Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Seven students and a faculty member are being recognized for outstanding achievements by the Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State.
The university's honors program, largest and oldest of its kind in the state, presented the awards at its recent end-of-school-year ceremony. Also earlier this month, the 38-year-old program was redesignated as the Shackouls Honors College following the announcement of a $10 million gift by MSU alumnus Bobby Shackouls and his wife Judy of Houston, Texas.
Enrolling more than 1,000 academically talented students in small classes, the college is designed to foster inquiry and in-depth learning. Led by veteran psychology professor Nancy McCarley, it is a charter member of the Southern Regional Honors Council.
Ratnasingham Shivaji of the department of mathematics and statistics was recognized as the Outstanding Honors Faculty Member. A former department head who earned a doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, he currently holds one of the highest MSU faculty ranks as a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor.
Students honored at the program include (by hometown):
BILOXI--Douglas O. Lamm, Outstanding Honors Freshman Award. The son of Kathryn Lamm and David Lamm, he is an MSU President's List Scholar seeking a double-major in mathematics and insurance, risk management and financial planning.
HOMEWOOD, Ala.--Jennifer S. Rupinski, John L. Tilley Outstanding Senior Award. Attending MSU on a Presidential Scholarship--one of the two highest academic recognitions given to entering freshmen--she is the daughter of Patrick and Mary Rupinski. Named two years ago as the outstanding honors sophomore and currently serving as the honors council's vice chair for administration, she is being honored with the award named for the program's founding director. She also is a President's List Scholar.
MADISON, Ala.--Andrew D. Lindeman, Outstanding Honors Sophomore Award. An MSU President's List Scholar and computer science major, he is the son of Philip and Loma Lindeman. He is attending the university on a Presidential Scholarship--one of the two highest academic recognitions given to entering freshmen.
MADISON--Senior Kyle A. Frazier, 2006 Outstanding Honors Student. An MSU President's List Scholar scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in civil engineering, he is the son of Terry and Esther Frazier. Current chair of the Shackouls Honors College Council, he also was named recently as the Bagley College of Engineering's Outstanding Civil Engineering Student--the latest of several major recognitions earned in connection with his academic major.
PINSON, Ala.--Junior Kimberly E. Daugherty, winner of the Jack H. White Outstanding Honors Service Award. An industrial engineering major and the daughter of Gary and Becky Daugherty, she is being recognized for continuing volunteer efforts with a special recognition named for the program's former director.
RIDGELAND--Daniel G. Cranford, one of two selected for the Outstanding Honors Junior Award. An MSU President's List Scholar and computer science major, he is the son of Dr. Dennis and Julia Cranford.
RIVER RIDGE, La.--Brian L. Schilling, one of two selected for the Outstanding Honors Junior Award. An MSU President's List Scholar seeking a double major in aerospace engineering and mathematics, he is the son of Emile and Patricia Schilling. Earlier at the university, he was selected for the Aerospace Engineering Freshman of the Year Award.