The Bill Collins Scholar is named after a distinguished educational leader, who was the first Director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University.
Erien Watson, our current Collins Scholar, is second from the left in the middle row. Erien is a junior, the daughter of two teachers, and is from Meridian, Mississippi. A member of the Shackouls Honors program, she has been actively involved in the Black Student Alliance, in the Catholic Student Association, is a former member of Starlight Dancers and Bachelors, and has participated as a Peer Counselee in the Peer Counselor Program. Erien has worked extensively with a boys and girls club, and enjoys the challenge of helping children with their special needs.
Brian Pugh, pictured above, is our most recent Collins Scholar alumnus. He is from Gulfport and is a graduate of Harrison Central High School. Brian graduated from Mississippi State University with honors in the spring of 2007, receiving a degree in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy. As an undergraduate, Brian was honored by being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, was a Dean's and President's Scholar, and received the Minority Achievement award every year. He served as President of the Pre-Law Society, Vice-Chair of the Political Science Scholars, and Vice-President of The Gamma Beta Phi Society (National Honors Society). Brian was also a member of the Stennis Montgomery Association and Pi Sigma Alpha. Our department honored him at graduation with the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Brian currently works at the Stennis Institute of Government as a Graduate Research Assistant, compiling research on and assisting with the economic development of distressed counties. He is pursuing a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. In addition, Brian serves as an advisor to the Stennis Montgomery Association, as President of Pi Sigma Alpha, and as Vice-President of The Gamma Beta Phi Society. After receiving his MPPA degree, he plans to pursue a law degree.
Our previous Collins Scholar was Tameika Cooper, who is on the far left in the front row in the above picture. She was a member of College Democrats, NAACP, and Black Student Alliance, and was honored by being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. A well-rounded individual, Tameika was a member of MSU's Concert Choir, Women's Chorale, and Black Voices. She served as a mentor for three community organizations, a member of the Mississippi Political Science Association, and served as Vice President for the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Tameika's career interests are an extension of her public service work with children over her years at MSU, as she would like to start an after school literacy program for children.
Our previous Collins Scholar was Reteeshia Brown, who is third from the right in the back row. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Brown of Greenwood, MS, she was the valedictorian at Amanda Elzy High School. Her career plans are to become a lawyer.
The previous Collins Scholar alumnus was Ta'Shia Shannon, who graduated from the University of Mississippi law school and is today an Attorney at Law in The Edward A. Williamson Law Firm in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Ta'Shia served as the high school liaison for the Model UN, was a member of the Stennis-Montgomery Association, and is in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She attended a Philadelphia conference on the Truman Scholarship, a Center for the Study of the Presidency conference in Washington, served on the SA Election Commission, and was active in the University Honors Program. Ta'Shia has also served as research assistant on an important study of welfare reform in Mississippi funded by the Rockefeller Institute of Government. She was a President's Scholar, and won the college's Minority Achievement Award. Ta'Shia was honored in her senior year for her outstanding academic record by being inducted into the most exclusive honorary on campus, the Society of Scholars in the Arts and Sciences.
To learn about the Bill Collins Speakership series, click here.