MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) recently launched a new tradition by honoring its top student leaders with the 2024–25 True Blue Honors Bolt Awards and announcing the incoming Student Government Association (SGA) officers.
At the ceremony held Monday, April 28, in the Student Union Ballroom, four standout students were recognized with MTSU’s highest individual honors:
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Victoria Grigsby (President’s Award), senior political science and German double major from Taft
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Ariel Nicastro (Provost’s Award), physics major from Franklin
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Zachary Thomas (Robert C. LaLance Jr. Achievement Award), audio production major from Nolensville
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Connor Prim (MTSU Community Service Award), music education major from Bell Buckle
Remarkably, all four are Buchanan Fellows through the MTSU Honors College — the university’s most prestigious scholarship, named for Nobel Prize-winning economist and alumnus James M. Buchanan.
Outgoing two-term SGA President Michai Mosby said the new Bolt Awards aim to “showcase so much student excellence — from veterans to student workers — that the next generation of student leaders are inspired.”
Other 2025 Bolt Award Honorees:
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Lightning’s Rookie of the Year — Lynzie Gibson
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Electric Spirit Award — Tiana Williams
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Impact Catalyst Award — Zaynab Alnassari
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True Blue Pride Award — Krystal Lebron Maymi
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Service Spark Award — Lena Eccles
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Thunderstruck Involvement Award — Amber Ojuade
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Generosity Change Award — Kappa Alpha Order
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Lightning Strike Award/Event of the Year — Alpha Delta Pi, Lip Sync III: Halftime Show
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Bolt of Excellence Award — Jairus Pettaway
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Leadership Lightning President of the Year Award — Tyler Knapp
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Blue Thunder Student Organization of the Year — MTSU Cosplay Club
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Trailblazer Legacy Award — Michai Mosby
Two days later, on April 30, the 2025–26 SGA leadership team was sworn in during a special ceremony at the Keathley University Theater. R.J. Ware, a senior political science (pre-law) major with a criminal justice administration minor, will lead the SGA as president.
The new SGA executive team includes:
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Kennedy Garrett, vice president
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Hannah Ferreira, chief of staff
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Jameson Spray, attorney general
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Luis Esmurria III, election commissioner
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Brianna Campbell, communications director
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Devin McClendon, events director
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Sydney Barrett, homecoming director
MTSU’s leadership awards and student recognitions continue to highlight the university’s commitment to scholarship, service, and student success.
For more details, visit www.mtsu.edu.
