FEBRUARY

Bright Futures

Seven MTSU undergraduate researchers—and nearly 40 altogether from across Tennessee—attended the annual Posters at the Capitol event on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill in Nashville on February 16, showcasing research in the Cordell Hull Building.

Posters at the Capitol brought together STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) researchers from seven state universities. They visited with state legislators during scheduled meetings and discussed their research with peers, faculty mentors, the legislators, and others.

The group included Logan Carver, Hunter Brady, DeVonte Lewis, Sophia Taylor, Maria Clark, Carine Vazquez, Quinn Wilson, and Casey Penston.

The effort is coordinated by the Tennessee STEM Education Center at MTSU.

An MTSU administration delegation also visited lawmakers for MTSU Day on the Hill the same day as the posters event.

True Blue Give

MTSU gave the Blue Raider community a Valentine's opportunity to show love financially for its educational mission during the fifth annual True Blue Give February 14–16.

The goal of the 72-hour special Valentine's fundraising effort was to raise $500,000 in gifts

of support from at least 800 University friends for academics, athletics, and scholarships.

In 2022, more than 840 MTSU alumni, faculty and staff, students, and friends (from all over the country) came together to give over $640,000 to support MTSU students.

Started in 2018, the True Blue Give is a crowdfunding movement created by alumni and friends. Supporters make a gift online or by text in a very short time frame (just three days) to show their support for current MTSU students by giving to areas on campus that have critical needs.

Black History Month

Comedian and author D.L. Hughley enthralled a packed house inside the University’s Business and Aerospace Building on February 3 during his Black History Month keynote address.

Hughley drew laughter throughout his 30-minute address, followed by a longer and extensive Q&A session with the audience that delved into issues ranging from social media to U.S. politics, from Confederate monuments to the NFL, and much more.

“Relax, laugh it up. We’re risking our lives to be together,” Hughley deadpanned to the heavily masked audience inside the State Farm Lecture Hall.

But he quickly turned serious in homage to the occasion, noting the contributions of African Americans to this country’s history and culture.

The event was sponsored by the MTSU Black History Month Committee, the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, and the Distinguished Lecture Committee. It was coordinated by the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs.