Contact: Lydia Palmer
STARKVILLE, Mississippi—Thirty-three 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 is a collaborative endeavor with the University of Mississippi. The scholarship includes full tuition, room and board, books, a $1,000 technology stipend and a fully funded national or study abroad experience. Available to students majoring in K-12 education, the scholarship is valued at approximately $100,000 over four years with funding provided by the Jackson-based Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation.
“I am so excited to welcome these future educators and our 11th cohort of METP scholars from across the state and nation. The support from the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation for our outstanding METP scholars is positively impacting education and communities across the state of Mississippi,” said Teresa Jayroe, College of Education dean.
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 at least five years after graduation. The obligation may be deferred if students decide to pursue graduate degree programs.
“These recipients of the METP scholarship will make a difference in the lives of their students and change the future of education in Mississippi. Already we have seen the tremendous impact that graduates of this program have had on the lives of children and within their communities,” said Kim Hall, associate dean of the College of Education and co-principal investigator for the METP grant.
The 2023-2024 METP Scholars are:
AUBURN, Alabama—Ryan Jenkins
BILOXI—Caitlin Perkins
BRANDON—Ellen Robinson
COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee—Evelyn Garland
COLUMBUS—John James Butler and Addison Robertson
CRYSTAL SPRINGS—McGee Hoda
GAITHERSBURG, Maryland—Claire Palmer
GERMANTOWN, Tennessee—Tessa Denny
HARTSELLE, Alabama—Shelby Camron
HARVEY, Louisiana—Lindsey Kate Degraw
HICKORY FLAT—Abbey Coker
HOOVER, Alabama—Ann Elise Pound
HURLEY—Kacey Tucker
LAKE ORION, Michigan —Sydney Dingeldey
MADISON—Avery Addison and Olivia Heard
MANDEVILLE, Louisiana—Emma Singletary
MERIDIAN—Katelyn Feirtag
MERIDIAN—Natalie Wakefield
MOSELLE—Mackenzie Golemon
NESBIT—Seth Matlock
O’FALLON, Illinois—Kaitlyn Spinnie
PEARL—Raelyn McHenry
SAUCIER—Dylan Hall
SAVANNAH, Tennessee—Ella Hansing
SCOTTSBORO, Alabama—Garron Hoosier
SENATOBIA—Jordan Calloway
SENATOBIA—Drake Estep
SPRINGHILL, Tennessee—Lillian Bingham
STARKVILLE—Jonah McCrory
VICKSBURG—Alaina Warnock
ZACHARY, Louisiana—Ashlynn Kearney
Established in 1903, MSU’s College of Education is home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit www.educ.msstate.edu.
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