• Taylor Christian Cumberland of Meridian has been selected to receive the Luckyday Scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi for fall 2009.

The USM Luckyday Scholarship was awarded to Cumberland for her academic, extracurricular and community service activities over the past six years. The prestigious award of $15,500 will open many opportunities for education, community service and campus involvement for her major in political science and pursuit of a Mississippi law degree.

Cumberland was also chosen with scholarship to be a USM Dixie Darling to carry on her extensive dance portfolio and to support the university.

Cumberland is the daughter of Brenda Jones Cumberland and the late Michael Floyd Cumberland, both of Meridian.

• Anna Smith was recently initiated into the Gamma Psi Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority at Delta State University.

Smith is involved in DSU Cross-Country and the Baptist Student Union.

• Ashley Davis Sisson, instructor at Enterprise High School, was recently selected as the 2009 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Southern District Advisor of the Year. She was nominated by fellow teacher and advisor Tammy Alford of Clarke County Career & Technical Center.

Sisson began teaching Career and Computer Discovery in 1996 at Quitman Junior High School. She moved to Enterprise High School in 2003 and became the Business and Computer Technology instructor and formed the current chapter of Future Business Leader of American (FBLA). The first year of existence, the club had two district winners with one going on to place at the state level. Each year since, the club has had numerous district and state winners.

The EHS FBLA club is active in raising money for the March of Dimes, volunteering around the community and helping with the EHS Relay for Life team.

Scisson and her husband, Scotty, are the parents of three daughters – Morgan, Caitlin and Jordan.

• OXFORD – Elaine Ann Clark of Meridian has received the University of Mississippi’s highest academic award, the Marcus Elvis Taylor Memorial Medal.

The award was established at UM in 1904 and is given to no more than 1 percent of the student body each year. Taylor Award winners were announced during UM’s annual Honors Day ceremony.

Clark, a biological science and biochemistry major, is the daughter of Robert and Cherry Clark.

• Several career and technical education Meridian Community College students will compete in next week’s national SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City, Mo.

The students earned a spot on the national scene after winning first place in the Mississippi Skills USA State Conference. Bringing home the gold were Cody Bryant, related technical math; Franklin Pugh, sheet metal; Chase Trayal, cabinet making; Thomas Vann, CPR and First Aid.

Also taking first place were Team Works members John Baranello, Grady Chandler, Trey Tanner and Johnny Crawford.

Winning second place were Marcus Brown and Dorothy Allen, masonry; Billy Pugh, plumbing; and Josh Vega, carpentry.

Also participating in the event were Eric Hardy, architectural drafting; Austin Newell, technical drafting; and James Vaughn, electronics technology.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

Kelly Elizabeth Sterling has been selected to receive the Lucile Reisman Rosenbaum Memorial Scholarship awarded through the MCC Foundation. This $2,500 scholarship is funded by the Rosenbaum Family. Mrs. Rosenbaum was a World War II veteran, a board member of the National Girl Scouts USA, and a Meridian School Board member of long standing. She led the drive to restore the Dentzel Carousel in Highland Park and establish an endowment to maintain the historic facility.

Sterling graduated from Meridian High School in 2007 with a Scholar’s Diploma (4.0 GPA). A member of the Varsity Soccer and Tennis teams, she received the MHS Scholar Athlete Award.

At MCC, Sterling was a member of the Lady Eagle Tennis team and received the National Arthur Ashe Award. A President’s List scholar, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year college students. Sterling was an Ivy League recruiter, vice president of PTK, and was one of six students named to the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program.

Sterling will continue her education at Mississippi State University in the fall majoring in kinesiology with plans to become an occupational therapist.

• Anna Alyssa Harrison has been selected to receive the Robert Cochran Memorial Scholarship awarded through the MCC Foundation.

This $500 award is funded by the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Roberts. Lieutenant Cochran, Mrs. Roberts’ brother, was killed in Vietnam while on active duty with the United States Navy. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Harrison graduated with highest honors in the University Transfer Program in May. A President’s List scholar, she served on the executive board of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. Harrison was a member of the College Republicans and the Baptist Student Union. She was one of six MCC students chosen for the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program.

Harrison will continue her education at Mississippi State University studying communications and journalism.

• Ashley Young, Katherine Grace Davis and Lydia Sue Burns have been selected to receive the Ruth Van Dyke Nelson Memorial Scholarships at Meridian Community College.

These $1,600 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by Arthur W. Nelson of Meridian. Mrs. Nelson was a conservationist and tree farmer, as well as a wife, mother and community activist. She performed on stage with the Meridian Little Theatre, worked with the Girl Scouts and was an advocate for family service organizations.

Young is a 2008 highest honors graduate of Southeast High School. She is in the University Transfer Program taking liberal arts courses. A President’s List scholar, Young is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two year college students. Her career goal is to become a lawyer.

Davis is a 2008 graduate of Meridian High School. She is in the University Transfer Program. She was named to the Dean’s List fall semester and was tapped for Phi Theta Kappa this spring. Davis is a member of the Baptist Student Union and the MCC Chorus. She will pursue a doctorate in psychology.

Burns is a 2008 graduate of Meridian Christian Home Educators. A sophomore in the University Transfer Program, she was named to the President’s List and initiated into honorary society, Phi Theta Kappa. Burns has been a member of the MCC High School Chorus and in the cast of MCC’s production of “Big River.” She will complete her education in communications or journalism.