I was so honored when MTSU’s Alumni Association asked me to design the cake for the 100th year celebration of Middle Tennessee State University. It was a monumental task to say the least. I was given some of the most iconic symbols that represent MTSU’s history. Having gone to MTSU and lived in this community for many years it wasn’t hard to decide which symbols to choose.

Of course, most of us know MTSU started as the Normal School back in 1911. It was an all women’s college which trained teachers and grew into its current status voted at one of the top 100 academic institutes in the nation with the largest enrollment in the state of Tennessee. Enrollment continues to grow each year.

Some of the sugar piece symbols I chose for the cake were easy such an apple adorning the top of the cake for the wonderful educators, aerospace, recording industry management, theater, agriculture, architecture, Lightening our mascot, the horseshoe in Walnut Grove, the trees from Walnut Grove which were brought to campus from Mount Vernon. I also wanted to include a representation of the Todom pole Harvey which was a ongoing rivalry with Tennessee Tech back in the early days. Harvey was stolen many times and then just suddenly appear again. After many years of back and forth, it was retired and now resides in the Athletic Hall of Fame at MTSU.

Here are a couple of shots of the cake while under construction and during the photo shoot once finished. There is also a video attached with time lapse. Hope you enjoy!