University College
University College Awards
2024 Winners
Outstanding Undergraduate Student
Yvonne Lee
My journey at Middle Tennessee State University has been one of continuous growth, reinforced by a major that emphasizes the real-world application of leadership. Majoring in Integrated Studies with a focus on Applied Leadership has been a deliberate choice to blend academic knowledge with practical application.
Outstanding Graduate Student
Angela Harris-Huell
Ms. Harris-Huell consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, consistently achieving outstanding results in their coursework. Her dedication to learning was evident in her exceptional grades in my class as well as across various subjects while pursuing her degree. Not only does Ms. Harris-Huell excel academically, but she also possesses a remarkable ability to apply her knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Student Success Award
Jasper Sanders
Jasper has acquired invaluable skills, knowledge, and insights that will undoubtedly shape his future endeavors. To fellow students grappling with similar challenges, Jasper offers invaluable advice drawn from his own experiences. He advocates for resilience, perseverance, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Additionally, he underscores the importance of seeking support from peers, mentors, and available resources within the academic and C100 community.
Outstanding Online Student
Andrew Michael
I believe that Andrew’s commitment to his studies, his leadership skills, and his independence will propel him through to completion with a high level of success. As demonstrated in his coursework including my general chemistry course, his success in the supplemental instruction program, and his research accomplishments, I believe Andrew is an excellent candidate for this award.
Dennis Bain Memorial Scholarship
Dustin Gober
To be a firefighter, soldier, or most importantly a Marine, you must show an exceptional level of resilience. Every single day will test you due to the unknown. The calls constantly change, there are always obstacles or some form of adversity that you will be required to face. I have helped people come into the world and I have also been with people when they took their final breaths. It affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Outstanding Alumni
Julie Baker
The communication and leadership classes that I was enrolled in helped guide me to the career that I think was meant for me. I enjoy helping and teaching others through my experiences and from what I have learned in past successes and failures. I have continued to advance in my career with MTSU since earning my degree and hope to continue to do so. As a current Enrollment Coordinator in the MT One Stop at MTSU, I consider myself to be a public servant to our community of prospective and current college students. I am always willing to go the extra mile to assist students and many of them come into the office and ask for me by name. This always brightens my day as this means that they value my advice and trust that I will guide them in the right direction.
Outstanding Faculty Award (Tenure Track)
Timothy Nelson
In the realm of service, Dr. Nelson’s efforts have significantly contributed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within our institution. His willingness to go above and beyond in serving the needs of our department should not go unnoticed as he has served in varying capacities and always with an eager willingness. Dr. Nelson’s commitment to always putting students first in his teaching, research, and service is exactly why he deserves this award.
Outstanding Faculty Award (Non-Tenure)
Michele. Baird
Her lessons are designed to keep students engaged while addressing critical strategies necessary for university reading. Michele is organized, flexible, and cares deeply about student success. I am aware of examples of her going above-and-beyond to reach out to students and to ensure that they have excellent academic support. Michele works very well with colleagues and makes very strong contributions in collaborative planning.
Outstanding Faculty Award (Adjunct)
Joanne Coggins
In her Read 1000 course, Dr. Coggins not only imparts academic knowledge but also cultivates invaluable soft skills applicable both within and beyond the classroom. One of Dr. Coggins’ standout qualities is her unwavering dedication to ensuring every student feels valued and understood. By seamlessly integrating course material with real-life experiences, she facilitates a deeper understanding and retention of concepts. Her approach creates a learning environment where each student’s voice is heard and respected.
Outstanding Online Faculty Award
Ann Mulhearn
Dr. Mulhearn has made an admirable commitment to constant reinvention and improvement. This includes reworking her courses to integrate open-access resources. In particular, she has switched to an OER textbook, American Yawp, which means students do not need to worry about cost when obtaining course materials. She also includes H5P, podcasts, and other student-friendly technologies in her course shells. Her students benefit from such a personalized approach.
Dean’s Staff Award
Matt Hannah
Many of these students and parents have apprehension regarding the admission and registration process or their ability to complete college-level work, and it’s very gratifying to work with all the stakeholders to instill confidence and a sense of direction. The UC is a tremendous place to work to have a direct impact on college students of all ages. The supportive leadership allows opportunities to work around the silos so often found in higher education.
Student and Alumni Awards
The Outstanding Student Award recognizes a student majoring in Integrated or Professional Studies who has achieved a high level of success in the classroom, has effectively applied their learning to life outside the classroom, and has made contributions outside the classroom.
Students are not required to be nominated and can be eligible by emailing required documents, a letter from faculty and a short essay, to Hunter Patterson at hunter.patterson@mtsu.edu.
Award: $500 stipend or scholarship applied toward the following semester
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have a minimum of 60 hours coursework completed
- Majoring in Integrated Studies or Professional Studies Degree programs.
- Meet one of the following GPA requirements:
- Overall GPA 3.5 GPA
- Achieved Dean’s List (3.5 GPA) for two semesters out of the last 4 semesters of enrollment
- GPA of 3.5 for the last 24 credit hours
Application Criteria:
- A letter of support from an MTSU faculty member that provides specific examples of outstanding achievement in coursework.
- A short essay by the given deadline.
Essay prompt:
The essay should be no less than 500 and no more than 750 words. The essay should address the following criteria:
- Explain your approach to learning that has yielded academic success.
- How have you applied course content to life outside the classroom (work, community, volunteering, campus organizations, etc.)
- Use recent accomplishments to demonstrate that you are a good candidate for this award (awards, honors, scholarships, promotions, etc.).
The Outstanding Student Award recognizes a student who has achieved a high level of success in the classroom, has effectively applied their learning to life outside the classroom, and has made contributions outside the classroom.
Students are not required to be nominated and can be eligible by emailing required documents, a letter from faculty and a short essay, to Hunter Patterson at hunter.patterson@mtsu.edu.
Award: $500 stipend or scholarship applied toward the following semester
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have a minimum of 15 hours graduate coursework completed
- Majoring in Master of Professional Studies Degree.
- Meet one of the following GPA requirements
- Overall GPA 3.5 GPA
- GPA of 3.5 for the last 18 credit hours
Application Criteria:
- A letter of support from an MTSU faculty member that provides specific examples of outstanding achievement in coursework.
- A short essay by the given deadline.
Essay prompt:
The essay should be no less than 500 and no more than 750 words. The essay should address the following criteria:
- Explain your approach to learning that has yielded academic success.
- Describe how you have you applied course content to life outside the classroom (work, community, volunteering, campus organizations, etc.)
- Use recent accomplishments to demonstrate that you are a good candidate for this award (awards, honors, scholarships, promotions, etc.).
The Student Success Award recognizes an MTSU student who has shown resilience, had to make sacrifices, effectively balanced multiple priorities, and has shown recent academic success.
Students are not required to be nominated and can be eligible by emailing required documents, a letter of support and a short essay, to Hunter Patterson at hunter.patterson@mtsu.edu.
Award: $500 stipend or scholarship applied toward the following semester
Eligibility Requirements:
▪ Undergraduate status applicable
▪ Undergraduates must have a minimum of 30 hours coursework completed
▪ Must have utilized services offered by the Office of Student Success, such as participation in Scholars Academy, S.T.A.R, REBOUND workshops, or other resources, and be able to demonstrate the ways in which the utilization of such resources has contributed to their academic success.
▪ No minimum GPA requirement
Application Criteria:
1. A letter of support from a faculty member, employer, friend, or other acquaintance that provides specific examples of outstanding achievement.
2. A short essay by the given deadline.
Essay prompt:
The essay should be no less than 500 and no more than 750 words. The essay should address the following:
Reflect on a significant achievement or personal growth experience that has contributed to your overall success as a student. Describe the challenges you faced, the actions you took to overcome them, and the lessons you learned in the process. How has this experience shaped your academic journey and prepared you for future endeavors?
- Achievement or Growth: What achievement or growth experience are you choosing to reflect on, and why is it significant to you? How did this impact your academic journey?
- Actions or Strategies: Describe the specific actions or strategies you implemented to overcome these challenges and how did you navigate obstacles or setbacks along the way?
- Reflection: How has this experience influenced your approach to learning and academic success, and how to you plan to apply the skills, knowledge, and insights gained from this experience to your future academic and professional plans? What advice would you offer to other students who may be facing similar challenges or seeking to achieve similar success?
