Tag Archives: Engineering

TSU students awarded Ascend Credit Union scholarships

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – First-generation college students at Tennessee State University are gaining well deserved recognition for their hard work and dedication. Recently, two TSU students received $5,000 scholarships from Ascend Federal Credit Union, aimed at supporting the educational pursuits of diverse, first-generation students across Middle Tennessee.

TSU students Dasia Rodgers of Flint, Michigan, and Dimitrius Ausby of Chicago, Illinois, were each awarded $5,000 for their academic achievements by the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee. The students’ respective colleges selected them as recipients of the Ascend scholarship.

Rodgers, a rising senior studying business administration, has a 3.84 GPA.

“You apply for so many scholarships and sometimes the chances of being selected are slim to none,” Rodgers said. “I was shocked when I received the email in June. I was really proud of myself.” She noted that being a first-generation college student is a goal that’s bigger than herself but also for her family. She looks forward to a career in the sports marketing industry after college. “It’s the reason why I put so much effort into my academics,” she said.

Ausby, a rising sophomore studying computer science, shared similar sentiments about being the first in his family to attend college. “I want to be better than the last generation, so I’m trying to pave the way for the next generations to come,” Ausby said. “And I feel blessed about this opportunity.”

Along with focusing on his career, Ausby is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Google Student Development Club, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Ausby said the scholarship will reduce financial burdens and will help him strive to become a data scientist after college.

The credit union also awarded scholarships to two students at Fisk University.

Ascend President and CEO Matt Jernigan said the power of education can transform lives and communities. “By awarding these scholarships to first-generation students at Fisk and TSU, we are not just investing in their futures, but also in the future of our Middle Tennessee communities,” Jernigan said. “We are proud to support these exceptional students as they embark on their educational journeys and strive to make a lasting impact on the world.”

Dr. Ashanti Chunn, the Assistant Director for TSUs You First Project, said championing first-generation students is critical and sponsoring their success reaches beyond academics. “It is laying the foundation to building a lasting footprint,” Chunn said.

“To be a first-generation student is to accept the opportunity to create a new heritage and to blaze a distinctive path for those over whom you have the greatest influence. Tennessee State University understands that this special group deserves every support that we can provide them and therefore their needs are at the center of the work that we are doing.”

Chunn noted that first-generation students are optimistic, courageous, resourceful and determined. “Undoubtedly, Dasia and Dimitrius possess these qualities and were aptly recognized for them.”

These scholarships not only ease financial burdens but also inspire the next generation of students. For more TSU first-generation resources, visit www.tnstate.edu/youfirst/ or www.tnstate.edu/fye/.

2022 TSU summer camps give students fun and real-world educational experience

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – As Summer officially starts this week, here’s a look at a few camps that TSU has to offer for students to have fun while engaging in educational enrichment activities.

While some camps were modified due to the pandemic last year, from activities around medical college knowledge to musical advancements, this year marks the return of more than 15 various summer camps.

Anthony Fallacaro, assistant director of Events Management, Camps and Programs, said this year’s activities include day camps and overnight housing for children from elementary school age up to post graduate students.  

“The camps and programs range from athletics, research programs, music, engineering and agriculture,” Fallacaro said. “This summer is especially exciting because we have so many of our camps and programs safely returning to campus after not happening due to the pandemic.”

Among the many programs at this year’s summer camps at
TSU is the eSports Center Summer Community Camp.
Students were introduced to virtual reality applications, game
design and coding. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Among the many exciting camps returning this year is the Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) Program that is intended to engage students, interacting with technology through on-campus summer intensive courses, as well as year-round mentoring. A partnership between TSU and Verizon, VIL gives the students a firsthand experience in “the vital role technology plays in today’s world, empowering them to become creators and makers,” a Verizon release said.


For the love of gaming, one of the newest camps is the Academic eSports Camp, where students learned about coding and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) programs. During the June 17 camp participants were introduced to virtual reality applications, game design and coding at TSU’s newly launched Academic eSports Center.

Although some of the early summer camps have come to an end, here is a list of camps that will begin in July:

  • Meharry Cancer Research: May 22 – July 30
  • Engineering Exploration Camp 2: July 18 -29
  • College of Agriculture: July 5- 29
  • National Summer Institute: July 5 – 29
  • Summer Piano Intensive: July 11- 22
  • Verizon Innovative Learning Program: July 11- 29
  • NPA Free Basketball Camp: July 26

For more information regarding upcoming summer camps at TSU, reach the Office of Events Management at [email protected].

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a  premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees.  TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee.  With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students  with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

37th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium set for March 30 – April 3

Noted molecular geneticist Dr. Georgia M. Dunston to deliver Symposium keynote address

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Every year, Tennessee State University students present their best works of exploration, research and invention to fellow students, faculty and the community at the Annual University-Wide Research Symposium. Now in its 37th year, the symposium will take place at the University March 30 – April 3.

