Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--During July and August, more than 30 Mississippi State alumni chapters around the state and region are sponsoring send-off parties for local students attending the university for the first time.
The celebratory events also are involving the students' parents and area prospective students.
Residence halls at the 129-year-old land-grant institution open for occupancy at 8 a.m. Aug. 11, while new student orientation (for those who didn't participate in the June sessions) takes place on the 17th. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 20.
"These special celebrations will provide excellent opportunities for alumni and friends of Mississippi State to welcome our incoming freshmen and transfer students, and to share with prospective students why we want them to be a part of our Bulldog family," said Jimmy Abraham, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association.
In addition to fellowship, each local program will feature food and soft drinks, Abraham added. Representatives of the university's admissions and scholarships office, alumni association and other campus units also will be on hand to answer any last-minute questions from students and their parents, he added.
To obtain details on the scheduled events and register, visit http://www.alumni.msstate.edu and click the "Send-off" icon. While supplies last, an official "send-off" T-shirt will be provided to all new and prospective students.
Chapter parties scheduled to date include:
July 24--West Tennessee, in Jackson.
July 27--Yazoo County, in Yazoo City.
July 30--Birmingham, Ala.; Harrison and Stone counties, in Biloxi; Leflore and Carroll counties, in Greenwood; and Northwest Alabama, in Muscle Shoals.
July 31--Attala County, in Kosciusko; Clay County, in West Point; East Texas, in Hideaway; Greater Fort Worth; Jackson County, in Gautier; Lincoln County, in Brookhaven; Panola County, in Batesville; and Warren County, in Vicksburg.
Aug. 2--Covington County, in Collins; DeSoto County, in Olive Branch; Huntsville, Ala., in Madison; Lauderdale County, in Meridian; Monroe County, in Amory; Nashville, Tenn., in Brentwood; Oktibbeha County, on the MSU campus; and Washington County, in Greenville.
Aug. 4--Atlanta, Ga., in Norcross; Dallas, Texas; and Houston, Texas.
Aug. 5--New Orleans, La.
Aug. 6--Memphis, Tenn.
Aug. 7--Central Mississippi, in Jackson; Lee County, in Tupelo; Mobile, Ala.; and Tippah County, in Ripley.
Aug. 9--George and Greene counties, in Lucedale.
In addition to the above-listed Web site, information on the 2007 MSU Send-Off Parties may be obtained by telephoning the alumni association at 662-325-2284.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.