BIRMINGHAM and HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — High-achieving Alabama students planning careers as pilots, video and film and audio production, concrete and construction management and more — and making Middle Tennessee State University their top college choice — made for a strong finish to conclude the True Blue Tour to recruit prospective students.

Alex Roberts and Elizabeth Wilborn in Birmingham and Amahah Pryor-Wells and Haileigh Hines in Huntsville are firmly set on becoming Blue Raiders next fall. Roberts was offered and accepted an Honors College Buchanan Fellowship, a coveted award. Wilborn awaits word on receiving the Buchanan. Hines and Pryor-Wells will pursue video and film production paths.

The Alabama stops marked the finale for this year’s tour, where MTSU staff and administrators recruit prospective high school and transfer students at nighttime receptions and court counselors and community college staff during noontime luncheons, this fall featuring a new $2,500 scholarship initiative for each school to award to one or more students.

In both Birmingham and Huntsville, Provost Mark Byrnes, Admissions Undergraduate Recruitment Director Tony Strode and Laurie Witherow, interim vice provost for Enrollment Services, shared about the added benefits of the Regional Scholars Program and Academic Common Market, options for those considering MTSU to save on out-of-state tuition.

Birmingham highlights

New friends Roberts and Wilborn exchanged social media contacts and phone numbers near the end of the tour event, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Birmingham.

Roberts, 18, a senior at Spain Park High School, plans to study music business. He scored a 34 on the ACT.

“Seeing the different equipment was astonishing,” he said. “We saw some really cool things. And the music library (Center for Popular Music) is one of the biggest in the U.S.

Wilborn, 17, a senior at Gadsden City High School, plans to study audio production at the Murfreesboro, Tennessee university. She and her mother, Patti Wilborn, drove an hour from Gadsden, Alabama, to learn more.

“I’m excited. I want to be a musician and major in audio production and commercial songwriting and MTSU will help me reach my goal,” she said. “I play guitar and sing and love performing and being on stage, and can’t wait to understand the science behind it.” 

One Birmingham attendee, Nadir Smith of Lithia Springs, Georgia, drove two hours from the Atlanta area to learn more about the film and video program in the College of Media and Entertainment. He is a student at New Manchester High School. 

Smith, Roberts and Wilborn were among 13 Birmingham prospects receiving $1,000 scholarships, awarded by Byrnes, who told them MTSU stands ready “to prepare them to think critically, to be good citizens and prepare them for the workforce.”

Huntsville highlights

Hines’ and Pryor-Wells’ pursuit of video and film caught the attention of Jerry Hayes, an MTSU alumnus and anchor/reporter with WHNT-TV for 45 years. He said he was “glad to see more young people showing an interest” in his profession. “Going to MTSU will be four of the best years of your life,” he told the audience. Hayes later spent time talking with Pryor-Wells and her mother, Latasha Pryor. 

Pryor-Wells, 18, from East Limeston, Alabama, received a $2,000 MTSU scholarship from Byrnes. With a 29 ACT and 3.86 GPA, she said she has “always loved movies and shows and going to new releases. I analyze the plots and characters.” On one of two campus visits, she recalled how media arts associate professor Allie Sultan “was really nice and really informative.”

Hines, 17, a Hazel Green High School senior, said she “always liked movies, making plays and photography.” With a 3.5 GPA and 24 ACT, she said she plans to apply and would be eligible for the True Blue Scholarship. “I visited on the Sept. 30 Preview Day. Visiting campus then and coming to this (event), it felt like home.”

Up next

• Dec. 1 deadline application deadline for guaranteed admission. The deadline for transfer students is Feb. 15, 2024.

• Spring 2024 (Feb. 10 and March 23) True Blue Preview events on campus — opportunities for prospective students to obtain a closer look at all MTSU has to offer.

• Monday, Feb. 19, Honors College Open House preview event and an afternoon MTSU Celebration of Scholars, recognizing students who have accepted scholarship awards. Students have until May 1 to accept their scholarship.

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