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News for MTSU alumni and friends March 2008 Vol. 5 / No. 3

MTSU News and Public Affairs photo

By Tom Tozer ttozer@mtsu.edu

Scholarships serve individual students, while a profes-sorship in a particular discipline can influence gener-ations of students. That’s one major reason MTSU

alumna Pam Wright (’73) decided to establish an endowedprofessorship in entrepreneurship in the Jennings A. JonesCollege of Business at the university she loves and hasserved for many years.

“I felt it met what I wanted to achieve,” explainedWright, founder of Wright Travel, “which was a broaderconcept of what will serve as an opportunity to promotegrowth with entrepreneurship in middle Tennessee andbeyond. The middle Tennessee communi-ty has been extremely beneficial to me,and the spirit here has greatly contributedtoward my company’s success.”

The $1.25 million pledge, paid duringa period of five years, will provide fund-ing for the endowed chair and will allowuniversity officials to launch a search forthe position and begin chair activities. Thefirst installment has been completed.

“An endowed chair typically repre-sents the best in their field,” said JoeBales, vice president for development and university rela-tions. “Pam has helped us establish the first chair of thistype, and we are eternally grateful to her.”

Wright opened her doors for business in 1981. The

Wright

Wright’s $1.25M pledge endows new professorship

CAMPUS EXPANSIONWorkers lay bricks and perform other jobs at the new observatory next to Smith Hall.

McPhee: Alumni can be ‘proud’ MTSU among 146 Best Southeastern Colleges

State Building Commission gets MTSU master planBy Tom Tozer ttozer@mtsu.edu

Communities know that universitiesbring vitality and economic stabilitythrough employment, retail sales, com-

mercial and residential uses and their support

of cultural and social events. College townsattract employers and a diverse workforce.

According to a study conducted by theBusiness and Economic Research Center atMTSU during fiscal year 2002-03, the universi-

(See ’Expansion,’ Page 5)

By Randy Weiler jweiler@mtsu.edu

F or MTSU’s thousands of alumni, The PrincetonReview’s January designation of the universityas one among 146 Best Southeastern Colleges

is “something our alums should be proud of interms of what’s happening on this campus as itrelates to academic quality,” President Sidney A.

McPhee said.“Our goal in build-

ing a quality institu-tion is to add value tothe academic degreesthat our alums getfrom our university

and make them proud of the institution and thequality that it represents,” McPhee said.

He said the distinction issomething that alumni “can hangtheir hats on and know that theirinstitution, particularly by currentstudents, has been recognized.

“It ought to be somewhat of arallying cry for our alums to getmore involved — if they haven’tbeen back to campus, they oughtto get excited about coming backto see the progress that the institu-tion has made over the last several years. They oughtto come back and get involved with our university.

“And they ought to use this as a conversationpiece with their neighbors and friends, and parentsof high-school seniors and upcoming graduates andsay, ‘Maybe you ought to take a look at MTSU.

There’s something special that’s going on.’”The Princeton Review designation came as the

result of a survey of MTSU students by the publica-tion, which conducts surveys with millions of collegeundergraduates in hopes of identifying the topschools in each region of the country.

Students said MTSU offers “the best bang foryour buck in academia, sports and overall experi-ence,” according to survey findings.

“We include schools that we have a high opinionof their academics and overall college experience,”said Jen Adams, Princeton Review student surveymanager. “We survey many, many students andguidance counselors before we make our selections.MTSU should be pleased with being part of thisgroup.”

(See ’Princeton,’ Page 7)

McPhee

Entrepreneurialeffort by alumna

(See ’Wright,’ Page 2)

‘Princeton Review’ distinction

ALUMNI RELATIONS STAFFGinger Corley Freeman, Director

Michelle Stepp, Associate DirectorMolly Cochran, Assistant Director

Paul Wydra, Assistant DirectorRhonda Wright, Assistant Director

Martha Jordan, Administrative AssistantKari Janetvilay, Secretary

MTSU Office of Alumni RelationsMTSU Box 104

Murfreesboro, TN 371321-800-533-MTSU (6878)

615-898-2922 Fax: 615-898-5746mtalumni.com

Published quarterly (Sept., Dec., March and June)

Sidney A. McPhee, PresidentJoe Bales, VP, Development and Univ. RelationsDoug Williams, Director, Office of Marketing

Tom Tozer, Director, News and Public AffairsRandy Weiler, Editor (jweiler@mtsu.edu)

Contributors: Gina Fann, Gina Logue, John Lynch, Lisa Rollins, Paula Morton and

MTSU Office of Alumni Relations staff

Consultants: Suma Clark and Bill Fisher,MTSU Publications and Graphics

Special assistance: Betsy Williams, MTSUAdvancement Services

Photographs: MTSU Photographic Services,except where noted

Printed by Franklin Web Printing Co., Franklin, Tenn.

Attention Postmaster: Change Service RequestedAddress changes and other correspondence

should be addressed to

Advancement ServicesP.O. Box 109

MTSUMurfreesboro, TN 37132

MTSU, a Tennessee Board of Regents university, is an equalopportunity, nonracially identifiable, educational institution that

does not discriminate against individualswith disabilities.

URUR060-0208

2 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com March 2008

Submitted photo

Submitted photos

Wright from Page 1largest travel agency in Tennessee now employs70 people and, in addition to Tennessee, operatesoffices in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,Maryland, North Carolina and Utah.

“I wanted not only to be just an alumna but abusiness connection to this community,” she said.“The university has been fabulous in allowing methe opportunity to participate and contributethrough board and committee involvement.”

