Welcome to the daily email for media members that includes news and notes from The University of Southern Mississippi. Today's message includes a photo-video opportunity involving the University's annual Arbor Day celebration today on the Hattiesburg campus. Also included is a preview of the annual Petal-Southern Miss Powwow set for April 13-14 and a presentation scheduled for Saturday by history Professor Andrew Wiest at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Media inquiries can be directed to Van Arnold at 601.266.5568 or van.arnoldFREEMississippi or David Tisdale at 601.266.4499 or d.g.tisdaleFREEMississippi.

Special Coverage Opportunity

Southern Miss to Host Arbor Day Celebration Today at Edible Orchard

The University of Southern Mississippi will host its annual Arbor Day celebration today at 1 p.m. with the unique edible orchard serving as the event site and focus of the ceremony. The orchard is located just south of the Payne Center on the Hattiesburg campus. 

Originally planted in 2016, the expanded orchard will include 16 new additions of fruit trees and berry bushes, including plum, olive, avocado, satsuma, and trellised apple trees, plus blueberries, grapes, and muscadine bushes. To schedule coverage, contact Van Arnold or David Tisdale.

News Releases

Petal/Southern Miss 2019 Powwow set for April 13-14 at Willie Hinton Park

Preservation of Native languages will be an integral part of programming for this year's Petal (Mississippi)-Southern Miss Powwow, to be hosted April 13-14 by The University of Southern Mississippi's (USM) Center for American Indian Research and Studies and Golden Eagles Intertribal Society. Admission is free.

http://news.usm.edu/article/petal-southern-miss-2019-powwow-set-april-13-14-willie-hinton-park

Wiest to make presentation at National WWII Museum Feb. 9

Dr. Andrew Wiest, Distinguished Professor of History at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), will be a guest speaker for a symposium Feb. 9 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, titled "Guadalcanal: Turning Point in the Pacific.” He will be joined by fellow prominent American historians giving talks at this event.

https://news.usm.edu/article/wiest-make-presentation-national-wwii-museum-feb-9

Expert Availability

The University of Southern Mississippi provides a wide array of faculty experts who can offer insights on newsworthy topics. To schedule an interview, email mediaexpertsFREEMississippi. For a full list of USM media experts visit:http://news.usm.edu/resource/usm-faculty-experts-media-requests

Photo/Video Opportunity

The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection is one of North America's leading research centers in the field of children's literature. The Collection holds the original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,300 authors and illustrators, as well as 180,000+ published books dating from 1530 to the present. The collection is located on the second floor of Cook Library on the Hattiesburg campus. To schedule coverage, call Van Arnold or David Tisdale.

Did You Know?

Southern Miss has partnered with Boeing to lead research and development on next-generation composite materials to make aircraft lighter and safer.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites in central and southern Mississippi, as well as online. Founded in 1910, USM is one of only 130 universities in the nation to earn the CarnegieClassification of Institutions of Higher Education's "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” designation, and its robust research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and sport venue safety and security, among others. USM is also one of only 40 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $600 million across the state. USM welcomes a diverse student body of approximately 15,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi. USM students have collected four Truman Scholarships and 35 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, while also leading Mississippi with 21 Goldwater Scholarships, an honor that recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. Home to the Golden Eagles, USM competes in 17 Division I sports sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For more information, visit usm.edu.