This award recognizes an MTSU graduate from a University College Major who has had outstanding achievement in their career, public service, and/or volunteer activities.
Award: Technology gift basket (Approximate value $500)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Have graduated with a Bachelors or Master’s degree offered in MTSU’s University College.
Application Criteria:
In order to be considered for this award, distinguished Alumni must submit the following documentation:
- A letter that describes the way a University College education prepared the student to reach specific achievement in their career, public service, or volunteer activities (Maximum 2 pages).
- A resume that demonstrates outstanding achievement in one or more of these areas: public service, volunteer activities, or career achievement.
- One letter of support that addressed either public service, volunteer activities, or career achievement.
The Outstanding Online Student Award recognizes a student who has achieved a high level of success in an online course at MTSU, has effectively applied their learning to life outside the classroom, and has made contributions outside the classroom.
Students are not required to be nominated and can be eligible by emailing required documents, a letter from faculty and a short essay, to Hunter Patterson at hunter.patterson@mtsu.edu.
Award: $500 stipend or scholarship applied toward the following semester
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have been enrolled in at least one online course in Spring of 204 or Fall of 2023.
- Meet one of the following GPA requirements:
- Overall GPA 3.5 GPA
- GPA of 3.5 for the last 24 credit hours
Undergraduates must have a minimum of 60 hours coursework completed; Graduate students must have a minimum of 15 hours completed
Application Criteria:
- A letter of support from a faculty member that provides specific examples of outstanding achievement in coursework.
- A short essay by the given deadline.
Essay prompt:
The essay should be no less than 500 and no more than 750 words. The essay should address the following criteria:
- Explain your approach to online learning that has yielded academic success.
- How have you applied course content to life outside the classroom (work, community, volunteering, campus organizations, etc.)
- Use recent accomplishments to demonstrate that you are a good candidate for this award (awards, honors, scholarships, promotions, etc.).
Available Scholarships
To be considered for the Dennis Bain Memorial Scholarship, applicants must be a non-traditional student who is currently enrolled at MTSU and has taken at least 1 distance learning course. Apply here. Note: Student may see a pop-up on the scholarship website saying the deadline for applying is February 15. Please ignore that notification and apply for the scholarship. The deadline is April 11.
Scholarship Award: $1,000 scholarship applied toward following semester
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have a minimum of 60 hours of coursework completed
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
Criteria:
- The essay should be no less than 500 and no more than 750 words. The essay should address the following:
- Discuss how you have shown resilience.
- Describe the sacrifices you’ve made personally and professionally to be at MTSU.
- Explain your commitments and how you have balanced multiple priorities effectively.
- Provide examples of recent academic success. Academic success is broadly defined and student may discuss any class or semester experience/assignment, etc. in which they have succeeded. Students may go beyond the discussion of their GPA.
Faculty / Staff Awards
This award provides recognition to those who demonstrate a quality of performance that indicates they will continue to develop into an exemplary employee. The employee shows passion for their work while exemplifying professionalism and dedication to the mission of their department and the College.
The employee demonstrates a combination of the following:
- Responds positively to requests for assistance
- Routinely goes above and beyond expectations when completing tasks
- Enhances customer service by acting promptly and efficiently in a professional and courteous manner even under stressful circumstances
Award: Funding for professional development or items and equipment that may support the work environment. (Approximate value $500)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Nominees must be full-time classified, administrative or professional staff members in the University College with a minimum of two (2) years of continuous service as a full-time benefitted employee who has not received this award in the past three (3) years.
- Must be rated as a successful contributor or per the performance evaluation metrics and has not had any disciplinary actions within the last 12 months
- Must be nominated by a student or current member of the Faculty or Staff within the University College. Self-nominations are not considered.
- Submit the following application documents:
- Current resumè (no more than 2 pages)
- 1-page essay illustrating what it means to the nominee to work in University College and the impact they provide to students, staff, faculty, and the University as a whole.
- Letter of support from direct supervisor (no more than 1 page)
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments in service, research, and teaching of a tenure-track and tenure faculty member teaching in the University College.
Award: Funding for professional development and/or materials and equipment that can be used for instructional enhancement. Items must be approved and adhere to university guidelines for purchasing (Approximate value $1,000)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be in a full time tenure track or tenured position and have been employed in the department for at least one year full time.