Wright has served on the MTSU FoundationBoard and the College of Business AdvisoryBoard. In 2002, she was among the first group toreceive the Exemplar Award, which is presentedto alumni who have served as models for stu-dents of achievement in business and industry.

Wright said she had been thinking for a fewyears about how she might contribute to the uni-versity.

"I met with Jim Burton [business dean] awhile back, and he promoted involvementbetween business and the university,” she said.“In addition, whenever I was at a board meetingor an event and heard Dr. [Sidney A.] McPheetalk ... he creates a lot of motivation to do some-thing to contribute to the university.”

“There is always a need for scholarships tosupport our students,” Burton said, “but giventhe shortage of faculty in the business disciplines,one of the issues that we have is attracting andretaining the highest quality faculty. Thisendowed chair will enable us to do that. This per-son will hopefully be an outstanding teacher,researcher and publisher, and will provide lead-ership in entrepreneurship and continue to build

that program on the basis of what our excellentfaculty is already doing.”

Burton noted that the curriculum for theentrepreneurship program at MTSU originallywas a joint venture between the Departments ofManagement and Marketing and BusinessCommunication and Entrepreneurship. The deanalso alluded to a report recently released by theNashville Area Chamber of Commerce that toutsentrepreneurship as a driving force for creatingjobs in the region. Rather than being an alterna-tive to not finding steady work, he said, entrepre-neurship has become a deliberate choice for stu-dents who want to be their own bosses.

McPhee said he views the endowed chair inthe context of the university’s goals in theAcademic Master Plan.

“A gift such as this is a rare gem because anendowed professorship of this kind bringstogether the three major goals of the university:enabling us to be even more student-centered inthe discipline of entrepreneurship, enhancing ouracademic quality and demonstrating the powerof partnership between business and education,”he said. “We are grateful to Pam Wright, whosesuccess as a person and a businesswoman willserve as an example to thousands of students inyears to come.”

Through the efforts of McPhee and Burton,the university recognized Wright publicly for hergift during halftime of the Feb. 16 MTSU-WesternKentucky men’s basketball game in MurphyCenter. McPhee presented her with a bouquet offlowers.

ALUMNA MAKING WAVES

U.S. Army Capt. Bridgette Lee Williams (’89), who isdeployed to Kuwait, is shown in her office area. AnMTSU Raiders banner sent by Phillips Bookstore washung at her work station. She received her commissionfrom the ROTC and military science programs.

Jack and Mary Weatherford have been SignalSociety members for more than 20 years. He isthe namesake for the Jack O. WeatherfordChair of Finance.

Alumni and Drs. Pat (’65) and Delores (’66, ’68) Doyleremain steadfast in their annual giving to the university.They are retired educators: He was an MTSU biology profes-sor and she taught in the Murfreesboro City Schools system.

Bob Noblitt (’59),left, Dwayne Duke,Gayle Duke (’65)and Nell Noblittvisit during theannual SignalSociety and HeritageSociety dinner at theKennon Sports Hallof Fame inDecember. They areamong a specialgroup of alumni andfriends who havesupported MTSU 20years or more.

Alumni at heart of Signal SocietyBy Randy Weiler jweiler@mtsu.edu

Forty-year donors Lynn Greer Jr. (’63) ofNashville, Dr. Mary Tom Berry and MarthaTurner of Murfreesboro and Paul (’63) and

Anne Cantrell of Lascassas were the featureddonors recognized during the annual SignalSociety and Heritage Society dinner, which washeld in December at Kennon Sports Hall of Fame.

“We were very pleased to be able to honorour 40-year donors,” said Kippy Todd, assistantdirector for annual giving. “For these donors toinvest year after year, we’re very grateful.”

As always, alumni make up a large part ofSignal Society members who have given annually

for 20 to 45 years, as Dr. Ernest Hooper (’42) ofHuntsville, Ala., has done.

Other longtime alumni members are JohnHood (’54, ’74), Norman Martin (’64), CharliePigg (’55, ’76) and Ross Spielman (’55, ’66).

Todd said one of the more unique attendeeswas Gordon Janaway (’74), who had not returnedto campus in 33 years.

President Sidney A. McPhee attended as didJoe Bales, vice president for development anduniversity relations; development office DirectorKirk Purdom; veteran fundraiser RobynKilpatrick; Meredith Edington, coordinator ofannual giving; and first-year college fundraisers,John Mitchell, Lucie Murphy and Jennifer Allen.

CALENDAR

March 2008 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com 3

Campus eventsMarch1-2 MTSU American Indian Cultural FestivalFor more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/powwow.

5-8 TSSAA Girls’ State Basketball TournamentFor more information, go to http://www.tssaa.org.

12 Marcin Bela, piano; Jamey Simmons, trumpet; faculty recitalFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

12-15 TSSAA Boys’ State Basketball TournamentFor more information, go to http://www.tssaa.org.

13 Deanna Little, flute; Jerry Reed, piano; faculty recital For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

14 Presidential Concert Series, Aulos EnsembleFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

14 Star PartyFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~physics/Star%20Party.htm.

15-18 Tennessee Guitar FestivalFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

16 Xiao-Fan Zhang, faculty cello recital For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

24 Christin Schillinger, guest bassoon recital For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

26 World Percussion EnsembleFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

28-29 “Rhythm in You” by Ian HuntFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~theatre.

31 Stones River Chamber PlayersFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

April

2-5 “Rhythm in You” by Ian HuntFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~theatre.

