Mississippi State University

Seven Mississippi State ROTC cadets took the U.S. Army commission oath during a May ceremony led by honorary speaker Maj. Gen. David Wilson. The cadets' commission as part of the MSU Bulldog Battalion Cadre signifies the formal beginning of the spring 2024 graduates' military careers. Commissioned cadets include Zachary Wright, a secondary education major from Double Springs, Alabama; Joshua Walton, a business administration major from Pelham, Alabama; Paul Richardson, a psychology major from Tupelo; Micah Layton, a math major from Irondale, Alabama; Jacob Guthrie, a psychology major from Gulfport; James Baker, an electrical engineering major from Duck Hill; and Joseph Adams, a kinesiology major from Jackson.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is proud to announce the 2024 Study Abroad Grant recipients. The grants, worth $1,000, were awarded to 125 students nationwide.

Nine Mississippi State University students have been selected as 2024-2025 Student Association Executive Council and Cabinet members and will serve as the governing body and voice for students for the upcoming academic year. Carson McFatridge was elected SA president, and Lucy Mellen will serve as vice president. Maggie Chen and Lewis Fuller will serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively. Mackenzie Sherrell received appointment as the chief of staff, with Hayden Anderson occupying the deputy chief of staff role. Hunter Yelverton was named director of policy, and Joseph Bailey and Amaya Downs-Hameed were tabbed directors of marketing and programming, respectively. The SA, which consists of representatives from academic colleges and at-large members, oversees matters regarding academic policies and other areas of student interest. It also provides opportunities for students to engage in fun, imaginative, diverse, educational and entertaining events and programs at MSU, including Bulldog Bash, Cowbell Yell and Homecoming.

Five Mississippi State graduate students are receiving awards for innovative research displayed during the College of Education's 2024 Graduate Research Showcase. More than two dozen students participated in the annual symposium, which allows students to present faculty-guided research to a broad audience. The poster presentations were formally judged by a panel of faculty with monetary awards given to the winners. Research projects represented the Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations; Department of Kinesiology; and Department of Teacher Education and Leadership. Winning students received $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place presentations. The event was hosted by the College of Education during the university's annual Research Week.

Thirteen teams of Mississippi State students in the College of Architecture, Art and Design's innovative Collaborative Studio recently created a master plan for a hypothetical cultural campus. The plan included a freestanding museum, which would hold the university's collections currently housed at the Cobb Institute Museum, Dunn-Seiler Museum and Department of Art galleries. Located adjacent to The Mill Conference Center, the cultural campus also would include the new Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. The studio is funded by the PCI Foundation, and its projects are focused on the use of precast concrete for structure and cladding for museum designs.

Twenty-nine Mississippi State University students from a variety of majors and backgrounds are being honored with Spirit of State Awards for their exceptional personal contributions to student life at MSU. Organized by MSU's Division of Student Affairs, the 19th annual Spirit of State Awards honor students making a positive impact on peers and the broader campus community through organization involvement, service to the university and personal actions promoting school spirit and tradition. "This year's Spirit of State winners exemplify Mississippi State University's commitment to meaningful and impactful service," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "They lead by example and strive to make the university and their communities better every day, and I am proud of their dedication to others, strong work ethic and willingness to make a difference." The Spirit of State Awards are open to all students, no matter their classification, major or primary campus. Nominees must have a minimum 2.25 grade point average and be in good academic and disciplinary standing.

MSU student-journalists won top awards at the 2024 Mississippi Press Association Better News/Media Conference in Ridgeland this spring. The Reflector, MSU's student newspaper, won the overall General Excellence award for the fourth year in a row. MSU students took home 11 first-place awards, including Best General News Story, Best General Interest Column and Best Sports Photo, and left the conference with 25 total awards. In an unusual turn for the MPA contest, the award for Best Series of Investigative Packages was given to The Reflector and the University of Mississippi's Daily Mississippian for a joint climate change-focused project the two newspapers completed in the fall. At the conference, students from the state's universities and community colleges heard from Mississippi journalism legend Felder Rushing, national director of the Garden Writers Association, and sports columnist Rick Cleveland.

