Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University's Undergraduate Research Symposium engages students in showcasing faculty-guided research and creative activity. This biannual event includes students from diverse departments and colleges who participate in poster and oral presentation sessions, sharing their research with the MSU community. More than 300 undergraduate student projects were evaluated by faculty, graduate students and staff at the spring 2026 event. Feedback can be useful in improving current research projects and preparing for future research endeavors. The event is hosted by the Office of Research and Economic Development and the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. In addition, the event is supported by faculty, post docs and graduate students who provide comments on projects and judge special area competitions. Research projects are divided into eight categories: Arts, Music and Design; Biological and Life Sciences; Business and Economics; Education; Engineering; Humanities; Physical Sciences; and Social Sciences. More information can be found at www.urcd.msstate.edu.

Twenty-seven students from Mississippi State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were selected as Spring 2026 CALS Dean's Scholars, which recognizes degree candidates who demonstrate excellence in academics, research, experiential learning and leadership.

Eight students from Mississippi State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, or CALS, were awarded the George M. Hopper Excellence in Undergraduate Research award. Named for the former CALS dean and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the award demonstrates the college's commitment to recognizing groundbreaking research and innovation while rewarding collaboration between students participating in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program and their faculty mentors.

Eighteen students from Mississippi State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, or CALS, were honored with the distinction of induction into the CALS Hall of Fame. The award, established last year, is given to one graduate and one undergraduate student from each of the college's nine departments. Departments nominate and select students based on outstanding academic performance, exceptional leadership, active research participation and a strong commitment to serving both their institution and peers.

Mississippi State recognized 30 students at the recent spring MSU College of Forest Resources Student Awards Banquet for their dedication to academic achievement, research excellence, outstanding service and leadership. Wes Burger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the university's Forest and Wildlife Research Center, presented students in the departments of Forestry, Sustainable Bioproducts and Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture with the honors and congratulated them for their hard work and dedication. "We have the best and brightest students in the College of Forest Resources, consistently leading in both the classroom and the field," he said. "It is an honor to recognize those who distinguish themselves across every aspect of their work. I am incredibly proud of all they have accomplished."

Twenty-four Mississippi State University students from various majors and backgrounds received 2026 Spirit of State recognition for their exceptional personal contributions to student life at MSU. Organized by the university's Division of Student Affairs and celebrating its 21st year, the award honors students who have made a positive impact on peers and the broader campus community through organization involvement, service to the institution and personal actions promoting school spirit and tradition. This year's class represents eight different states and countries, as well as 20 majors. The Spirit of State program is open to all students, no matter their classification, major or primary campus. Nominees must have a minimum 2.25 GPA and be in good academic and disciplinary standing.

Mississippi State University students earned a third-place overall finish this spring at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition. Competing against 54 universities from across the U.S. and Canada, the team showcased outstanding skill, creativity and teamwork in addressing real-world landscape industry challenges. The competition evaluates students' technical expertise, problem-solving skills and teamwork under timed conditions. MSU's strong performance reflects the university's commitment to rigorous academic preparation, hands-on learning and professional mentorship within the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design. MSU's achievement reinforces its national leadership in landscape architecture education, preparing graduates to address challenges in sustainable design, community planning and environmental stewardship.

Nearly 60 Mississippi State graduate students have been awarded prizes this year for their cutting-edge work during the fall and spring Graduate Student Research Symposiums. Over 150 students participated in both the fall and spring symposiums. The bi-annual event allows students to showcase their faculty-guided research and creative activity and features students from diverse departments and colleges through poster and oral presentation sessions. Student projects were evaluated by numerous judges who provided feedback that can be useful in improving current research and preparing for future endeavors. Research projects are divided into four categories-Agriculture and Life Sciences; Education, Arts and Sciences, and Business; Engineering; and Forest Resources and Veterinary Medicine. Winning students received $150 for first-place, $75 for second-place and $50 for third-place entries. The GSRS events were hosted by the MSU Graduate Student Association in collaboration with the Graduate School. For more information about the GSRS, visit www.grad.msstate.edu/students/graduate-development/graduate-research-symposium.

