Contact: Addie Mayfield

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Luckyday Foundation of Jackson has pledged significant support benefiting Mississippi State University students who are residents of the Magnolia State. The $650,000 commitment will provide scholarship awards and promote student success through enhanced programming and engagement over four years.

Beginning fall 2020, the inaugural Luckyday Scholars Program at MSU will award 10 incoming freshmen with four-year scholarships of $6,000 per year, given their continued eligibility. The program also will afford a mentor and resources for associated programming aimed at furthering student success, including the freshman Luckyday Scholar Seminar and university-sponsored community service projects.

Founded in 1978 by the late Frank Rogers Day, a native of Aberdeen and chairman of the board and CEO of Trustmark National Bank, the Luckyday Foundation funds scholarships to assist young Mississippians in pursuing their goals of higher education. In addition to helping students afford college expenses, Luckyday also encourages students to graduate in four years while maintaining academic standards and getting involved in their communities. Prior to its most recent commitment at MSU, the foundation extended early support to MSU’s Promise Program.

“We are grateful to partner with the Luckyday Foundation in growing opportunities for more of our state’s ambitious students to achieve their goals through much-needed financial and academic support,” said MSU President Mark Keenum. “The Luckyday Foundation’s commitment to developing outstanding leaders within our state is evident by the investments it is making in the lives of these deserving scholars.” 

Recipients of the Luckyday scholarship will be first-time entering freshmen from Mississippi who have earned a minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average and an ACT score of 20-28 (or SAT equivalent). Candidates will be selected via an application and on-campus interview process, and priority will be given to students who demonstrate leadership skills, school and community involvement, and have unmet cost of attendance.

To learn more about the Luckyday Scholars Program at MSU, contact John Rush, vice president for development and alumni and MSU Foundation president and CEO, at 662-325-9306 or john.rush@msstate.edu.