(MURFREESBORO) Middle Tennessee Christian School earned the Secretary of State's Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award by registering 100% of the eligible students who are 18 or older to vote.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett said, "I am proud to celebrate Middle Tennessee Christian School reaching 100% voter registration by presenting them with our Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Award.  Congratulations to the students, the faculty and staff and the Rutherford County Election Commission. I applaud your commitment to civic engagement."

The Secretary of State's office launched the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program for the 2021-2022 school year to promote voter registration among Tennessee high school students. High schools that register 100% of the eligible students earn the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. High schools that register at least 85% of the eligible students earn the Anne Dallas Dudley Silver Level Award.

Rutherford County Election Administrator Alan Farley noted, “I wish each of our schools had a Lynn Burkey! MTCS ranks at the top of schools every year in Rutherford County for registering their students to vote.  The role of government and more importantly, voting in local, state, and federal elections is emphasized every year by Mr. Burkey in the classroom. To achieve 100 percent in anything you do today is nearly impossible. There is no one better to receive this award than MTCS and Mr. Burkey. I hope this new annual award motivates some of our other schools in the county that do a wonderful job to register students to step up with their activities to reach 100% registration."

All Tennessee public, charter or private school or home school association can participate in the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program. This year 17 Tennessee high schools in 11 counties earned the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. Eighteen high schools representing 13 counties earned the Anne Dallas Dudley Silver Level Award.

Middle Tennessee Christian School Secondary Principal Dr. Robert Sain commented, “Educating our students about the importance of civic engagement is part of our mission to develop their spirit, mind and body. We are blessed to have Lynn Burkey's classroom leadership to teach our students about this very important civic responsibility. It is an honor to receive the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award from the Secretary of State's office. As our seniors prepare for their next step, they will be prepared to cast a ballot in upcoming elections and take on their civic duty as engaged members of their communities.”

The award is named in honor of renowned Tennessee suffragist Anne Dallas Dudley who helped lead the successful effort to get the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified. On Aug. 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final state needed to give women the right to vote.

The Anne Dallas Dudley Award is part of the Secretary of State's civics engagement initiative to increase voter registration in Tennessee and prepare students to be actively engaged citizens. For more information about the Anne Dallas Dudley Award and other civic engagement efforts from the Tennessee Department of State, visit sos.tn.gov/civics.