Stephanie Maxwell of Meridian shows off her Spirit of State award she received at the recent Spirit of State Award ceremony held at Colvard Student Union’s Bill Foster ballroom at Mississippi State University Starkville. The Spirit of State Award program is in its sixth year and Maxwell was one of only 22 students honored at the ceremony.

    Stephanie Maxwell is an elementary education major at MSU Meridian. What many people don’t know, including the students at Northeast Elementary where she has been a student intern since January — is she is also “Bully,” Mississippi State University’s mascot.

    Maxwell was recently recognized as MSU Meridian’s 2011 Spirit of State Award recipient at the Spirit of State Awards ceremony held recently in Starkville. The Spirit of State Award is bestowed upon students, like Maxwell, who demonstrate an exceptional personal commitment to enhancing student life at Mississippi State.

    Nominated by Ann Schroeder, her supervising teacher at MSU Meridian, Maxwell served as “Bully” at Mississippi State University Meridian for the past two years “exuding the spirit of MSU with enthusiasm and energy,” according to Schroeder. “Stephanie’s mutual respect, honesty, integrity, hard work, dedication, loyalty, and patriotism promote the Spirit of State tradition,” she added. 

    As “Bully,” Maxwell put in countless hours over the past two years dancing, shaking hands, giving high fives, and bringing a smile to students at MSU Meridian as well as several area schools. She also worked at numerous community events, both as her “alter ego” and herself — always giving of her time and abilities.

    As a military wife and mother of two teenagers, Maxwell has persevered through numerous relocations, long deployments, and the loss of her home in Ocean Springs during Hurricane Katrina — but none of life’s difficulties stopped her from achieving her dream of becoming an educator.

    As a non-traditional student, this 36-year-old has shown her peers, professors, and children that all obstacles may be overcome through persistence, faith, patience, and determination. 

    “A true leader and over-achiever,” said Schroeder, “Stephanie set high standards for herself and has been available to her fellow students giving them advice and encouragement as well as help with class work, preparing for the Praxis I and II, and dealing with issues that came up as the students interned in area schools.”