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Date 5-9-06
Contact Leigh Anne Wilson 601.266.6307
WITH PHOTO
HATTIESBURG—For
a special group of students who will be graduating this Friday at
the University of Southern Mississippi, the event marks completion
of their degrees as the inaugural class of Luckyday Scholars.
In the fall
of 2002, Luckyday Scholars comprised the first class of students
in the Citizenship Scholars Program, which is funded by the Luckyday
Foundation. Since that time, they have made a great impact on the
university and community.
Luckyday Director
Larry Sparkman is proud of this group for representing the program
and Southern Miss in the past four years.
“This group
has excelled in the classroom as well as our community, completing
more than 15,000 hours of community service during their four years
in the Luckyday Program. They have not only made an impact on our
school but our community as well,” Sparkman said.
The Luckyday
scholars at Southern Miss will be graduating on Friday; this class
is the first class of scholars at Southern Miss.
On August 2,
2002, this scholarship began for incoming outstanding freshmen that
prove themselves as exemplary students, have demonstrated community
involvement, and have a need for financial assistance to fulfill
their college career.
With a record
of 400 scholarships and $1 million annually to Southern Miss, the
Luckyday Scholarship Program is the largest gift in Southern Miss
history.
Overall, the
scholars agreed and spoke about the great opportunities that the
Luckyday Program has given to them. Monica Stevens, a senior psychology
major from Laurel, has enjoyed working with the other Luckyday Scholars
throughout her four years and was also one of the recipients of
the Luckyday Study Abroad Scholarships for the program of her choice,
British Studies. The Luckyday Program paid for Stevens and 22 other
senior scholars to attend the various study abroad programs.
“Through the
Luckyday program I have been able to focus on my school work, and
the program has also given me the right resources to work throughout
the community, which has contributed to my education,” Stevens said.
The graduates
recently attended a reception at the president’s home. At the reception,
the graduating seniors received their gold stoles to wear on graduation
day and a warm speech from Dr. Thames and Luckyday Foundation board
members. The graduates also had a chance to voice their thoughts
to the board members and other attendances.
Tabitha Epperson,
a history and political science major from Pass Christian, spoke
to the group about the values and memories of being a Luckyday scholar.
“Throughout
my time as a Luckyday scholar, I have become a better role model
and improved my leadership skills. The investment of this program
will not stop on graduation day -- it will only continue and will
affect my future career and values.” Epperson said.
“They (Luckyday
Scholars) have not only made an impact on our school but our community
as well. We are excited to see where this new stage of life will
take them.” Their education at Southern Miss has them well prepared
to make a difference wherever they choose to go,” Sparkman said.
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.
For more information
on Southern Miss’ Luckyday Scholars program, please contact Leigh
Anne Wilson at 601.266.4491 or visit the Web at www.usm.edu/luckyday.
Click to enlarge
Staci Cox of Brandon, Tabitha Epperson of Pass Christian, and DeVita King of Jackson all received their Luckyday stoles to wear proudly on graduation day (May 12).
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