Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Houston, Texas-based Madison Charitable Foundation is providing additional support for an ongoing scholarship initiative at Mississippi State.
Last year, MSU launched the Medallion Scholarship program to address the university's need for scholarships. Providing financial assistance to qualified Mississippi residents, the awards are provided on the basis of merit and need.
"Mississippi State is extremely grateful to the Madison Foundation for a commitment of $250,000 to establish a Medallion endowment," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "The gift will allow us to award scholarships to a specific group of students from Mississippi whose family income weighs heavily in their selection."
J.O. "Joc" Carpenter of Port Gibson, a member of the Madison Foundation's board, said, "We wanted to provide assistance to help as many students as possible get a quality education at Mississippi State."
Established in 2007, the foundation originated with Mississippi native Wiley Hatcher. It supports Mississippi charities and higher education.
After residing in Port Gibson for more than 25 years, Hatcher relocated to Houston.
Carpenter, a longtime Hatcher friend, said the Madison Foundation "operates under a very simple premise" for helping people.
"Wiley said he wants to help others in need," he explained. "His reason for establishing the foundation is just that simple."
Carpenter said he was pleased to recommend support for the Mississippi State program since his family has university ties. Though he's not a graduate, Carpenter's father, Ira W. Carpenter, and a brother, Bob Carpenter, are alumni of the 131-year-old, land-grant institution.
First-time Madison Foundation Medallion Scholars must be full-time freshmen or community college transfer students who meet certain academic benchmarks and have demonstrated leadership abilities.
Bo Hemphill, the MSU Foundation's executive director of development, also expressed "our deep appreciation" to the Madison Foundation, Hatcher and Carpenter.
"There is a growing need at Mississippi State to secure additional dollars earmarked for immediate-use scholarships such as the Medallion awards," Hemphill observed. "We understand economic conditions and their impact on families, and are working hard to assist as many students as possible by securing gifts from generous benefactors like the Madison Foundation."
The Madison Foundation Medallion Scholarship is an open fund in the MSU Foundation that may be increased through additional contributions. For more information, contact Hemphill at 662-325-8852 or bhemphill@foundation.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.