Hattiesburg native Jennifer Wicker is the first person to receive Mississippi State UniversityÕs Prestigious Young Alumnus Award.
Wicker, marketing director for The Curiosity Shoppe and Ye Olde Book Shoppe in Hattiesburg, is a communication graduate who has served her alma mater since before graduation in 1988. She currently holds the title of young director for the alumni associationÕs South Region of Mississippi.
She was presented with the newly created honor Jan. 24 during the university's annual alumni association awards banquet on campus.
As president of the Forrest-Lamar-Perry alumni chapter from 1994-96, Wicker established a board of directors and led in developing the Bully's Bark newsletter to serve chapter members. She also organized a chapter-sponsored golf tournament with alumni from the University of Southern Mississippi, with proceeds going to the United Way.
In 1995, she was honored as the chapter's alumnus of the year. A year later, she received the J. E. "Red" Ruffin Award from the alumni association for her contributions to its annual giving program.
ÒJennifer is an extremely deserving recipient of our first Prestigious Young Alumnus Award,Ó said Libba Andrews, alumni association associate director. ÒShe has devoted countless hours of her time in service to Mississippi State over the years.
"Giving this award for the first time has been a great step for the alumni association," Andrews added. "We want to focus on this group that is such an integral part of the association and show them how important they are. This award is just one way we have of recognizing the meaningful contributions of these alumni."