The MTSU National Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the 2016-17 Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Jeffrey Bonner (Class of 1982), MTSU 2015-16 Distinguished Alumnus, center, is flanked by his fellow honorees in this October 2015 file photo, including, from left, Britnee Kinard (’05), recipient of the True Blue Citation Service to Community; Richard Key (’62), True Blue Citation Service to University recipient; Charles Massey Jr. (’64), recipient of the True Blue Citation Achievement in Education for non-MTSU faculty; and Dr. Derek Frisby (’94), True Blue Citation of Distinction Achievement in Education recipient for current or retired MTSU faculty) recipient. Not pictured is Eric Paslay (’05), the Young Alumni Achievement honoree. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

The awards, which will include an overall Distinguished Alumni recipient and Young Alumni Achievement honoree, recognize those with prolonged records of achievement who have made outstanding contributions to society and who exemplify the ideals for which MTSU stands in extraordinary ways.

This year marks the third year for the expanded awards, which include True Blue Citations of Distinction.

“These awards are an awesome way to show our distinguished alumni that their service does not go unnoticed,” National Alumni Association President Tony Beard said.

Tony Beard

“We are so proud of the mark our MT alumni are making on this world. There is nothing greater than to see a True Blue alumnus making great strides to make this world a better place to live through their efforts and contributions.”

People are encouraged to nominate someone for an award. Criteria and nomination forms can be found at www.mtalumni.com/awards.

Nominations for all awards are due on or before Friday, April 1. The nomination form can be mailed to MTSU Alumni Association Awards, Box 104, Murfreesboro TN 37132.

Recipients selected in late summer will have a celebration in their honor during homecoming week this fall, as well as be recognized at the homecoming parade and football game.

Click on the badge to see a list of all those honored as MTSU Distinguished Alumni since 1960.

The dates for homecoming week and the homecoming game have not yet been finalized.

The True Blue Citations of Distinction will include awards for the following categories:

• Young Alumni Achievement.
• Achievement in Education — MTSU Faculty.
• Achievement in Education — Non-MTSU Faculty.
• Service to Community.
• The David Cullum Award for Service to the University, named for the former president of the National Alumni Association, Blue Raider Athletic Association and MTSU Foundation, who died May 2, 2013. He was a member of the Class of ’55.

Anyone with questions about the nomination form or process can contact the Office of Alumni Relations by calling 615-898-2922 or 800-533-6878 or emailing Michelle Stepp, alumni relations associate director, at Michelle.Stepp@mtsu.edu.

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