Twins, others at recruiting event in Alabama gravitate to variety of MTSU programs

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Identical twins Elisabeth “BiBi” and Maxine Beasley do virtually everything — education at Renaissance Virtual (4.2 GPAs) in Athens, Alabama, showing Tennessee walking horses at The Celebration and personal appearance (fashion statement clothes, earrings, glasses, etc.) — together.

And both 16-year-old high school seniors want to become Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders, studying graphic design in the College of Liberal Arts. “They’re comfortable with MTSU. “We’re MTSU or bust,” said their mother, Beth Beasley, who added they maintain residences in Athens (a care-giving situation) and Shelbyville, Tennessee.

During the True Blue Tour recruiting event Thursday, Oct. 17, at The Westing Huntsville in Huntsville, Ala., Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, left, listens while Maxine Beasley, right, 16, of Athens, Ala., and Shelbyville, Tenn., discusses her interest in wanting to attend the university starting in fall 2025. Listening to their conversation are her mother, Beth Beasley, and twin sister BiBi Beasley. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

The Beasleys were part of more than four dozen Huntsville, North Alabama and southern Middle Tennessee prospective students attending the MTSU True Blue Tour recruiting event at The Westin Huntsville on Thursday, Oct. 17. Earlier in the day, Huntsville-area counselors, Calhoun Community College representatives and several from southern Middle Tennessee received $3,000 scholarships for their students.

It is part of a three-month, 12-city visit by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, admissions recruiters, advisors and other personnel to recruit future Blue Raiders for 2025 and beyond.

To register for future tour stops in Atlanta, Georgia, Oct. 21; Chattanooga Oct. 22; Memphis and Jackson Oct. 28-29; Nashville Nov. 7; and Wilson County/Lebanon Nov. 21, go to https://www.mtsu.edu/rsvp. Walk-ups are welcome at the free events.

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, foreground, makes points about MTSU’s many offerings — caring faculty and staff, quality programs, national rankings and more — while speaking to those who attended the Thursday, Oct. 17, True Blue Tour recruiting event at The Westin Huntsville in Huntsville, Ala. Ten students left with $3,000 scholarships by night’s end. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)

BiBi Beasley said MTSU “seems like a good fit. We know a lot of people in the area.” Sister Maxine said she’s “really excited” about attending the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, university. Their enthusiasm grew when both received a $3,000 scholarship — two of 10 awarded at the student event — from the university and McPhee.

The twins, who were adopted at 8½ months old from China, are recovering from an Aug. 7 all-terrain vehicle accident. They presented McPhee folders with their life story that included an essay. The president, who has visited China numerous times through the years, said he would send them one of his photo journal books chronicling trips there.

Student scholarship recipients also had interests in recording industry, video and film production, animal science, business, forensic science and education. David Ekstrom from Calhoun Community College will be a transfer. Alivia Fowler, a senior at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, has been earning dual enrollment credit with Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma.

Alabama students learned about Academic Common Market and Regional Scholars Program opportunities with MTSU. Academic Common Market undergraduate majors and concentrations for Alabama students include aerospace maintenance management, animation, audio production, Concrete Industry Management, fermentation science, horse science, mechatronics engineering, recording industry (commercial songwriting and music business) and videoand film production.

Ten recipients of $3,000 Middle Tennessee State University scholarships are shown with MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, second row center, during the Thursday, Oct. 17 True Blue tour recruiting event at The Westin Huntsville in Huntsville, Ala. Huntsville-area students expressed an interest in a variety of MTSU programs including animation, animal science, business and more. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)

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

Academic proficiency, diversity, dates to remember

At both the luncheon and student reception, the president touted 300 undergraduate programs — singling out aerospace, animation, industrial organization and psychology, recording industry and others — student success, caring faculty and staff and the academic ingredients “to help get your students career-ready with a world-class education.”

McPhee informed them about the university’s diversity (35%, plus students from nearly 75 countries) and MTSU being among The Princetown Review’s top 390 colleges and universities, the Wall Street Journal’s top 400 and Forbes business magazine’s best 350 schools — information students and parents should consider.

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.

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.

Alumni presence

Keith Cromartie (Class of 1974) of Huntsville was among several alumni sharing about their MTSU experiences with both counselors and prospective students. A veteran, Cromartie spent 30 years, including 20 years overseas, retiring as a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel.

“This university is deep in my heart,” said Cromartie, 73, a native of Bradenton, Florida, recruited by the late hall of fame track and field coach Dean Hayes. “I played basketball and ran track here. Coach Hayes and his wife, Jan, were RAs (residence assistants) in our dorm. We were a family, and the connection stayed. It was a very important part of my life.”

Angel Howell, senior counselor at Lincoln County High — Angel Howell

Counselors Alison Reischman at Culleoka High School and Anissa (Pettus) Mashburn of Loretto High School were recognized for being MTSU alumni.

Reischman said Culleoka “has 46 seniors (this year) and we have a couple headed your way.” Assisted by the Ayers Foundation Trust at Loretto, Mashburn said her school “sends three or four students a year to MTSU.”

Angel Howell,senior counselor at Lincoln County High, received a $6,000 scholarship to award to her students for being the top feeder school — “five or six students this year and at least 10 have applied already for next fall.”

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