Contact: Sammy McDavid
Becky H. Rowan
Becky H. Rowan of Pearl High School is receiving the first Schillig High School Counselor Award given at Mississippi State.
The honor was presented recently by the university's top scholarship group in recognition of Rowan's "significant contributions to the academic progress of her students." A $500 check also accompanied the award established late last year by the Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholars Society.
A former PHS English teacher, Rowan became a junior high school counselor in 1992 and moved to the senior high five years later. Unquestionably, the greatest test of her training came Oct. 1, 1997, during a fatal shooting at the school. The leadership and counseling services rendered during and after the tragedy were among the accolades cited in her nominations.
"Becky's many years of service to the students of Pearl High School, so dramatically displayed during the shooting tragedy, and her outstanding leadership in the counseling profession make her an unusually worthy recipient of this award," said John F. Marszalek.
A Giles Distinguished Professor of History and mentor for the 20-person Schillig Scholars group, Marszalek said "the quality of the 14 nominated scholars was very high.
"The decision of the student panel was not easy," he added. "Two things are clear from the applications, however. The school counseling profession in Mississippi is in good hands and MSU's Schillig Society is very pleased to be able to recognize that fact with this new award."
A Corinth native who has lived in Pearl for more than four decades, Rowan is a 1971 MSU honors graduate. She received a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Mississippi College in 1993 and a certificate in school administration in 1997. She currently is enrolled in MC's educational specialist program in guidance and counseling.
During an education career that began in 1971, Rowan has received either STAR or ALL-STAR teacher honors six times.