Mississippi State's newly established Presidential Endowed Scholars program not only provides incoming undergraduate leaders and scholars an outstanding scholarship opportunity, it also gives donors a chance to meet the scholarship recipients at a campus reception each fall.

The program was created to address the need for more private scholarships to help attract the best students to Mississippi State. Incoming freshmen receiving the scholarship may keep the award for up to eight semesters, provided they maintain certain academic benchmarks.

To be eligible, a student must have an exceptional high school academic record and outstanding leadership or scholarship skills, and must have scored a minimum of 29 on the ACT or 1280 on the SAT. An MSU scholarship application also must be submitted.

A minimum gift of $100,000 is required to endow a scholarship. Earnings from a $100,000 gift will cover the cost of tuition, fees, and housing.

Current Presidential Endowed Scholarship donors include: James and Kay Bryan, Johnnie and Bessie Lynn Crane, Luke and Ruth Davis, Thomas and Shirley Dawkins, Hunter and Lila Henry, Mickey and Babs Holliman, Bobby and Barbara Martin, G.V. Montgomery, Morgan Keegan Inc., and Hal and Linda Parker.

For more information on the Presidential Endowed Scholarship program, contact Michelle Barlow at 662-325-5970 or Frank Shannon at 662-325-8852.