Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Nine Mississippi students and one from Louisiana are receiving Mississippi State's top scholarships for the 2006-07 school year.
Seven will be Presidential Endowed Scholars; the three others, Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholars.
The new Presidential Scholars include David R. Brinton of Tupelo, Zachary H. Bugg of Horn Lake, Andrew C. Diaz of D'Iberville, Blake Jeter of Brandon, Erika L. Knott of Monroe, La., Kayla M. Mann of Meridian, and Wade M. Spurlock of Starkville.
Incoming Schillig Scholars include Willie H. Brown of Vicksburg, Paige E. Draper of Ackerman and Hannah M. Herrington of Pearl.
"The Presidential and Schillig awards are very high honors, and each scholar and parent should be proud of both their academic achievements and outstanding performances in the scholarship interview process," said John Marszalek, director of MSU's Distinguished Scholars program. "We are confident the academic programs and variety of opportunities for leadership and service that MSU offers will provide these students with a superb undergraduate experience."
Each MSU scholar will receive a total of nearly $50,000 for the freshman-senior years of study. Specifically, their awards include:
--A basic grant of $34,000 to cover the costs of tuition and fees, food, and books for four years;
--A $12,000 ($3,000 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.
The new Presidential Scholars will join 11 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 of this year's group, eight 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 new MSU Scholars: (in alphabetical order)
David Brinton is a National Merit Scholarship finalist at Tupelo High School. He also is president of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Key Club and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brinton, he is an Eagle Scout with Gold Palm. In addition to varsity soccer, he is a member of the school's Wave Connection Show Choir and Madrigals Choral Ensemble. He plans to major in biological engineering.
Willie Brown is a National Achievement Scholarship semi-finalist and an All-American Scholar at Vicksburg High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie H. Brown, he also is a member of the VHS Student Council, Key Club and National Honor Society. He serves as captain of the school's marching band and is a member of the symphonic and jazz bands, as well as the varsity tennis team. He plans to major in biological sciences.
Zachary Bugg is vice president of the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus. He also is a member of the MSMS Quiz Bowl Team--which won first place in state competition--and the Spanish Club. A frequent volunteer emissary for the school, he is the son of Barbara Bugg of Horn Lake and Dennis Bugg Jr. of Hendersonville, N.C. He plans to major in civil engineering.
Andrew Diaz is president of the Student Council and a Wendy's High School Heisman Award nominee at D'Iberville High School. Voted Most Intelligent and Most Involved by the DHS student body, he also is captain of the mathematics and science team and a member of the Beta Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Diaz, he plans to major in biological engineering.
Paige Draper is senior class vice president at Ackerman High School. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Draper, she currently serves as Choctaw County's Junior Miss. At AHS, she is editor of the AHS yearbook and treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. A three-time winner of All-American Cheerleader honors, she also is a member of the softball team, school chorus and campus chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She plans to major in a field of engineering.
Hannah Herrington is student body president at Pearl High School. She also was elected Most Intellectual, Most Likely to Succeed, vice president of the National Honor Society, and treasurer of the Beta Club and International Thespian Honor Society. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mims Herrington Jr., she plans to major in biological sciences/pre-veterinary medicine.
Blake Jeter is student body president at Northwest Rankin High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Robbin Jeter, he was elected Most Likely to Succeed. Additionally, he has been selected for the Principal's and Cougar Leadership awards. He is an all-state varsity tennis player and a winner of the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. He plans to major in biological engineering.
Erika Knott is a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist at Ouachita Parish High School. She is editor of the school newspaper, captain of the Quiz Bowl, treasurer of the French Club, and a section leader of the school band. She also holds a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do martial art. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Knott, she plans to major in biological sciences.
Kayla Mann is president of the Student Council and National Honor Society at Clarkdale Attendance Center. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mann, she also serves as captain of the mathematics and science team and the school's marching band. Additionally, she is president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and treasurer of the Spanish Honor Society. Mann plans to major in secondary education.
Wade Spurlock is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society at Starkville High School. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Stan Spurlock, he is the only higher education-bound student in Mississippi this year to achieve a perfect American College Test composite score of 36. He was a Mississippi Governor's School participant and a selection for the MGS Spirit Award. In addition to soccer and baseball, he is a member of the varsity football team, where he was named special-team most valuable player for two years. He plans to major in aerospace engineering.