3 MTSU Chamber WindsFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

4 First Friday Star PartyFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~physics/Star%20Party.htm.

5 Clavierfest For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

7 MTSU Women’s ChoraleFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

9 MTSU Percussion EnsembleFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

10 MTSU Wind EnsembleFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

12 MTSU Jazz Artist Series — legendarysaxophonist Lee Konitz For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

13 Dina Cancryn, faculty voice recital For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

14 MTSU Concert BandFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

17-19 Spring Dance Concert by MTSU Dance TheatreFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~theatre.

20 MTSU Symphony OrchestraFor more information, go to, http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

21 MTSU Commercial Music EnsembleFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

22 MTSU Symphonic Band For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

23 Maya Stone, bassoon; Leo Erice, piano; faculty recitalFor more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~music/calendar.html.

May2 First Friday Star PartyFor more information, go to htttp://www.mtsu.edu/~physics/Star%20Party.htm.

3 May 2008 Commencement9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Murphy Center. For more information, go tohttp://www.mtsu.edu/~proffice/gradlist/grad_info.htm to find the respective colleges’ graduation times.

19-24 TSSAA Spring FlingFor more information, go to tssaa.org or call 615-889-6740.

For MT athletic events, visit goblueraiders.com.For Tennessee Miller Coliseum events, visit mtsu.edu/~tmc/schedule.htm.For Tennessee Livestock Center events, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~tlc/.

Alumni eventsFor complete details about upcoming alumni events, go to

mtalumni.com.

March

9 All Sun Belt Conference Alumni Gatheringat The U.S.S. Alabama — Mobile, Ala.

28-April 5 Alumni Travel Program presents Italy

29 Paint the Zoo Raider Blue — Knoxville

April12 Paint the Zoo Raider Blue — Memphis

12 President’s Celebration of Excellence

May2 Alumni Accounting Day

3 Paint the Zoo Raider Blue — Atlanta

15 Young Alumni Wine Tasting at BeachhavenVineyards and Winery — Clarksville

17 Paint the Zoo Raider Blue — Nashville

4 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com

MTSU vs.MemphisInaugural Sun Belt Classicis a success in NashvilleFrom staff reports

On Dec. 15, 2007, the MTSU men’s basketball teamserved as the host in the inaugural Sun Belt Classicdoubleheader at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

A sold-out crowd watched the Blue Raiders take on thetop-10 ranked Memphis Tigers before Western Kentuckymet Tennessee in the second game.

The MTSU Office of Alumni Relations, along with theBlue Raider Athletic Association, sponsored a pregamesend-off event for the team at the Renaissance Hotel. Theteam was introduced, and Coach Kermit Davis made a fewremarks about the team and season. The Band of Blueplayed the fight song while the MTSU dance team, cheer-leaders, alumni and friends cheered as the team boardedthe bus for the game.

Judy Smith (’60), left, retired associate dean of students, and Eleanor Teasley receive a visit fromLightning while enjoying some appetizers before the game.

MTSU Office of Alumni Relations photo

MTSU alumni Zoo Tour will includeKnoxville, Memphis, Atlanta, NashvilleFrom staff reports

D o you like monkeys and tigers,lizards and bears, or maybe ele-phants and giraffes? If so, the MTSU

Alumni Relations office has a treat for you.We are painting the zoo Blue! In fact, we

are traveling to Knoxville (March 29),Memphis (April 12), Atlanta (May 3) andNashville (May 17) to meet up with alums,reconnect and enjoy a fun day at the zoo.

“This is a great chance for our alums tobring their families to the zoo at a discount-ed ticket price, where lunch is included, andmeet up with old MTSU friends in theirareas,” said Paul Wydra, assistant director ofalumni relations. “We hosted this event atthe Nashville Zoo last year and it was ahuge success. We had more than 500 alumni,family and friends join us. We wanted to

give our alums in other areas an opportunityfor the same fun, so this year we are takingthe show on the road.”

Registration at each site will be from 9a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets including lunch are$12 for adults and $8 for children 12 andunder and must be purchased in advance. ToRSVP, please call 1-800-533-6878, e-mailalumni@mtsu.edu or go to the alumni Website, mtalumni.com.

Bring your family, friends and fellowMTSU alums together and help us paint thezoo blue in your area.

“This is a great afternoon for familiesyoung and old. The animals provide plentyof excitement and entertainment, whileeveryone has a chance to reconnect andmake new friends,” said Wydra.

Tickets must be purchased in advance,so be sure and get yours today.

Honors College Board of Visitors includes 9 alumniBy Randy Weiler jweiler@mtsu.edu

The inaugural meeting of theUniversity Honors CollegeBoard of Visitors Dec. 7, 2007,

in the Paul W. Martin Sr. HonorsBuilding brought together a “distin-guished” group whose mission “is toprovide leadership in promoting sus-tained program quality and positivechange in the University HonorsCollege,” said alumnus Dr. PhilMathis (’67), interim Honors Collegedean.

