True Blue Tour: East Tennessee students ‘flying’ to embrace MTSU’s quality programs

JOHNSON CITY and KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As Middle Tennessee State University prepares to return to the Midstate this week in its quest to recruit prospective students for 2026 and beyond, the annual True Blue Tour made impressive inroads during recent East Tennessee stops in Johnson City and Knoxville.

Katie Inman, MTSU alumna and WBIR reporter and weekend anchor — Katie Inman

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

“Quality academic programs, truly caring faculty, affordable and an absolutely beautiful campus,” MTSU president Sidney A. McPhee said during the Knoxville student reception that drew dozens of prospects Thursday, Oct. 16, at Bridgewater Place, with a similar message to a smaller group of students and parents Wednesday, Oct. 15, at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City.

The Knoxville student reception featured alumna Katie Inman, an anchor and multimedia journalist at WBIR-TV, telling the audience she “can’t say enough about the opportunities I got at MTSU. My success there was a springboard to my career.”

Rachel Morales, center, Middle Tennessee State University MT One Stop enrollment coordinator, discusses scholarship opportunities for incoming freshmen with a prospective student and his father at the True Blue Tour event to recruit prospective students on Thursday, Oct. 16, at Bridgewater Place in Knoxville, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

In a three-month period, MTSU administrators, advisors and staff will travel across Tennessee and Alabama locations to showcase what the university has to offer — over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree majors and concentrations, nationally ranked programs and over $2 billion in academic facilities on the 550-acre campus in Murfreesboro in the past 25 years.

Kristen Janson, associate director of freshman recruitment — Kristen Janson

Kristen Janson, assistant director for undergraduate admissions, emphasized the upcoming Saturday, Nov. 1, True Blue Preview Day event and upcoming deadlines — Dec. 1 for undergraduate students and March 1, 2026, for transfer students — to apply for guaranteed scholarships for qualifiers.

To attend upcoming tour events, including Gallatin on Thursday, Oct. 23, register in advance at www.mtsu.edu/rsvp — and walkups are welcome.

Abigail Williams, left, Middle Tennessee State University academic advisor for the College of Education, discusses opportunities to student teach abroad with Nicole Piazza, center, and her daughter, Savannah Piazza, of Jonesborough, Tenn., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the MTSU True Blue Tour recruiting event at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City. Savannah Piazza is a junior at David Crockett High School in Jonesborough. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Pictured with Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, right, Elias Orchard, of Gray, Tenn., who plans to pursue a professional pilot degree from MTSU’s Department of Aerospace, received scholarships totaling $2,500 during the university’s annual True Blue Tour recruiting stop at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City on Wednesday, Oct. 15. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Aerospace takes flight

At both Johnson City and Knoxville, numerous students with an interest in flying announced intentions to pursue the professional pilot degree in the Department of Aerospace.

About to earn a media communications degree from East Tennessee State University, Elias Orchard, of Gray, admitted to his father, Bryan Orchard, a local pastor, that his passion turned to flying and he wanted to pursue a second degree at MTSU, where older brother Aiden earned a business management degree.

Elias Orchard, of Gray, who plans to earn a second college degree in professional pilot — Elias Orchard

“I have a different focus now,” Elias Orchard said. “I remember walking on the MTSU campus when my older brother was there and thinking, ‘It was the right thing.’”

In 2019, as a Daniel Boone High School sophomore, Orchard had his name drawn for a $1,500 MTSU scholarship but eventually passed on the offer.

Wednesday night, McPhee awarded him a $1,500 scholarship after his mother, Karin Orchard, who is a public school teacher, came to the stage and praised MTSU and its MT One Stop for when Aiden Orchard was attending the university. Minutes later, Elias Orchard’s name was drawn for a $1,000 scholarship.

The following night in Knoxville, Jacob Ickowitz, 17, a L&N STEM Academy senior who would be eligible to apply for an MTSU Buchanan scholarship with a 31 ACT and 3.9 GPA, said he, too, wants to follow the pro pilot route.

“I went to campus for an open house and aviation facility tour,” said Ickowitz, who attended with his mother, Tanya Ickowitz. “I really like the aviation program and the fleet of aircraft. I like the campus, it’s a good location and there’s a lot of school atmosphere.”

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee addresses the audience in Johnson City, Tenn., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at The Carnegie Hotel, acknowledging “the quality academic programs, caring faculty, affordability” and more. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Drawn to MTSU

Unable to attend the Knoxville event because of another Thursday night commitment, Sydney Sweet and her mother, Stephanie Sweet, drove from Maryville to Johnson City — and Sydney was among seven students whose names were drawn for scholarships.

Sydney Sweet, 17, who has been admitted for fall 2026, plans to major in video and film production in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment.

“I’ve always loved movies my whole life and I want to be a part of it,” Sweet said.

Another strong MT One Stop advocate, MTSU parent Pam White, of Knoxville, who works in workforce development for the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, spoke of the “phenomenal experience” for her daughter, MTSU international affairs graduate student Emily Bigler. McPhee awarded a scholarship to White for her daughter.

Shown with Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, front row center, 12 scholarship recipients from the Knoxville, Tenn., True Blue Tour recruiting event at Bridgewater Place on Thursday, Oct. 16, hold their big checks. MTSU will hold the scholarships for those who were high school underclassmen. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

$152K in scholarships for counselors

In Knoxville, a True Blue Tour record 60 schools — 56 high school counselors from across the region and community college partners Northeast State, Pellissippi State, Roan State and Walters State — left with $2,500 scholarships to award students. Pellissippi and Farragut High School received $5,000 for sending the most students to MTSU, which awarded $152,500 in scholarships to counselors.

“Our students will be excited,” said Julie Raby, a Farragut counselor. “It’s money they don’t expect (to receive).

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