Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Eight Mississippi State students are being honored as special scholars during the 2008 fall semester by the university's department of political science and public administration.
The scholar programs involve top departmental majors with demonstrated leadership and academic achievements and a commitment to future public service.
This year's group includes:
--Freshman Alexander M. Habighorst of Carriere, a Pearl River Central High School graduate being recognized as a new John C. Stennis Scholar. The son of Salavdor and Donna Habighorst, he plans to attend law school after graduation and specialize in constitutional law.
--Freshman Jack A. Pitts of Brandon, a Northwest Rankin High School graduate being recognized as a new John C. Stennis Scholar. The son of Robert Pitts, he has been active in state Republican Party campaigns and plans to work as a congressional staff member after graduation.
--Senior Whitney E. Holliday of Gulfport, a Gulfport High School graduate being recognized as a graduating John C. Stennis Scholar. The daughter of John and Lana Holliday and an MSU President's List Scholar, she has been active in the campus Pre-Law Society and John C. Stennis-G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Association. A former intern in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, Holliday plans to attend law school and seek a career in politics or public service.
--Senior Heather L. Lewis of Petal, being recognized as a new Haley Barbour Scholar. She also is an MSU's President's List Scholar and a participant in the campus Appalachian Leadership Honors Program. A double-major in foreign language/Spanish and the daughter of Douglas and Lori Lewis, she is planning a career in international diplomacy.
--Senior Patrick A. Young of Sparta, Ill., a Sparta High School graduate being recognized as a new Haley Barbour Scholar. The son of Alan and Sharon Young, he also is majoring in communication/broadcasting. Young plans to seek a master's degree in political journalism after graduation in preparation for a career in international journalism.
--Senior Erien R. Watson of Meridian, being recognized as a graduating Morris W. Collins Scholar. Also is an MSU President's List Scholar, she is the daughter of Ernie and Rennee Watson.
--Senior Laura Shelton New of Starkville, a Starkville High School graduate being recognized as a graduating John C. Stennis Scholar. The daughter of Ray and Janie Cirlot-New, she plans to attend law school after graduation and pursue a career in government lobbying. New has worked as intern in the Washington, D.C., office of U. S. Rep. Chip Pickering.
--Senior Jeffery A. Hooks of Elliott, a U.S. Army veteran of the Iraq War being recognized as a new Haley Barbour Scholar. Also an MSU President's List Scholar, he is planning a career in emergency services management.
The Stennis Scholarship Program is a memorial to the late MSU alumnus and longtime United States senator from Mississippi, while the Barbour Scholarship Program is named for the longtime Republican Party strategist now serving as Mississippi's governor.
The Collins Scholarship is a memorial to the founding director of the university's Stennis Institute of Government.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.