Contact: Morgan Tubbs
Photo by: Russ Houston
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Twelve freshmen from Mississippi and three other states are new selections for Mississippi State's top academic scholarships.
The university's Presidential Scholars Program covers all tuition, fees, books and housing expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The awards are worth approximately $50,000 each.
"The new scholars come from Michigan, Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi and are majors in English, engineering, biological sciences, political science and economics, among other areas," said Thomas P. "Tommy" Anderson, mentor for the Presidential Scholars Program.
"They impress us already as leaders in the classroom and out," he added.
The dozen new members join more than 20 already in the program that is part of the Shackouls Honors College. For more, visit www.honors.msstate.edu .
As MSU Presidential Scholars, the students meet monthly with special guest speakers and travel throughout the country during the academic year. They also are expected to serve in various campus leadership capacities.
Anderson, an associate professor of English, said the 2013-14 group "was selected from more than 1,000 applicants, all of whom were high achievers in high school, leaders in their community, and driven to succeed in college."
Anderson said past Presidential Scholars have gone on to receive national Truman, Udall, Mitchell and Goldwater Scholarships, as well as professional internships. They also may take part in the Shackouls Summer Study at Oxford Program, among other enhanced learning opportunities.
The new scholars group includes (by hometown):
ABERDEEN--Kimberly S. "Kim" Kelly, an industrial engineering major and the daughter of Robert and Catherine Kelly.
BAY SPRINGS--Kimberly A. "Allie" Brown, a biological engineering/biomedical engineering major and the daughter of Mark and Kimberly Brown.
FLOWOOD--Natalie M. Jones, an English and business administration double-major and the daughter of Juan and Robin Jones.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--Maxwell C. "Max" Moseley, an industrial engineering and English double-major and the son of Joseph and Nicole Moseley.
KIRKWOOD, Mo.--Haley R. Wilcutt, a biological sciences/zoology major and the daughter of Daniel and Sherry Wilcutt.
OKEMOS, Mich.--Roxanne L. Raven, a political science/pre-law major and the daughter of Matt and Ann Raven.
RIDGELAND--Aalaap D. Desai, the son of Dipakkumar and Kirtida Desai, and Rodney K. Kipchumba, the son of Solomon Musani and Mary Kipchumba. Both are biological engineering/biomedical engineering majors.
STARKVILLE--John D. "Jack" Bryan, a business economics major and the son of Pat and Laura Bryan; Emily B. Damm, a communication major and the daughter of Robert and Laura Damm; and Holly M. Travis, a political science major and the daughter of Rick and Cynthia Travis.
VICKSBURG--Sallie Lin, a biological engineering/biomedical engineering major and the daughter of Lihwa and LiChu Lin.