- Must be nominated by a current member of the Faculty or Staff within the University College. Self-nominations are not considered.
- Has not received this award in the past three (3) years.
Application Criteria:
- Letter explaining why you are a good candidate for this award in relation to service, research, teaching (no more than 2 pages)
- Electronic OFD for August 1, 2019 to current
- Letter of support from one faculty member who can address the quality of your teaching, engagement and mentoring of students, and course/curriculum development.
- 1-Page statement of support from a student enrolled in a class you taught who can speak to the effectiveness of your teaching.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of an adjunct faculty member teaching in the University College.
Award: Funding for professional development and/or materials and equipment that can be used for instructional enhancement. Items must be approved and adhere to university guidelines for purchasing (Approximate value $500)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must have taught in the academic year of application and at least two course sections at MTSU as an adjunct over at least two previous semesters.
- Must be nominated by a current member of the Faculty or Staff within the University College. Self-nominations are not considered.
- Has not received this award in the past three (3) years.
Application Criteria:
- Applicant must have taught in the academic year of application and at least three courses at MTSU as an adjunct over at least two previous semesters.
- Submit the following application documents:
- One-Page Teaching Philosophy statement.
- Samples of instructional or supplemental materials created by the faculty member (i.e., News feed posts, class wide emails, handouts, short instructional videos, etc.). Include a brief description of the need you saw and how the materials you developed addressed that need and aided student learning. (no more than 10 pages)
- One page summary of student evaluations or teaching results of last 15 credit hours.
- Letter of support from one faculty member who can address the quality of your teaching, effectiveness of instructional materials, use of effective pedagogical practices, and/or engagement of students. (no more than 1 page)
- One-Page statement of support from a student enrolled in a class you taught who can speak to the effectiveness of your teaching.
Description:
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a full-time non-tenured / tenure-track faculty member teaching in the University College.
Award: Funding for professional development and/or materials and equipment that can be used for instructional enhancement. Items must be approved and adhere to university guidelines for purchasing (Approximate value $1,000)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be in a full time temporary (non-tenured track) position.
- Applicant must have taught in the academic year of application and at least for two semesters.
- Must be nominated by a student or current member of the Faculty or Staff within the University College. Self-nominations are not considered.
- Has not received this award in the past three (3) years.
- Submit the following application documents:
- 1-Page Teaching Philosophy statement.
- Samples of instructional or supplemental materials created by the faculty member (i.e., News feed posts, class wide emails, handouts, short instructional videos, etc.) Include a brief description of the need you saw and how the materials you developed addressed that need and aided student learning. (No more than 10 pages)
- One page summary of student evaluations or teaching results of last 15 credit hours.
- Letter of support from one faculty member who can address the quality of your teaching, effectiveness of instructional materials, use of effective pedagogical practices, and/or engagement of students. (no more than 1 page)
- 1-Page statement of support from a student enrolled in a class you taught who can speak to the effectiveness of your teaching.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a full-time faculty member teaching in the online format.
Award: Funding for professional development and/or materials and equipment that can be used for instructional enhancement. Items must be approved and adhere to university guidelines for purchasing (Approximate value $1,000)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be in a full time position and teaching an online course in either Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024.
- Applicant must have taught in the academic year of application and at least for two semesters.
- Must be nominated by a student or current member of the Faculty or Staff. Self-nominations are not considered.
- Has not received this award in the past three (3) years.
Application Criteria:
- 1-Page Teaching Philosophy statement.
- Samples of instructional or supplemental materials created by the faculty member (i.e., News feed posts, class wide emails, handouts, short instructional videos, etc.) Include a brief description of the need you saw and how the materials you developed addressed that need and aided student learning. (No more than 10 pages)
- One page summary of student evaluations or teaching results of last 15 credit hours.
- Letter of support from one faculty member who can address the quality of your teaching, effectiveness of instructional materials, use of effective pedagogical practices, and/or engagement of students. (no more than 1 page)
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of an advisor in University College.
Award: Funding for professional development or items and equipment that may support the work environment. (Approximate value $500)
Nominees should demonstrate advising qualities and practices that go beyond the acceptable departmental expectations, including:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Mastery of institutional regulations, policies and procedures
- Accessibility to advisees, faculty or staff
- Ability to engage in, promote and support developmental advising
- Frequent contact with advisees
- Appropriate referral activity
- Use and dissemination of appropriate information sources
- Participation in and support of advising professional development
- activities
- Success rate of advisees
- Colleagues’ perception of nominees advising skills
- Caring, helpful attitude toward advisees, faculty and staff
- Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with advisees
Application Criteria
- Recommendation letters (two) from a student, colleague or administrator who can speak to the nominee’s demonstrated practices and qualities as an academic advisor.
- Nominee’s personal statement describing their approach to advising and presenting the specific advising practices they currently use. (300 word max)
Nomination Form
Past Award Winners
Outstanding Undergraduate Student
Kimberly Hughes
Being the oldest one in my classes, I sort of stand out. I enjoy showing the young students that they can keep learning at any age. School provides me the ability to be around people and keep learning and moving forward in my life as a widow when my husband died. Recently, I, along with three others, wrote a book about our personal journeys. We named it “The Promise”. I wrote about the struggles I had endured losing our business, having no insurance, filing bankruptcy and eventually losing our home. All this and stayed a full-time student at MTSU and kept a 4.0 GPA.
Outstanding Graduate Student
Ashlin Murphy
Not only has Ashlin maintained a strong A average throughout the term and is the top student in the class, but her thorough and thoughtful write-ups on the first two research articles were also robust. This included a video presentation that demonstrated her knowledge of the research article and her ability to present the salient points in a short amount of time. She is very patient, and diligent, and demonstrates a positive attitude. This was an online class, which requires even more mindfulness and motivation.
Student Achievement Award
Francheska Cermeno
What stands out about Francheska is that her goals are to help others. She is working for a United Way agency and hopes to pursue a career in the nonprofit world. Her life is based around forward movement and focus on others rather than entitlement and self-focus. Francheska perfectly fits your requirements for this award. She has overcome a variety of adversities. She currently juggles work, motherhood and school. She does all of this while thinking of others and working towards a more positive future for everyone.
Outstanding Online Student
Anna Renshaw
My success revolves around integrity. Integrity plays a major part in the relationship between the student and the online professor. With classes online, there is a level of trust that must be held between the professor and the student. Overall, while being an online student I have learned to value integrity as a core principle.
Dennis Bain Memorial Scholarship
Bentley Hickman
I’ve persevered through deployments while in the Army for almost nine years, I’ve persevered through melanoma, and through being an older non-traditional student dominated by younger peers. Working and going to school has been hard on me and my family leaving me with little time for them or myself in order to maintain school assignments and a work schedule and have time for homework as well as class. I know it is only temporary and that is what has given me the strength to keep moving forward.
Outstanding Alumni
Rob Janson
Rob has been named one of Murfreesboro Magazine’s 20 under 40 for his significant contributions to his profession and community. His perseverance, dedication, and hard work make him a prime candidate for the MTSU University College Outstanding Alumni Award. I believe that he will continue to make meaningful contributions to MTSU, his field, and the community.
Outstanding Faculty Award (Tenure Track)
Scott McDaniel
Scott is an excellent instructor. He works very hard to make his classes engaging and employs active learning. He also plans fun, engaging activities for his on-ground students so that they can have some hands-on activities as they learn math, which can sometimes seem boring or abstract to students. Also, Scott utilizes technology to enhance his teaching and has been recognized with MTSU’s Technology in Teaching Award. Furthermore, he has revised his classes to include integrative and reflective thinking as part of his MT Engage classes. This takes extra time but Scott believes in continuous pedagogical improvement.
Outstanding Faculty Award (Non-Tenure)
Amy Stickle
Coming from a student that always struggled with math, Mrs. Stickle made math easy to comprehend, fun to learn, and overall made college algebra stress free. She enforced rules in her classroom that made students engage in the lesson, follow along with notes, and made sure nobody got off topic. Every professor should be like Mrs. Stickle, I recommend her to anyone who might take a course she teaches. She is respectful to her students; she wants us to learn and of course, do well on her test.
Outstanding Faculty Award (Adjunct)
Liz Madaris
Professor Madaris always works with her students and makes sure we have a good foundation to continue to develop skillsets and knowledge to be successful in any business environment we find interesting. She motivates us to network, listen effectively, and have confidence in our communications.
