Contact: Maridith Geuder
A Hattiesburg philanthropic organization today [Aug. 27] committed $1 million for a new student scholarship program at Mississippi State.
The Asbury Foundation initially is contributing $250,000 to the university's unrestricted scholarship fund. The first gift will be followed by three annual payments of equal amounts.
Executive director William K. Ray said the gift to MSU is part of $35 million the foundation is spreading among several state universities and Jackson's Millsaps College.
"Most Mississippi college students now receive some type of financial aid," Ray said. That's why, in light of the state's budget situation, private support by foundations and other such organizations is "more important now than ever," he added.
Created in 1984 as the nonprofit service arm of Wesley Medical Center, the foundation came into being with the sale of Wesley Medical Systems. Supporting educational, health and life-quality programs in a Hattiesburg-centered region once served by Methodist Hospitals, its efforts are focused primarily on a seven-county area.
Beginning next fall, MSU students in any academic major from Covington, Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Jones, Marion, and Perry counties may begin applying for the scholarships.
In his response, interim MSU President J. Charles Lee said more than 500 students from these counties attended classes on the Starkville campus last year. Final enrollment figures for 2002 are still being tallied.
"We are deeply grateful to the Asbury Foundation for this very generous gift, which will provide new opportunities for talented and deserving students seeking to take advantage of the educational offerings at Mississippi State," Lee said. "This support will help us achieve one of our primary goals of keeping more of our state's top students in Mississippi."
He added: "During these times of declining state support for universities and rising costs for students and their parents, gifts such as this one take on even greater significance. This truly is an outstanding investment in the future of our state."
For additional information on the Asbury Scholarships, telephone (662) 325-1006.