MSU Distinguished Scholars
The program began with the Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship, endowed by the Schillig Foundation in 1987. The Presidential Endowed Scholarship, established in 2001, is made possible through the generous contributions of several donors. The two programs merged in 2006 to become the Mississippi State University Distinguished Scholars Program.
Distinguished Scholarships
- James and Kay Bryan Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Johnny and Bessie Lynn Crane Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Luke and Ruth Davis Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Thomas and Shirley Dawkins Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- John Grisham Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Lila and Hunter Henry Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Morgan Keegan Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Charles and Pat Lee Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Bobby and Barbara Martin Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- John and Georgia McPherson Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Brad Roderick Moore Memorial Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Olivia and Malcolm Portera Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Roy O. Rein Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Leo Seal Presidential Endowed Scholarship
- Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship
These prestigious awards, worth approximately $50,000, cover tuition, fees, room and board, and books for four years of undergraduate study. Each student is assigned a mentor who is an outstanding researcher and teacher in the student's field of study. Additionally, each Scholar will be offered assistance in finding a suitable summer research or work internship, or an appropriate travel abroad experience to take place following the student's sophomore or junior year.
Congratulations to the 2011 Mississippi State University Distinguished Scholarship Winners:
- Matt Blair
- Zack Brown
- Emily Epps
- Eddie Mac Huddleston
- Faith Smith
- Kate Thompson
- Jane Walton
Benefits:
Aside from the obvious financial benefits, the Distinguished Scholars Program offers students a wealth of opportunities to grow both in and out of the classroom. The Scholars have monthly meetings, where they meet and interact with guest speakers from business, government, and academia. The annual fall retreat builds group unity. In the spring, a multi-day trip to one of the nation's great cities exposes students to cultural and historical sites. Previous desinations include Memphis, TN, and Washington, DC, where the Scholars had extensive interaction with the Mississippi Congressional Delegation.
Moreover, the program allows students to grow as leaders on campus. Indeed, it is expected that each Scholar will take an active leadership role in some aspect of campus life. Scholars have been presidents of fraternities and sororities, academic clubs, service organizations, and even the Student Association. Many volunteer with organizations in Starkville and other nearby communities. Still others become leading scholars in their fields, participating in research projects alongside MSU faculty. The Scholars' impact is felt across campus and throughout the area.
Important Dates:
- December 1, 2010 - Deadline for online resume submission: Students who submit the MSU Online Scholarship Resume by December 1 will be considered.
- January 28, 2011 - Finalists selected for on-campus interviews and given essay topic.
- February 8, 2011 - Essays due back from finalists.
- February 14, 2011 - On-campus interviews for finalists. Recipients will be notified by the Scholarship Committee within ten days following the interview.
Distinguished Scholar Alumni
- Meredith McCollum Aldridge
- Doug Ansel
- Ann Gilliand Barlow
- Jonathan Barlow
