Talented crop of 3,500 incoming MTSU students attending summer New to Blue Orientations

A new student planning to start his college career at Middle Tennessee State University this fall browses through the New to Blue Orientation brochure provided to attendees May 20 in the Student Union Ballroom on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Mt. Juliet Christian Academy valedictorian Abigail Whicker will join Middle Tennessee State University’s incoming Class of 2029 freshman group this fall as a highly driven, much awarded young woman.

Whicker, 18, who plans to study agribusiness and organizational communications, enters with 30 dual enrollment hours from Carson-Newman, Trevecca Nazarene and MTSU; and with enough scholarships (MTSU Trustee, Hope Lottery, Merit, American Legion Oratorical and other private awards) to pay for her education.

Gina Poff, director of New Student and Family Programs at Middle Tennessee State University, provides directions and information to the first group of New to Blue Orientation students attending the May 20 session in the Student Union Ballroom on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Several hundred students and their parents attended, part of 3,500 expected to come for orientation this summer. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Graduating high school with a 4.0 GPA, the multitalented Mt. Juliet youth will be among 3,500 new freshmen and transfer students attending the newly named New to Blue Orientation, formerly called CUSTOMS, that will be held throughout the summer. To learn more about orientation, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/orientation/.

Registration is open for all new freshmen and transfer students admitted for the fall 2025 semester. Visit https://www.mtsu.edu/orientation/ and follow directions to register.

James Lowe, left, a Middle Tennessee State University student orientation assistant, gathers his group to go out and view campus buildings and connect with MTSU academic staff during the first New to Blue Orientation on May 20 on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Gina Poff, MTSU New Student and Family Programs director — Gina Poff

Gina Poff, New Student and Family Programs director, said the first two freshmen sessions “went great. We are excited to welcome our incoming students to New to Blue Orientation.”

Poff said the one-day orientation program “allows new students to learn their way around campus, interact with other students, try out our dining facilities, meet their academic advisor and register for classes.”

In addition to the new name, changes were made to the schedule and locations where activities take place.

“We guarantee the warm welcoming from MTSU faculty, staff and students will be the same,” Poff said. “The sessions are filling fast, so we hope that everyone that has been tentatively admitted for the fall is signed up and ready to start their journey as a Blue Raider.”

‘Kept coming back to MTSU’ as college choice

Whicker has been a consummate overachiever since an early age. She can play clarinet (school band), guitar and piano. She took up student agriculture organization FFA as a freshman. On a family friend’s farm in Lebanon, she maintains a herd of 30 to 40 sheep. Through FFA and American Legion, her speeches have earned state and national oratorical awards. The state honor resulted in a joint House Resolution, an effort led by state Rep. Susan Lynn, recognizing Whicker.

Abigail Whicker, 17, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Mt. Juliet Christian Academy valedictorian and planning to study agribusiness and organizational communications at MTSU. — Abigail Whicker

“I love giving speeches from memory,” said Whicker, who provided a memorable valedictorian speech at graduation. “I definitely get nervous sometimes, but it’s a super fun thing to do.”

She “kept coming back to MTSU” in making her college decision, opting to follow older sister Jessica Whicker, a rising senior equine science major. “It seems I’m always at the (Tennessee) Livestock Center and ag world (for events and competitions). I want to pursue my degree and continue judging horses.”

Led by Middle Tennessee State University student orientation assistants, groups of newly admitted students for the fall 2025 academic year head to visit parts of campus before breaking for lunch during the May 20 New to You Orientation on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Freshmen and transfer students will be taking orientation until the end of July and early August. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Pursuing psychology, video/film

Justin Thompson of Goodlettsville and Sadiyah Little of Maury City in West Tennessee were among several hundred New to Blue participants during the first orientation May 20.

Justin Thompson, 17, of Goodlettsville, Tenn., a Goodpasture Christian School graduate, who plans to study video and film production in Media Arts. — Justin Thompson

Thompson, 17, a Goodpasture Christian School graduate, plans to study video and film production in media arts because “I still like figuring things out with editing videos,” he said. “In high school, people wanted to pay me money to edit their projects (he refused the money). MTSU has a lot of resources, like the mobile production truck.”

He received a Presidential Scholarship for his 29 ACT and 4.75 GPA (out of 5.0) and did dual enrollment through Lipscomb University.

Saniyah Little, 17, of Maury City, Tenn., a Crockett CountyHigh School graduate, who plans to study psychology at MTSU. — Sadiyah Little

A Crockett County High School graduate, Little, 17, plans to study psychology, following in the footsteps of an uncle, William Little of Southhaven, Mississippi, who attended MTSU 18 years ago.

“They have a really good psychology program and a really good campus,” Sadiyah Little said. “The day has been going pretty good, and it’s a pretty campus.”

Little first visited MTSU while touring in the fall with a school group. She graduated with a 3.9 GPA, received the Tennessee Promise scholarship, has taken four dual-enrollment courses and worked at a local grocery store for the past year.

Upcoming freshmen orientations will include Friday, May 30; Tuesday, June 3; and Thursday, June 5. For additional freshman dates and participating MTSU colleges, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/orientation/freshman/.

Upcoming transfer student orientations will include Monday, June 9 (virtual) and Friday, June 27 (in person). For additional transfer dates, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/orientation/transfer/.

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