Outstanding Online Faculty Award
Bryanna Licciardi
The course materials in Dr. Licciardi’s D2L shell are accessible and well-organized, and invite students to reflect on their work throughout the semester. The most recent discussion board invitation asks students currently participating in writing internships to take stock of the work they’ve done and consider how they’ll transfer their learning to new professional opportunities. Since reflective writing is central to the course, I was very pleased to see the support Dr. Licciardi provided her students in their reflective writing.
Outstanding Advisor Award
Denise Seyl
Denise is everything I need and more in terms of academic and emotional support during this exciting new journey in my life. She answers every question quickly and precisely. I have, at times, inundated her with questions to help me plan my academic career wisely. Without fail, she calls or emails me with support, compassion, and empathy. Further, she notifies me of events that could assist me financially and professionally. Denise sincerely cares about the students to which she is entrusted. She fully embodies the role of an academic advisor by bringing holistic support to students as we navigate challenges on our road to success.
Dean’s Staff Award
Kim Godwin
During her almost 4 years with our college, she has proven herself as an asset in the growth and development of our courses and programs. Her expertise in online education has laid the groundwork for much of our ongoing success. Dr. Godwin has a commitment to academic excellence and promotes this with her colleagues. I often receive compliments from those faculty she serves about her dedication and awareness of student needs. She is an educator at heart, making student learning and success her top priority.
Pamela Morris
Dr. Morris has been a leader since the beginning of her time in the college and just led the MPS program through a very successful review. The reviewer, which was from a very prestigious university, had nothing but good things to say about the program and Dr. Morris’s leadership. For her work on that alone would qualify her for this nomination. However, in addition to her work as the coordinator of the MPS program, she has mentored faculty members teaching in the MPS program and the college as a whole. She is a team player and greatly contributes to the department’s success.Lastly she is very student centered and goes above and beyond to help her students succeed.
Outstanding Full Time non-tenure Faculty
Joy Gray
She has been a tremendous asset to the department in fulfilling teaching responsibilities for students enrolled in the Summer Scholars Academy. She has a reputation for going to great lengths to help her students be successful. Students often come to me with requests to overload her full course sections! If they have had her for one course, they feel they must have her for another.
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty
John Hall
John goes above and beyond to assist his students. He receives outstanding scores on his Student Evaluations (SETs) and positive comments. He attends all trainings and is always trying to improve his teaching. John has demonstrated a high quality of engagement in his online teaching as well as providing students with actionable feedback to improve their work in his classes. I think he is very worthy of this award.
Outstanding Online Faculty
Janet McCormick
Over the past 20+ years, Dr. McCormick has designed and taught more than 20 fully online courses. All her courses are designated as EXL (experiential learning) with interactive and hands-on learning assignments incorporated into the online course. Her sections fill immediately due to the word of mouth from other students, and her student evaluations are always significantly above the department and university average.
Outstanding Alumni
Teresa Lynne Young
Lynne worked full-time while earning her Bachelor’s degree and MPS degree at MTSU. She has been working for her organization for 40 years and has gone to school part time earning a 4.0 in her MPS program that she will complete in May 2022. Lynne has gone out of her way to support the MPS program and is the first one to reach out when information is needed for the program. She also participated in the MPS Program review.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student
Julie Witt
Julie came back to school after many years away. She is an exemplary student with a killer GPA and was recently accepted to participate in the Critical Language Scholarship Program sponsored by the US State Department. She earned 28 hours of PLA and has really shown how beneficial MTSU can be to the adult student. She pays close attention to details in all assignment submissions. She does not hesitate to clarify directions and proactively addresses questions. Additionally, she offers valuable suggestions to classmates in class discussions, and her discussion posts are exemplary.
Outstanding Graduate Student
Anna Flora
Having Anna in two very difficult courses has given me the opportunity to see her in a variety of situations. She is the kind of person who can take difficult assignments and make them successful with little or no supervision but knows when to ask questions. She communicates well and has the capacity to draw from assigned readings and other materials to offer insightful comments in both written work and verbal remarks. I consider her an outstanding person who is driven to excel.
