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Date 3-30-06
Contact Daphne Alford (601) 266-5916
Hattiesburg—University
of Southern Mississippi senior Britton K. Loftin of Hattiesburg
chose to travel a road to success after bad decisions were made
en route to destruction on a dead end street.
Named the 2006
R.J. Bishop Award recipient during the university’s Founders’ Day/Awards
Day ceremony on March 30, Loftin was rewarded $5,000 for his determination
to succeed in spite of difficulties, a criterion to earn the award.
“While many
would say that I had great opportunities in life, I made bad choices
that could have led down a path of no return. Eventually, I got
myself together,” said Loftin, a political science major.
Administered
by the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation, the Judge
R.J. Bishop Mississippian Award was established in 1978 by Elna
Bishop in loving memory of her father, R.J. Bishop. The award honors
men and women who have endured economic, family or physical hardships
to pursue their education so that they, their children and other
Mississippians might have a better life.
“Decisions
made today, despite my past, will stand as a testament to how far
I can go in life when I make the right choices and commit myself
to victory in the game of life,” said Loftin, who will graduate
May 12. “At critical points in my recent past, I was able to see
through the fog and make decisions that benefited not only me, but
my family and friends as well. The current pivot point has led me
to choose the legal profession.”
Loftin’s life
has been on the upswing since his transfer to Southern Miss from
Jackson State University (JSU) in 2003. While at JSU, he lost a
band scholarship and could not balance school and work with a risky
lifestyle, which eventually caused him to drop out of school. He
moved back to his hometown for personal reasons and became actively
involved in successful local political campaigns, including the
school bond referendum that resulted in millions of dollars for
improvement to the public school system.
“Britton has
gone from being unfocused and apparently unmotivated to excel in
his academic work and community service. I have no doubt he has
a good political future ahead if he so chooses,” said Southern Miss
political science assistant professor Dr. Robert Press, who nominated
Loftin for the award.
“Britton has
an engaging way of raising penetrating points in my classes. He
is very gentle about the way he raises them, yet they often command
the attention of the full class because they either challenge what
I may have said, or they bring out a subtlety I had not considered,”
Press said. “He has, in this way, added greatly to the open discussion
atmosphere I try to create in my classes.”
Loftin has worked
many odd jobs—cashier, busboy, waiter, etc.—but his
most memorable one was an internship with the Mississippi State
Conference of the NAACP in Jackson during the 2000 presidential
election. He was responsible for voter empowerment through voter
registration, education and participation, with numerous people
becoming registered voters and the election producing a record turnout.
At Southern Miss, Loftin has volunteered in many organizations including
the Community Outreach Programs.
“Britton has
faced the challenges many young people face that could lead down
the wrong path for a lifetime,” said A.A. Cervantes III of Hattiesburg.
“I have known Britton for several years and find him to be bright,
conscientious, focused, hard working and committed to successful
living. In the face of adverse circumstances, he has been able to
remake himself by getting back in school with the goal of completing
his education. Any young politician had better step up and get on
Britton’s political bandwagon.”
Click to enlarge
Britton Holder, a senior political science major at Southern Miss, acknowledges his family after receiving the Bishop Award Thursday during a Founder's Day ceremony at the university. (Southern Miss Public Relations Photo by Steve Rouse)
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