Atlanta, Chattanooga students discover ‘impressive’ qualities at MTSU recruiting tour

Eleven of 13 scholarship recipients from the Chattanooga, Tenn., area are shown with Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, front row center, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, during the MTSU True Blue Tour visit at The Chattanoogan Hotel. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Tilleigh Nazer-Lemer came with 70 fellow Center for Creative Arts students recently on two buses to visit Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro — and was hooked.

“It was my first college visit anywhere and I loved it,” said Nazer-Lemer, 17, who told MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee about her campus visit Tuesday, Oct. 22, during the True Blue Tour trip to Chattanooga at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Impressed, McPhee invited the outgoing young woman to share about the campus experience with her peers and their parents.

Prospective Middle Tennessee State University students discover all that the university has to offer while browsing through the Office of Admissions “Discover” publication Tuesday, Oct. 22, during the annual True Blue Tour visit to The Chattanoogan Hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn. More than 100 students attended the event. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

The tour is part of a three-month, 13-city visit by McPhee, Provost Mark Byrnes admissions recruiters, advisors and other personnel to recruit future Blue Raiders for 2025 and beyond. The Chattanooga stop completed a two-day swing that included Atlanta, Georgia.

To register for future tour stops in Memphis and Jackson Oct. 28-29; Nashville Nov. 7; Shelbyville Nov. 19; and Wilson County/Lebanon Nov. 21, go to https://www.mtsu.edu/rsvp. Walk-ups are welcome at the free events.

For coming forward and speaking, Nazer-Lemer was among five Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts students receiving scholarships to attend MTSU. In all, 13 Chattanooga-area students had their names drawn for scholarships that totaled $41,500.

“Our (MTSU) tour guides were so funny,” said Nazer-Lemer, who has a 3.5 GPA. “One said she milks cows (at the MTSU Farm). I want to try the chocolate milk. I like that there’s a pharmacy, so I don’t have to go home for medications. It was very welcoming and family oriented. I like the diversity and variety of everything you can do there.”

Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts counselor (and MTSU alumna) Freda McCray, left, and college and career counselor Melissa Sarabia, right, join Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee shortly after he presented them with a $5,000 scholarship for their students as part of the recent True Blue Tour luncheon for counselors and community college staff and evening student reception at The Chattanoogan Hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn. The school sent nearly 15 of its 2024 graduates to MTSU, to which he said, “We appreciate it. Keep up the good work.” (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

True Blue Tour events include a luncheon for counselors and community college staff and Center for Creative Arts counselor (and MTSU alumna Freda McCray) and college and career counselor Melissa Sarabia left with a $5,000 scholarship for sending the most students (12 to 15 out of a class of 85) to MTSU this fall. Paid for by the university, they bring a charter bus load of students to campus.

“We get the most support from you all,” Sarabia said. “A lot of our students may do Governor’s School (for the Arts at MTSU), featuring music, recording industry and more.”

“I’m the tour guide on the bus trip,” McCray said. “We always have more kids interested in MTSU (than other schools). We always have recent (CCA) grads come back and talk about MTSU. They always have a positive experience.”

Simon Kellogg, left, a Chattanooga State Community College sophomore, learns more about the Middle Tennessee State University Honors College from Dean John Vile Tuesday, Oct. 22, during the MTSU True Blue Tour event held at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Kellogg plans to apply for an Honors College Transfer Fellowship and will be an aerospace pro pilot major. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Interest in Honors College

President Sidney A. McPhee, left, meets Inga Clark of Canton, Ga., and her son, Justin Clark, who is interested in MTSU’s video and film production in the College of Media and Entertainment and has applied for a Buchanan Fellowship with the Honors College. The interaction occurred Monday, Oct. 21, at the Atlanta Zoo in Atlanta, Ga., as part of the MTSU True Blue Tour. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

High school seniors Owen Jackson of Chattanooga and Justin Clark of Canton, Georgia, Chattanooga State Community College sophomore Simon Kellogg and Chloe Smith of Newnan, Ga., plan to apply for Buchanan Fellowships in the University Honors College.

A student at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Science, Jackson has a 3.95 GPA, 30 ACT and will be an aerospace professional pilot major.

“With the Buchanan, the Honors College can help me get more out of my college experience,” Jackson said. “I like MTSU. I’m going there.”

Clark, a Sequoyah High student who applied Oct. 22 for the Buchanan scholarship and has a 3.8 GPA and 32 on his ACT, became smitten with video and film production nearly four years ago. He helps film football games and does the news show shown campuswide during first period.

“The way the president was speaking about Middle Tennessee is so impressive and inspiring — what MTSU can do for me and the experiences I could have,” said Clark, who was part of a winning team at the Cherokee County Film Festival.

Chloe Smith, East Coweta High School senior, plans to study forensic science at MTSU. — Chloe Smith

Kellogg, 19, who has applied and been accepted, is interested in the aerospace professional pilot concentration.

An East Coweta High School senior, Smith has an interest in MTSU’s Forensic Science program and will apply for a Buchanan award.

“I like the campus life,” Smith said. “At the event in Atlanta, the president was so gracious and kind. That speaks volumes.” She has a 4.0 GPA and had a 31 ACT superscore. Smith’s forensic science path will, hopefully, lead to a forensic pathology career. One hobby is dance/studio ballet 12 hours a week. She wil apply for the Buchanan scholarship.

The Honors College selects 20 freshmen Buchanan Fellows, including five from out of state, and 30 transfer recipients every year.

Eleven Atlanta, Ga., area students received $3,000 scholarships from Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee Monday, Oct. 21, during the university’s True Blue Tour stop at the Atlanta Zoo. The prospective students met with admissions, MT One Stop and other departments, and with representatives from the Colleges of Basic and Applied Sciences and Media and Entertainment. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Academic proficiency, diversity, dates to remember

Saying “many of our academic programs are tops in the nation,” McPhee highlighted concrete and construction management, aviation, the School of Music, recording industry and more.

Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU President — Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

“We have exceptional faculty and staff,” he added. “We have a diverse (35%) student population from nearly 75 countries. Fifty-six percent are transfer students. It’s a safe, beautiful campus.”

At the Chattanooga luncheon for counselors and community college staff, McPhee told them about a 50% discount they would receive for their first graduate class through the College of Graduate Studies. Representatives from about 40 high schools in attendance received $2,500 scholarships to award to their students.

For sending 15 students to MTSU this year out of a class of 85, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts received $5,000 to award to students. Chattanooga State, the top feeder school among community colleges, also received $5,000 in financial aid to share with students.

A member of True Blue 100 as a freshman, Brainerd High school sophomore Kori Atkins, 15, received a $6,000 scholarship from McPhee and MTSU, which will be held until she graduates and enters the university. True Blue 100 is 100 outstanding high school freshman who share the core values of Honesty and Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Engagement in the Community, Commitment to Nonviolence and Academic Achievement.

Tony Strode, MTSU undergraduate admissions director — Tony Strode

Tony Strode, director of Undergraduate Admissions, shared about the Dec. 1 deadline for qualifying students to apply for guaranteed scholarships and upcoming True Blue Preview campus Saturday visit days: Nov. 2 and Feb. 8 and March 22, 2025.

Academic Common Market undergraduate majors and concentrations and Regional Scholars Program opportunities with MTSU are available to students in nearby Georgia communities.

MTSU will host a new Admitted Student Day, which gives future Blue Raiders a time to meet with advisors and faculty to get a head start on orientation to learn about academic programs. To register, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/rsvp.

Versatile alumna

Invited by McPhee to speak to the Chattanooga audience, alumna Amy Lowdermilk (Class of 2006) of Chattanooga said her “MTSU education meant everything to me. It was a big adventure.” She experienced Greek Life, student leadership, community service, “a great teaching program” and student worker — “Amy T. on WMOT-FM doing weather and traffic — at the campus radio station.

Lowdermilk, an English and Spanish double major in the College of Liberal Arts with minors in political science and secondary education, worked for former Congressman Bart Gordon, an MTSU alumnus, former attorney and judge, Larry Brandon and a former Chattanooga mayor.

“You can go anywhere you want and it’s a great place to find out who you are,” Lowdermilk said of the university.

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