New to Blue: Student Orientation
Student Orientation Assistants (SOAs)
A staff of highly-trained students (SOAs), along with faculty advisors and personnel from a variety of offices lead and assist with New to Blue Orientation sessions. Clerical staff assist the office during the summer orientation sessions.
SOAs at MTSU use their leadership skills and True Blue pride to welcome over 4500 New Raiders and 3500 family members to campus annually. SOAs serve as peer educators, resource guides and role models to first-year students, transfer student and family members as they transition to MTSU. Being an SOA is a valuable leadership experience that allows for growth in areas of teambuilding, public speaking, communications and interpersonal skills, problem solving, conflict resolution and confidence.
2025 New to Blue Orientation SOAs
Aden Walton
Major: Audio Production
Hometown: Hoover, Alabama
Campus Involvement: MTSU Singers, Peer Mentor
Hobbies & Interests: All things music; Singing, making music; games, socializing with friends
Alec Creasy
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: The Wesley Foundation
Hobbies & Interests: Rock climbing, hiking, white water rafting, hanging out with friends, playing video games
Ashly Sacalxot
Major: Interior Design Architect
Hometown: Winchester, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Interior Design Program, SOA Mentor
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, working out, skincare
Athziry Barajas Aguirre
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Canton, Georgia
Campus Involvement: University Catholic, SOA Mentor
Hobbies & Interests: Karate, shopping, spending time with friends and family, going on side quests
Autumn Gray
Major: Video and Film Production and Animation
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Greek Life, Student Government Association, Black Student Union
Hobbies & Interests: Drawing, animating, shopping, traveling, cooking, spending time with friends
Avery McGiboney
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: McMinnville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Student Programming and Raider Entertainment
Hobbies & Interests: Reading
Isabella DiMartino
Major: Communications
Hometown: Palm Beach, Florida
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, fishing, traveling, going to the beach
Brian Lyendecker
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Hobbies & Interests: Gaming, reading, playing sports
Cooper Jones
Major: Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Hometown: Smyrna, Tennessee
Hobbies & Interests: Playing ultimate frisbee, swimming, traveling, kayaking, playing video games
Day Joyner
Major: Early Childhood Education
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Tennessee Teach Back Initiative, Scholars Academy, Black Student Union
Hobbies & Interests: Sewing, coloring, and watching movies
Devin O’Dell
Major: Public Health
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Campus Involvement: Student Unions
Hobbies & Interests: Hanging out with friends, watching TV, reading, listening to new music
Erika Hill
Major: Video and Film Production
Hometown: Maryville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Film Guild, Women in Film
Hobbies & Interests: Building Lego sets, collecting vinyls, reading comics, photography, theatre
Fena Phengmany
Major: Biology – Genetics and Biotechnology
Hometown: Shelbyville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Student Programming and Raider Entertainment
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, video games, coloring, puzzles
Holly Steck
Major: Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Griffin, Georgia
Campus Involvement: Supply Chain Management Student Orgs, SOA Mentor
Hobbies & Interests: Fishing, hunting, shopping
James Lowe
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Student Government Association, Psych Club, Philosophy Club, Psychology Research
Hobbies & Interests: Trying new things, collecting CDs, gaming, tabletop RPGS, working out
Jenna Wooten
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown: Tullahoma, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: New Vision
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, listening to music, spending time outside, hanging out with friends
Kat Hyder
Major: Forensic Science
Hometown: McMinnville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: MTSU Dance Team, Greek Life
Hobbies & Interests: Dancing, collecting vinyl records, crafting
Kenzie Herrick
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Portland, Tennessee
Hobbies & Interests: Singing, drawing, hiking, reading
Kimora Thompson
Major: Environmental Science
Hometown: Savannah, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Duck River water research, Lambda Sigma Honor Society
Hobbies & Interests: Collecting plants, rescuing animals, changing up my hair, studying threats to water accessibility
Lily Maiuri
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown: Madisonville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Greek Life
Hobbies & Interests: Working out, hanging out, shopping, hiking
MacKenzie Chambers
Major: Speech Language Pathology & Audiology
Hometown: Morristown, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Honors College, SLPA Ambassador, NSSLHA officer
Hobbies & Interests: Sewing, walking my dog, reading, cooking and baking
Madison Rainier
Major: Speech Language Pathology & Audiology
Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Greek Life
Hobbies & Interests: Photography, art, traveling, shopping
Mariah Hammermeister
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Shelbyville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Greek Life
Hobbies & Interests: Baking, painting, embroidery
Megan Moffitt
Major: Digital Marketing
Hometown: Spring Hill, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Phillip’s Bookstore, IGNITE Program
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, writing poetry, hiking, spending time outdoors
Michaela Sigler
Major: Middle Level Math Education
Hometown: Morristown, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Wesley Foundation
Hobbies & Interests: Playing guitar, reading, crocheting, rock climbing
Milan DiMartino
Major: Communications and Video and Film Production
Hometown: Palm Beach, Florida
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, reading, traveling
Mindy Cassada
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Study Abroad
Hobbies & Interests: Finding new music, reading about marketing campaigns, cooking
Morgan McClain
Major: Interdisciplinary Media
Hometown: Cordova, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Sweet Melanin, MPAC, SGA Marketing, Urban Entertainment Society
Hobbies & Interests: Journaling, pottery, going to the gym, dancing, trying new hobbies, learning, and socializing
Rey Faustino
Major: Textiles Merchandising Design – Fashion Merchandising
Hometown: Jackson, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Student Unions, FaDs
Hobbies & Interests: Sewing, shopping, music, collaging, fashion magazines
Samuella Ofori Amanfo
Major: Healthcare Informatics
Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana
Hobbies & Interests: Learning new things, photography, playing with dogs
Savanah Gill
Major: Digital Marketing
Hometown: Fayetteville, Tennessee
Campus Involvement: Blue Elite, MTSU News & Media Social Media Team
Hobbies & Interests: Anything True Blue, cats, thrifting
Get Assistance
Orientation
615.898.5533
Admissions
615.898.2111
Placement Test
615.898.2568
Immunization Questions
615.898.2988