A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: MSU, Habitat partner for 18th Maroon Edition house

Contact: Mary Pollitz

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Starkville native Tyerria Bryant will unlock the door to her new home this spring as the recipient of Mississippi State’s 18th Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity home.

Bryant, a mental health therapist at an elementary school in Macon, said when she found out she would be the Habitat recipient, she simply couldn’t stop crying. Now overwhelmed with gratitude, she is ready to put in the sweat equity to build her future.

“I cannot wait to create new memories and spend time in a new environment with the people that matter most,” said Bryant, a 2020 Mississippi State graduate. “I am grateful for this opportunity to be in my forever home. Thank you God, and thank you Habitat for Humanity for this precious moment.”

Starkville Habitat Board of Directors President Cassie McGee said, “We are so excited for you in this journey that you’re about to have with homeownership, and we look forward to walking on this journey with you and watching your house become a home.”

Once complete, Bryant’s home will mark the sixth Habitat build in Kelly Estates, an 11-acre former dairy farm located on 16th Section Road. Volunteers, including MSU staff and students, will continue to transform the property into a 30-home Habitat community.

Alongside the Maroon Edition residence, Habitat celebrated the groundbreaking for Starkville Police Officer Kenya Bibbs’ future home as part of the 2026 Collegiate Challenge House. This initiative allows local Habitat chapters to host college volunteer groups from across the country for weeklong service periods during academic breaks. The completion of both Bryant’s and Bibbs’ homes will mark the conclusion of phase one for the Kelly Estates development.

Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt reflected on MSU’s long-standing connection with Habitat for Humanity while honoring former President Jimmy Carter’s legacy of service.

“It’s really hard to believe that our partnership between Habitat and Mississippi State has helped create this many new homes, and we are very grateful for our continued relationship,” she said. “It is with great humility and a servant’s heart that we are all here today. It’s my hope that this experience for our students and all the volunteers will lead them to a lifetime of service, peace and reconciliation. To Kenya and Tyerria, my hope for you today is that this moment is the beginning of a new journey for your families.”

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.