New Maroon Camp promotes MSU history, traditions, participation

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

Counselors run toward the trophy during a skit at the conclusion of the inaugural New Maroon Camp. During the four-day, three-night student-led retreat, incoming students learned about university history, traditions and ways to get involved on campus.
Counselors run toward the trophy during a skit at the conclusion of the inaugural New Maroon Camp. During the four-day, three-night student-led retreat, incoming students learned about university history, traditions and ways to get involved on campus.
Photo by: Keats Haupt

STARKVILLE, Miss.--More than 80 freshmen from Mississippi and 13 other states stretching from California to Virginia and New Hampshire to Texas are graduates of Mississippi State's inaugural New Maroon Camp.

Led by an all-volunteer staff of current university students, the four-day, three-night experience was designed to provide interested new members of the campus community with information about the 136-year-old land-grant institution's history and traditions. The program also provided information about the wide variety of student organizations and activities available to enhance their classroom experiences.

"New Maroon Camp not only introduces participants to concepts and practices that can help them become successful students, but it also instills an immediate sense of pride and spirit for MSU that can last a lifetime," said Andrew Rendon, assistant dean of student affairs.

In addition to residing together in on-campus residence halls, the campers traveled to Florence for two nights at the Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center.

Students holding the distinction of being the first to participate in what is to become a new MSU tradition include (by hometown):

--ABERDEEN--Megan L. Greenhill.

--ACKERMAN--Andy M. Robison.

--BENTON--Desiree S. Haralson.

--BIG RAPIDS, Michigan--Josh M. Sprague.

--BILOXI--Megan N. Patterson.

--BIRMINGHAM, Alabama--Alexander W. Bisignani and Jake D. Overstreet.

--BOLTON--Niya M. Cottrell.

--BRANDON--Parker R. Middleton.

--CARMEL, Indiana--Celine M. Brazeal.

--CLEVELAND--Malik Ross.

--COFFEEVILLE--Kerio Q. Shelton.

--COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee--Daniel B. Schingle.

--COLUMBIA--Rhaikeemius O. Hunter.

--CORDOVA, Tennessee--Spencer H. Jones.

--CORINTH--Hayden W. Park.

--CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas--Hannah L. Reyes;

--DARDEN, Tennessee--Callie B. Whitfield.

--DECATUR, Alabama--Phoebe L. Fitzgerald and Mollie J. Schmidt.

--DES ARC, Arkansas--Alexis H. Wrigley.

--FLORENCE, Alabama--Caitlin M. Anderson.

--FLOWER MOUND, Texas--Jordan M. Hampton and Madison A. Rice.

--GERMANTOWN, Tennessee--Jessica A. Morris and Wes D. White.

--GREENWOOD--Ali K. Evans and Mary H. Lott.

--GULFPORT--Melina C. Shaw.

--HATTIESBURG--Parker F. Krag.

--HERNANDO--Baylee N. Davidson.

--HOLLANDALE--Will B. Eifling.

--HOLLY SPRINGS--Deion Walters.

--HOOKS, Texas--Harmon Duke.

--HUDSON, New Hampshire--Derek Leclair.

--HUMNOKE, Arkansas--Maycen M. Crawford.

--JACKSON--Za'Carl R. Fields, Joshua K. Jackson and Matthew S. Morrow.

--KOSCIUSKO--Breanna Teague.

--LAMBERT--Khadijah A. Griffin.

--LEESBURG, Virginia--Ryan P. Matijevich.

--LENA--Taylor J. White.

--MADISON, Alabama--Alex N. Brown, Thornton V. Drury and Richard Y. "Trey" Leonard.

--MADISON--Calvin D. Waddy.

--MANDEVILLE, Louisiana--Skylar N. Pepper.

--MARIETTA, Georgia--Tongtong Zhou.

--MEADVILLE--Ben R. Stroud.

--MERIDIAN--Damon E. Kirk and Cathy J. Sims.

--MERIDIANVILLE, Alabama--Vicky M. Scites.

--MONTGOMERY, Alabama--Matthew F. Virden.

--MONTICELLO, Arkansas--Morgan E. Hopper.

--MOSS POINT--Jailand C. Williams.

--NETTLETON--Corian M. Whitfield.

--NEW ALBANY--Maria L. Solis.

--NORTH AUGUSTA, South Carolina--Avery S. Tyrrell.

--NOXAPATER--Emily J. Mills.

--PACE, Florida--Dylan W. Densel.

--PELHAM, Alabama--Bailey E. Stephens.

--PENSACOLA, Florida--David A. Mongeau.

--PLANO, Texas--Matt S. Brown.

--RIPLEY--Madison L. Greer.

--ROSEVILLE, California--Corina M. Brunet.

--ROSWELL, Georgia--Craig J. Tillison.

--ST. JOHNS, Florida--Nathan C. Sperry.

--SEMINARY--Abby W. McPhail.

--SHANNON--Nykiah M. Richey.

--SILVER CITY--Thomas S. Hairston.

--SLIDELL, Louisiana--Andrew G. Martin.

--SOUTHAVEN--Darian K. Randolph.

--STARKVILLE--Sam R. Shurden and Sasha R. Shurden.

--SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas--Reilly H. Hale.

--SUMRALL--Zack C. Sistrunk.

--TAYLORSVILLE--Dylan C. DeRosia.

--TERRY--Matthew K. Crittle.

--TYLER, Texas--Ivy L. Sudduth.

--VARDAMAN--Alex Gracia.

--VINEMONT, Alabama--Lindsie M. Freeman.

--WINONA--Jane S. Mortimer.

For more about New Maroon Camp, see www.newmaroon.msstate.edu, telephone 662-325-2279, email newmaroon@saffairs.msstate.edu; or follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NewMaroonCamp and Twitter https://twitter.com/NewMaroonCamp.

MSU is online at www.msstate.edu and on Facebook www.facebook.com/msstate, as well as Instagram and Twitter @msstate.