Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Over a two-week period beginning July 27, Mississippi State alumni chapters in six states will sponsor a total of 37 "send-off" parties for freshmen and transfer students enrolling this fall at the university.
Parents of the new students, along with prospective future students and their parents, also have been invited to attend the first such events ever developed by the 128-year-old land-grant institution.
"We know of no other university coordinating alumni events of this magnitude to welcome new students to campus and to share with prospective students why we want them to be a part of our MSU family," said Jimmy Abraham, MSU Alumni Association executive director.
Fall classes begin Aug. 17, with send-off events scheduled through Aug. 10. A Web site, http://www.sendoff.msstate.edu/, has been established to enable those interested in attending any of the 37 parties to both register and obtain specific information on each event.
July 26 is the registration deadline.
Abraham said alumni chapters in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas are participating, with MSU faculty and/or staff members set to attend each event. Also, while supplies last, an official "send-off" T-shirt will be given to all new and prospective MSU students.
"We want these young men and women, and their parents, to hear firsthand from alumni and university officials what it's like to be a Mississippi State student," he said. "We are confident these parties will be a spectacular kick-off for those enrolling this fall."
Abraham said the university is "thrilled to have such an enthusiastic response from alumni and friends who have volunteered to host these parties."
Alumni chapters hosting parties include:
ALABAMA--Huntsville, July 27; Birmingham, July 31; and Mobile and Muscle Shoals, both Aug. 8.
GEORGIA--Atlanta, July 29.
LOUISIANA--Baton Rouge, Aug. 8.
MISSISSIPPI (by counties)--Washington, Aug. 2; Sunflower and Tippah, Aug. 7; Bolivar, Calhoun, Central Mississippi (Hinds, Rankin and Madison), Clay, Copiah, Covington, Jackson, Lafayette, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Lowndes, Monroe, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pearl River, Union, Warren, Webster, Yalobusha, and Yazoo, Aug. 8; Desoto, Aug. 9; George and Greene (combined chapter) and Lee, Aug. 10.
TENNESSEE--Nashville, Aug. 7; Memphis, Aug. 9.
TEXAS--Dallas and Houston, Aug. 5; Fort Worth, Aug. 8.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, telephone Dr. Abraham or associate alumni director Libba Andrews at 662-325-7000. E-mail Abraham at jabraham@alumni.msstate.edu.