Nine of 17 board members areMTSU alumni, added Mathis. Thealumni agreeing to serve include

• Don Ash (’77) of Murfrees-boro, circuit court judge for the 16thJudicial District and a formerDistinguished Alumnus;

• Emily P. Ellis (’72) ofClarksville, vice president for STARCulture with Gaylord Entertainmentin Nashville;

• Mark A. Hall (’77) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Turnage Professor ofLaw at Wake Forest University;

• Debra H. Hopkins (’80) ofMurfreesboro, Southeast regionaldirector for National GeographicSchool Publishing and Hampton-

Brown;• Paul W. Martin Jr. (’75) of

Knoxville, chief managing member ofClarity Resources LLC, 2002

Distinguished Alumnus, first gradu-ate from the honors program and,along with his brother Lee, providerof more than half the money to build

the 21,000 square foot Paul W. MartinSr. Honors Building;

• Chasity Wilson Nicoll (’95) ofManchester, partner in the law officeof Nicoll & Nicoll;

• Byron Smith (’84) ofMurfreesboro, retired chief marketingofficer with Asurion Corp. inNashville;

• Holly Thompson (’94) ofHendersonville, morning news co-anchor for WSMV-TV in Nashville;and

• Vincent Windrow (’94) ofAntioch, vice president of ZycronComputers, with offices in Nashville,Memphis, Chattanooga and Dallas.

James Buchanan (’40) ofBlacksburg, Va., and Dr. June HallMcCash, founding director of theHonors College program in 1973 andretired professor in foreign languagesand literatures, are distinguishedmembers.

Buchanan, recipient of the 1986Nobel Prize in Economics, is profes-sor emeritus and advisory generaldirector of the James BuchananCenter for Political Economy atGeorge Mason University in Fairfax,

University Honors College Board of Visitors Chairman Jeff Whorley, front left, asks aquestion of the student panel as board members Don Ash (’77), Jim Bailey III and(back row, from left) Paul W. Martin Jr. (’75) , distinguished board member June HallMcCash, Chasity Nicoll (’95), Dr. Paul Patel and Byron Smith (’84) listen during theinaugural board meeting.

Andy Heidt/MTSU Photographic Services

(See ’Honors,’ Page 7)

March 2008 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com 5

Work continues at abrisk pace on the addi-tion to the StudentHealth, Wellness andRecreation Facility tothe existing CampusRec Center. The projectshould be finished byJune, a campus plan-ning official said.

ty contributed more than $680million in business revenue,provided 9,176 jobs and gen-erated $343 million in person-al income to the NashvilleMetropolitan Statistical Area.

No doubt those numbershave increased during the lastfew years, and with a currentfall enrollment surpassing23,000 students, the benefits ofall that a vibrant universityoffers trickle down into everyaspect of living.

With nearly 2 percentgrowth every year, however,there comes the need for the

campus to expand by addingnew buildings and parkinglots.

The Campus Master Plan,which was presented to theState Building Commission onFeb. 14, is a response to theuniversity’s Academic MasterPlan.

The physical plan, asreflected in the future-orient-ed map of campus, supportsthe academic goals of the uni-versity and provides a frame-work for future additions andmodifications to accommo-date the enrollment growth

Expansion from Page 1

MTSU News and Public Affairs photoand the educational needs ofour students.

In particular, the CampusMaster Plan helped define therequirements for a new sci-ence building and a new edu-cation building for the Collegeof Education and BehavioralScience. Along with buildings,the plan summarizes utilityand infrastructure work need-ed to keep pace with campusdevelopment.

While these two buildingsare essential for MTSU’sgrowth, they will not solve allof the university’s shortage ofspace.

MTSU has significantlyless space per student than allother institutions in theTennessee Board of Regentssystem. There currently are84.54 net square feet per stu-dent at MTSU; other TBRschools average 114.53 netsquare feet per student. Witha target total headcount of27,000 students, MTSU willstill need to construct 1.6 mil-lion gross square feet of non-residential space to accommo-date enrollment growth andbe on par with its sister TBRschools.

Rather than growing forgrowth’s sake, however,MTSU’s current and futurephysical expansion is theresult of a carefully designedplan to catch up to currentand future demands.

New buildings, additionalparking lots, upgraded andexpanding infrastructure —all are necessities to accom-modate the educational needsof our students so that theywill graduate and becomecontributing, successful citi-zens.

MTSU, which has thelargest undergraduate enroll-ment in the state, continues toattract many of the best andbrightest students fromTennessee and around thenation. We must provide themwith the finest learning envi-ronment and facilities possi-ble.

Editor’s note: This is anedited version of a story thatappeared in the Feb. 11 edition ofThe Record, a publication forthe MTSU community. Thatstory helped inform the campusand its neighbors of the universi-ty’s plans for future growth andexpansion.

CLASS NOTES1 9 7 0 s

1 9 6 0 s

1 9 8 0 s

Betsy Child ’75, ’76), Knoxville, Tenn.,is the owner of Geothermal Utilities LLC.

Baby Raiders

In Memoriam

Elaine Wilson (’93), Lakeside, Mont., isa flight nurse for a hospital-based rotorwing program.

Brian Ayers (’87), Ten Mile, Tenn.,works for Abitibi Paper in Calhoun, Tenn.

Russ Burns (’82), St. Louis, Mo., is thepresident of Clayco Inc.

Tamara Davenport (’89, ’94),Nashville, Tenn., won the national TrueValue's Do It Yourself All-Star Contest forthe renovation of her east Nashvillehome.

Thomas Norris Jr. (’82), Nashville,Tenn., received his master of law degreein taxation from the University ofAlabama School of Law.

Chaplain Major Jimmie Sanders Jr.(’81) and Lisa Sanders ('81), WichitiaFalls, Texas, along with their sons, werenamed 2007 Military Family of the Yearfor Sheppard Air Force Base.

Roy Vaughn (’82), Brentwood, Tenn.,is the director of communications forBlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

2 0 0 0 sStephen Benton (’01), Murfreesboro, is

the creative manager for the Daily NewsJournal.

