation’s annual scholarships are providing a boost of encouragement to their lives — and their budgets — providing much-needed support as they pursue their degrees.

“Our goal is to remove the financial barriers that often prevent talented, nontraditional students from completing their degrees,” said Andrienne Friedli, foundation board president and professor of chemistry at MTSU. “These women often balance work, family, and studies. The June S. Anderson Foundation Scholarship allows them to focus on their academic goals and professional futures.”

In August, the foundation awarded full-tuition scholarships to four female nontraditional students studying in fields where women have historically been underrepresented.

Scholarship recipients

Recipients include Jessica Alsup of Nashville, who is majoring in business administration; Savannah Metoyer of Murfreesboro, who is majoring in music with an emphasis on violin; Meg Thorp of Nashville, a biochemistry major; and Joyceann Smith of Murfreesboro, a criminal justice major.

For each recipient, the financial support means something different.

“I currently balance school with three jobs, and receiving this scholarship is allowing me to cut back on the number of hours I work so I can dedicate more time to school and research,” said Thorp. “After graduating from MTSU, I plan to attend graduate school and pursue a career in bioinformatics. I look forward to contributing to meaningful scientific research that hopefully makes a difference in people’s lives.”

Smith described the award as recognition not only of where she is going, but of everything it took to get there.

“I was deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the June S. Anderson scholarship. This scholarship is more than just financial support — it is a meaningful validation of my academic journey, hard work, and dedication to completing my degree,” Smith said. “This scholarship reinforces my commitment to excellence and inspires me to pay forward the encouragement I’ve received by supporting and empowering others in my community.”

For Metoyer, the scholarship offered a deeply personal reminder that her dreams are worth pursuing.

“Receiving this scholarship is such an honor and a blessing. Knowing that the June S. Anderson Foundation believes in me and my academic dreams is beyond heartwarming,” Metoyer said. “With this sentiment, it makes me feel I can tackle anything that I pray and put my mind to.”

Alsup explained that returning to school later in life was a “big commitment, both emotionally and financially.”

“I am deeply grateful for the support (this scholarship) has given me every year, but especially this year,” Alsup said. “(The foundation) investing in my future is such a blessing.”

The gratitude expressed by scholarship winners captures the purpose of a scholarship that has been helping women at MTSU overcome barriers for more than four decades, Friedli said.

About the scholarship

Established in 1982, the June S. Anderson Foundation carries on the mission of June S. Anderson, a pioneering MTSU chemistry professor who devoted her career to expanding educational opportunities.

Anderson understood that talent and determination are not always enough when financial or personal circumstances stand in the way.

Today, the foundation specifically supports “disadvantaged” female students, including those balancing full-time work, single motherhood or financial hardship as they work toward their degrees.

Over the years, scholarship recipients have represented a wide range of majors, including aviation management, criminal justice, animal, plant and soil science, agribusiness and STEM disciplines.

More than $475,000 in scholarships have been awarded through the foundation over the past 40-plus years.

For the women receiving this year’s awards, that legacy is more than a number. It is an investment in four students who have continued to pursue their goals — and a reminder that sometimes, the support that helps someone finish can be just as important as the determination that helped her begin.

The June S. Anderson Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization independent of MTSU’s state-funded programs. It remains one of the few organizations in the region dedicated exclusively to advancing nontraditional female students.

— Nancy DeGennaro ([email protected])