Contact: Harriet Laird
Yasmine N. Brown of Pace is the inaugural recipient of an annual scholarship at Mississippi State honoring two former Rosedale residents.
The West Bolivar High School honor graduate is receiving the Adolph and Bernice Michael Family Scholarship, a living memorial to the late couple, as well as a tribute to other family members. The Michaels were lifelong residents of the Bolivar County town, where Adolph Michael owned Michael's Department Store and was a pecan buyer.
Brown, an incoming freshman at the university, plans to major in computer science. The daughter of Brenda Brown of Pace and Raymond Tucker of Memphis, Tenn., she was selected on the basis of academic achievements and ACT score, among other criteria.
At West Bolivar High School, Brown served as president of the Future Educators of America and was a member of the Beta Club. She attends St. Peter's Missionary Baptist Church and sings in the choir.
The MSU scholarship will provide tuition, housing, meals, books, and supplies. The recognition recently was established by David and Shirley Michael of Leesburg, Va.
David Michael, a 1969 MSU chemical engineering graduate, was reared in Rosedale and attended what then was Rosedale High School. He is retired from Mobil Oil.
"The scholarship was created to honor my family and salute the wonderful education I received at Rosedale High School from very memorable teachers like Mrs. Violet Taylor, who taught math," he said.
"I would like to encourage Yasmine to follow her educational dream at Mississippi State by alleviating some financial burden, as I also honor the MSU education I received that led to a very productive career," he added.
For more information on establishing scholarships through the MSU Foundation, contact Cathy L. Lammons, director of donor relations, at 662-325-7843 or clammons@advservices.msstate.edu.