|
Title: UM Names 10 Inaugural Recipients of Patricia Lott Scholarships
Release Date: 2005-06-21
Full Story:
OXFORD, Miss. - The University of Mississippi has named the
first recipients of the $40,000 Patricia Thompson Lott
Scholarship, available to incoming freshmen from
Mississippi with demonstrated leadership abilities.
The scholarship endowment was established last year with
gifts from Bill and Donna Gottshall, Guy and Sis Hovis, and
Gary and Mary Sue Sisco to honor Patricia Lott, wife of
U.S. Sen. Trent Lott.
"We are grateful to Mrs. Lott for her continued support of
Ole Miss and are thankful to those friends who created this
scholarship in her honor," said Chancellor Robert Khayat.
"The Lott Scholarship ensures that Ole Miss will continue
its long tradition of nurturing strong leaders for our
state and nation, and the caliber of the inaugural
recipients proves that point."
The 10 recipients will participate in the Lott Leadership
Institute and have been invited to join the Chancellor's
Leadership Class.
Each of the students is required to pursue a major in a
liberal arts field and a minor in leadership studies.
Besides maintaining academic standards, the students are
expected to continue their commitment to community service.
To help them balance these requirements, they will be
paired with faculty mentors in their major fields of
study.
The recipients agree that they feel honored to have been
awarded the scholarship.
"I'm flattered to have been chosen for such a prestigious
award," said Christine Malishka Jean Bocek of Biloxi. "It's
great to be one of the first recipients of the Lott
Scholarship."
Other recipients are Mary Shellie Bailey of Jackson, Joey
Brown of Macon, Brittany Joelle Chapman of Moss Point,
Austin Archie Howard III of Forest, Catherine Elizabeth
McFadyen of Starkville, Andrew Gordon Meador of Flowood,
Emily Walker Ragland of Madison, Kelly Ann Usher of
Starkville and McDaniel Drake Wicker of Tupelo.
Bailey, the daughter of Richard Bailey and Mary Posey, was
the 2005 STAR Student at Terry High School. At THS Bailey
was a member of the Math and Science Quiz Bowl Team among
many other organizations, and he served as president of the
student body, the National Honor Society and the Spanish
Club. Elected homecoming queen her senior year,
Bailey was a member of the varsity volleyball and track
teams. She has served as a volunteer with Habitat for
Humanity, on the election campaign of Gov. Haley Barbour,
as an acolyte for her church and as a volunteer diver with
the Aquariums/Education program at the Mississippi Museum
of Natural Science.
As an EarthWatch Institute Internship National Award
Winner, she spent three weeks in the U.S. Virgin Islands
studying coral reef ecology. Bailey plans to major in
biology at UM.
Bocek, the daughter of Thomas and Julianne Bocek, was 2005
historian at St. Martin High School, where she received
several academic honors, including awards for the highest
average in six different subjects and the title Mississippi
Statewide Champion in Beta Club's Senior Scholarship
Competition. Bocek held memberships in a number of school
organizations and served as president of Beta Club,
minister of school spirit, treasurer of the German Club and
vice president of the Historical Society.
At St. Martin's, Bocek coordinated a homecoming project, a
breast cancer awareness day and a project to send care
packages to soldiers. She has received several honors from
the Girls Scouts of America, including the Girl Scout Gold
Award (equivalent to Eagle Scout status).
She has volunteered with Keesler Air Force Base (where she
was awarded the Very Important Patriot Award), Big Brothers
Big Sisters, Mississippi Gulf Coast Clean-up, Boy Scouts of
America clean-up projects and Biloxi Veteran's Cemetery,
and she has raised money for St Jude Children's Research
Hospital, Angel Tree Kid Program, the Cystic Fybrosis
Foundation and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Veteran's Day
Parade. Bocek plans to pursue a prelaw major at UM, where
she will be a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale
Honors College.
Brown, son of James Brown, was valedictorian at Noxubee
County High School, where he was named Mr. NCHS and was a
2005 STAR Student. A member of the National Society of High
School Scholars, he received academic excellence awards in
both mathematics and art. Besides serving as president of
his senior class and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor
society, Brown spearheaded several community service
efforts in high school, including a nursing home drive, a
canned food drive and a drive for breast cancer. He is
active in his church and has served as secretary of his
Sunday school since 2001. Brown plans to study forensic
chemistry at UM.
Chapman, the daughter of Joe and Ann Chapman, was 2005
valedictorian at Moss Point High School, where she was
president of the Beta Club and Del-Teen Civic and Social
Club and vice president of the Student Council. The
National Achievement Scholar placed in the top 20 percent
in the chemistry section of the Mississippi Math and
Science Tournament at Mississippi College, and she won
several academic awards while in high school, including
awards in language arts, band, Mississippi studies and
biology.
Elected lieutenant governor at Mississippi Girls' State,
Chapman also participated in several volunteer activities.
Besides chairing a food drive and receiving a special
citation for completing 100 hours of service as a candy
striper hospital volunteer, she volunteered with the March
of Dimes, at a local nursing home, in her church and with
Big Brothers Big Sisters, among other groups. Chapman plans
to pursue a premed major at UM.
