special to The Star



Several new scholarships were among those awarded to deserving students for the 2008-09 academic year at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.

“One of my top priorities after being named dean was to increase the number of scholarships offered by MSU-Meridian in order to expand higher education opportunities to those who might otherwise miss out on the chance to strive for a better life and a better future,” said Dr. Donna L. Clevinger, dean at MSU-Meridian.

The newly created Dean’s Advisory Council Scholarship Program was established through the efforts of Clevinger’s 19-member advisory council, which is comprised of area educators, business people and community leaders.

The council raised funds to provide the $1,000 annual scholarships to four students, one from each of east Mississippi’s four community and junior colleges, which provide the majority of MSU-Meridian’s transfer students.

This year’s honorees of the Dean’s Advisory Council Scholarships were Lauryn Laird of Lake, a transfer student from East Central Community College; Gracie Thompson of Raleigh, a Jones County Junior College transfer; Brandy Walden Hill of DeKalb, an East Mississippi Community College transfer; and Heather Ward of Toomsuba, a Meridian Community College transfer.

“Another new award, the Commitment Scholarship program, was established especially to reward students for their commitment to the community,” Clevinger said. “The community, in turn, is making a commitment to or an investment in these students.”

Chosen as the first recipients of the $1,000 Commitment Scholarships from MSU-Meridian were Heather Bounds of Conehatta; Tabitha Boykin of Quitman; Tiffany Carpenter of Morton; Kimberly Clark of Brandon; Tommy Deason, Mallory Parker and Trisha White, all of Carthage; Kimberly Denton of Meridian; Lucretia Fulton of Philadelphia; Cynthia Martin of Stonewall; Joseph McDonald of Newton; Mandy Richardson of Decatur; and Jill Scott of Marion.

Scholarships are very important to the MSU-Meridian student body and help lower the obstacles that prevent some students from attending college, said Marilyn James, student services manager for MSU-Meridian.

“Since we are a non-residential campus that draws students from over 30 counties across Mississippi and west Alabama, our students are incurring more and more fuel costs in addition to the rising costs associated with college,” James said. “Therefore, the more scholarship funds we can provide students the more likely they will be able to realize their educational dreams.”

Among other scholarship award winners was Jasper County resident Ramona Walters of Stringer, who was given the $1,000 Dean’s Scholar Scholarship.

Four students were awarded Patrons of Excellence Scholarships, which are $1,000 awards established by contributions from local individuals. The students were Tyneise Daniels of Meridian, chosen as recipient of an award made by patrons Mr. and Mrs. E.M. “Hoot” Gipson; Tammie Fitzgerald of Little Rock, recipient of an award by Tommy Dulaney; Candace Trest of Meridian, recipient of an award by Mr. and Mrs. Jim McRae; and Courtney Pogue of Collinsville, recipient of an award made by Robert Sanford.

A number of local businesses and individuals, some through the creation of endowments, have established yearly scholarships to assist MSU-Meridian students with their education.

Local scholarships, which vary in amounts, were awarded to Crystal White of Meridian, a $250 scholarship from East Mississippi Group Financial Women International; Julia Tucker of Decatur, $1,000 Edwin C. Brown Memorial Scholarship; Glenda Cater of Decatur, $2,500 Elizabeth Carter Kahlmus Annual Scholarship; Santana Mayers of Bay Springs, $2,500 M.F. Kahlmus Annual Scholarship; Victoria Carr of Decatur, $4,444 G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Scholarship; Kasey Daugherty of Quitman, $4,444 G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Scholarship; George Hedgepeth of Decatur, $2,000 La-Z-Boy South Foundation Business Scholarship; Tabatha Ramey of Meridian, $1,000 Lockheed Martin Endowment Scholarship; Amy McNish of Meridian, $1,000 scholarship from Meridian Coca Cola Bottling; Jessica Farrar of Meridian, $1,000 Regions Bank/B.J. Carter Jr. Business Scholarship; and Amanda Reeves of Quitman, $1,000 Regions Bank/Board of Directors’ Merit Scholarship.

Twenty-seven students were chosen to receive general scholarships from MSU-Meridian through funds established by the campus budget. Each scholarship award totaled $2,222 and covered half tuition and fees for the 2008-09 academic year.

Recipients of the general scholarships were Kimberly Clark of Brandon; Geraldine Deason, Tommy Deason, Mallory Parker, and Nicole White, all of Carthage; Heather Bounds of Conehatta; Whitney Knight Alexander of Decatur; Brandy Walden Hill of DeKalb; Tabitha Boykin of Quitman; Lauryn Laird of Lake; Bethany Joiner of Marion; Kimberly Denton, Joseph Gibson, Anita Holliman, Dazell Jackson, Amy McNish, and Jill Scott, all of Meridian; Tiffany Carpenter of Morton; Joseph McDonald of Newton; Melissa Adkins, Lucretia Fulton and Travis Page, all of Philadelphia; Stacey Clark and Simone McGraw of Preston; Gracie Thompson of Raleigh; Cynthia Martin of Stonewall; Heather Ward of Toomsuba.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on certain criteria for each award. Some of the criteria include admission to the university in a declared major, a 3.0 grade point average, submission and acceptance of application forms and letters of recommendations, and documentation of community service.

For more information on scholarship programs available at MSU-Meridian, call (601) 484-0100 or toll free in MS at 1-800-824-5288. Or, visit the web site at www.msstate.edu/meridian.