Contact: Sammy McDavid
Mississippi State University's success in managing and distributing student financial aid and scholarships is being honored by the United States Department of Education.
Bruce Crain, MSU director of student financial aid and scholarships, recently accepted for his staff colleagues an Education Department certificate of appreciation recognizing their past and current efforts.
Crain said the certificate was presented by a representative of the Education Department's Atlanta, Ga., office. Like other departmental offices in recent years, it has adopted "a partnership approach" with universities and colleges called "Helping Put America through School."
"This honor acknowledges our role as a Department of Education 'partner' in the successful delivery of federal student financial aid funds," he added.
Crain said MSU last year "awarded more than $65 million in student financial assistance to approximately 12,000 students, more than $50 million of which was in the form of federal grants, loans and work-study funding."
In addition to federal assistance, eligible MSU students also may receive financial help from state, institutional and other sources.
Complete information about student financial assistance at MSU may be obtained at the Garner Hall office on campus or at http://www.msstate.edu/dept/sfa.