Dana Bryson (’06), Murfreesboro,designs for MainStreet Media, LLC.

Keith Bryson (’05), Murfreesboro, is arecruitment specialist contracted byCentennial Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.

James Davidson (’05), Memphis,Tenn., is a pilot for Mesaba Airlines.

Joel Fortner (’02), Tullahoma, Tenn., isthe director of public affairs for ArnoldEngineering Development Center.

Meagan Frazier (’01), Nashville, Tenn.,is registered lobbyist with the firm ofSmith Harris & Carr.

Shannon Gray (’00, ’02), Florence Ala.,is a specialty sales healthcare representa-tive.

Marjorie Kaup Haines (’03), Franklin,Tenn., successfully passed the TennesseeBar Exam in July 2007.

Dwayna Haley ('05), Los Angeles,Calif., has been elected to the board ofWomen in Cable & Telecommunications.

Stacey Kizer (’03), Woodbridge, Ind., is a research associate on the QuestAtlantis project at Indiana University.

Jeff Ingram (’05), Rock Hill, S.C., is a

6 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com March 2008

Robert Edward Lee Ayers, born Nov. 23, 2007, to Lorinda

and D. Brian Ayers (’87) of Ten Mile, Tenn.

Kate Benton, born July 28, 2007, to Kandra (’07) and Stephen

Benton (’01) of Murfreesboro.

Sophia Riley Compton, born Sept. 19, 2007, to Misty (’97)

and Will Compton of Antioch, Tenn.

Cash Dylan Coons, born July 10, 2007, to Jennifer (’02) and

Brian Coons (’00) of Nashville, Tenn.

Hunter Robert Crabtree, born Nov. 10, 2006, to Katherine

and Cpt. Philip Crabtree (’97) of Killeen, Texas.

Brayden Thomas Dimsdale, born May 15, 2007, to Rhonda

and Jeffrey Dimsdale (’94) of Woodruff, S.C.

Robert Clay Dumat, born Oct. 23, 2007, to Ashley (’97) and

Anthony Dumat (’97) of Murfreesboro.

Dane Michael Fitzgibbon, born Sept. 29, 2007, to Heidi (’92)

and Patrick Fitzgibbon of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Noah Whitaker Francis, born April 3, 2006, adopted Sept. 25,

2007, by Emily (’93) and Jackie Francis II of Murfreesboro.

Micah Nathaniel, Kathleen Elizabeth and Patrick Thomas

Freeman, born Oct. 16, 2007, to Ginger (’89, ’92) and JoJo

Freeman of Murfreesboro.

Anora Faith Golden, born May 29, 2007, to Amber Golden

(’04) of Smithville, Tenn.

Samuel Nathan Harding, born Aug. 8, 2007, to Amy Jo (’01,

’02, ’04) and David Harding (’99, ’02) of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

Emily Grace Hill, born June 29, 2006, to Darla (’99) and

Grant Hill of Winchester, Tenn.

Cooper L. Murphy, born July 6, 2007, to Amanda (’98) and

Gary Murphy of Greenbrier, Tenn.

Addison McClain Neal, born June 27, 2007, to Cheris (’99)

and Kirk Neal of Murfreesboro.

Emelia Catherine Peery, born March 1, 2007, to Melanie (’96,

’02) and Brian Peery (’85) of Columbia, Tenn.

Rhys Robert Rego, born Sept. 5, 2007, to Tiffany Mayhugh-

Rego (’96) of Groveland, Fla.

Bryce Berry Seaton, born Nov. 13, 2007, to Holly (’02) and

Brad Seaton (’02) of Chickasha, Okla.

Maisie Banks Simpson, born Oct. 6, 2007, to Brigitte (’95)

and Timothy Simpson (’95) of New York, N.Y.

Evelyn Noel Striegel, born Dec. 20, 2007, to Kim (’03) and

Matt Striegel (’98) of Louisville, Ky.

Collin Brant Sutherland, born March 16, 2007, to Amanda

(’03) and Clinton Sutherland (’06) of Winchester, Tenn.

Luke David Thibodeau, born Oct. 26, 2007, to Kristen and

David Thibodeau (’93) of Hampstead, N.H.

field organizer for the Barack Obamapresidential campaign in York County,S.C.

Luke Laird (’01), Nashville, Tenn., iscowriter of Carrie Underwood’s hit song,“So Small.”

Philip McGowan (’04), Nashville,Tenn., is the account supervisor forSeigenthaler Public Relations.

Jennifer Peggram (’05), Travelers Rest,S.C., coordinates business developmentopportunities for Upstate Alliance.

Kent Peggram (’07), Travelers Rest,S.C., is a visual arts teacher at Blue RidgeMiddle School.

William Rosenbalm (’01), New York,N.Y., is an area marketing specialist forMicrosoft Corporation.

Meredith Short (’04), Rockvale, Tenn.,is the director of alumni relations and spe-cial events for The Webb School in BellBuckle, Tenn.

Adam G. Smith (’03), Antioch, Tenn.,joined the law firm of Miller and Martin.

Rachel Smith (’05), Madison, Tenn., isan administrative assistant for theTennessee Department of Mental Healthand Developmental Disabilities.

Allison Payne West (’03), McCalla,Ala., is the assistant director of athleticmarketing and trademark licensing at theUniversity of Alabama.

Bobby Wilson (’65), Crossville, Tenn.,retired after 35 years of teaching in theCumberland County school system.

1 9 9 0 s

MTSU and the Office of Alumni Relations extend deepest sympa-thy to the families and friends of alumni who have passed away.

