Students honored by retired MSU faculty

Contact: Sammy McDavid


STARKVILLE, Miss.--Four students are being honored by retired MSU faculty. Accompanied by a $250 check, the honor is an ongoing recognition by the university's Association of Retired Faculty of both outstanding current students and former leaders at the 128-year-old land-grant institution.

Senior English major Dorothy K. "Kathy" Ward of French Camp is receiving the Peyton W. Williams Jr. Memorial Writing Award. Ward, the daughter of Thomas and Martha Ward, is a President's Scholar, Shackouls Honors College member and recent inductee into the Society of Scholars, MSU's most prestigious academic organization. Her award is named for the English professor who was longtime editor of the Mississippi Quarterly, the MSU-based scholarly journal of Southern culture.

Senior architecture major Kay S. Chae of Starkville is receiving the William L. Giles Memorial Award in Architecture. A member of Tau Sigma Delta national architecture honor society, she is the daughter of Yeon-Seok Chae and Sayim Kang. The award is named in honor of MSU's 13th president, in whose administration the state's only academic program in architecture was established.

Senior Ellen J. Easley of Cedar Bluff is receiving the Charles E. Lindley Memorial Leadership Award. The daughter of David and Marilyn Easley, she is completing a double-major in human sciences/food and nutrition and fitness management. She is a President's Scholar and a member of the Shackouls Honors College and Phi Kappa Phi honor society, among others. Her award is named for the longtime dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, in which the School of Human Sciences is located.

Senior aerospace engineering major Vanessa V. Aubuchon of Ocean Springs is receiving the Harry C. Simrall Memorial Award for Excellence in Engineering. Aubuchon, the daughter of Jerry and Erika Aubuchon, is a President's Scholar and Shackouls Honors College member. She also is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Tau honor societies, among others. Her award is named for MSU's former longtime dean of engineering.