Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Six Mississippi high school seniors, along with three from Alabama and one from Tennessee, are receiving Mississippi State's top scholarships for the 2005-06 school year.
Seven will be Presidential Endowed Scholars; the others, Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholars.
The new Presidential Scholars include Douglas M. Ansel of Starkville, Elizabeth B. Butler of Brandon, John M. Harrelson of Cottondale, Ala., James L. "Lan" Holloway of Clinton, Zachary T. "Zach" Jordan of Muscle Shoals, Ala., Andrew D.M. Lindeman of Madison, Ala., and Christina M. Young of Vancleave.
The incoming Schillig Scholars include William P. Cleveland of Gulfport, Jeral P. Self of Madison and Chelsea V. Tiller of Kingsport, Tenn.
"We are confident that the academic programs and variety of opportunities for leadership and service that Mississippi State offers will provide these students with a superb undergraduate experience," said MSU President Charles Lee. "The Presidential and Schillig awards are high honors, and each scholar and parent should be proud of both their academic achievements and outstanding performances in the scholarship interview process."
All scholarships provide a basic $34,000, which covers the costs of tuition and fees, food, and books for four years. Beginning this fall, each award also will include:
--A $10,000 ($2,500 a school year) on-campus housing allowance,
--A one-time $1,500 Education Enrichment Scholarship to be used for study abroad anytime after the freshman year, and
--An Undergraduate Research Fellowship Award providing $4,000 over two summers.
In all, each scholar now will receive a total of nearly $50,000 for the freshman-senior years of study at MSU.
The new Presidential Scholars will join 13 others in the special academic recognition program that is supported by separate endowments from several private donors.
Schillig scholarships were established in 1986 through a donation from the private Ottilie Schillig Trust of Port Gibson. With the addition this year's group, nine students will be members of the Schillig Society, which offers a variety of extracurricular enhancements, including regular meetings with leaders in industry, government, education, and business.
Biographical information on the 2005-06 MSU Scholars: (in alphabetical order)
Presidential Scholar Douglas Ansel currently ranks first in his Starkville High School class of 205. The son of Mr. and Mrs. George Ansel and an Eagle Scout, he is a member of the SHS National Honor Society chapter, as well as the school orchestra and various theatrical productions. Ansel plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Presidential Scholar Elizabeth Butler is a National Merit Scholar at Jackson Preparatory School. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Butler, she is a member of the school's National Honor and Cum Laude societies, as well as Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society, Key Club, Student Government Association, and YMCA Youth Legislature, among others. Earlier, she was chief editor of the junior high literary magazine. Butler plans to major in international business.
Schillig Scholar William Cleveland is senior class secretary at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cleveland, he also is a Student Government Association senator and a member of the YMCA Youth Legislature. In addition to membership in Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society, he has served as a physics tutor and was the top MSMS junior scoring last year in a University of Alabama physics competition. He is an Eagle Scout and a member of the Boy Scouts of America's Order of the Arrow. Cleveland plans to major in a field of engineering.
Presidential Scholar John Harrelson is first in his class of 333 at Tuscaloosa County High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Rocky Harrelson, he also is Student Government Association president, Mr. TCHS, Outstanding Senior, and Most Likely to Succeed for the 2004-05 school year. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society and TCHS Scholars Bowl. Harrelson plans to major in chemical engineering.
Presidential Scholar Lan Holloway is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and a member of the National Honor Society at Clinton High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. David Holloway, he also is a member of Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society and Technology Student Association chapter, and a former member of the CHS Academic Team. During high school, he has received special honors in biology and mathematics. Holloway plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Presidential Scholar Zach Jordan is a member of the National Honor Society and Science Olympiad at Muscle Shoals High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jordan, he also is a member of Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society and the MSHS Science and Scholar's bowls. Jordan plans to major in a field of engineering.
Presidential Scholar Andrew Lindeman has been included on the All-A Honor Roll for the past two years at Bob Jones High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Lindeman, he also has been named an All-American Scholar by the U.S. Achievement Academy and is an Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm. At BJHS, he is a member of the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society and Spanish Honor Society. Lindeman plans to major in computer engineering.
Schillig Scholar Chelsea Tiller is student body president at Dobyns Bennett High School. In addition to being selected for Who's Who among American High School Students, she has been honored with the Principal's Leadership, Most Outstanding Leader and Kodak Young Leader awards during the past two years. She is a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. She has been nominated this year to represent Tennessee in the national Congressional Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Throughout high school, she has participated in the Appalachian Inter-Mountain Scholars Program. Tiller, who plans to major in biological engineering, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Tiller and Mr. and Mrs. Todd Mauldin.
Schillig Scholar Jeral Self currently is ranked second in her St. Joseph Catholic High School class of 57. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Self, she was sophomore and junior class president and currently is executive assistant to the Student Council director. She also is chair of the Principal's Advisory Board and has been nominated for the National Achievement Principal's Leadership Award. She has been a participant throughout high school in the YMCA Youth Legislature program and is among the co-founders of SJCHS's Spanish and Service clubs. Self plans to major in biological sciences/pre-medicine.
Presidential Scholar Christina Young currently is ranked second in her Vancleave High School class of 137. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Young, she has been active on the Student Council throughout her years at VHS, including service as secretary in 2003 and president in 2004. She also was freshman class president and, as a sophomore, was selected by her class as student of the year. Last year, she was named as Miss West Jackson County Junior Miss. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has been a delegate to the national Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference. Throughout high school, she has been active in the drama club and campus choir. Young plans to major in chemical engineering.