Murfreesboro, TN - Lucas De Freitas, an 18-year-old from Germantown, Tennessee, recently attended a special event at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) alongside his mother, Lucia De Freitas. Their visit was prompted by Lucas's keen interest in MTSU's Honors College and his aspirations of securing the prestigious Buchanan Fellowship, the top scholarship awarded at the university.

 

Lucas's journey towards MTSU began when he attended the 2023 Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at the university, an experience he found immensely rewarding. During his time there, he delved into the world of filmmaking, collaborating with peers on various projects, including two short films and a significant main project. Reflecting on his experience, Lucas praised MTSU's campus and academic offerings, describing it as a great school with a well-structured program.

 

Accompanying Lucas was his mother, Lucia De Freitas, who hails from Brazil. She shared her excitement for Lucas's educational journey and expressed her support for his pursuit of higher education at MTSU. Additionally, Lucia revealed that Lucas's younger brother, Mateus De Freitas, a high school freshman, also has his sights set on MTSU, aspiring to study aerospace engineering.

 

Meanwhile, Marlee McNutt, an 18-year-old standout athlete from Cannon County High School in Woodbury, Tennessee, also attended the event at MTSU. Marlee, with an impressive 3.9 GPA and a solid 25 on the ACT, is setting her sights on MTSU's aerospace program. Her interest in this field stems from the growing demand for maintenance crews at airports, which she believes will provide ample job opportunities in the future.

 

Marlee's journey towards MTSU's aerospace program began when she had the opportunity to tour the MTSU Flight Operations Center in 2023. During the tour, she explored flight simulators and even had the chance to sit in Diamond airplanes, further solidifying her passion for aerospace maintenance management.

 

The event at MTSU was not only an opportunity for Lucas and Marlee to explore their academic interests but also a chance to learn more about scholarship opportunities offered by the university. MTSU provides a range of scholarships to incoming freshmen, including the Buchanan Fellowship, Centennial Scholar, National Merit and Trustee, Presidential, and True Blue scholarships. Additionally, the university offers Century, Lightning, Blue Raider, and Future Alumni scholarships for students who missed the December 1 deadline. Scholarship recipients have until May 1 to accept their offers, providing ample time for students to make informed decisions about their academic futures at MTSU.