Southern Miss Luckyday Scholars Program Earns Best Practices Award

The Luckyday Foundation Citizenship Scholars Program at The University of Southern Mississippi has been selected for the Jon C. Dalton Institute on College Student Values 2016 Best Practices Award. The award will be presented during the Institute's annual meeting Feb. 4-6 at Florida State University.

The Dalton Institute is an annual conference for student affairs professionals, educators, campus ministers, graduate and undergraduate students interested in character development in college students. It has five broad focus areas, including trends in college students' values; ethical issues in college life; character building educational models and strategies; moral development research; and civic education.

First known as the Institute on College Student Values, the conference was renamed in 2010 (at the 20th Institute) as the Jon C. Dalton Institute on College Student Values to honor the work and commitment of former Florida State University Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Jon C. Dalton, the Institute's founder and faculty-in-residence.

“We are honored and humbled by the designation for the 2016 Best Practices Award by the Dalton Institute, as we seek to help students become engaged citizens leading with integrity,” said Dr. Larry Sparkman, director of the Luckyday Scholars Program at USM.

The Luckyday Foundation Citizenship Scholars Program 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 Southern Miss.

“The Luckyday Scholars Program provides a unique and timely opportunity for students to not only attend college, but grow and prosper as leaders and civil servants through the generous support of the Luckyday Foundation and an involved and supportive University community. We look forward to future students having the opportunity to not only attend Southern Miss, but grow and prosper as leaders in our community.”

Founded by the late Frank Day of Jackson, Miss., The Luckyday Foundation announced in 2001 it would fund a record number of 400 scholarships annually at USM. As the largest gift in University history, it provides more than $1.6 million annually with $27 million to date made in gifts and commitments to the USM Foundation. There are currently 450 students in the program.

For more information about The Luckyday Citizenship Scholars Program, visit https://www.usm.edu/luckyday.