Two dozen Mississippi State seniors are 2026 inductees into the Gamma of Mississippi Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. MSU Professor Anthony Neal, a Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College faculty fellow and member of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, also was inducted as an honorary member. Among the top 10% of their graduating class, Phi Beta Kappa inductees have completed a broad range of liberal arts and sciences coursework, including foreign language and mathematics. The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776. Only 10% of U.S. colleges and universities have PBK chapters. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court justices and more than 150 Nobel laureates.

The following people recently were elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Six Mississippi State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students were selected as fall 2025 Dean's Scholars, which recognizes degree candidates who demonstrate excellence in academics, research, experiential learning and leadership. This special designation is different than the MSU Dean's List or MSU President's List, which is based solely on MSU GPA and academic performance. CALS Dean's Scholars receive a tricolor honor cord and charm recognizing each category in which the scholars excelled.

Nearly 1,400 students are among Mississippi State University fall 2025 graduates. MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulated graduates as the December ceremony's keynote speaker, emphasizing the world-class education they received and the core MSU values it reflects-integrity, hard work and respect for others. "I want you to be known as the person who people can always trust and count on because of your impeccable integrity; I want you to be known as the person who always excels and does their very best because of your strong work ethic; and I want you to be known as being the person other people enjoy being around because you're nice, kind, thoughtful and considerate of others," he said. "You're about to receive a diploma that says 'Mississippi State' on it. People will see that name and know you are part of a wonderful family. That's why your diploma is so valued-because of who we are."

Mississippi State University congratulates students named to the fall 2025 President's List. These students achieved a 3.80 or better GPA, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of coursework with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Mississippi State University congratulates students named to the fall 2025 Deans' List. These students achieved a GPA between 3.5 and 3.79, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of coursework with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Mississippi State University's College of Education is honoring seven graduates for their exceptional work as teacher interns in Mississippi and Florida school districts. The recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Intern Award were nominated for exceeding expectations while completing internships at public schools in the Magnolia State and Navarre, Florida. The honorees demonstrated exemplary professionalism, performance and a high level of commitment to the teaching profession.

Mississippi State student journalists earned prestigious recognitions--including a first-place national win--for outstanding storytelling and reporting skills at the annual Associated Collegiate Press Media Fest held this past semester in Washington, D.C. The ACP Media Fest is a national conference that celebrates excellence in student journalism, media and storytelling. It brings together college media students, advisors and professionals for workshops, networking opportunities and national award ceremonies. The event offers hands-on training in reporting, editing, design, photography and digital media to prepare the next generation of journalists and communicators. MSU students competed among peers from across the country in the Individual, Best of Show and Pinnacle Award categories, earning multiple top honors.

The following people recently were elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Mississippi State's Graduate School is recognizing eight students for their superb research presentations given during the university's annual Three Minute Thesis competition. The 3MT event challenges graduate students to present their thesis and dissertation topics in three minutes or less. Student presentations were judged by a panel of academic and non-academic professionals with a wide range of expertise. This year, 41 graduate students competed for the Three Minute Thesis MSU Grand Champion, with nine judges reviewing the presentations.

Mississippi State's Theta Alpha chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the honor society of the National Communication Association, inducted 34 new members in a special fall ceremony honoring exceptional students in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre. Lambda Pi Eta is named for Aristotle's legendary three proofs of rhetoric-logos, pathos and ethos. It requires students to meet rigorous academic criteria for membership. Students must be in the top 35% of their class at MSU; maintain at least a 3.25 GPA in Department of Communication, Media and Theatre courses and a 3.0 overall GPA; complete at least 12 hours of department courses; have earned at least 60 credit hours overall; and be in good standing with the university.

Nineteen outstanding Mississippi State freshmen are recipients of Presidential Endowed Scholarships, the university's most prestigious undergraduate award. The 2025-26 Presidential Scholars are members of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and possess strong academic skills, creativity and a drive for success. Endowment-level gifts for the scholarships provide students with financial support to cover the cost of attending the university for four years. The experience offers a one-time educational enrichment scholarship for study-abroad opportunities, internships or other qualified academic pursuits, an undergraduate research fellowship award and mentoring. To qualify, applicants must have a minimum 30 ACT/1330 SAT score, as well as have graduated with a minimum core or overall 3.75 high school GPA (based on a 4.0 scale). Recipients are expected to maintain an overall 3.4 GPA in their respective academic majors. Presidential Scholars can interact with members of the land-grant institution's extensive research faculty and be part of the honors college's summer-study program at Oxford University in England, among other enhanced learning experiences.