Student Achievement
Ashely Cooper
Ashley is a dedicated student who is always prepared for class. She contributes to class discussion. She also submits work in a timely manner. She communicates when she cannot attend classes. All the things a faculty member wants in a student. She is married and raising a son while going to school full time. She served in the military after high school and then worked full time. She has shown resilience in completing the associates and then returning to earn her bachelors.
Outstanding Online Student
Joshua Schlee
Joshua submits well-written and thoughtful assignments. He participates in meaningful ways, such as furthering online discussions with other students. His discussion responses extend far beyond a basic response. These individualized focused responses make it possible for many students to benefit from Joshua’s insightful responses. I believe his desire and eagerness to learn is the passion that causes him to excel in all that he does.
Dennis Bain Scholarship
Michael Butkevicius
For me, coming back to school is a way for me to improve my life and become a better person. I can take pride in my decision to be here and try my hardest every day. It certainly is not easy. However, it is particularly rewarding taking pride in my work after finishing up a stressful week or busy day. I am taking summer classes the next two years, so I can graduate early. I chose to give up a lot to pursue my education… I want to take advantage of all the resources available to me. Every day I wake up, I make a conscious decision to learn and make the most of my college experience.
Dean’s Staff Award
Betsy Taylor
Ms. Taylor is a quiet force in our department and college. Ms. Taylor is thoughtful, kind, and always helpful. She goes out of her way to find answers for you. She exceeds all of these qualifications: Responds positively to requests for assistance; goes above and beyond expectations when completing tasks; enhances customer service by acting promptly and efficiently even under stressful circumstances.
Student Achievement Award
Emily Hargrove
Her expedited success in her assigned role and her contributions in HR has solidified Emily as a key team member at the Coffee County Bank. What makes these contributions even more remarkable is the fact that Emily was holding down a few other full time positions, mother, caregiver, spouse, and student. I simply do not know how she has maintained the steady stamina it has taken to survive the last 2 years, much less achieve at the very high standard in a new industry while excelling educationally.
The Achievement Award recognizes a student who has shown resilience, has had to make sacrifices, has effectively balanced multiple priorities, and has shown recent academic success.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
JV Millner-Criss
His willingness to take feedback and make improvements was very impressive. He was also willing to put in extra effort to ensure he was producing quality work, including scheduling appointments with me to review his work and to review assignment requirements to ensure he was on the right track. He was able to maintain an overall 3.648 GPA while also being a starting player for the MTSU men’s basketball team and attending three schools.
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Mary Ann Griffiths
Mary Ann is an exceptional graduate student and a joy to have in class. She not only has earned an outstanding average, but she embodies the excelling adult non-traditional learner. She takes her classroom learning and applies it to her workplace, and then she returns the content back to the classroom with stories and applications. She is an exceptional student and human.
The Outstanding Student Award recognizes a student who has achieved a high level of success in the classroom, has effectively applied their learning to life outside the classroom, and has made contributions outside the classroom.
Dennis Bain Scholarship
Jessie Allen
The Dennis Bain Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a non-traditional student who is currently enrolled at MTSU and has taken at least 1 distance learning course.
Outstanding Adjunct Award
Patsy Davis
She brings excellence to everything she does. She has been a long-time adjunct for univ 1010, providing exceptional instruction for years. never one to shy away from a challenge, Mrs. Davis moved to online teaching in the fall of 2019 and simply knocked it out of the park. She provided excellent feedback and encouragement to her students, she helped students be motivated towards their school work, and the results were a nearly 90% course completion rate amongst her students.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of an adjunct faculty member teaching in the University College.
Outstanding Non-Tenure Track Faculty Award
Jonell Hinsey
I loved how Professor Hinsey took the time to truly correct and talk to me on how i can strengthen my assignments. I felt comfortable asking questions and Professor Hinsey was extremely helpful when Imay have run across issues in the course. One of the best professors I have had at MTSU
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a full-time non-tenured / tenure-track faculty member teaching in the University College.
