Contact: Robbie S. Ward
Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum will be among university and community representatives at the Habitat for Humanity house dedication at 10 a.m. on Tuesday [Nov. 9], completing the second Maroon Edition build in Starkville.
Keenum will present a Bible and a ceramic bulldog statue to the family of Katie Marie Gray at the new residence, located at 265 Greenwood St. Others taking part in the ceremony will be Mickey Montgomery, president of the Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity, local pastors, and MSU student volunteers.
The house has handicap accessibility, as one of Gray's sons, an MSU student, has muscular dystrophy. Her other son, Scottie Pittman, attends Starkville High School.
A tour of the home will be provided.
An estimated 2,000 volunteer hours of community service by MSU faculty, staff, students, and others associated with the university went toward construction of the house.
Maroon Edition is a common book reading program on campus and in the community. This year's book, "Three Cups of Tea," sought to inspire volunteerism and community service based on one person's ability to make a difference.
Many freshman students, including those involved in the Service Dawgs campus volunteer organization, assisted with building the house.
In 2009, MSU's Maroon Edition helped complete a Habitat for Humanity house for a family of five.
For more information about Maroon Edition and the Habitat for Humanity project, visit http://www.maroonedition.msstate.edu/ or http://www.starkvillehabitat.com/msu-house/.