Howard, the son of Archie and Kay Howard, was 2005
valedictorian and STAR Student at Leake Academy. A National
Merit Scholar, he received awards for the highest average
in 16 different subjects while in high school. He also won
first place in both the chemistry and mathematics
competitions at the Mississippi Science and Mathematics
Tournament at Mississippi College, and he won first place
in physics at the Mississippi State University High School
Competition and the Mississippi Private School
Association's Academic Betterment Competition.
Voted Mr. Leake Academy, Howard acted in school theater
productions, played football and served as president and
vice president of his class, president of Beta Club and
vice president of the student council. He has volunteered
with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Forest
Chamber of Commerce, Grace House (for AIDS patients),
Baptist Adult Care Center and Gateway Rescue Mission Thrift
Store. He also served as a chemistry tutor and as president
of the Forest United Methodist Youth. Howard plans to study
chemistry at UM, where he will be a member of the Sally
McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
McFadyen, the daughter of Gary and Karen McFadyen, was 2005
senior class president at Starkville High School, where she
also served as a class senator, representative and
parliamentarian, and as president of the Anchor Club,
Speech and Debate Club, and Future Business Leaders of
America. A National Merit Finalist, McFadyen was named an
All American Scholar and was included on the National Honor
Roll, among other academic achievements.
McFadyen received special recognition at State Youth
Congress, was elected president pro-tempore of the National
Congressional Student Leadership Conference and received an
award for outstanding delegation at Mississippi Model
Security Council. McFadyen has also won awards as a debater
and with the 4-H Club.
A mentor with Boys and Girls Clubs, she has volunteered
with her church, Habitat for Humanity, Palmer Children's
Home, Adopt-A-Family Christmas Outreach Program and the
Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, among other
organizations. McFadyen plans to study broadcast journalism
and international studies at UM, where she has been
accepted to the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Meador, the son of Gordon and Emily Meador, graduated this
spring with a 4.0 grade-point average from Jackson
Preparatory School, where he was named Mr. Jackson Prep and
Mr. Junior Class. A National Merit Finalist, Meador
achieved scores of maxima cum laude, magna cum laude and
cum laude on the National Latin Exam. He ran track,
participated in the Mississippi Governor's School and was a
member of JP's Student Government Association, among other
extracurricular activities.
An Eagle Scout, he has volunteered with Hospice, Genesis
Food Bank, Stewpot, Habitat for Humanity and the Mustard
Seed, a Christian community for mentally challenged adults.
He was also a guitarist in the local band Stockholm, which
released a self-titled LP. He has been accepted into the
Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at UM and plans to
pursue a premed major.
Ragland, the daughter of Lee and Jana Ragland, graduated
with highest honors from Jackson Academy, where she was a
2005 inductee into the school's Hall of Fame. The National
Merit Finalist received several academic awards while in
high school, including multiple awards in writing and the
social sciences and induction into JA's chapter of the Cum
Laude Society.
President of the school's Key Club and National Honor
Society chapters, Ragland also held several leadership
positions in student government and was editor of JA's
newspaper and an editor of the literary magazine. Ragland
participated in the Lott Leadership Institute for High
School Students at UM and the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership
Conference.
Her community service work includes volunteering with Big
Brothers Big Sisters, March of Dimes' Chain Reaction, her
church, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and
Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital. Ragland plans to major
in English and Southern Studies at UM, where she will be a
member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Usher, the daughter of John and Rita Usher, was 2005
salutatorian at Starkville High School and a National Merit
Finalist. Besides earning numerous other academic honors,
Usher participated in several extracurricular activities at
SHS, serving as president of the Latin Club, secretary of
the Thespian Troupe, and vice president of Junior
Historians and National Honor Society.
She participated in the Summit Leadership Conference at
Bryan College in Tennessee and in Mississippi Model
Security Council. She is active in her church and has
volunteered on service missions to Honduras and within the
United States. Also active in politics, she volunteered
with the election campaigns of Pres. George W. Bush, Gov.
Haley Barbour and state Sen. Gary Jackson. Usher will study
international studies at UM, where she will be a Croft
Institute for International Studies Scholar and member of
the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Wicker, the son of Roger and Gayle Wicker, graduated with
honors from Tupelo High School, where he was a 2005
inductee into the THS Hall of Fame and a member of the Cum
Laude Society. A National Merit Finalist, Wicker also
earned a perfect score on the state algebra exam, won the
Gum Tree Writing Contest, won third place with his team at
the Mississippi College Math and Science Competition and
was named an ACT and Rotary scholar, among other honors.
Wicker participated in Harvard Model Congress and
Mississippi Model Security Council. He was a member of
several school organizations and served as historian for
Key Club, secretary of Mu Alpha Theta, president and vice
president of Habitat for Humanity, vice president and
chaplain of Junior Civitans, treasurer and secretary of
Thespians and on the student council.
Wicker also played varsity football and was a member of the
choir. Elected president pro-tempore at Mississippi Boys'
State, he also served as a page in the Mississippi Senate
and as president, chaplain and treasurer of Teenage
Republicans. An Eagle Scout, Wicker has volunteered with
several organizations, including his church, the American
Cancer Society's Race for the Cure and the Salvation Army.
He plans to study international studies at UM, where he
will be a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors
College and has been named a Croft Institute for
International Studies Scholar.
For more information on the Patricia Thompson Lott
Scholarship, go to this link
Visit Ole Miss on the World Wide Web at www.olemiss.edu. |