More than 40 Mississippi State seniors have been inducted into the Gamma of Mississippi Chapter of The Phi Beta Kappa Society for 2024. Phi Beta Kappa inductees are among the top 10% of their graduating class who have completed a broad range of liberal arts and sciences coursework, including foreign language and mathematics. Honored April 1 with an induction ceremony and dinner sponsored by MSU's Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, the students were selected for their extraordinary academic achievement. The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776 and is the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. 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. Read more about the new PBK inductees at Mississippi State at https://www.pbk.msstate.edu/members/members-in-course/2024-inductees.

For the first time, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are national champions of collegiate debate. The MSU Debate Team claimed top honors at the April 2024 International Public Debate Association National Tournament. In another first, MSU also served as the tournament host, with 50 colleges and universities making their way to Starkville to compete for national titles. The International Public Debate Association is the largest intercollegiate debating association in the U.S., with more than 200 colleges and universities from across the country competing in IPDA tournaments in 2023-24. IPDA debating emphasizes a mix of logic, rhetorical skill and adaptability, as students debate a new topic each round and have only 30 minutes to prepare. The MSU team squared off over four days of competition against hundreds of top competitors from programs across the country, including the universities of Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Southern Methodist, Boise State, Cal State, Abilene Christian, Dallas Baptist and Union universities.

Mississippi State University students are transforming a Cadillac LYRIQ as members of MSU's EcoCAR Electric Vehicle Challenge team. The EcoCAR team spent more than a year developing designs to implement an all-electric powertrain as well as connected and autonomous features into the vehicle. The interdisciplinary team of students is now implementing these designs as they compete against some of the top universities in the country in the four-year competition. MSU has a long history of success in EcoCAR competitions, part of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and MathWorks. The competition gives an interdisciplinary team of students hands-on experience to complement what they learn in the classroom, with many EcoCAR alumni receiving high-paying jobs in their chosen industry because of the technical and soft skills learned in the competition.

Mississippi State University student-journalists won 38 awards at the 2024 Southeast Journalism Conference at Troy University this spring. MSU received more awards than any other university. Nearly two dozen MSU students walked away with top honors-including first place overall in the Onsite and Best of the South competitions-for their work in broadcast, print and online journalism. MSU competed against students from the University of Kentucky, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, University of Mississippi and approximately 20 other universities from across the Southeast. For the Best of the South competition, students entered the work they produced throughout the previous year. The Onsite competition required students to compete head-to-head during the three days of the conference. MSU also won the overall Onsite competition in 2023. Students also learned from professionals such as CNN's Tom Foreman and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Ashley Remkus. MSU will host the 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference next spring. Founded in 1986, the Southeast Journalism Conference exists for the advancement of journalism education and is open to any university or four-year college in the region with courses in journalism or mass communication.

More than 50 Mississippi State graduate students won prizes for their cutting-edge work during the spring 2024 Graduate Student Research Symposium. Over 130 students participated in the symposium, a bi-annual event allowing students to showcase their faculty-guided research and creative activity. The GSRS featured students from diverse departments and colleges who participated in poster and oral presentation sessions, sharing their research with the MSU community. Student projects were evaluated by 53 judges, who provided feedback that can be useful in improving current research and preparing for future endeavors. Research projects were divided into four categories-Agriculture and Life Sciences; Education, Arts and Sciences, and Business; Engineering; and Forest Resources and Veterinary Medicine-and the event featured 15 oral and four poster sessions, and 22 moderators and volunteers. Winning students received $150 for first-place, $75 for second-place and $50 for third-place entries. The event was 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.

Seven Mississippi State students are receiving prestigious Alabama Feed and Grain Association Scholarships, providing $3,500 each for students majoring in agricultural-related fields who have high grades, are involved in the community and show an interest in agricultural science. The AFGA works closely with institutions of higher learning to provide numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding students. The non-profit trade association represents every segment of the feed and grain industries in Alabama. Learn more at alabamafeedandgrain.com.

Two outstanding Mississippi State students in the College of Forest Resources were named Minorities in Natural Resources Conservation Fellows during the 77th annual Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies conference. To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must be current undergraduate students, graduates within the past 12 months or enrolled in a post-graduate program in select Southeastern states. Applicants also must have a career interest in conservation and natural resources and minimum 2.5 GPA and be at least 18 years old. The MINRC committee accepts approximately 25 fellows per year, and the application process is highly competitive. Fellows participate in discussions and gain information on selected topics relevant to seeking employment in natural resources fields. SEAFWA cultivates friendly relations and mutual understanding among officials engaged in natural resources conservation. It also promotes public understanding and appreciation of the importance of conserving natural resources and encourages the management of fish and wildlife resources. For more information about SEAFWA, visit seafwa.org. For more information about the College of Forest Resources, visit www.cfr.msstate.edu. Mississippi State is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources named 10 officers to its Dean's Council, a student-led organization that provides the student body, faculty and administration opportunities to exchange information and ideas. These exceptional students create community and a sense of belonging within CFR while connecting with peers across campus. "The CFR Dean's Council of Student Leaders provides a voice for students and student organizations to communicate directly with the CFR administration and share their experiences, needs and concerns. As a service organization, it has an important role in engagement within the college and across the MSU campus," said CFR Dean Wes Burger. "The CFR is fortunate to have a strong cadre of extraordinary student leaders who create a sense of community that enriches the academic experience for all CFR students." Morgan Alexander, CFR student diversity coordinator and Dean's Council advisor, said these officers have made great efforts this year. "This year's officers have gone above and beyond to not only increase the visibility of CFR on MSU's campus, but also increase a sense of belonging within CFR," Alexander said. "They have hosted impactful and inclusive events that have been inviting to all students. I am very proud of their efforts and cannot wait to see what they do next semester." CFR presents a broad array of opportunities through the departments of Forestry; Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Sustainable Bioproducts, which offer four majors and 14 concentrations leading to hundreds of careers. For more information, visit www.cfr.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources is announcing 15 exceptional students to serve as CFR ambassadors-representatives of their respective departments and majors who showcase their MSU experiences in connecting with communities on campus and beyond-for the 2023-2024 academic year. "These students are officially carrying the brand of Mississippi State University and the College of Forest Resources and must be good representatives in the classroom, across campus and within the community," said Cory Bailey, CFR senior admissions coordinator. "More importantly, they are an extension of the admissions coordinator in assisting with the university and academic college enrollment goals," Bailey added. "Their conversations throughout the year and recruitment efforts absolutely impact decisions made by prospective students when choosing to attend MSU. Many of these students can recall the ambassador that worked with them. That tells me that these students play a very significant role in helping students choose MSU." CFR presents a broad array of opportunities and through the departments of Forestry; Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Sustainable Bioproducts which offer four majors and 14 concentrations leading to hundreds of careers. For more information, visit www.cfr.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences selected 47 exceptional students to serve as CALS ambassadors-representatives of their respective departments and majors who showcase their MSU experiences in connecting with communities on campus and beyond-for the 2023-2024 academic year. "These students are officially carrying the brand of Mississippi State University and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and must be good representatives in the classroom, across campus and within the community," said Cory Bailey, CALS director of enrollment, retention and outreach. "More importantly, they are an extension of the admissions coordinator in assisting with the university and academic college enrollment goals," Bailey added. "Their conversations throughout the year and recruitment efforts absolutely impact decisions made by prospective students when choosing to attend MSU. Many of these students can recall the ambassador that worked with them. That tells me that these students play a very significant role in helping students choose MSU." CALS presents a broad array of opportunities through its nine schools and departments which offer 17 majors and 45 concentrations for undergraduates, plus 18 majors and 41 concentrations for graduate students. For more information, visit www.cals.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University congratulates more than 1,500 students who are among Class of 2023 fall graduates.

Mississippi State University congratulates 2,514 students who were named to the fall 2023 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.

More than 170 Mississippi State students have been inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars for 2023. National Society of Collegiate Scholars inductees are first- or second-year undergraduate students who have completed credits equivalent to one term of full-time study and hold a cumulative 3.4 GPA. The NSCS was founded in 1994 and is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, and the society is a recognized organization at nearly 300 campuses across the U.S.

Mississippi State University congratulates 4,503 students named to the fall 2023 President's List. Students on the President's List achieved a 3.80 or better GPA, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of course work with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Mississippi State University students are winners of top awards for journalism excellence after recently attending 2023 National College Media Convention. The Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association collaborated to sponsor the event-the nation's largest gathering of collegiate journalists, media students and their advisors-in Atlanta. With attendance topping 1,000 attendees, the annual NCMC brings together students and professionals as they discuss challenging publishing and broadcasting problems, share successes and learn about new trends in media. The ACP, founded in 1921, serves the student media population by introducing new ideas and reinforcing best practices, rewarding excellence, embracing diversity and providing ample networking and partnership opportunities. As the voice of collegiate media and its advisors, the CMA, serves student media professionals, staff and programs through education, research and resources.

