Kasey Daugherty of Quitman, center, displays her history research award as Dr. Toby Bates (left), MSU-Meridian assistant professor of history, and Dr. Dennis Mitchell, right, MSU-Meridian professor of history and associate dean of Arts & Sciences, offer congratulations.

    In one of its newest academic degree programs — a bachelor of arts in history — one of Mississippi State University-Meridian’s students is making a little history, herself, by nabbing two prestigious awards.

    Several months ago, Kasey Daugherty, a history major from Quitman was awarded a Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Undergraduate Research Award of $400 from the MSU College of Arts & Sciences in Starkville for her research proposal “Eudora Welty and Circle of Friends.”

    The awards, presented annually to selected MSU undergraduate Arts & Sciences students, are made possible through an endowment from Billy Crews, chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of Directors of Journal Publishing Company, which owns the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

    Daugherty, who studies at MSU-Meridian, and other Arts & Sciences award recipients on MSU’s Starkville campus were chosen to receive the awards based on the quality of their research proposals and to assist them in further significant research in their fields of study. In fact, Daugherty said she views her research proposal as only the first step and already has plans to use her award to defray expenses for additional research on Eudora Welty to expand her initial paper into an article worthy of publication by a recognized academic journal.

    Now, for the second time this semester, Daugherty finds herself in the spotlight.

    With Ulysses S. Grant as her inspiration, Daugherty has captured yet another award — Mississippi State University’s Phi Alpha Theta M. Shannon Mallard Award for best undergraduate history paper during the past calendar year. She also has been invited to present the Grant paper at MSU’s undergraduate research conference in May.

    “Kasey not only grasps the facts and information presented, but also understands the subtle nuances of history and the past,” said Dr. Dennis Mitchell, MSU-Meridian professor of history and associate dean of Arts & Sciences.

    “She is truly an outstanding student.”

    Another of Daugherty’s professors agrees.

    “Kasey stands out in class through her class participation and also through her willingness to help her fellow students,” said Dr. Toby G. Bates, MSU-Meridian assistant professor of history. “She is an asset to the class and to MSU-Meridian.”

    Daugherty said she enjoys college and is looking forward to attending graduate school after completing her bachelor’s degree in history. She wants to be a history professor like her mentors.

    “My professors like Dr. Dennis Mitchell, who is tremendously knowledgeable, and Dr. Toby Bates, who brings history alive, have inspired me,” said Daugherty. “They have opened my eyes and expanded my knowledge. I hope to be as inspirational to students in my own classroom one day.”

    “Winning these two prestigious awards is quite an honor for Kasey and for our history degree program that is only two years old on this campus,” said Bates. “It speaks well to the caliber of outstanding students who attend MSU-Meridian and to the quality academic preparation they receive here.”