Mississippi State among 'Best Scholarships' universities

Contact: Joe Farris

Mississippi State is one of 110 universities and colleges listed in "America's Best College Scholarships-2000."

The report "identifies the American colleges and universities providing students the greatest financial assistance based upon scholarship, leadership, and service, not subject to need," according to the publisher.

The latest information on top scholarships is compiled by Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc., an independent research and consulting organization based in Gainesville, Ga.

More than 1,500 four-year colleges and universities were surveyed to identify those offering the top scholarships.

MSU is included on the basis of its Schillig Leadership Scholars Program, which began in 1986 with a major gift from the Ottilie [pronounced o-tilly] Schillig Trust of Port Gibson.

For the 1999 fall semester, Schillig Scholarships worth $30,000 each have been awarded to seven incoming freshmen. They cover the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, and books for four years of study.

Inclusion in "America's Best Scholarships" is based on top merit-based scholarships available to freshmen in any field of study. The scholastic awards also must impose no residency restrictions and pay at least half of the costs of a four-year program of study, among other requirements.

Also making the list this year are Belhaven College, Mississippi University for Women and the University of Mississippi.