Monday, August 10, 2020
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, or METP, is a collaborative endeavor with the University of Mississippi. The scholarship includes full tuition, room, board and books, a $1,000 technology stipend, and a fully-funded national or study-abroad experience. The award is available to students majoring in secondary mathematics, secondary science, secondary English, elementary education and special education.
Program Manager, Annice Jenkins, explained that the scholarship draws students from around the United States to study and prepare to be educators. She continued saying that the students come with an eagerness and excitement to learn.
“I am so excited to be able to work with and mentor these new education majors and help foster their love for wanting to work with children,” said Jenkins. “Their enthusiasm in wanting to continue to help improve education in the state of Mississippi is what makes these students such a joy to work with.”
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 at least five years after graduation. However, the obligation may be deferred if students decide to pursue graduate degree programs.
The 2020-2021 METP Scholars class includes (by hometown):
Macy N. Chism, a junior secondary education/English education major.
ACKERMAN – Alex Watson, a freshman secondary education/English education major.
BILOXI – Anniston Warrick, a freshman elementary education/middle school major and Easton Whitehead, a freshman secondary education/English education major.
BRANDON – Connor Case, a junior secondary education/English education major.
BULLARD, Texas – Ashlie Anderson, a sophomore elementary education/middle school major.
COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee – Caroline Henson, a special education major.
COLUMBUS – Carrington Davis, a freshman elementary education/middle school major and Leah Young, a sophomore secondary education/Math education major.
CORINTH – Elizabeth Ingram, a junior secondary education/biology education major.
FLORENCE – Jana Withrow, a freshman elementary education/middle school education major.
FOREST – Shelby Cushman, a junior secondary education/math education major.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Emma Nordeman, a junior elementary education/middle school major.
JASPER, Georgia – Bailey Hanks, a sophomore elementary education/middle school major.
KILN – Grace Ann Cuevas, a sophomore secondary education/math education major and Brodie King, a senior elementary education/middle school major.
LEXINGTON – Riley Angell, a junior elementary education/middle school major.
MADISON, Alabama – Matthew Lockhart, a freshman elementary education/middle school major and Anna Kate Staup, a freshman secondary education/biology education major.
MANTACHIE – Sara Grace Boggs, a junior elementary education/middle school major.
MERIDIAN – Tyler Alexander, a junior secondary education/math education major.
PONTOTOC – Tyler Williams, a junior secondary education/biology education major.
PORTLAND, Oregon – Maggie Piercey, a freshman elementary education/middle school major.
QUITMEN – Taliyah Ward, a freshman elementary education/middle school major.
RICHTON – John Cameron Dunnam, a freshman secondary education/math education major.
SALTILLO – Allyssa Ferguson, a secondary education/math education major.
SOUTHAVEN – Mariah Harris, a freshman elementary education/early childhood major and Joseph Taylor, a freshman secondary education/middle school major.
TUPELO – Mary Blake Brashier, a freshman elementary education/middle school major.
VICKSBURG – Grayson Shealy, a senior special education major.
WEST UNION, South Carolina – Kiley Dempsey, a sophomore elementary education/middle school major.
Click here to view more news.