Nine freshmen receive 91传媒鈥檚 prestigious Presidential Scholarship
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi State鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College is announcing its newest Presidential Endowed Scholarship recipients.
Nine freshmen representing Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee are being recognized with the university鈥檚 most prestigious undergraduate scholarships, which over four years 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 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale). Recipients are expected to maintain an overall 3.4 GPA while in their respective academic majors.
Presidential Scholars have opportunities to interact with members of the land-grant institution鈥檚 extensive research faculty and be part of the honors college鈥檚 summer-study program at Oxford University in England, among other enhanced learning experiences.
91传媒 Presidential Scholars Mentor Donald M. Shaffer Jr. said while the pandemic has presented challenges for this academic year, faculty and staff in the honors college and across the university remain committed to 鈥渄oing our very best to facilitate student success.鈥
鈥淥ur Presidential Scholars program has already shown itself to be equal to the task of adapting to the conditions of this global pandemic.聽Many of our scholars last summer were able to pursue research and internships, all of which had to be done remotely due to travel and social restrictions,鈥 Shaffer explained.
鈥淭hese newest scholars will no doubt adapt to the current landscape as they seek out research opportunities and internships this year. As their mentor, I am eager to help them meet these challenges,鈥 added the associate professor of English and director of the African American Studies program.
Over the years, a number of scholars have received as national Goldwater, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholars, and many have been selected for a variety of professional internships. Students receive mentorship from the honors college鈥檚 Office of Prestigious External Scholarships.
This year鈥檚 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):
BRANDON鈥擩ohn M. Fox, an undeclared major and homeschool graduate receiving a Morgan Keegan Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
CLINTON鈥擜nn Olivia Radicioni, a political science major and Clinton High School graduate receiving a G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
GULF BREEZE, Florida鈥擪yla T. Homewood, an economics major and Pensacola High School graduate receiving a Louis Hurst Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
GUNTOWN鈥擠avid C. Heson, a physics major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Hassell Franklin Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
MEMPHIS, Tennessee鈥擡mma J. Van Epps, a mechanical engineering major and Saint Benedict at Auburndale graduate receiving a Luke and Ruth Davis Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
MONROEVILLE, Alabama鈥擫aura Grace King, a secondary education major and Monroe County High School graduate receiving a Bobby and Barbara Martin Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
PELHAM, Alabama鈥擫indsay G. Culpepper, a wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major and Evangelical Classical Christian graduate receiving a Steve and Melody Golding Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
STARKVILLE鈥擥uillermo L. Hoffmann Meyer, a computer science major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a John and Georgia Ann McPherson Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
TUPELO鈥擟ourtney N. Cochran, a chemical engineering major and Tupelo Christian Preparatory School graduate receiving a Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College and its Office of Prestigious External Scholarships at .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .