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Elite Eight: Freshmen receive MSU Presidential Endowed Scholarships

Elite Eight: Freshmen receive MSU Presidential Endowed Scholarships

MSU鈥檚 newest Presidential Scholars take a group photo with President Mark E. Keenum at The Mill at MSU in Starkville.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum (front row, second from left) visited with the university鈥檚 newest Presidential Scholars during a recent dinner at The Mill at MSU in Starkville. Pictured are (front row, l-r) Will Jamison, Keenum, Juliet Buckholdt (middle row, l-r) Jayden Smith, Clark Hensley, Olivia Russell (back row, l-r) Mia Robertson, Hutton Smith and Madison Dochety. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥旂哿κ悠碘檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College is announcing its newest Presidential Endowed Scholarship recipients.

Eight freshmen representing Mississippi, Maryland and Tennessee being recognized with the university鈥檚 most prestigious undergraduate scholarships, which over four years 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). 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.

Studio portrait of Don Shaffer
Donald M. Shaffer Jr. (Photo by Megan Bean)

MSU Presidential Scholars Mentor Donald M. Shaffer Jr. 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 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 director of the African American Studies program. 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, visit .

The 2019-20 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):

CLINTON鈥擟lark Hensley, a computer science major and Clinton High School graduate receiving a Jim and Julia Rouse Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

COLUMBIA, Tennessee鈥擧utton D. Smith, a mechanical engineering major and Columbia Academy graduate receiving a Bobby and Barbara M. Martin Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

GERMANTOWN, Maryland鈥擶illiam F. 鈥淲ill鈥 Jamison, a mechanical engineering major and Poolesville Senior High School graduate receiving a Johnny and Bessie Lynn Crane Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

JACKSON鈥擩ayden A. Smith, a biological sciences major and Murrah High School graduate receiving a Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

RIDGELAND鈥擩uliet T.K. Buckholdt, an art major and Ridgeland High School graduate receiving a James D. and Kay B. Bryan Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

SOUTHAVEN鈥擮livia S. Russell, a biochemistry/pre-medicine major and Northpoint Christian School graduate receiving a Mark and Cindy Jordan Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

STARKVILLE鈥擬ia C. Robertson, a political science major and Starkville High School graduate receiving a Malcolm and Olivia Portera Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

TULLAHOMA, Tennessee鈥擬adison C. Dochety, a biomedical engineering major and Tullahoma High School graduate receiving a Dr. Brad Roderick Moore Memorial Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at .

MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .