By Emmanuel Freeman
Spring Preview Day 2023 was a blast! Tennessee State University’s premier open house for prospective students this year brought together nearly 2,000 high school seniors and juniors and their families from across the nation to view and get information about the university’s offerings and programs. At the packed, all-day event in Kean Hall on Saturday, the visitors interacted with academic and financial aid advisors, as well as deans and chairs, who set up displays and exhibits from their various colleges and departments. Current student leaders were also on hand to tell the prospective newcomers about the benefit of a TSU education.
Amari Johnson, a senior with a 4.32 grade point average from Greenwood High Schools in Greenwood, Mississippi; and Undradge Jamison, from Stewart Creek High School in Smyrna, Tennessee, were among the first to check out the displays in Kean Hall and have made up their minds. They are coming to TSU. Johnson is interested in biology with a pre-med focus, while Jamison wants to major in architectural engineering.
“I love dancing. So, when I was younger, I followed the (TSU) Sophisticated Ladies,” said Johnson, who has set her eyes on the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute, a pathway program with Meharry Medical College for students interested in medicine and dentistry.
“Over the years I found out a lot of things about the school and its programs, and Ms. (Barbara) Murrell reached out to me about the institute, since I was interested in becoming a surgeon and majoring in biology.” Johnson will not be dancing at TSU.
For Jamison, who has a 4.0 GPA, coming to TSU fulfills a dream. He wants to follow in the footsteps of his family. His father, mother and several aunts and uncles came to TSU. His older brother, a sophomore, is a member of the Grammy award-winning Aristocrat of Bands.
“This school has a great impact on my family. Besides, they have a great engineering program,” said Jamison. “My mind is made up. This is where I want to be.”
Earlier at the kickoff ceremony for Spring Preview Day, TSU President Glenda Glover, greeted participants and reminded prospective students about the outstanding programs at the university.
“Welcome to Tennessee State University,” President Glover said. “As you decide to become official TSU Tigers, know that this is the right place to start your journey toward success. We have great academic programs; we are the home to the two-time Grammy award-winning Aristocrat of Bands. We have outstanding athletics programs and student life. As a TSU alum myself, I am committed to your success. We have people who will care for you while you are here. At TSU, you will meet great friends, faculty, and you will grow to become great scholars.”
Terrance Izzard, associate vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Success, added that Spring Preview Day is intended to give prospective Tigers and their parents a chance to experience for themselves what makes TSU the place to be.
“Today you get the fantastic opportunity to see a showcase of our remarkable programs, resources and services that make our university truly exceptional,” Izzard said. “Like President Glover said, you will meet outstanding faculty members, and advisers who will tell you about our offerings, scholarships, other programs, and the benefit of a TSU education. You will meet and talk with current students about their own journeys, campus culture and the learning environment that has helped them to be successful.”
Keith Ward and his wife Karina, of New York, who recently moved their family to Nashville, like TSU and think the university is a “good fit” for their daughter Kaitlyn, who wants to major in biology.
“We are very excited for her and the choice she has made to come to TSU,” Keith said. Kaitlyn, an academic standout from West Creek High School in New York, who wants to be a physician assistant, is also interested in the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute.
“In all of my choices for college, Tennessee State is the best choice for me,” Kaitlyn said. “It is close to home, and it is affordable.”
According to organizers, this year’s participants in Spring Preview Day came from more than 15 states, with some from as far as California, Illinois, and Michigan.
