MSU announces 2017-18 Presidential Scholars
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥 Thirteen freshmen and one sophomore are new selections for 幺力视频鈥檚 most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.
The annual awards 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).
Selected from more than 500 qualified applicants, the 2017-18 group joins 39 others already participating in the program, which is part of MSU鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. 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 college鈥檚 Oxford University summer-study program in England, among other enhanced learning experiences.
MSU Presidential Scholars Mentor Donald Shaffer said the program recognizes academic achievement and presents recipients with 鈥渁 challenge to make a lasting impact on MSU and the world beyond it.鈥
鈥淲e are a community of scholars who value the life of the mind and the pursuit of knowledge, but what makes our scholarship program special is the emphasis we place on effecting positive social change through research and social engagement,鈥 said Shaffer, associate professor of English and African American Studies. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 just hope that our Presidential Scholars will change the world; we expect it.鈥
Over the years, a number of scholars have received additional recognitions as national Goldwater, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholars, and many have been selected for a variety of professional internships. For more on the program, visit .
Representing Mississippi, Alabama and Nebraska, the 2017-18 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):
ALABASTER, Alabama鈥擫indsey B. Downs, a freshman English major and Evangel Classical Christian School graduate receiving a Roy Rein Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
BRANDON鈥擜nna K. 鈥淎K鈥 Mitchell, a freshman animal and dairy science major and Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving a Mike and Nan Sanders Presidential Endowed Scholarship; and Elijah J. 鈥淓li鈥 Riser, a freshman computer engineering major and Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving a Louis Hurst Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
CLINTON鈥擩ayla M. Mondy, a freshman biochemistry/pre-medicine major and Saint Andrews Episcopal School graduate receiving a Necole Moore Ray Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
COLUMBUS鈥擩asmine E. Topps, a freshman architecture major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.
CORINTH鈥擟aroline E. Sleeper, a freshman geosciences/broadcast meteorology major and Corinth High School graduate receiving a Jim and Julia Rouse Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
DECATUR, Alabama鈥擫aura N. Ingouf, a sophomore anthropology major and Austin High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.
FLOWOOD鈥擩ohn D. 鈥淛ack鈥 Davis, a freshman biomedical engineering major and Jackson Preparatory School graduate receiving a Brad Roderick Moore Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
GREENWOOD鈥擭ada A. Abdel-Aziz, a freshman architecture major and Pillow Academy graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.
MADISON, Alabama鈥擝raden P. Garrison, a freshman biological engineering/biomedical engineering major and Sparkman High School graduate receiving a John and Ren茅e Grisham Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
MADISON鈥擪arson C. Pettit, a freshman biochemistry/forensic sciences major and Saint Andrews Episcopal School graduate receiving a Charles and Pat Lee Presidential Endowed Scholarship; and Anna E. Shepard, a freshman biological engineering/biomedical engineering major and Germantown High School graduate receiving a San Shuttleworth Adkerson Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
OMAHA, Nebraska鈥擟hoteau X. Kammel, a freshman business economics major and Central High School graduate receiving a John and Ren茅e Grisham Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
VANCLEAVE鈥擟ailin G. Sims, a freshman mathematics major and Vancleave High School graduate receiving a G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship.
Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at .
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .