Contact: Bill Wagnon
Members of a select group of Mississippi State University students are digging deep to give something back to the academic unit that supports them.
The 11 members of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassadors have teamed to contribute $500 to establish a fund that will provide support for the work of the organization's future members.
The group represents the college in recruiting prospective students, serving as liaisons with alumni and promoting the college's programs.
"We talked as a group about how the college spends money on us each year that allows us to travel, have identifiable clothing and nametags," said president Will Abbay of Walls.
"Most organizations require dues, but since the Ambassadors doesn't have a dues system, we decided to take up a collection to give back to the college," the senior agricultural economics major said.
Since the group's initial $500 donation, other university supporters have contributed to the fund, which now totals $1,500.
New members are selected annually after stringent interviews with a faculty committee. Those selected spend the next 12 months traveling to community colleges and high schools, writing letters to prospective students, making telephone calls to thank alumni for donations to the college, and serving as hosts to visiting dignitaries, among other activities.
They also help staff such campus events as "Discovery: MSU," and School Days on the Farm.