Mississippi State University's College of Education is recognizing 12 graduates for their exceptional work as teacher interns in Mississippi and Alabama school districts. The recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Intern Award were nominated for exceeding expectations while completing internships at public schools across Mississippi and in Hoover, Alabama. The honorees demonstrated exemplary professionalism, performance and a high level of commitment to the teaching profession.

Mississippi State's Graduate School is recognizing nine students for their superb research presentations given during the university's 11th annual Three Minute Thesis competition. The 3MT event challenged graduate students to present their thesis/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, 32 graduate students competed for the title of MSU Grand Champion, and a total of 10 judges reviewed the presentations.

Mississippi State recently honored a new cohort of first-year Luckyday Scholars with a pinning ceremony featuring MSU President Mark E. Keenum and the Board of the Luckyday Foundation. Established by the late Frank Rogers Day of Jackson, the Luckyday Foundation provides scholarship funding of $6,000 per year for a total of $24,000 over four years to each student selected for the program. Luckyday Scholars are exemplary students with the goal of becoming college graduates who possess invaluable leadership skills, a strong work ethic and a commitment to community stewardship. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 high school GPA and participate in an intensive application process. Luckyday Scholars are actively engaged in this holistic program, which includes a freshman seminar, freshman-year mentoring, designated housing to encourage connections, and opportunities to grow as leaders through servant leadership programming. Participants commit to a minimum of 10 service hours per semester with a single agency, which enhances the program's fundamental principles: scholarship, community, service and leadership.

Nearly 120 Mississippi State graduate students participated in the fall Graduate Student Research Symposium, a bi-annual event allowing students to showcase their faculty-guided research and creative activity. This fall's GSRS included students from diverse departments and colleges who participated in poster and oral presentation sessions, sharing their research with the MSU community. Student projects were evaluated by 43 judges, who provided feedback that can be useful in improving current research and preparing for future endeavors. Research projects were divided into four categories - Agriculture and Life Sciences; Education, Arts and Sciences, and Business; Engineering; and Forest Resources and Veterinary Medicine - and the event featured 14 oral and eight poster sessions, and about 20 moderators and volunteers. Winning students received $150 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place entries. The event was hosted by the Graduate School in collaboration with the MSU Graduate Student Association. For more information about the GSRS, visit www.grad.msstate.edu/students/graduate-development/graduate-research-symposium.

STARKVILLE, Miss.-Forty-seven Mississippi State students are 2023-24 Alumni Delegates. Established in 1980, the MSU Alumni Association's liaison organization involves members in connecting the 145-year-old land-grant institution with its more than 161,000 living graduates. One of the group's primary objectives is to enhance the student body's comprehension of the alumni association's function and mission. For several decades, the volunteer group has supported various organizational programs and activities. These include football tailgates, class reunions, free in-state tuition drawings and other on- and off-campus events. Members are selected through a highly competitive and rigorous interview process each year. More about the MSU Alumni Association and the Alumni Delegates can be found at www.alumni.msstate.edu.

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, celebrates students who are serving as circle (chapter) presidents. Students who serve as circle presidents are leaders amongst leaders. Members of ODK must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class and embrace the Society's ideals. They also must demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars of campus life celebrated by ODK: academics and research, athletics, service to campus and community, communications, and creative and performing arts. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

The Mississippi Poultry Association recently awarded Mississippi State students with the Mississippi Poultry Foundation Scholarship and the Mississippi Poultry Foundation Endowment Scholarship. MPA works closely with MSU to provide numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding students. Through an annual auction, MPA raises funds to support future poultry industry leaders. Donors include First Financial Bank, International Paper, BankPlus, Southern AgCredit and First South Farm Credit. The MPF Scholarship and Endowment are awarded to students who show high academics, community involvement and interest in poultry science. The awards are given to graduating high school students or college students majoring in poultry science or studying poultry-related fields. The endowment was established by the MPF Board of Trustees and administered through the MSU Foundation.

Twenty-one outstanding Mississippi State students are recipients of Presidential Endowed Scholarships, the university's most prestigious undergraduate award. The 2023-24 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 opportunities. 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 have opportunities to 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.