Contact: Whitney Peterson
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Thirty Mississippi State University students are new scholarship recipients in one of the state’s most prestigious teacher education programs.
Housed in the university’s College of Education, the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP) is a collaborative endeavor with the University of Mississippi. The scholarship includes full tuition, with room, board and books, a $1,000 technology stipend, and a fully funded study-abroad experience. The award is available to students majoring in secondary mathematics, secondary science, secondary English, as well as elementary and special-education majors.
Funded by the Jackson-based Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, the scholarship is valued at approximately $100,000 over four years.
Competitive applicants should have at least a 28 ACT—or 1310 SAT—score and a 3.5 high school grade point average. Applicants participate in an interview with faculty, write an essay about why they want to enter the teaching profession, and commit to teaching in Mississippi in their program area for five years after graduation, though the obligation may be deferred if students decide to pursue graduate degree programs.
The 2018-2019 METP Scholars class includes (by hometown):
ACWORTH, Georgia – Lauren E. Sennett, an elementary education/middle school major.
BAY ST. LOUIS – Nikolas Clogher, a secondary education/English education
BILOXI – Christopher Baker, a secondary education/mathematics education major; Krislyn M. Clinton, an elementary education/middle school major; Brandon E. Demelo, a secondary education/English education major; and Avery L. Warrick, an elementary education/middle school major.
BRANDON – Mary A. Kirby, a secondary English education major; Molly C. Saunders, a secondary education/English education major; and Kaitlyn M. Slaymaker, a secondary education/mathematics education major.
CARMI, Illinois – Peyton R. Roedder, an elementary education/middle school major.
CHUNCHULA, Alabama – Callie N. Holmes, a secondary education/English education major.
CLINTON – Shannon L. Lacy, an elementary education/middle school major.
COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee – Branden T. Roller, a special education major.
GLEN – Rhiannon D. Lambert, a secondary education/English education major.
GULFPORT – Catherine B. Karl and Katherine E. Walker, both elementary education/middle school majors.
HAMILTON, Alabama – Macy L. Cooper, a special education major.
HATTIESBURG – Clay R. Smith, a secondary education/mathematics education major.
JACKSON – Reagan F. Cothern, a secondary education/physics education major.
MOBILE, Alabama – Amelia F. Cole, an elementary education/middle school major.
NEW SITE – Avery A. Barnes, a secondary education/mathematics education major.
NOXAPATER – Yolanda M. Cooper, a secondary education/English education major.
OLIVE BRANCH – Emma C. Lee, an elementary education/middle school major; and Savannah G. Steen, an elementary education/middle school major.
PEARL – Raymond K. Morgigno, a secondary education/English education major.
SOUTHAVEN – Mallory K. Wolfe, a secondary education/biology education major.
STARKVILLE – Sophia J. Seltzer-Hill, an elementary education/middle school major.
WAYNESBORO – Alyssa D. Cochran, an elementary education/middle school major at MSU-Meridian.
WIGGINS – Breanna M. Brown, a secondary English education major.
To apply or learn more about the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program at MSU, visit metp.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.