MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee helped congratulate nearly 500 Riverdale High School seniors Friday, April 5, at the school’s inaugural College and Career Signing Day event in the Johnny Parsley Memorial Gym.

McPhee, who was invited as the keynote speaker, said he wanted “to recognize and celebrate the important decisions made by so many in Riverdale’s 2019 class of graduating seniors to continue their studies beyond this magnificent high school by attending a higher education institution” and other career choices.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, second from left, gives commemorative lunch boxes to Riverdale seniors Lindsay Smith, center, Megan Lawrence and Destiny Juliano Friday, April 5, at the first Riverdale College and Career Signing Day in the Johnny Parsley Memorial Gym. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Riverdale chose to honor and publicly celebrate all of its seniors for their postsecondary choices and accomplishments.

Organizers honored students who have committed to serve in the military, those who’ve already acquired skills to help them become successful leaders in the workforce, and those who plan to purse degrees at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology, community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, including MTSU.

“Apply yourself, take advantage of every opportunity and don’t waste time. When you’re waiting five minutes for a friend, take time to read a book,” McPhee said to the attentive and enthusiastic audience, which also included included Riverdale parents and family members, faculty, staff and others.

“For those of you planning to attend MTSU, you’re going to get the full attention of our faculty, staff and administration,” McPhee continued, noting that 130 Riverdale students have already been accepted into the Class of 2023.

“We don’t behave like a large university. We are about people and programs.”

The president received applause when he mentioned an NBC Nightly News story that aired in February about the university’s Department of Recording Industry Grammy connections.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, left, talks with Riverdale High School senior Trevor Ewing after the student’s name was drawn to receive a $2,500 scholarship from the university Friday, April 5, during the school’s first College and Career Signing Day. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

McPhee also told the crowd about this week’s campus visit by Siemens officials thanks to a huge in-kind software grant to the Department of Engineering Technology‘s Mechatronics Engineering Program; the recent Department of Aerospace-Delta Propel partnership that will allow the airline to hire professional pilot majors who meet job and training requirements in a much quicker turnaround time; and this weekend’s trip for students and administrators to the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Riverdale’s Keith Carrion, 18, who plans to study film production at MTSU, said he found McPhee’s remarks “very interesting, motivating and impactful.” He added that he had been accepted by another university, “but I plan to go to MTSU.”

Trevor Ewing’s name was drawn for a $2,500 MTSU scholarship, one of several scholarships available to selected Riverdale students if they decide to officially become Blue Raiders. The 17-year-old Ewing, who’s eyeing an acting career, said he’s “thinking about going straight into the workforce, but I don’t want to necessarily say no to $2,500.”

MTSU mascot Lightning mingled with the audience and posed for photos with the president and students who’ve applied to and been accepted by the university. MTSU was among several universities represented at Riverdale’s event.

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

From the podium as keynote speaker, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee tells Riverdale High School seniors Friday, April 5, to apply themselves, take advantage of opportunities and not waste time at the inaugural Riverdale College and Career Signing Day in the Johnny Parsley Memorial Gym. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU athletics mascot Lightning mingles with the crowd Friday, April 5, during the inaugural Riverdale High School College and Career Signing Day in the Johnny Parsley Memorial Gym. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)