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A Significant Milestone for Middle Tenn. State

An MTSU degree candidate waves to her friends and family as she enters Hale Arena at Murphy Center for the spring 2012 commencement ceremonies May 5.
(MTSU photo by Classic Photography)
An MTSU degree candidate waves to her friends and family as she enters Hale Arena at Murphy Center for the spring 2012 commencement ceremonies May 5.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Tennessee’s largest undergraduate institution granted a degree to its 100,000th four-year student Saturday.

Middle Tennessee State University passed the mark as it graduated more than 2500 students. Degrees were awarded to more than 2,100 undergraduates and over 430 graduate students.

The 2012 commencement ceremonies marked the conclusion of MTSU’s centennial celebration. The school opened in 1912 as a so-called “normal” school dedicated to training teachers.

Albert Gore Research Center Historian Jim Williams said MTSU has come a long way in it’s first century

“The Normal School in it’s first 14 years awarded 169 one-year certificates, and 450 two or three year diplomas," Williams said. "So in 14 years there were 450 graduates. What are we having, 2500 graduates this weekend?”

MTSU held two graduation ceremonies at Murphy Center Saturday. Austin Peay State, Trevecca, and Lipscomb universities also held their graduations over the weekend.

Vanderbilt, Fisk and Tennessee State will hold commencement ceremonies this week.