Contact: Sammy McDavid
Twenty-one members of the John C. Stennis-G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Association at Mississippi State University will be in Washington, D.C., late next week during one of the most dramatic times in the nation's recent history.
Though the dates of their visit--March 19-23--were set long in advance, the student group's visit to Capitol Hill takes place during what may be the beginnings of the United States-led military effort to oust Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Named for two prominent MSU alumni who spent decades in the United States Congress, the association was formed several years ago to promote and provide a deeper understanding of public service and the political process among students at the state's largest university.
The organization has nearly 60 members, many enrolled in academic majors other than political science. The most active participants are rewarded with the Washington trip.
Marty Wiseman, executive director of MSU's John C. Stennis Institute of Government, and institute research analyst Stephen Williams are advisers for the organization and will accompany the students.
"This is the fifth year Stennis-Montgomery members have had the opportunity to gain an up-close-and-personal introduction to Washington's complex workings," Wiseman said. "For a number of students in those past groups, the trip turned out to be a gateway to the city in which they would work after graduation.
"I imagine such will be the case for several in the 2003 party," he added.
Shortly after arriving Wednesday afternoon, the MSU group will travel to the city's George Washington University to attend the nightly live broadcast of Cable News Network's "Crossfire" political debate program.
On Thursday morning [the 20th], the students will join former Stennis staff members Nick Glaskas, John Pritchard and Frank Sullivan for a discussion of the legendary Mississippi politician's career as one of America's most powerful and respected legislative leaders. Later that day, Jack Oliver, deputy chair of the Republican National Committee, will share his party's plans for retaining control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
The concluding Thursday event will be a Capitol Hill reception honoring 1973 MSU graduate Marsha W. Blackburn of Somerville, Tenn. A former Tennessee film and music commissioner and Republican state senator, Blackburn was elected last year to represent the Volunteer State's 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The first program on Friday [the 21st] will be a briefing on the international military situation by Peter Geren, special assistant to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and Col. Chris Perkins of the U.S. Army's Special Operations section. Afterwards, the students have a scheduled luncheon with retired Mississippi congressman and organization namesake Sonny Montgomery, followed by a meeting with Grenada native and Washington insider Burns Strider, now on the staff of Sen. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
After a free day on Saturday, the students and advisers return to campus Sunday afternoon.
The 2003 MSU Stennis-Montgomery Washington travel group includes (by hometown):
CANTON--Senior Kelly Kirk, a general business administration major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kirk.
FOXWORTH--Sophomore Thomas J. "T.J." Harvey, a general business administration major and the son of Thomas Harvey and Charlotte Wells.
GREENVILLE--Senior political science major Ray K. "Kell" Smith, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Smith.
GREENWOOD--Sophomore Thomas R. Gregory, the son of Thomas Gregory and Anna Gregory and a management of construction and land development major.
HATTIESBURG--Junior marketing major Mary C. Norman, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Norman.
INVERNESS--Senior political science major Jane Anna Harris, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harris.
ITTA BENA--Senior biological sciences major Nikki Lipsey, the daughter of Carol Lipsey.
JACKSON--Senior political science major Tim Jackson, the son of Ronnie Jackson and Felecia Jackson; senior Ryan Thurmond, the son of Pennye Thurmond and a real estate and mortgage financing major; and senior political science major Nyerere Tryman, the son of Maggie Mixon of Jackson and Dr. Mfanya Tryman of Starkville.
JACKSON, Tenn.--Senior Alison Smith, a general business administration major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Smith.
LELAND--Freshman political science major Edward Sanders, son of Jeanette Sanders.
LOUISVILLE--Senior Jason McNeel, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Niles McNeel and a management of construction and land management major.
MADISON--Junior Laura Leigh Smith, a secondary education major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smith; and junior Virginia C. "Ginna" Sudduth, a general business administration major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duff Sudduth.
PHILADELPHIA--Junior communication major Lacie Wilkerson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wilkerson.
SATARTIA--Senior political science major James L. Cresswell, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Cresswell.
STARKVILLE--Senior political science major Parker Y. Wiseman, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Marty Wiseman.
VICKSBURG--Sophomore psychology major Phillip Strickland, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Strickland; freshman liberal arts major Christopher Tullos, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clemit Tullos; and junior marketing major Rebekah Williams, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Williams.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information about the trip, telephone MSU's Stennis Institute of Government at (662) 325-3328.