MSU awards prestigious Provost Scholarships to 13 students

MSU Provost Scholars pictured with Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw, front left, and MSU President Mark E. Keenum, front right, include: Row one (L to R): Umamah Amer; Will Davis; Row two (L to R): Kathryn Petersen; Jennifer Greer; Neil Sanipara; Jade Thompson; and Van Truong; and Row three (L to R): Olivia Draughn; Patricia Bethea; Noah Martin; Owen Smith; James Chalmers; and Annamarie Thompson. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Thirteen first-year students at ��ɫ��Ƶ are receiving the university’s seventh annual Provost Scholarships.

One of two preeminent awards offered by MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, Provost Scholarships enable student growth in a variety of areas, from academics to research. Opportunities for study abroad, creative discovery and conference travel also are part of the award.

This year’s group was selected from more than 700 qualified applicants, who were required to have a minimum 30 ACT and 3.75 high school GPA (based on a 4.0 scale).

Anastasia D. Elder, program mentor and the honors college’s associate dean, said Provost Scholars are part of a community in which they share their intellectual interests, are mutually supportive of each other and receive encouragement for their engagement in research endeavors.

“Provost Scholars are distinguished by their curiosity and passion for understanding,” said Elder, a professor in the College of Education’s Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Foundations. “Of course, Provost Scholars excel academically, but they are also students who become our future research leaders. They mentor fellow scholars and inspire in others their same drive for exploring the world around them.”

The 2021-22 Provost Scholars class includes (by hometown):

ACWORTH, Georgia—Noah A. Martin, a biological sciences major.

COLUMBIA—Jade E. Thompson, a software engineering major.

CUMMING, Georgia—James H. Chalmers, a mechanical engineering major.

FLOWOOD—Will S. Davis, a mechanical engineering major.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—Kathryn H. Petersen, a mechanical engineering major.

MADISON—Umamah Amer, a mechanical engineering major; and Patricia A. Bethea, a mathematics major.

OCEAN SPRINGS—Owen D. Smith, an industrial engineering major.

PASS CHRISTIAN—Van Truong, an environmental economics and sustainability major.

PETAL—Olivia G. Draughn, a biomedical engineering major.

TRUSSVILLE, Alabama—Annamarie L. Thompson, a biomedical engineering major.

UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland—Jennifer R. Greer, a chemistry major.

VICKSBURG—Neil Sanipara, an aerospace engineering major.

Learn more about MSU’s Shackouls Honors College and its Prestigious Scholars program at .

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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