1930s

James Lokey (’35), Nashville, Tenn., died Sept. 29, 2007.

1940s

Lola Turner Williams (’41), Lakeland, Fla., died Nov. 1, 2007.

1950s

Ruth W. Brandon (’55), Brentwood, Tenn., died Oct. 25, 2007.Dr. Joseph Knight (’58), Murfreesboro, died June 26, 2007.

1960s

Wayne Allen Orton (’67, ’75), Nashville, Tenn., died Nov. 4,2007.

1970s

Angela Marie Hunter (’78), Nashville, Tenn., died Oct. 26,2007.

1990s

Burt Talley (’98), Murfreesboro, died Jan. 16, 2008.

2000s

Jeffrey Davis (’05), Murfreesboro, died Dec. 29, 2007.

Laura Foster (’90), Maumelle, Ark., is acenter instructional technologist and cen-ter courseware developer for FlightSafetyInternational.

Bobby B. Grubic (’99), Marina DelRay, Calif., has received his third EmmyAward in the Best Commercial division.

Michael Hall (’95), Murfreesboro, is anagent with Horace Mann InsuranceCompany.

Christie Holman (’98), Murfreesboro,is a training and development specialistfor Manheim Vehicle ManagementBusiness.

Tiffany Mayhugh-Rego (’96),Groveland, Fla., is a high school adminis-trator with Orange County PublicSchools.

Michael Oliver (’94), Pelham, Tenn.,has published his first novel, “Out of theDarkness.”

William Reeves (’91), Murfreesboro, isthe 2008 chairman of the RutherfordCounty Chamber of Commerce.

Cynthia Rohrbach (’97),Summertown, Tenn., is the statewidemanager of the Green Schools Programfor the Tennessee Department ofEnvironment and Conservation/Office ofEnvironmental Assistance.

Dinan Pullen Spears (’98), JohnsonCity, Tenn., is an administrative and tech-nical assistant for the center for civicadvancement at Tusculum College.

Ron Spears (’97, ’01), Johnson City,Tenn., is the GIS Manager for Andersonand Associates.

Robert Chambless (’93), Scottsboro,Ala., is teaching English in Daegu, SouthKorea.

MTALUMNI.COM

Up ’til Dawnreaches $80Kfor St. JudeBy Randy Weiler jweiler@mtsu.edu

Organizers of the 10th annualUp ’til Dawn finale said theirefforts have reached $80,000

toward a goal of $105,000 for St. JudeChildren’s Research Hospital inMemphis.

“We have raised about $80,000 insponsorships, donations and fundsfor the hospital,” said Crystal Griffey,Up ’til Dawn executive director. “Wehad tons of sponsors this year whoworked to help make our event a suc-cess.

“We still have a way to go. Thegoal amount is how much we plan tohave raised by the end of the schoolyear. We are fine with our total at thispoint.”

The finale was held Feb. 1-2 inthe Campus Recreation Center.

Alumni like Meagan Flippin (’07)were involved either as being part ofthe organizing committee or support-ing the student-led drive with contri-butions or sponsorships.

“They’ve been working really,really hard,” said Flippin, a graduateassistant in student organizations anda three-time committee member from2005 to 2007.

Griffey said teams “worked reallyhard to do fundraising activities andget money in to the hospital. CollegeMinistry Team 3 combined to raisemore than $3,500. She added thatfreshmen from the LightningLeadership program were involved.”

March 2008 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com 7

Simple message: update,participate, nominate H ave you heard? Your MTSU has

received the designation of oneamong 146 Best Southeastern Colleges

by The Princeton Review as a result of a surveyof MTSU students by the publication.

MTSU is “the best bangfor your buck in academia,sports and overall experi-ence,” according to the stu-dent survey.

Of course, most of usalready knew this as it heldtrue during our times asundergraduates. (See story,Page 1 and below.)

As your AlumniAssociation charges into spring, the end of theschool year and the summer months, we wantyou to get involved and participate in one ofthe many events planned for alumni andfriends of MTSU. Join us for the Zoo Tour thisspring. Love our Lady Raiders basketballteam? Join us in Mobile for the Sun BeltTournament. There are even special eventsplanned (after tax season, of course) for ouraccounting alumni. These are just a few of themany events and fun gatherings planned dur-ing the coming months.

While I have your attention, I also want toremind you to go online (mtalumni.com) or callyour alumni staff (1-800-533-MTSU) andupdate your information. Getting you timelyand important information has never been eas-ier thanks to e-mail and the Web.

Finally, I want to ask each and every oneof you (we are more than 90,000 strong thesedays) to do just two things today: (1) call or e-mail the alumni office and update your infor-mation; and (2) go online to mtalumni.com andnominate someone as a DistinguishedAlumnus or for the National AlumniAssociation Board of Directors. It’s that simple.

Go Blue!

Devin McClendon is a 1996 graduate living inBrentwood with his wife, Laura, and children, Campbelland Maggie. He is the owner of McClendon GroupMarketing.

