Local students are honored at MTSU

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

TATUM

Warren County High School senior Tricia Tatum has been honored as one the Midstate’s top female science and math students by Middle Tennessee State University as part of the school’s National Women’s History Month activities.

Tatum traveled to the MTSU campus Tuesday morning for Breakfast with Champions, a university event to honor outstanding high school students and teachers in the fields of science, mathematics and technology. Recognized were 12 teachers and 23 students from Bedford, Cannon, Warren, Wilson and Rutherford counties.

In addition to Tatum, other locals honored, though not in attendance Tuesday, were high school senior Traci Jones and calculus teacher Linda King.

The Breakfast of Champions idea was brought to MTSU by Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross, associate professor of chemistry. She said she learned about a similar program held in Pennsylvania and thought it could serve a need here.

“A little encouragement goes a long way,” said Dr. Iriarte-Gross. “We want to encourage the students to consider science and math as a career and as a major at MTSU.”