Daniel McGrath has lived all of his life in Murfreesboro. But even he made more discoveries about his hometown through the annual “Meet Murfreesboro” event on the MTSU campus earlier this week.

Meet Murfreesboro is the annual Connection Point event, sponsored by MTSU’s Office of New Student and Family Programs and Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, that introduces off-campus businesses, restaurants, ministries and other organizations to students and MTSU employees. The event was held Aug. 27-28 in the Student Union Commons.

Abbie Wheeler, right, director of marketing and communications for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, discusses the organization’s many offerings for MTSU students with Derek Green, left, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Payne Pignocco, 18, of Olive Branch, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 27, during the annual “Meet Murfreesboro” event in the Student Union Commons. Both are freshman aerospace majors; Green is a flight dispatch major and Pignocco is a professional pilot major. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

“I learned about a lot of different places I didn’t even know about around town,” said McGrath, 19, a Franklin Road Christian School graduate and a freshman majoring in the MTSU Leisure, Sport and Tourism Studies Program.

“I’ve been in a smaller circle,” McGrath added. “There are a lot of new people and places right under my nose. It’s great that they have this.”

Lesley Chinos, 22, a senior in the School of Nursing from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, remarked that the event was “really diverse.” She enjoyed “a lot of free food” and the midday break “because school is a long day and takes a lot of time.”

A senior transfer from Chattanooga State in his hometown, Jaymel Chivers, 22, said Meet Murfreesboro “caught my eye. I still don’t know a lot about the city, but I enjoyed all the businesses (being here). … I met some nice people from different churches who welcome you with open arms.”

Hundreds of MTSU students, faculty and staff visit under two large tents Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 27-28, to discover what the city has to offer during the annual “Meet Murfreesboro” event in the Student Union Commons. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Lydia Cayton, coordinator of New Student and Family Programs, said nearly 70 businesses and ministries registered for the popular event that’s also a Connection Point destination for students to find out-of-classroom opportunities on campus.

“It’s really a great partnership we have with the community,” Cayton said. “Students get a bunch of free things and learn what’s available to them off-campus.”

To learn more about “Meet Murfreesboro” opportunities to participate in 2020, call 615-898-2454.

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

Creative Smiles’ representatives Rochelle Branson, left, and Leanne Collins provide information about the local dentistry office to Briaisha Robertson, 20, a junior psychology major from Whiteville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 27, in the Student Union Commons. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)