Outstanding Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty Award
Ryan Korstange
In relation to the requirements of service, research, and teaching, Ryan is outstanding in all three areas. His contributions to service on our campus are vast. lastly, in addition to receiving very positive evaluations and comments from students in his classes, he also serves as a mentor to many of his students who are completing honors thesis or other research.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments in service, research, and teaching of a tenure-track and tenure faculty member teaching in the University College.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Garri Shannon
His own personal struggles do not limit his drive and passion, which speaks highly of his character as well. He is devoted to service and volunteering to support those around him with greater needs. His commitment to bettering himself and his community is what we hope for in our students and alumni and he exemplifies these characteristics in his daily life
This award recognizes an MTSU graduate from a University College Major who has had outstanding achievement in their career, public service, and/or volunteer activities.
Dean’s Staff Award
Marlene Lane
Marlene expresses enthusiasm, initiative, and devotion to her job in visible ways. she goes beyond the call of duty when planning faculty annual training events. She works with our food service vendor in planning the menu and arranging a time for set-up and pick-up. she always arrives early (even on a saturday) to make sure the room is accommodating. She is quick to note and respond to the needs of others. she will do whatever she can to address that need by sometimes suggesting non-conventional and out-of-the-box solutions to departmental concerns.
This award provides recognition to employees who demonstrate a quality of performance that indicates they will continue to develop into an exemplary employee. The employee shows passion for their work while exemplifying professionalism and dedication to the mission of their department and the College.
Student Achievement Award
Clarissa Tucker
She continuously displays a great attitude, strong work ethic, and calming demeanor on a daily basis. She is a great team member, and truly an asset to our organization. I would recommend Clarissa without hesitation to receiveThe Student Achievement Award.
The Achievement Award recognizes a student who has shown resilience, has had to make sacrifices, has effectively balanced multiple priorities, and has shown recent academic success.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
Gina Fountain
Mrs. Fountain is committed to learning, to getting her research right, and to understanding the concepts that underly her research accurately. This commitment to excellence – not just expressed in receiving high scores on the assignments, but in understanding the underlying concepts well – is unique amongst undergraduate students.
The Outstanding Student Award recognizes a student who has achieved a high level of success in the classroom, has effectively applied their learning to life outside the classroom, and has made contributions outside the classroom.
Dennis Bain Scholarship
Juliet Hahn
The Dennis Bain Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a non-traditional student who is currently enrolled at MTSU and has taken at least 1 distance learning course.
Outstanding Adjunct Award
Layne Bryant
In the qualitative feedback, several students noted her responsiveness as a strength as well as stating she was helpful, provided examples, and showed how to apply the information to the real world. Students consistently note that she cares about students and was willing to answer questions outside of class.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of an adjunct faculty member teaching in the University College.
Outstanding Non-Tenure Track Faculty Award
Pamela McCluney
Pam has been assigned new faculty to mentor for several years. She has also conducted observations of on ground and online courses providing valuable feedback to instructors. Although the online courses she teaches are already developed, Pam regularly creates supplemental materials for her courses and willingly shares those with others.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a full-time non-tenured / tenure-track faculty member teaching in the University College.
Outstanding Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty Award
Dianna Rust
Dr. Rust goes above and beyond to ensure the success of her students. She has presented me with many opportunities to further develop myself as a student and professional. She makes sure her students are taken care of and have all of the tools they need. She has played a huge role in my success at MTSU.
This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments in service, research, and teaching of a tenure-track and tenure faculty member teaching in the University College.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Chloe Truitt
I can say without hesitation that she is truly an exemplary ‘True Blue’ member of the MTSU University College alumni and is most deserving of this award. It is evident from her current accomplishments that she is an excellent representative of the Master of Professional Studies program.
This award recognizes an MTSU graduate from a University College Major who has had outstanding achievement in their career, public service, and/or volunteer activities.
Dean’s Staff Award
Billie Jean Brown
Billie Jean takes it upon herself to provide exceptional support and service to not only the Dean of the college but also the staff in the University College. She is very detailed in her work and takes on tasks with a great deal of enthusiasm. She is helpful, caring, resourceful, and happy to offer service no matter the task.
This award provides recognition to employees who demonstrate a quality of performance that indicates they will continue to develop into an exemplary employee. The employee shows passion for their work while exemplifying professionalism and dedication to the mission of their department and the College.
Contact Us
Our offices are located at 503 E. Bell Street, off Greenland Drive, in Murfreesboro.
Main Number 615-494-7714
Beverlee Bohn, UC Receptionist, 615-494-7714
Andrea Medlin, UC Receptionist, 615-494-7714