On Sunday, April 23rd, hundreds of students and parents from the Lincoln County area gathered for a special awards program for the Mississippi Scholars initiative. “This is the largest of any school gathering in the county.” said Kenny Goza, program chairman for Lincoln County. Every year, through the generosity of businesses and individuals, thousands of dollars are distributed state-wide to graduating seniors who participate in advanced classes and meet the criteria of becoming a Mississippi Scholar. The program requires a minimum 2.5 GPA, a minimum score of 18 on the ACT, a minimum 40 hours of community service, and completion of an essay.

Of the 182 seniors receiving scholarships county-wide, 25 of those students recognized were from Mississippi School of the Arts with a total of $14,250 dollars. According to the Mississippi Scholars Initiative web site, their mission is “to encourage and motivate all high school students to complete a defined, rigorous academic course of study that prepares them for successful transition to college, university coursework or vocational and technical training necessary to enter today’s competitive job market.”

Seniors receiving scholarships were: Jon’elle Hahn – Southwest MS Realtors, Dawson Johnson – Servitium, Ambriehl McCoy – First United Methodist Men, Dylan McKinion – Bank of Brookhaven, Laci Hamilton – Mississippi College, Alexis Weaver – Servitium, Anna Tyner – Insurance and Risk Managers, Lauren Stringer – Insurance and Risk Managers, Javlyn Smith – Betsy Smith Properties, Serena Slie – Regions Bank, Grace Sanders – King’s Daughters Medical Center, Ivy Malone – Boerner Law Firm, Pashion Hinnant – Servitium, Ann Hawks – Mississippi College, Jessica Guntharp – Lincoln County Scholars, Helen Greene – Bank of Brookhaven, Morgan Goodwin – Trustmark, Levarious Goods – Brookhaven Trust, Andrea Farve – Lion’s Club, Erykah Drone – Brookhaven Trust, Whitney Baker – Bank of Brookhaven, Evan Adams – LaRue’s Drugs, Ella Adair – Servitium, Piper Bott – Jay Culbertson, Jaelon Love – University of Southern Mississippi.