Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University hosted more than 90 scholars from around the state for today’s [July 30] Summer Science & Engineering Symposium in conjunction with the Mississippi Academy of Sciences.

The day’s primary focus was on a variety of student and faculty research presentations shared through oral and poster sessions.

MAS presented a prestigious Presidential Award to Archie Tucker, a longtime USDA Agricultural Research Service area director, whose office is located at MSU’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. After starting work with the USDA-ARS as a 16-year-old high school student, Tucker has amassed over 49 years of service. He is being honored for outstanding contributions to the success of his organization, where he oversees an annual budget exceeding $350 million.

Tucker encouraged students in attendance to be aware of the “tremendous opportunities in science.”

“If you can control your attitude and manage your effort, the sky’s the limit,” he said, noting that there are “tremendous opportunities within the USDA and many other agencies.”

“Don’t let anybody or anything stop you from achieving your goals,” Tucker said.