- Brian Barnes
- Lauren Becnel
- Josh Blades
- Christy McWhirter Bowling
- Alan Boyle
- Brad Brashier
- David Brinton
- Willie Brown
- Marc Bryant
- Lindsey Buffum
- Zachary Bugg
- Elizabeth Butler
- Stacy Forton Cable
- Laurie Carlisle
- Ana Bertasi Carter
- Cory Carter
- Angela Lang Chandler
- Grant Chandler
- Henry Christup
- William Cleveland
- Jon David Cole
- Ted Copeland
- Katie McAlister Curtis
- Emily Renfro Custer
- Craig D'Arcy
- Andrew Diaz
- Paige Draper
- Alicia Peligrino Ewing
- Claire Fellman
- Jared Fisher
- Kyle Frazier
- Chuck Frye
- Natalie Sorrels Gibbs
- Peter Gilbert
- Jason Giompoletti
- Abbie Davidson Givens
- John Harrelson
- Sebron Harrison
- Jennifer Hermetz York
- Hannah Herrington
- Holli Hitt
- Chad Holley
- Lan Holloway
- Gregory Jackson
- Bobby Jarrell
- Galagher Jeff
- Blake Jeter
- Natalie Jones Jolly
- Hamp Jones
- Hunter Jones
- Emily Hicks Jones
- Sanquanett Jones
- Zach Jordan
- Carva Latino King
- Erika Knott
- John Kosko
- Smith Lilley
- Andy Lindeman
- Jenny Reeves Manley
- April Mann
- Kayla Mann
- Judy Thomas Martin
- Eddie Martin
- Julie Milano Massey
- Julie Thompson McCallum
- Keva Martin McDonald
- Vernon McFarland
- Alex McIntosh
- Kate McIntosh
- Robby Miller
- Krissi Moore
- Jeremy Nicholas
- Cooper Long Ogg
- Gordon Pace
- Lynn Parker
- Larry Raines
- Jordan Ray
- Kristy Irons Riley
- Ronnie Wade Robertson
- Craig Ross
- Jennifer Rupinski
- Brent Russell
- Ernie Sanders
- Shawn Sanders
- Johnny Sandhu
- Emily Sanford
- Heather Saum
- Katie Mullins Schultz
- Jonathan Scott
- Jeral Self
- Wade Shrader
- Josie Smith
- Angela Spence
- Wade Spurlock
- Mandi Marett Stanley
- Robert Stranghoener
- Seth Stephenson
- Mona Tanner
- Amy Dobbs Thompson
- Chelsea Tiller
- Sarah Tooley
- Ashley Oswalt Trice
- Joe M. Turner
- Frederick Walker
- Mandy Wallace
- Mary Ellen Brown Waters
- Diane Welch
- Adam Wilkerson
- Christina Young
- Lindsey Young
Current Distinguished Scholars
- Matilda I. Asuzu
- Shelby Balius
- Matthew Berk
- Stanley Blackmon
- Caleb Y. Brasher
- Hannah Rachel Cardin
- John R. Carroll
- Spencer Hall
- Halston R. Hales
- Bailey Hansen
- Brooke N. Harris
- Elizabeth T. Haskins
- Ryan Hoke
- Justin Huff
- Vijay Kannathurai
- Tommy Kirkpatrick
- Whitney Knight
- Kelsey LeSaicherre
- Lindsay Linhares
- Lorraine Lin
- Emily Nations
- Khanh Nguyen
- Channing Osborne
- Jenna Owen
- Scott Penman
- Clint Pride
- Tyler R. Raborn
- Whitney Ray
- Anna Russell
- Jamie Scott
- Kristin Sharp
- Joshua M. "Josh" Stroud
- Brenda R. Willemsen
- Matthew Woolfolk
2012 Mississippi State University Distinguished Scholarship Finalists
- Jamie Alexandra Aron , Jackson Prep, Jackson, MS
- Paul Marshall Barrett, Bob Jones High School, Madison, AL
- Ariel Cheng, Jackson Prep, Jackson, MS
- Annaleigh Elizabeth Coleman, Kossuth High School, Kossuth, MS
- Christopher D. Elegante, Bob Jones High School, Madison, AL
- Bradley Shane Floore, Gautier High School, Gautier, MS
- Rachel Anne Gaines, Home School, Coldwater, MS
- Sebastian David Galante, Southern Baptist Educational Center, Olive Branch, MS
- Alexander Raymond Hem, Long Beach High School, Long Beach, MS
- George McIntosh Hilliard, Hernando High School, Hernando, MS
- Keri Jones, Morton High School, Morton, MS
- Sara Kiparizoska, West Jones High School, Laurel, MS
- Anna Lindsey Purcell, Forsyth Central High School, Cumming, GA
- Matthew Tillman Riddle, Madison Central High School, Madison, MS
- Victoria Lynn Russell , Madison Central High School, Madison, MS
- Eric Warren Stallcup, Covenant Christian Academy, Huntsville, AL
- Quenton H. L. Stevenson, Greenwood High School, Greenwood, MS
- Preston C. Stinson, Virgil Grissom High School, Huntsville, AL
- Angelica H. C. Tran, Waimea High School, Hawaii
- Sally Joyce White, Thomasville High School, Thomasville, AL
- Logan Davis Williams, Brusly High School, Port Allen, LA
- Zachary Eugene Zachow, Jackson Prep, Jackson, MS
