Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Nearly two dozen Mississippi State seniors are new members of the prestigious Society of Scholars at Mississippi State.
The honor organization recognizes top university students each semester from all majors who have demonstrated the highest standard of academic excellence, and who also possess a broad and rigorous exposure to courses in the arts, sciences and humanities.
Some 50 students are inducted each year out of approximately 2,700 pursuing various undergraduate degrees.
Established in 1981 with 21 charter members, the society since has inducted more than 400.
The 2011 spring list of inductees includes (by hometown):
BILOXI--Siera D. Glass, a marketing major and daughter of Timothy and Barbara Glass.
BRANDON--Chesley G. Rhodes, a mechanical engineering major and son of Phillip and Renea Rhodes.
CALEDONIA--John Morris, an accounting major and son of Thomas and Tereisa Morris.
CARTHAGE--Mary Stefanie Vamenta, a microbiology major and daughter of Hector and Olga Vamenta.
CLEVELAND--Cristyn C. Holder, a communication major and daughter of Wilbur and Cristyn Holder.
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn.--Nicole M. Beck, an animal and dairy sciences and microbiology major and daughter of Randall and Karen Beck.
COLLINSVILLE--Anna Harrison, a communication major and daughter of Benny and Margaret Harrison.
FULTON--Andrea L. Rodgers, a biological sciences major and daughter of Rodney Rodgers of Mantachie and Glenda Brown of Fulton.
HATTIESBURG--Leigh E. Holland, an elementary education major and daughter of John and Joan Holland.
HEIDELBERG--Anna R. Welch, an accounting major and daughter of Weldon and Lynetta Welch.
HORN LAKE--Denise L. Unda, a biological sciences major and daughter of Patricio and Consuelo Unda.
HOULKA--Aislinn Kopp, an economics major and daughter of Mike and Melinda Kopp.
LONG BEACH--Sarah K. Koon, a sociology major and daughter of Robert Koon of Long Beach and Rebecca Dickensauge of Gulfport.
MADISON--Joseph C. Davis, an economics major and son of James and Terri Davis.
MADISON, Ala.--Kelsey M. Norris, an English and foreign languages major and daughter of Cutris and Barbara Norris.
MATHISTON--Kathryn H. Long, an English major and daughter of Kirk Long and Lisa Long.
NOXAPATER--Cherish L. Forsman, a sociology major and daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Forsman.
POWDER SPRINGS, Ga.--Christie M. Bond, an elementary education major and daughter of Ronald and Debra Bond.
SOUTHAVEN--Sarah A. Reaves, a psychology major and daughter of Kevin Anderson of Sarah and Mary Anderson of Southaven.
STARKVILLE--Haiying Shull, a marketing and finance major.
TALLADEGA, Ala.--Mandy L. Bliss, a history major and daughter of William and Janet Bliss.
WIGGINS--Calista Guthrie, a geosciences major and daughter of John and Sonja Guthrie.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.