Mississippi State has topped this year's goal of raising $400,000 in new contributions through the Patrons of Excellence program to support academic scholarships.

President Malcolm Portera announced last fall that the university plans to increase the number of Patrons by 2,000 over a five-year period, with the additional support targeted for scholarships for academically talented students.

The first-year goal of 400 new Patrons supporting scholarships was reached by Jan. 1 and continues to climb. New Patrons-level gifts for scholarships are expected to approach $500,000 by the end of the 1998-99 academic year.

"We set an ambitious goal, but we set it knowing that our alumni and friends would respond and respond in a big way, and they have," said Portera, who completed his first year as president on Jan. 1.

"A strong scholarship program helps Mississippi State to attract the region's brightest students, and the support we've received in the past few months from our Patrons of Excellence has provided a significant boost to our scholarship program. We must maintain and increase our Patrons support in the future."

The initial goal-topping effort was boosted in part by a challenge issued last fall by longtime Mississippi State supporters Bobby and Barbara Martin of Ripley.

Through the Martin Challenge for Patrons of Excellence Scholarships, the Martins offered to match individual $1,000 Patrons of Excellence-level gifts to the university's general scholarship fund, up to $500,000. The couple's personal contributions go to the Bobby and Barbara Martin Scholarship Fund.

Patrons gifts eligible for the Martin Challenge include contributions to general university or college annual scholarships. Donors may name annual scholarships in honor of or in memory of a family member or friend.

Mississippi State supporter Joe Robison contributed $15,000 through the Patrons program in January. Robison is president of Robison Tire Co. Inc. in Laurel.