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President Mark E. Keenum (first row, center) welcomes the newest class of �������� State University Presidential Scholars. From left to right, they include (first row) Anna Shepard, Caroline Sleeper, Karson Pettit and Anna Mitchell; (second) Lindsey Downs, Jayla Mondy, Jasmine Topps, Cailin Sims, Laura Ingouf and Nada Abdel-Aziz; (third) Jack Davis, Choteau Kammel, Braden Garrison and Eli Riser. (Photo by Russ Houston)

Thirteen freshmen and one sophomore are new selections for �������� State University’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.

The annual awards cover the current cost of university tuition, fees, books, and room and board, as well as research and study-abroad expenses.

To qualify, applicants must have a minimum 30 ACT/1330 SAT score, as well as have graduated with a minimum core or overall 3.75 high school GPA (based on a 4.0 scale).

Selected from more than 500 qualified applicants, the 2017-18 group joins 39 others already participating in the program, which is part of MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. Recipients are expected to maintain an overall 3.4 GPA while in their respective academic majors.

Presidential Scholars have opportunities to interact with members of the land-grant institution’s extensive research faculty and be part of the college’s Oxford University summer-study program in England, among other enhanced learning experiences.

MSU Presidential Scholars Mentor Donald Shaffer said the program recognizes academic achievement and presents recipients with “a challenge to make a lasting impact on MSU and the world beyond it.”

“We are a community of scholars who value the life of the mind and the pursuit of knowledge, but what makes our scholarship program special is the emphasis we place on effecting positive social change through research and social engagement,” said Shaffer, associate professor of English and African American Studies. “We don’t just hope that our Presidential Scholars will change the world; we expect it.”

Over the years, a number of scholars have received additional recognitions as national Goldwater, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholars, and many have been selected for a variety of professional internships. For more on the program, visit .

Representing ��������, Alabama and Nebraska, the 2017-18 Presidential Scholars class includes (by hometown):

ALABASTER, Alabama—Lindsey B. Downs, a freshman English major and Evangel Classical Christian School graduate receiving a Roy Rein Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

BRANDON—Anna K. “AK” Mitchell, a freshman animal and dairy science major and Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving a Mike and Nan Sanders Presidential Endowed Scholarship; and Elijah J. “Eli” Riser, a freshman computer engineering major and Northwest Rankin High School graduate receiving a Louis Hurst Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

CLINTON—Jayla M. Mondy, a freshman biochemistry/pre-medicine major and Saint Andrews Episcopal School graduate receiving a Necole Moore Ray Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

COLUMBUS—Jasmine E. Topps, a freshman architecture major and �������� School for Mathematics and Science graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

CORINTH—Caroline E. Sleeper, a freshman geosciences/broadcast meteorology major and Corinth High School graduate receiving a Jim and Julia Rouse Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

DECATUR, Alabama—Laura N. Ingouf, a sophomore anthropology major and Austin High School graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

FLOWOOD—John D. “Jack” Davis, a freshman biomedical engineering major and Jackson Preparatory School graduate receiving a Brad Roderick Moore Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

GREENWOOD—Nada A. Abdel-Aziz, a freshman architecture major and Pillow Academy graduate receiving an Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship.

MADISON, Alabama—Braden P. Garrison, a freshman biological engineering/biomedical engineering major and Sparkman High School graduate receiving a John and Renée Grisham Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

MADISON—Karson C. Pettit, a freshman biochemistry/forensic sciences major and Saint Andrews Episcopal School graduate receiving a Charles and Pat Lee Presidential Endowed Scholarship; and Anna E. Shepard, a freshman biological engineering/biomedical engineering major and Germantown High School graduate receiving a San Shuttleworth Adkerson Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

OMAHA, Nebraska—Choteau X. Kammel, a freshman business economics major and Central High School graduate receiving a John and Renée Grisham Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

VANCLEAVE—Cailin G. Sims, a freshman mathematics major and Vancleave High School graduate receiving a G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

Learn more about the Shackouls Honors College at .

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

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