McClendon

MTSU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONBOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007-08

OfficersPresident – Devin McClendon (’96) Murfreesboro, TNVice President – Mary Esther Reed (’92, ’94, ’96) Smyrna, TN Treasurer – Andy Womack (’70) Murfreesboro, TNSecretary – Jim Stubblefield (’83) Murfreesboro, TNExec. Dir. – Ginger C. Freeman (’89, ’92) Murfreesboro, TNPast President –Bob Lamb (’69, ’77) Murfreesboro, TN

Board MembersRonald Akins (’06) Murfreesboro, TN Kent Ayer (’99) Murfreesboro, TNMary Megan Benton (’97) Murfreesboro, TNChontel Bridgeman (’93, ’95, ’96) Murfreesboro, TN Norman Burns (’85, ’95) Richmond, VAJamie Burns Burriss (’03) Murfreesboro, TNBrent Campbell (’02) Murfreesboro, TNMilbrey Campbell (’74, ’77) Murfreesboro, TNAlan Clark (’69, ’75) Estill Springs, TNDavid A. Cullum (’55) Nashville, TNJoey Davenport (’95) Evanston, ILEmily Pentecost Ellis (’72) Clarksville, TNMarla Frisby (’95) Murfreesboro, TNAshley Elizabeth Graham Alexandria, VARuss Hamblen (’88) Shelbyville, KYDonna Hastings (’70, ’74) Murfreesboro, TNRollie M. Holden (’83) Murfreesboro, TNBeth Barber Jones (’99) Columbia, TNAngela Lee (’00) Chattanooga, TNJack R. Lewis Jr. (’64) Penhook, VAEddie Linville (’01, ’03) Lascassas, TNSusan Mack (’76) Brentwood, TNJohn Marshall (’02, ’04) Murfreesboro, TNErnest McKinney (’76) Nashville, TNSusan Melton (’79) Woodbury, TNBud Morris (’68, ’75, ’81) Murfreesboro, TNLiz Rhea (’55) Murfreesboro, TNKaty Francisco Riddle (’99, ’05) Murfreesboro, TNBrandon Robbins (’03) Cookeville, TNRonald Q. Roberts (’84, ’91) Murfreesboro, TNBob Rochelle (’68) Lebanon, TNMichele Butler Rogers (’04) White House, TNMary L. Secrest (’74, ’78) Atlanta, GAChuck Shaw (’78) Murfreesboro, TNGreg Smith (’85) Clarksville, TNR. Eugene Smith (’57) Collierville, TNJanice B. Tant (’76) Nashville, TNChip Walters (’85) Murfreesboro, TNPhyllis H. Washington (’74, ’77) Murfreesboro, TNHanna R. Witherspoon (’64) Murfreesboro, TNBob J. Womack (’48) Murfreesboro, TNCourtney E. Yates (’83) Murfreesboro, TNDoug Young (’71) Murfreesboro, TN

Ex Officio MembersDr. Sidney A. McPhee MTSU PresidentWilliam J. Bales VP, Development and Univ. Relations John W. Cothern Senior Vice PresidentFred Adams (’72, ’00) MTSU Foundation PresidentWayne Groce (’69, ’75) MTSU BRAA PresidentDr. Kevin E. Smith MTSU Faculty Senate PresidentChassen Haynes MTSU SGA President

MTSU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONPAST PRESIDENTS

President/Year graduated Term Hometown

Linda Bramblett (’67) 1982-83 Shelbyville, TN Tommy Campbell (’77) 2003-04 Murfreesboro, TNCecil Cantrell (’53) 1992-93 Asheville, NCJames Caperton Jr. (’72) 1997-98 Shelbyville, TNDavid A. Cullum (’55) 1998-00 Nashville, TNAnn A. Eaden (’59) 1991-92 Nashville, TNDawn F. Eaton (’80) 1994-95 Murfreesboro, TNJohn E. Ellington (’56) 2001-02 Mufreesboro, TNEddie Freeland (’76) 1995-96 Bowling Green, KYGeorge E. Gardner (’57) 1990-91 Murfreesboro, TNCharles F. Harrell (’62) 1978-79 Woodbury, TNJohn D. Hood (’54, ’74) 1987-88 Murfreesboro, TNCharlene B. Key (’62, ’67, ’92) 1985-86 Lebanon, TNRichard C. Key (’62) 1993-94 Lebanon, TNBob Lamb (’69, ’77) 2006-07 Murfreesboro, TNBen Landers (’77) 2004-05 Knoxville, TNConnie G. Landers (’76) 1988-89 Shelbyville, TNL. Quentin Lane (’54) 1975-76 Chattanooga, TNJ. Devin McClendon (’96) 2007-08 Brentwood, TNJames E. McFarlin ('76) 1983-84 Murfreesboro, TNJames R. Powers (’72, ’73) 1996-97 Crossville, TNJohn F. Scarbrough (’69, ’71) 1989-90 Tullahoma, TNMartha W. Scarbrough (’64, ’67) 1976-78 Tullahoma, TNPaschal Shelton (’31) 1936-37 Christiana, TNLorraine Singer (’70, ’71, ’75) 2002-03 Winchester, TNRoss Spielman (’55, ’66) 1972-73 Murfreesboro, TNKenneth H. Summar Jr. (’84) 2000-01 Brentwood, TNSandra Y. Trail (’72) 2005-06 Murfreesboro, TN

Honors from Page 4Va.

John F. “Jeff” Whorley, an MTSUFoundation Board member and a formerMTSU Campus School student, agreed to serveas chair of the board. He retired as executivevice president for SLM Corp., commonly calledSallie Mae, which provides student loans.

Mathis said that in order for the board toachieve its mission, it would

• assist the college in realizing and main-taining a distinctive niche within the domainof higher education;

• provide consultation to the dean con-cerning the perceived needs of students andsociety in a changing world;

• promote public and student awarenessof the academic programs of the UniversityHonors College; and

• enhance academic quality through assis-tance in identifying and securing fundingsources.

