Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Nine freshmen, three sophomores and one junior from Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee are this year’s selections for Mississippi State’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.

The annual awards cover the current cost of university tuition, fees, books, and room and board, as well as research and study-abroad expenses.

To qualify, applicants must have a minimum 30 ACT/1330 SAT score, as well as have graduated with a minimum core or overall 3.75 high school grade-point average (based on a 4.0 scale).

Selected from more than 700 qualified applicants, the 2016-17 group joins 37 others already participating in the program, which is part of MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. They are expected to maintain an overall 3.4 GPA while in their respective academic majors.

As Presidential Scholars, they have opportunities to interact with members of the land-grant institution’s extensive research faculty and be part of the college’s Oxford University summer-study program in England, among other enhanced learning opportunities.

Tommy Anderson said he and others in the honors college welcome “the leadership these new scholars bring to the classroom, in their research and to the university as a whole.” They have the potential to serve as agents of change in their respective disciplines, he added.

An associate professor of English now in his fifth year as program mentor, Anderson also directs the university’s Office of Prestigious External Scholarships.

“The growth of the Presidential Scholars program is a tribute to the university’s commitment to attracting the nation’s top students and to the impact of the Shackouls Honors College in these students’ educational trajectory,” he said.

Over the years, a number of scholars have received additional recognitions as national Goldwater, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholars, as well as being selected for a variety of professional internships. For more on the program, visit www.honors.msstate.edu/scholars.

The 2016-17 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):

BARTLETT, Tennessee—Freshman Benjamin K. Jones, an engineering major and St. Benedict at Auburndale High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

BRANDON—Seth L. Lenoir, a chemical engineering major and Jackson Preparatory School graduate receiving a Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Endowed Scholarship; and Katelyn S. Provine, a biological sciences/pre-medicine major and Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving an Alan Nunnelee Presidential Endowed Scholarship. Both are freshmen.

BYRAM—Freshman Dajaina M. Martin, a biochemistry major and St. Andrews Episcopal School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee—Freshman Carley E. Bowers, an economics major and Collierville High School graduate receiving a Bobby and Barbara Martin Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

HATTIESBURG—Sophomore Samuel N. Lucas, a chemical engineering major and Presbyterian Christian High School graduate receiving a Malcolm and Olivia Portera Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—Sophomore Garhett J. Moseley, a business administration/international business and foreign language/Spanish double-major, Huntsville High School graduate and recipient of a Louis Hurst Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

JACKSON—Freshman Joseph N. Neyland, an aerospace engineering/astronautics major and Murrah High School graduate receiving a Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

MADISON, Alabama—Freshman Leah A. Boyd, a music major and Bob Jones High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

MCCALLA, Alabama—Junior Donielle D. Allen, a biochemistry/pre-medicine major and Brookwood High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

PETAL—Freshman Alicia D. Brown, a chemical engineering major and Presbyterian Christian High School graduate receiving a John and Georgia Ann McPherson Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

RIDGELAND—Freshman Krishna D. Desai, an architecture major and Madison-Ridgeland Academy graduate receiving a Charles and Pat Lee Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

STARKVILLE—Sophomore Joy Carino, an English major and Mississippi School for Math and Science graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at www.honors.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.