The Luckyday Foundation announced August 2, 2002, that it would fund a record number of 400 scholarships annually at Southern Miss. The gift will provide more than $1,000,000 annually to The University of Southern Mississippi, the largest gift in school history.

The gift from the Luckyday Foundation, founded by the late Frank R. Day of Jackson, Mississippi, funds scholarships for Mississippi high school seniors who demonstrate leadership skills, who are exemplary students, who are involved in their communities, and need financial assistance to pursue a higher education at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The scholarship provides 100 entering freshmen with $2,500 per year scholarships with up to four years renewable. Each year, 100 freshman scholarships will be added and the previous scholarships renewed, provided recipients continue to meet eligibility criteria, until 400 students are receiving $1,000,000 in Luckyday scholarships annually.

To provide an extra incentive for recipients to excel, 10 Luckyday Citizenship Scholars also will be awarded $4,000 scholarships annually for their choice of Southern Miss' study abroad programs. Luckyday Scholars will be provided extra support and encouragement to help assure their academic success through a required Luckyday Citizenship seminar, a University 101 study skills course, designated housing assignments to encourage a living/learning community, community service learning requirements, and many other opportunities.

"This Luckyday program is exciting and unique in all of higher education because it is far more than just a financial award to outstanding students," said Dr. Joe Paul, Southern Miss vice president for student affairs. "It is a citizenship program that will help these scholars maximize their academic experience through community service-learning and foster among these scholars a lifelong commitment to civic engagement."

 Last modified: 1/22/08