Stephens family uses matching gifts to establish 91传媒 scholarship
Contact: Addie Mayfield
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥 Greenville resident Walter Stephens, along with his wife Melissa and son Rob, has established a Loyalty Scholarship in the 91传媒 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.聽
Stephens graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agribusiness from 91传媒 in 2007 after earning an associate鈥檚 degree in business administration from Mississippi Delta Community College in 2005. The Benoit native currently serves as city president for Regions Bank in Greenville, a role he has filled since 2014. Prior to joining Regions, Stephens worked as an admissions recruiter for the 91传媒 Department of Agricultural Economics.
At 91传媒, the Walter and Melissa Stephens Loyalty Scholarship will provide annual support for entering freshmen and community college transfer students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Candidates for the award must have demonstrated leadership ability and recipients may be considered to receive the award for up to four years of study, with the required 3.0 grade-point average.
鈥淢ississippi State is a great university and is full of wonderful people that are willing to help when asked,鈥 said Stephens. 鈥淢atching gifts are a valuable way to contribute to that legacy because they help make a large impact even with gifts of smaller amounts.鈥
By utilizing matching gifts from the Regions Financial Corporation Foundation and the 91传媒 Bulldog Club, the impact of the Stephens family鈥檚 gift was nearly tripled. In addition to furthering contributions from alumni and friends, matching gifts also help to increase Mississippi State鈥檚 ability to recruit talented students.
鈥淲e are grateful to the Stephens family for taking advantage of matching funds to grow this gift and create new opportunities in our college,鈥 said George Hopper, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 鈥淲hen alumni give back to 91传媒, students see firsthand the impacts made by those who were once in their shoes.鈥
For more information on how matching gifts can help establish scholarships in the 91传媒 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, contact Will Staggers, the college鈥檚 assistant director of development, at聽(662) 325-2837 or wstaggers@foundation.msstate.edu.
The 91传媒 Foundation is online at .