Mississippi State鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine receives $7.2 million for scholarships
Contact: Karen Templeton
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 $7.2 million gift from the Charles E. and Viola G. Bardsley Estate will endow a scholarship program for 91传媒 veterinary students.
The Bardsleys, who were residents of Ocean Springs in their later years, began supporting Mississippi State in 1996 with the creation of an annual academic scholarship with the College of Veterinary Medicine. The scholarship is awarded to the fourth-year senior who has attained the highest cumulative grade point average during the professional program.
鈥淥ur college gratefully appreciates and will uphold the wishes of the Bardsleys to educate promising students and make available scholarships to those with potential who may need financial assistance,鈥 said Dr. Kent Hoblet, CVM dean. 鈥淭he students benefiting from their generosity will address the health and well-being of animals and associated human and environmental health issues through modern veterinary medical science.鈥
The Bardsleys were long-time animal lovers and veterinary education advocates. The late Charles Bardsley shared a rich history with Mississippi State. A native of Newport, Rhode Island, he received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agriculture from the University of Rhode Island and earned master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from 91传媒 in 1950 and 1959. An accomplished trumpet player, he wrote and arranged music for a number of bands, including 91传媒鈥檚 Famous Maroon Band. Bardsley had a distinguished career in the development of pesticides and related work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Viola Georgetta Bardsley was a native of Litchfield, Illinois. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 in chemistry from the University of Illinois and a master鈥檚 from the University of Missouri. She taught chemistry at the college level and was a senior chemist and technical associate with Mallinckrodt Chemical Co.
Before their death, the Bardsleys established 24 gift annuities that benefited them and the university. After Viola鈥檚 death in 2015, the remainder from the annuities and a bequest through her will created the Charles E. and Viola G. Bardsley Endowed Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine.
鈥淏ecause of the way the Bardsleys鈥 bequest was structured, CVM has more than $7 million in a new endowment,鈥 said Jimmy Kight, the college鈥檚 director of development. 鈥淭he earnings from the endowment will result in significant yearly support of our students.鈥
Scholarships are awarded based on G.P.A., merit and focus areas. The estate gift nearly doubles the college鈥檚 overall endowment, and earnings from the endowment will continue the scholarships the couple held dear.
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .