College sponsors two total eclipse events

Media Arts’ eclipse production

The college’s faculty, staff and students were an integral part of two college-sponsored events that celebrated the “Great Tennessee Eclipse” on Monday, Aug. 21.

The university-sponsored event began at 11 a.m. and brought thousands of people to campus. Match Records artists’ Brittany Spencer, Jordyn Stoddard and Natalie Madigan kicked off the celebration with performances on the main stage with Recording Industry faculty adviser Stacy Merida and faculty member Gloria Green standing by.

Match Records artist Brittany Spencer, Recording Industry faculty member Gloria Green and Match Records Faculty Adviser Stacy Merida enjoy the successful event.

Thirteen video and film students produced, directed and crewed a seven-camera, one-hour, special live event that covered MTSU’s presentation of the eclipse from campus. With the help of Media Arts faculty member Bob Gordon and technicians Marc Parrish and Mike Forbes, the students produced astronomical segments with MTSU’s astronomy faculty and integrated live shots of the eclipse from MT’s Observatory and live NASA feeds. The TV special aired live on Channel 9 and on Facebook Live.

Miles away, WMOT hosted a members-only event, Eclipse Party on the Upper Cumberland, in Lebanon, Tennessee, with live music from The Whiskey Gentry and The Jake Leg Stompers. Over 400 people attended and received NASA-compliant solarviewing glasses courtesy of Friedman’s Army Navy Store. WMOT Executive Director Val Hoeppner and college Development Director Abby White put together the event with the help of Music City Roots, student volunteers and membership coordinator Katie Morris.

Eclipse Party on the Upper Cumberland for WMOT members

To read more about MTSU’s Eclipse celebration, click here.

Totality in Tennessee. Photo by Val Hoeppner