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HATTIESBURG – The Luckyday Foundation will fund
its Citizenship Scholars Program at the University of Southern
Mississippi for the next four years.
The $4.58 million pledge was announced at a reception for Southern
Miss Luckyday Scholars held recently at the home of President
Shelby Thames.
The Luckyday Foundation was created by the late Frank Rogers
Day. It awards high school seniors, who are exemplary students
committed to community service, with $10,000 over four academic
years, plus opportunities to apply for a $4,000 study-abroad
scholarship.
Southern Miss President Shelby Thames said, “We at Southern
Miss talk about freeing the power of the individual, and there
is no question that this program is a testament to that. We
applaud the Luckyday Foundation for their commitment to academic
excellence.”
Southern Miss has 400 Luckyday Scholars. Each grant recipient
is required to have a financial need, maintain a 3.0 grade point
average, have engagements in community service or service learning,
and be a Mississippi resident.
“The board of managers of the Luckyday Foundation believes
well-prepared students can make a difference in our state and
world,” said Larry Sparkman, director of the Southern Miss Luckyday
Citizenship Scholars Program. “They are not a ‘bricks and mortar’
foundation but one that invests strictly in human capital to
advance our community, state and world.”
Southern Miss senior Jessica Lamb of Brandon credits a Foundation-sponsored
study-abroad trip to France for inspiring her to become a French
major. She is among the first class of Luckyday Scholars who
arrived in fall 2002 and serves as a mentor for her freshmen
counterparts. Lamb said the Luckyday Foundation has enhanced
her educational experience and personal growth and has paved
the way for future career paths.
Luckyday Freshman and Hattiesburg native Melissa Cirino said
she too is grateful for the Foundation’s compassion and its
legacy.
“Being a Luckyday Scholar is life changing, I wouldn’t be at
Southern Miss if it was not for the generosity of the Foundation,”
said Cirino. “We hold our heads high to be called Luckyday Scholars.
Wherever we go in life we will continue to take away the values
we’ve learned, like being a leader who serves with confidence
and humility.”
For more information on Southern Miss’ Luckyday Scholars program,
please contact Chinika Hood at 601.266.5568 or visit the Web
at www.usm.edu/luckyday.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is
a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling
its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering
individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition
of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating
a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural
enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern
Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus
and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast;
further information is found at www.usm.edu.
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Last updated:
01/06/06 |