Mississippi State University congratulates 26 recent fall graduates recognized as Stephen D. Lee Scholars for achieving a cumulative 4.0 GPA during their college careers.

Mississippi State is recognizing 13 top transfer students this fall with Presidential Partnership Scholarships, the university's most prestigious awards for graduates of the state's community colleges. Presidential Partnership Scholars receive funding to cover their full, on-campus tuition costs for two years. They are enrolled in MSU's First-Year Experience: CC Presidential Scholars leadership class. The students must be enrolled full time and maintain a 3.0 GPA. The scholars are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college national honor society, and are nominated by their respective community college presidents and selected by the MSU Scholarship Committee.

Mississippi State students earned recognition on the global stage by competing in two major robotics competitions. The university's MSUAgRobot team was named a finalist in the 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge in Davis, California, while MSU's Team Torque earned first place in the navigation task and fifth overall at the 2025 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Student Robotics Challenge in Toronto, Canada.

The Alabama Feed and Grain Association, or AFGA, has awarded eight Mississippi State students scholarships totaling $40,000 for the 2025-26 academic year. The AFGA works closely with institutions of higher learning to provide numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding students. The non-profit trade association represents the feed and grain industries in Alabama and across the Southeast.

Thirteen teams comprised of students from each major in Mississippi State's College of Architecture, Art and Design-architecture, art, building construction science and interior design-competed for top honors and a cash prize in the annual Brasfield & Gorrie Student Design Competition. First launched in 2011, the competition is sponsored by one of the nation's largest privately held construction firms based in Birmingham, Alabama. Brasfield & Gorrie also has a Jackson office, which opened in 2015.

Thirty-four Mississippi State students are new scholarship recipients in one of the state's most prestigious teacher education programs. Housed in the university's College of Education, the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program is a collaborative endeavor with the University of Mississippi. The scholarship, available to majors in K-12 education, includes full tuition, housing, dining, books, a $1,000 technology stipend and a fully funded national or study-abroad experience. Funded by the Jackson-based Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, the scholarship is valued at approximately $100,000 over four years. Competitive applicants should have at least a 28 ACT-or 1310 SAT-score and a 3.5 high school GPA. Applicants participate in an interview with faculty, submit an essay on their interest in the teaching profession and commit to teaching in Mississippi in their program area for at least five years after graduation. This obligation may be deferred if students decide to enter graduate degree programs.

Student participants in Mississippi State's BRIDGES Undergraduate Research Opportunity gain valuable experience preparing them to take the next step toward the workforce or continued studies in graduate school. BRIDGES is short for Building Relationships that Intentionally Develop Generations of Excellent Scholars, and it engages students in meaningful, paid work at various MSU research centers, such as the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Center for Cyber Innovation, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and Social Science Research Center, among others. The program was established by the university's Office of Research and Economic Development and the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success. It expands MSU's robust opportunities for undergraduate research. For more, visit https://www.research.msstate.edu/initiatives/bridges and https://www.urcd.msstate.edu/.

Mississippi State's student chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, or MANRRS, earned top honors at the 39th Annual National MANRRS Conference, showcasing excellence in leadership, academic performance and professional development. MSU placed first in the MANRRS Quiz Bowl Competition, where 26 teams from six regions competed in a fast-paced test of knowledge across agricultural and natural resources topics. In the research poster competitions, Mississippi State students placed second in both the graduate and undergraduate Division 1 categories. Of 106 poster submissions, only the top 10 in each division were selected to present. MSU students also received several competitive national scholarships, reflecting their strong academic and professional achievements. A student ambassador further represented the university on the national stage, contributing to MSU's growing presence in the organization. Individual students also brought home awards, placing in the Three Minute Thesis Competition among a field of 17 national finalists.

Mississippi State University's College of Education is honoring 15 graduates for their exceptional work as teacher interns in Magnolia State school districts. The recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Intern Award were nominated for exceeding expectations while completing internships at public schools across the state. The honorees demonstrated exemplary professionalism, performance and a high level of commitment to the teaching profession.

Mississippi State University congratulates more than 140 recent spring graduates recognized as Stephen D. Lee Scholars for achieving a cumulative 4.0 GPA during their college careers.