Here’s the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.
MTSU student earns ATHENA scholarship
Khadijah Alnassari of Nashville, Tennessee, was awarded a $3,000 Rutherford ATHENA scholarship by Rutherford Cable this year.
The organization also presented the ATHENA Award to the Rev. Martha Toucton of Murfreesboro and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award to Robin Seay of Murfreesboro. With 250 members, Rutherford Cable is a 10-year-old leadership organization for women’s professional advancement.
See photos: U.S. Army leader tours MTSU Daniels Center presented with plaque at Grand Ole Opry
Sports: MTSU football 2022 schedule has 11 of 12 kickoffs set, including all home games
A biology and sociology double major, Alnassari plans to use the scholarship to pay tuition.
“As an avid activist for women’s rights and inclusion, I was amazed to see how so many women came together to support and encourage one another,” said 39-year-old Alnassari, who enrolled at MTSU as a freshman 21 years ago.
A few weeks after first enrolling, the events, known collectively as “9/11,” led her to suspend her education following widespread Islamophobia — the dislike or prejudice against Islam or Muslims.
In fall 2020, with the nation in the grips of the pandemic, she re-enrolled at MTSU, and 14-year-old triplets — son Ahmed and daughters Fatimah and Zaynab — began a dual enrollment pre-med pathway and joined her in the journey. The triplets, now 15 and about to graduate from Metro Nashville Public School’s Virtual School, will have enough credits to be juniors this fall.
Alnassari also has devoted herself to outreach, education and inclusion of Muslims at MTSU, and her children. She received the Student Organization President of the Year at MTSU Award. All four earned the National Women’s History Month Trailblazer Award for work on diversity and inclusion on campus.
Alnassari has been the lead on two MTSU research teams and president of Al-Wahda, a United Muslim Association, dedicated to the understanding and inclusion of Muslims on campus.
They also all organized the first Festival of Veils in March.
In addition to the ATHENA scholarship, she has received these scholarships for the fall 2022 semester: Business and Professional Women’s Scholarship; Mairia Clark Sociology Major Scholarship; James Tillman Sociology Major Scholarship; George Davis Biology Major Scholarship; and the Pre-Professional Tate Family Scholarship.
MTSU plans to build aviation academy in Shelbyville
MTSU President Sidney McPhee talks about university’s plans to build an aviation academy at Shelbyville Municipal Airport.
Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
Fishing program grant
MTSU’s Blake Osborn, outdoor pursuits coordinator for Middle Tennessee Outdoor Pursuits, students were interested in a university fishing program. The slowdown during the pandemic allowed him to pursue it.
Osborn reached out to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, or TWRA, about fishing licenses and equipment, and his conversations led to the discovery of grant funds. Osborn applied for and landed $70,000 of those funds for a new fishing program — the first university outdoor recreation program in the state to do so.
Read this: What to know about the ceremony to honor legendary Middle Tennessee State track coach Dean Hayes
Previously: MTSU shooting: What we know about fatal shooting after Riverdale HS graduation
He used the funds that arrived at the end of 2021 to stock MTOP with poles, tackle, kayaks, paddleboards, cargo trailers, camping equipment, fly-fishing setups and more.
“With our new gear, we now offer complimentary fishing pole and tackle rentals, additional gear rentals at a discount, free fishing excursions and free fishing clinics,” Osborn said. “All these perks are available to both students and faculty, and all the gear is available for rent to the wider Murfreesboro community.”
The only requirement to take advantage of MTSU’s new fishing program is to show proof of a state fishing license, available for purchase online at tn.gov/twra/license-sales/fishing-licenses.html Cost is $9 for a one-day license and $38 for an annual license. MTOP will also offer a $30 rental credit for annual license holders.
Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com. Keep up with restaurant news by joining Good Eats in the ‘Boro (and beyond) on Facebook and follow Murfreesboro Eats on TikTok.
Credit: Source link
