Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Seventeen top students are leaders of the 2011 orientation programs at Mississippi State.
Working with the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, team members provide assistance and share their knowledge of the university with incoming freshmen and transfer students--and their parents--during various registration and information sessions.
Selection of orientation leaders involves a rigorous screening process; more than 50 students applied for this year's positions.
The new MSU Orientation Leaders include (by hometown):
ABERDEEN--Junior Daniel L. Fisher, an envorinmental economics and management major and the son of David and Lynn Fisher. He is a 2008 Oak Hill Academy graduate.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.--Senior Katharyn "Katie" Downs, a biological sciences major and the daughter of David and Susan Downs. She is a 2007 Detroit County Day School graduate.
BRISTOL, Va.--Junior Amanda N. French, an elementary education major and the daughter of Edward and Amy French. She is 2008 John S. Battle High School graduate.
BYHALIA--Sophomore Danisha Todd, a biological sciences major and the daughter of Daniel and Angela Hill. She is a 2009 Byhalia High School graduate.
CLARKSDALE--Junior Tyler D. Ellis, a history major and the son of Eddie and Kim Ellis. He is 2008 Lee Academy graduate.
CUMMING, Ga.--Junior Shelby Balius, an accounting and management major and the daughter of Brian and Lisa Balius. She is a 2009 Forsyth Central High School graduate.
FLORENCE--Junior KeAirra S. Williams, an architecture major and the daughter of Clinton and Ira Williams. She is a 2008 Florence High School graduate.
GERMANTOWN, Tenn.--Junior Kaylee M. Prather, a human sciences/child life studies major and the daughter of Kelly and Paula Prather. She is a 2008 Briarcrest Christian School graduate.
HAMILTON--Sophomore Brent E. Thompson, a political science major and the son of Barry and Debbie Thompson. He is a 2009 Hamilton High School graduate.
JACKSON--Junior Kimberly P. "Kim" Peach, a biochemistry major and the daughter of Mark and Pam Peach [39211]. She is a 2008 Jackson Academy graduate.
LEXINGTON--Sophomore Larry L. March, an accounting major and the son of Larry and Wanda March. He is a 2009 S.V. Marshall High School graduate.
MERIDIAN--Sophomore Victoria "Tori" Boyken, a kinesiology major and the daughter of Ed and Dana Boyken, and senior Laura C. Touchstone, a human sciences/apparels, textiles and merchandising major and the daughter of Dale and Beth Touchstone. Boyken is a 2009 Meridian High School graduate; Touchstone, a 2008 Lamar School graduate.
NEW ALBANY--Senior Willie N. Brewster Jr., a communication and political science double-major and the grandson of Roy and Mary Jenkins. He is a 2008 New Albany High School graduate.
OCEAN SPRINGS--Senior Samantha C. "Sam" Lesniewski, an animal and dairy science major and the daughter of Curtis Lesniewski and Amy Lesniewski. She is a 2007 Ocean Springs High School graduate.
PHILADELPHIA--Junior Bryan O. Snow, a communication major and the son of Darrel and Susan Snow. He is a 2008 Neshoba Central High School graduate.
RAYMOND--Senior Jacob "Jake" Hartfield, a political science major and the son of Rick and Colleen Hartfield. He is a 2008 Central Hinds Academy graduate.
Photographs of this year's orientation leaders may be viewed at http://admissions.msstate.edu/orientation/leaders/ by clicking on the individual names.
For more information about Mississippi State University, visit http://www.msstate.edu.