Since 1979, TSU has held an annual research symposium – a University forum to recognize and commemorate excellence in student and faculty research, largely science, engineering, business and humanities disciplines, and a platform for students to present findings from ongoing and developed research to gain exposure and experience as either oral or poster presenters in an evaluative setting. The symposium serves as a foundation to provide students with authentic experiences in presenting their research before advancing to regional, national and international research symposia, and before beginning early years as professionals in life-long careers and disciplines.

The symposium is comprised of a week of interdisciplinary presentations by students and faculty members with students seeking competitive awards for their deliberative innovation that showcases the research process from laboratory to solution.

Continually themed “Research: Celebrating Excellence,” the symposium will be divided into oral presentations and poster presentations. This year, 143 graduate and undergraduate oral and poster presentations are expected to take place, along with 23 faculty oral and poster presentations.

Oral presentations will take place throughout the week in the Research and Sponsored Programs Building, Room 161,163 and 209. Poster presentations will take place in the Jane Elliot Hall Auditorium, Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2. Judging for poster presentations is scheduled to take place Thursday, April 2 from 9 until 11 a.m. for graduate posters, and 1until 3 p.m. for undergraduate posters.

Dr. Georgia M. Dunston, noted molecular geneticist, will be the featured keynote speaker officially opening the Symposium Monday, March 30 beginning at 2 p.m. in the E.T. Goins Recital Hall, located in the Performing Arts Center on the main campus. The keynote address is free and open to the public.

Dunston
Dr. Georgia M. Dunston

Dr. Dunston is the founding director of the National Human Genome Center (NHGC) at Howard University, and the director of the Molecular Genetics in the NHGC. The National Human Genome Center is a comprehensive resource for genomic research on African Americans and other African Diaspora populations, distinguished by a diverse social context for framing biology as well as the ethical, legal, and social implications of knowledge gained from the human genome project and research on genome variation.

Other events taking place during the week include:

Monday, March 31

Division of Nursing Research Day

7:30 am – 1 pm
James E. Farrell – Fred E. Westbrook Building, room 118
Poster Sessions, Luncheon Speaker and Awards Ceremony

Oral Presentations:
9 am – 12:15 pm         Graduate Engineering I, RSP 163
9 am – 12:15 pm         Graduate Sciences I (Human, Life, Natural and Physical), RSP 209
2 pm                            Opening Ceremony and Plenary Session
E.T. Goins Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center                                    Symposium Keynote Address by Georgia M. Dunston, Ph.D.

Tuesday, March 31

Oral Presentations:
9 am – 12:15 pm         Graduate Engineering II, RSP 209
9 am – 12:15 pm         Graduate Sciences II (Human, Life, Natural and Physical), RSP 163
1 pm – 4 pm                Graduate Sciences III (Human, Life, Natural and Physical), RSP 163
1 pm – 4 pm                Graduate Sciences IV (Human, Life, Natural and Physical), RSP 161

Psychology Research Day

2:30 pm
James E. Farrell – Fred E. Westbrook Building, 118
Oral and Poster presentations, Speaker and Awards

Wednesday, April 1

Oral Presentations:
9 am – Noon                Graduate Sciences V (Human, Life, Natural and Physical), RSP 163
9 am – 12:15 pm         Undergraduate Engineering, RSP 161
9 am – 11:45 am          Undergraduate Sciences (Human, Life, Natural and Physical), RSP 209

Thursday, April 2

Poster Presentations:
Posters will be displayed in the Jane Elliott Hall Auditorium – March 31 – April 2 

9 am – 11 am               Faculty Poster Session, Jane Elliott Hall Auditorium
9 am – 11 am               Graduate Poster Session and Judging, Jane Elliott Hall Auditorium
1 pm – 3 pm                Undergraduate Poster Session and Judging, Jane Elliott Hall Auditorium

Friday, April 3

Oral Presentations:
9 am – 11:30 am          Faculty, RSP 163

Noon – 2 pm               Awards Luncheon and Closing Ceremony
                                           James E. Farrell-Fred E. Westbrook Building, 118
Luncheon, Student and Research Mentor Awards, $1million Research Club Award
Speaker: Amos L. Otis, Founder, President and CEO, SoBran Inc.

For more information on the Research Symposium, visit www.tnstate.edu/research or contact Nannette Carter Martin, co-chair at 615.963.5827, or Tamara Rogers, co-chair at 615.963.1520.

RELATED

Georgia Dunston Featured Symposium Keynote Speaker

Sobran CEO Amos L. Otis Featured Speaker to Close Out Research Symposium April 3

 

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.