STARKVILLE, Miss.--Two dozen Mississippi State students are in the nation's capital this week to hone their skills for possible careers in the fields of public service and politics.
As their predecessors did four years ago, these politically astute representatives of diverse academic majors will be joining thousands of others Thursday in witnessing the inauguration of President George W. Bush.
Twenty-four members of the university's John C. Stennis-G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Association left early Tuesday (Jan. 18] for an intense, four-day experience in Washington, D.C. Named for two prominent Mississippi State graduates who spent decades in Congress during the latter half of the 20th century, the association was formed in 1998 to promote a deeper interest in public service and the political process among all academic majors at Mississippi State.
Each year, the organization's most active participants are rewarded with a Washington trip. Marty Wiseman, executive director of the university's John C. Stennis Institute of Government, and institute research associate Jeff Markham are accompanying the group, which will be staying in the Capitol Hill Holiday Inn.
As with all SMA members making the Washington trip, the 2005 group will be involved in a series of government-related briefings and meetings organized with the assistance of the state's congressional delegation. They also will spend some social time with MSU alumni and friends now working in and around D.C.
The 2005 traveling Stennis-Montgomery group includes (by hometown):
BATESVILLE--Senior political science major Christy A. Vinson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Vinson.
BILOXI--Senior political science major Clare H. Bass, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Micheal* Bass.
BRANDON--Senior biological engineering major Cory B. Carter, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Carter.
CARROLLTON--Senior Thomas R. Gregory III, a management of construction and land major and the son of Tommy Gregory and Anna Gregory of Greenwood.
CLINTON--Junior physical education major Jamie L. Kelley, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kelley.
COLLINSVILLE--Business administration graduate student Morgan L. McPhail, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark McPhail.
CORINTH--Senior management major Matthew R. Holmes, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holmes.
ELLISVILLE--Senior physical education major Jennifer A. Valentine, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Valentine.
FOXWORTH--Senior general business administration major Thomas J. "T.J." Harvey, the son of Thomas Harvey of Columbia and Charlotte Wells of Foxworth.
GREENWOOD--Senior microbiology major Marc Biggers, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marcus D. Biggers; and senior general liberal arts major Durden Pillow, the son of Dale Pillow and Susan Gregory.
HATTTIESBURG--Junior political science major Kristin M. McGee, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George McGee.
ITTA BENA--Senior biological sciences major Nikki Lipsey, the daughter of Carol Lipsey of Sidon.
JACKSON--Jennings Cooper, the daughter of Allan Cooper and Jan Cooper [both ZIP 39202]; John S. Grant, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Grant [39208]; and Timothy S. Jackson, the son of Ronnie Jackson [39213] and Felecia Jackson [39209]. All are senior political science majors.
LELAND--Junior political science major Edward A. Sanders, the son of Jeanette Sanders.
MADISON--Senior political science major Lindsey I. Tew, the daughter of Randy Tew of Madison and Debbie Westbrook of Flora.
MARRERO, La.--Senior human sciences major Charlene M. Eiffert, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Al Eiffert.
MT. OLIVE--Junior political science major Justin M. Starling, the son of Joseph Starling of Ellisville and Angela Starling of Mt. Olive.
PHILADELPHIA--Senior communication major Lacie V. Wilkerson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wilkerson.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.--Senior communication major Adam R. Telle, president of the MSU Student Association and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Whitney Telle.
VICKSBURG--Senior international business major Rebecca J. "Becca" Harden, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Harden; and senior psychology major Phillips* Strickland, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Strickland.
* - Micheal (Bass) and Phillips (Strickland) are the correct name spellings.