By Karli Sutton, Nancy DeGennaro and Randy Weiler

NASHVILLE and GALLATIN, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s True Blue Tour recently returned to Music City and added a new stop in Gallatin, bringing together prospective Blue Raiders and their families, along with alumni and educators from the region for the annual student recruitment initiative.

Each stop held a luncheon for high school counselors and community college advisors, followed by student receptions in the evening, with MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee putting a total of $21,500 in scholarships directly into hands of students and a combined $102,500 in funds for educators to give out at their respective schools.

The Music City stop on Oct. 28 at the Gaylord Golf Links Country Club in Nashville served as one of the most-anticipated stops of the 14-city tour.

Student: ‘I feel like people care’

For high school senior and scholarship recipient Lance Rodriguez, the event was more than just a chance to look around, it was a meaningful step toward planning his future.

“This event is really important because I come into it with a list of questions I’m going to ask and I get the answers that I’m looking for,” Rodriguez said. “It helps me line up my future goals with the school and makes me feel connected to MTSU. I feel like people care.”

The tour isn’t just for high school students. Many potential transfer students also used the event to get clarity on majors and pathways.

Andrea Ramirez, who hopes to transfer into MTSU’s nursing program, said the chance to speak directly with faculty made the decision feel more real.

“I’m pursuing a career in nursing, and it just made sense to see about transferring to MTSU,” Ramirez said. “Coming to the event today, I was able to ask people in the nursing program here about what it will be like. I’m excited to get into the program.”

The three-month recruitment initiative includes university administrators, advisors and staff who travel to locations in Tennessee and Alabama to showcase all MTSU has to offer — over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree majors and concentrations, nationally ranked student programming and over $2 billion invested in academic facilities over the last 20 years on a 550-acre campus located in the heart of Middle Tennessee.

The tour is really about connection and giving students and educators the chance to talk with real people and ask real questions, letting families and educators know the students will be welcomed and supported at MTSU.

MTSU a ‘game changer’

Nearly 30 Nashville-area high schools and community colleges were represented at the True Blue Tour counselors luncheon at Gaylord Springs golf club.

During the daytime event, McPhee and university representatives shared details about programs, the admissions process, financial aid and the presentation of scholarships to the counselors to disperse among their students — $77,500 in total at this Nashville True Blue Tour stop.

Antioch High School and Nashville State Community College both received $5,000 in scholarships to distribute to their students, with 27 other institutions each garnering $2,500 scholarships.

This year marks the fifth True Blue Tour attended by James Lawson High School college and career counselor Alli Riebel.

“MTSU is always a popular choice for our students because of what MTSU offers, including the scholarships and financial aid,” said Riebel, who ensures her students know about MTSU’s guaranteed scholarships available to incoming freshmen who qualify with grades and ACT scores.

MTSU is also “a middle ground” for students who want to be close to home while still gaining some independence in a college environment and garnering the benefit of in-state tuition. Most Middle Tennessee communities are less than 90 minutes away from MTSU.

Nicole Newman, college and career readiness coach from Whites Creek High School, said the scholarship funds come in handy for many students who are “in dire need of support” to attend college.

“I’m so grateful to MTSU,” Newman said. The funds “are a game changer.”

McPhee ensured all the counselors in attendance that MTSU will “give the best opportunities to your students when they enroll at MTSU.”

“MTSU has become one of the best colleges in the United States,” said McPhee, who referenced the top college rankings awarded the university by Princeton Review, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report.

“We have incredible success with our students and the programs we offer, and we are the No. 1 transfer college in the state,” McPhee noted.

Tour takes first trip to Gallatin

Bringing the tour to Gallatin for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Grasslands Country Club and led by Provost Mark Byrnes, MTSU found prospective students interested in cybersecurity, actuarial science, nursing, tourism and hospitality management and more.

Colten King, 17, a senior with Sumner County Middle College at Volunteer State Community College with a 4.0 GPA who has been admitted to MTSU, plans to major in cybersecurity management or aviation management.

“I love the diversity, with so many options, and you can change majors,” King said. “It’s the only aviation program around. Cybersecurity is fresh and now available for people to come into it. Murfreesboro is not too far away. It’s where I want to be.”

Evelyn Habart, 17, of Springfield, a senior homeschool student planning to pursue actuarial science, said she “likes a lot of things about MTSU. People in actuarial science like the career. It is an amazing workplace. They are engaging in data and using it creatively.”

Habart, whose father, Jonathan Habart, is an MTSU alumnus with an accounting degree, has a 4.0 GPA and 31 ACT, qualifying her to apply for an Honors College Buchanan scholarship.

Ella Ropicki, 18, a Station Camp senior with a 3.8 GPA, said her grandmother, Eve Clark, of Hartsville, “got me interested in nursing and MTSU has a really good program.”

MTSU saw nine excited students leave with a combined $10,000 in scholarships. Earlier in the day, counselors from eight schools received $25,000 in scholarships to award to their students. For sending the most students MTSU’s way, Vol State and Beech High School received $5,000.

“College is expensive,” Byrnes said. “We want you to get a return on your investment.”

— Reach Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu); Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu); and Karli Sutton (Karli.Sutton@mtsu.edu)