MTSU Mondays: High schoolers explore ag, center hosts clothing drive

Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.

Raider Roundup gives high schoolers a glimpse of ag opportunities

Nearly 600 high school students recently at the annual Raider Roundup hosted by the School of Agriculture.

Abigayle Houser, from rural Pikeville, Tennessee, was one of those high schoolers who attended the events held at the Tennessee Livestock Center, Stark Agribusiness and Agriscience Center, Horticulture Center and Academic Classroom Building And at age 15, the Bledsoe County High School freshman may consider the university's Horse Science program in about four years.

Used as a recruiting tool, Raider Roundup brought teenagers — most of them involved in FFA and 4-H — from East, Middle and West Tennessee to campus for competitions in 17 agriculture-related events and to network with students and faculty. The event was hosted by MTSU Collegiate FFA.

Competition topics included land evaluation, pet care/veterinary science, milk quality, nursery/landscape, agronomy and more. Workshops also were held in agri-analytics, agricultural education, concrete and construction management and fermentation/distillation.

In the horse judging skills assessment competition with several dozen of her peers, Houser said she was “really enjoying my time on campus and excited to learn the correct way to evaluate the discipline.”

Kailee Scott, a junior animal science and public relations double major from Lebanon, Tennessee, and MTSU Collegiate FFA president, attended Raider Roundup while in high school and said “it’s nice to be able to give back to the organization (School of Agriculture) that’s given me so much — leadership skills and a place to feel my voice is heard.”

Chaney Mosley, assistant professor in Agricultural Education and associate director with the Tennessee STEM Education Center, praised the faculty, staff and students who volunteered. The center, Data Science, and School of Concrete and Construction Management were also involved with Raider Roundup events.

June Anderson Center collecting clothing for domestic violence center

The June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students is hosting a “comfy” bra drive throughout October in recognition of Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness Months and nonperishable food collection.

“We are collecting new bras, with tags, and comfy clothing like leggings, sweatpants and T-shirts for the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center of Rutherford County,” said Maigan Wipfli, director of the June Anderson Center.

New clothing will be accepted through Nov. 1 and donation boxes are located in the lobby of the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center, 1848 Blue Raider Drive; at the Communication Studies Department in Jones Hall, 624 Old Main Circle; June Anderson Center, Room 330 of SUC, 1768 MTSU Blvd.; and the MTSU Alumni House, 2259 Middle Tennessee Blvd. You can also email powerof1@mtsu.edu to schedule a pickup on campus.

Rutherford County’s domestic violence center prefers donations of wire-free bras. The clothing will be used for post-forensic examinations as well as given to those fleeing domestic violence. Comfort is key for those experiencing these situations, Wipfli explained.

The drive is a partnership with the June Anderson Center, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, and MTSU’s Power of One campus initiative to end gender-based violence.

“In order to do more programming and awareness, we paired the bra drive with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause near and dear to my heart,” said Wipfli, whose mother is a 30-year breast cancer survivor.

This marks the third year JAC has orchestrated the clothing drive. The first year 65 items were collected. Last year the goal was 75 and a total of 78 was donated. The goal this year is 85 items.

Thankful Thursday food drive

Now through Nov. 3, JAC will be collecting nonperishable/canned food that will be assembled and given out, while supplies last, from 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 9 in the Student Union Atrium.

Suggested items for the Thanksgiving meal bags include stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, condensed soup for casseroles, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, pie filling and can openers. Drop off items in Student Union Room 330 by noon Nov. 3 or email JACWNS@mtsu.edu for items to be picked up (on campus).

This event is sponsored by June Anderson Center, Student Government Association, Student Programming and Activities, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Organization and Service and MTSU Student Food Pantry.

MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MTSU Mondays: High schoolers explore ag, center hosts clothing drive