Contact: Joe Farris
Fourteen high school seniors from three states are selections for Mississippi State's top academic scholarships of the 2001-02 school year.
Included are eight students receiving Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarships and six who are the first to receive Presidential Endowed Scholarships.
The Schillig group brings together six residents from Mississippi and one each from Alabama and Kentucky. They include Laurie Carlisle of Owensboro, Ky., Sanquanett Jones of Natchez, Jennifer Hermetz of Meridian, Vernon McFarland of Pearl, Jordan Ray of Pontotoc, Angela Spence of Brandon, Seth Stephenson of Madison, and Sarah Tooley of Red Bay, Ala.
All Mississippians, the inaugural Presidential Scholars group includes Alan Boyle of Starkville, Kyle Frazier of Madison, Emily Hicks of Tupelo, Shawn Sanders of Jackson, Adam Sessums of Morton, and Sean Walters of Long Beach.
Both the Schillig and the Presidential scholarships provide a total of $32,000 over four years, which approximates the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, and books for four years of study on the Starkville campus.
Schillig Scholars are selected on the basis of leadership qualities as well as superior academic performance. Presidential Scholars are chosen on the basis of exceptional academic achievement and the promise of major contributions to their chosen professions.
Now in its 14th year, the Schillig scholarship program was established in 1986 through a donation from the Ottilie Schillig Trust of Port Gibson.
The new Schillig Scholars will become members of the Schillig Society, which offers extracurricular educational enhancements including regular meetings with leaders in industry, government, education, and business. John Marszalek, Giles Distinguished Professor of History, is their faculty mentor.
The Presidential Scholars will work with individual faculty mentors on research or other projects related to their particular field of study. The awards are supported by separate endowments created by private donors to the university.
Biographical information on the Schillig Scholars:
--Laurie Carlisle ranks first in her class at Owensboro High School, where she is the co-founder and president of an organization called Students Helping Our Community, lead attorney for the Mock Trial team, and a member of the basketball and soccer teams. She plans to major in computer engineering.
--Sanquanett Jones ranks first in her class at Natchez High School, where she is president of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Scholar. She plans to major in mechanical engineering.
--Jennifer Hermetz ranks second in her class at Meridian High School, where she is editor of the school newspaper and president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also is Meridian's Junior Miss. She initially will enroll in a liberal arts curriculum.
--Vernon McFarland ranks in the top 2 percent of his class at Northwest Rankin High School, where he is president of the Beta Club, president of the Future Business Leaders of America and a National Achievement Scholar. He plans to major in industrial engineering.
--Jordan Ray ranks first in his class at Pontotoc High School, where he is president of the senior class, captain of the baseball team and a three-time state champion cross-country runner. He plans to major in microbiology.
--Angela Spence is a student at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, where she is business editor for the yearbook and senior adviser for the Student Government Association. She plans to major in aerospace engineering.
--Seth Stephenson is a top student at Madison Central High School, where he is co-editor of the student newspaper and literary magazine and a National Merit Scholar. He initially will enroll in a liberal arts curriculum.
--Sarah Tooley ranks first in her class at Red Bay High School, where she is secretary/treasurer of the Student Government Association and captain of the Scholars Bowl. She plans to major in agricultural and biological engineering.
Biographical information on the Presidential Scholars, all of whom are National Merit Scholars with an average American College Test composite score of 34:
--Alan Boyle ranks first in his class at Starkville High School, where he is president of the National Honor Society, a cellist in the school orchestra and co-captain of the swim team. He has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is a National Merit Scholar and an All-STAR Scholar. He plans to major in computer science and biochemistry.
--Kyle Frazier ranks first in his class at Madison Central High School, where he is a trombonist in the marching band and an All-STAR Scholar. He has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is a National Merit Scholar. He plans to major in civil engineering.
--Emily Hicks ranks second in her class at Tupelo High School, where she is a member of the Varsity Chorus, Madrigals and Wave Connection performing groups. She has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is a National Merit Scholar. She plans to major in biological sciences.
--Shawn Sanders is a senior at Jackson Preparatory School, where he is vice president of the National Honor Society, sports editor of the newspaper, president of the Junior Engineering and Technical Society, and a National Merit Scholar. He plans to major in agricultural and biological engineering.
--Adam Sessums ranks first in his class at East Rankin Academy, where he is an All-STAR Scholar. He has a perfect 4.0 high grade-point average and is a National Merit Scholar. He plans to major in computer engineering.
--Sean Walters ranks second in his class at Long Beach High School, where he is captain of the Quiz Bowl team and an All-STAR Scholar. He has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is a National Merit Scholar. He plans to major in English.