In addition to its mission, the Board ofVisitors’ role is expanded so that the “broadintent is to support the aspirations and missionof the Honors College. In fulfilling its role, the

board is expected to facilitate fundraisingthrough personal giving in support of selectedprograms and projects; to provide advice andplanning support to help the Honors Collegemarshal resources through alumni, friends andfoundations; and to provide guidance and sup-port that will promote awareness and respectfor Honors College programs to the collegedean.”

“It’s truly a distinguished board,” saidMathis.

Other board members include James H.Bailey III, AIA, Johnson & Bailey Architects,PC, in Murfreesboro; Albert Cauz, headmasterat The Webb School in Bell Buckle; EmilHassan, retired senior vice president forNissan North America in Smyrna; H. LeeMartin, chairman of Abunga.com LLC inKnoxville; Dr. Utpal P. Patel, physician withthe Murfreesboro Medical Clinic andSurgiCenter; Nashville’s James A. Thorpe, vicepresident and general manager for theKentucky/Tennessee region for AT&T; andShelbyville’s Jim Tracy, Tennessee state senatorfrom the 16th Congressional District.

Princeton from Page 1In 2007, the Review surveyed a random

population of MTSU undergraduate studentsand praised their professors as “extremelyknowledgeable and very willing to meet withstudents outside of class.” One MTSU junioroffered that “if I’ve ever had a problem, theadministration and professor were there to helpme.”

McPhee said the designation by ThePrinceton Review reflects the values in the univer-sity’s “I’m ONE” marketing campaign of treat-ing each student as an individual.

As for future impact from the designation —in terms of increases in enrollment, retention,graduation rates and more scholarship dollars— McPhee said he’s not sure of the impact, butthinks “it will have an indirect impact on theperception that people have.

”Many folks out in the community haveobserved with great pride The Princeton Review’srating of the university as a 'Best Buy' designat-ing MTSU as one of the top universities in theregion. They know some good things have beenhappening with the university, and it’s good tosee that it’s being recognized externally. In

terms of promoting recruitment and the excite-ment of alums and non-alums, the impact is sig-nificant.”

McPhee said it is a special honor since “itrecognizes the good work of our faculty andstaff.

“... It doesn’t mean we have reached the pin-nacle or there is not any more work for us to do.Obviously, in terms of new facilities, in terms ofnew academic programs, doing a better job ofadvising our students (and) improving ourretention, it only means that we can get better.But I think it’s a very special designation thatparticularly our alums should be proud of. ”

The Princeton Review is a for-profit educa-tional company that offers test preparation forstandardized achievement tests and adviceregarding college admissions.

To read MTSU’s entry in the ranking, visitprincetonreview.com, register free and search for“Middle Tennessee State” in the school searchbox.

(The Offices of Marketing and Communicationand News and Public Affairs contributed to thisreport.)

8 The Alumni Record/mtalumni.com March 2008

By Rhonda Wright

Mark your calendars now to make historyas one of the first graduates of theAlumni Summer College at Middle

Tennessee State University.You can be part of this brand new experience

June 25-27 asyou return tocampus forour inauguralsession.AlumniSummerCollege willbe an annualopportunity toexpand yourknowledge ofinterestingsubjects withfellow MTalums.

ExploringOur Heritageis the themefor this year’scollege. A cur-riculum thatcombinesinnovativeclasses andentertainingtours has beenspecificallycreated withBlue Raidersin mind.

The col-lege will be acasual, fun-packed two-and-a-half days of learning,where you will take a refresher course on MT his-tory and discover little-known facts and forgottenmemories about the university.

You will learn how to preserve your own sto-ries through photographs and recordings so futuregenerations can better understand your heritage.

You will find out how to trace your family's pastand ensure it will positively impact the future.

As we look back at the history of MTSU, wewill tour Tennessee Miller Coliseum and hearabout the area’s rich equestrian legacy, and visitthe Floyd Stadium press box as we share the greattradition of MTSU football.

Alumni Summer College will begin withan opening barbeque on Wednesday night to befollowed by seven unique dining experiencesincluding dinner at a great Nashville establishmenton Friday.

The highlight of Alumni Summer College willbe our graduation trip to Nashville, where we will

study the heritage of country music as we walk inthe footprints of musical legends. You’ll get VIPtreatment as you tour backstage at both the RymanAuditorium and the Grand Ole Opry House. We’llend the night front and center in the audience ofthe world-famous Grand Ole Opry.

Reminisce about your good old days in col-lege while creatingnew memories.Imagine how funcollege can be withno quizzes!Alumni SummerCollege is open toMTSU alumni,adult family mem-bers and friends.Make plans toenroll today.

A detailed sched-ule, registrationinformation andtuition rates areposted at mtalum-ni.edu. The tuitionwill include yourclasses, meals,transportationfrom the AlumniHouse each day,transportation toand fromNashville, theRymanAuditorium tour,and the Grand OleOpry House tourand show ticket.

Alumni SummerCollege specialrates are available

at area hotels. Contact Rhonda Wright, alumni rela-tions assistant director, at rwright@mtsu.edu or call1-800-533-6878 with any questions.

Explore your heritage at MTSU’s first-time event Alumni Summer College

Martha Millsaps/MTSU Publications and Graphics

Pictured is the Dell corporate alumni tailgate group. To start a corporate alumnichapter, contact alumni relations’ Paul Wydra at 615-904-8199 or pwydra@mtsu.edu.

Corporate alumni chapters MTSU Office of Alumni Relations photo