Mississippi State announces 2015-16 Presidential Scholars class
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣ifteen freshmen and sophomores from Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, California and Louisiana are this year鈥檚 selections for Mississippi State鈥檚 most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.
The annual awards cover the current cost of university tuition, fees, books and room and board, as well as research and study-abroad expenses.
To qualify, applicants must have a minimum 30 ACT/1330 SAT score, as well as have graduated with a minimum core or overall 3.75 high school grade-point average (based on a 4.0 scale).
Selected from more than 500 qualified applicants, the 2015-16 group joins 30 others already participating in the program that is part of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. They are expected to maintain an overall 3.4 GPA while in their respective academic majors.
As Presidential Scholars, they have opportunities to interact with members of the land-grant institution鈥檚 extensive research faculty and be part of the college鈥檚 Oxford University summer-study program in England, among other enhanced learning opportunities.
Tommy Anderson said he and others in the honors college welcome 鈥渢he leadership these new scholars bring to the classroom, in their research and to the university as a whole.鈥 They have the potential to serve as agents of change in their respective disciplines, he added.
An associate professor of English now in his fourth year as program mentor, Anderson also directs the university鈥檚 Office of Prestigious External Scholarships.
鈥淭he growth of the Presidential Scholars program is a tribute to the university鈥檚 commitment to attracting the nation鈥檚 top students and to the impact of the Shackouls Honors College in these students鈥 educational trajectory,鈥 he said.
Over the years, a number of scholars have received additional recognitions as national Goldwater, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholars, as well as being selected for a variety of professional internships. For more on the program, visit .
The 2015-16 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama鈥擣reshman David H. Sides, a business administration/international business major and Briarwood Christian High School graduate receiving a James and Kay Bryan Presidential Scholarship.
BRANDON鈥擣reshman Charles C. Provine, a biochemistry/pre-medicine major and 聽Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving a Malcolm and Olivia Portera Presidential Scholarship.
BRYANT, Arkansas鈥擲ophomore Spencer I. Callicott, a computer engineering major and聽 Bryant High School graduate receiving a Bobby and Barbara Martin Presidential Scholarship.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama鈥擣reshman Ryan M. Stallcup, an electrical engineering major and Covenant Christian Academy graduate receiving a Lila and Hunter Henry Presidential Scholarship.
LAUREL鈥擲ophomore Nicholas A. 鈥淣ick鈥 Ezzell, a physics major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Charles and Pat Lee Presidential Scholarship.
LOS ANGELES, California鈥擣reshman Gentry I. Burkes, an English major and Marymount High School graduate receiving a G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Presidential Scholarship.
MADISON鈥擡lise M. Moore, a political science major and Madison Central High School graduate receiving a Steve and Melody Golding Presidential Scholarship; and chemistry major Caroline N. Russell, a MCHS graduate receiving a L.A. Hurst Presidential Scholarship. Both are freshmen.
OLIVE BRANCH鈥擲ophomore Benjamin N. 鈥淏en鈥 Emmich, a biological engineering major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Scholarship.
OWENS CROSS ROADS, Alabama鈥擣reshman Sarah E. Darrow, a computer science major and Huntsville High School graduate receiving a Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Scholarship.
PONTOTOC鈥擩unior Karleigh E. W. Kimbrell, an English major and Pontotoc High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Presidential Scholarship.
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana鈥擣reshman Stephanie J. Durr, a political science/pre-law major and Captain Shreve High School graduate receiving a G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Presidential Scholarship.
STARKVILLE鈥擣reshman biological engineering major Shelby C. Adair, a Starkville High School graduate receiving a Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Scholarship; sophomore chemical engineering major Kristen R. Lacy, an SHS graduate receiving a John and Ren茅e Grisham Presidential Scholarship; and freshman chemistry major Flannery Voges-Haupt, a Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Dean and Turner Wingo Presidential Scholarship.
Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .