Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Fifteen freshmen and sophomores from Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, California and Louisiana are this year’s selections for Mississippi State’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.

The annual awards cover the current cost of university tuition, fees, books and room and board, as well as research and study-abroad expenses.

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 grade-point average (based on a 4.0 scale).

Selected from more than 500 qualified applicants, the 2015-16 group joins 30 others already participating in the program that is part of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. They are expected to maintain an overall 3.4 GPA while in their respective academic majors.

As Presidential Scholars, they have opportunities to interact with members of the land-grant institution’s extensive research faculty and be part of the college’s Oxford University summer-study program in England, among other enhanced learning opportunities.

Tommy Anderson said he and others in the honors college welcome “the leadership these new scholars bring to the classroom, in their research and to the university as a whole.” They have the potential to serve as agents of change in their respective disciplines, he added.

An associate professor of English now in his fourth year as program mentor, Anderson also directs the university’s Office of Prestigious External Scholarships.

“The growth of the Presidential Scholars program is a tribute to the university’s commitment to attracting the nation’s top students and to the impact of the Shackouls Honors College in these students’ educational trajectory,” he said.

Over the years, a number of scholars have received additional recognitions as national Goldwater, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholars, as well as being selected for a variety of professional internships. For more on the program, visit www.honors.msstate.edu/scholars.

The 2015-16 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama—Freshman David H. Sides, a business administration/international business major and Briarwood Christian High School graduate receiving a James and Kay Bryan Presidential Scholarship.

BRANDON—Freshman Charles C. Provine, a biochemistry/pre-medicine major and  Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving a Malcolm and Olivia Portera Presidential Scholarship.

BRYANT, Arkansas—Sophomore Spencer I. Callicott, a computer engineering major and  Bryant High School graduate receiving a Bobby and Barbara Martin Presidential Scholarship.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—Freshman Ryan M. Stallcup, an electrical engineering major and Covenant Christian Academy graduate receiving a Lila and Hunter Henry Presidential Scholarship.

LAUREL—Sophomore Nicholas A. “Nick” Ezzell, a physics major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Charles and Pat Lee Presidential Scholarship.

LOS ANGELES, California—Freshman Gentry I. Burkes, an English major and Marymount High School graduate receiving a G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Presidential Scholarship.

MADISON—Elise M. Moore, a political science major and Madison Central High School graduate receiving a Steve and Melody Golding Presidential Scholarship; and chemistry major Caroline N. Russell, a MCHS graduate receiving a L.A. Hurst Presidential Scholarship. Both are freshmen.

OLIVE BRANCH—Sophomore Benjamin N. “Ben” Emmich, a biological engineering major and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Scholarship.

OWENS CROSS ROADS, Alabama—Freshman Sarah E. Darrow, a computer science major and Huntsville High School graduate receiving a Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Scholarship.

PONTOTOC—Junior Karleigh E. W. Kimbrell, an English major and Pontotoc High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Presidential Scholarship.

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana—Freshman Stephanie J. Durr, a political science/pre-law major and Captain Shreve High School graduate receiving a G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Presidential Scholarship.

STARKVILLE—Freshman biological engineering major Shelby C. Adair, a Starkville High School graduate receiving a Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Scholarship; sophomore chemical engineering major Kristen R. Lacy, an SHS graduate receiving a John and Renée Grisham Presidential Scholarship; and freshman chemistry major Flannery Voges-Haupt, a Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving a Dean and Turner Wingo Presidential Scholarship.

Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at www.honors.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.