Contact: Harriet Laird

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University has 14 top transfer students this fall being recognized with Presidential Partnership Scholarships, the university’s most prestigious awards for those from the state’s community colleges.

All juniors nominated by their respective two-year college presidents, Presidential Partnership Scholars receive funding to cover their full on-campus tuition costs.

“My own personal experience as a community college student provided me with a solid foundation to continue my education at Mississippi State after graduating with an Associate of Arts degree, and we are honored to welcome these outstanding transfer students to our campus to continue their higher education journey,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

The scholars are enrolled in MSU’s Presidential Partnership leadership class, co-taught by Assistant Dean of Students Catherine “Cat” Walker, also director of the Office of Parent and Family Services; Clay Armstrong, director of the Learning Center; and Paul McKinney, director of the Office of Financial Aid.

McKinney said, “This class helps the scholars expand their leadership skills and learn attributes that are essential to being a leader in today’s world. The class also teaches them self-reliance, community engagement and how to cultivate positive relations with their peers.”

This year’s Presidential Partnership Scholars are:

BELZONI – Rachel Carr, agribusiness major with a management concentration

BOONEVILLE – Kurtis Hare, electrical engineering major

CANTON – Bethany Biggers, biological sciences major with a pre-medicine concentration

COLLINSVILLE – Joy St. Clair, mechanical engineering major

DECATUR – Eli Finnegan, chemistry major

ELLISVILLE – Delaney Cooley, mechanical engineering major

MCCOMB – Nathan Holifield, information technology services major

MEADVILLE – Anna Tyson, elementary education major with an early childhood concentration

MOSS POINT – Sarah Rice, animal and dairy science major with a pre-veterinary concentration

MYRTLE – Julie Stepp, undeclared

OLIVE BRANCH – Mary Landsgaard, electrical engineering major

POPLARVILLE – Bradley Stines, electrical engineering major

RANDOLPH – Leah Pennington, communication major with a public relations concentration

STARKVILLE – Tykerria Jones, psychology major

Learn more about MSU scholarship opportunities at www.admissions.msstate.edu/scholarships. Apply to MSU at apply.msstate.edu.

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