7 minute read
Impact of One
The ImpacT of one:
G I f T of e ducaTI on c omes f ull cI rcle
One moment. One word. One chance.
Sometimes, it only takes one thing to change a person’s life forever. For Jailyn Smith, it was one call that let her know she had earned a scholarship to pursue her goals at Mississippi State University. The Rosedale native was selected to receive the
Adolph and Bernice Michael Family Scholarship at
MSU in 2016, during her senior year at West Bolivar
High School. However, before learning of the award, Smith admits MSU seemed far from reach, and she was unsure of how she would realize her educational dreams. “When I received a call from an MSU admissions recruiter, I knew instantly that things were about to change for me,” said Smith. “My life changed in the five-minute conversation when I was offered this amazing opportunity.”
Originally established by Estero, Florida, resident and 1969 MSU chemical engineering graduate, David Michael, along with his wife Shirley, the scholarship serves as a living memorial to Michael’s parents for which it is named. Specifically, Michael wanted to honor his family and the wonderful educations he received at both Rosedale High School (now West Bolivar) and MSU.
The award, which benefits graduates of West Bolivar High School, was an answered prayer that afforded Smith’s full tuition at MSU, as well as additional support for housing, books and meals. It was a reassuring source of encouragement that also inspired Smith to pursue extracurricular opportunities that greatly enhanced her student experience.
Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, Smith was always interested in agriculture and was eager to engage with and shadow MSU professors as an undergraduate research assistant. However, after taking a class on food law, she knew she had found her niche. She deepened her studies in food regulations and policies as an international trade and marketing intern with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in Arlington, Virginia.
“It was an amazing opportunity that provided me with valuable working experience, which may not have been possible if not for my MSU education,” said Smith.
Thanks to Michael’s generous investment, Smith is realizing dreams she never thought possible. After completing her undergraduate degree in animal and dairy science at MSU in 2020, Smith chose to further her academic goals. She is currently pursuing her second MSU degree—a master’s in food science— and recently accepted a position with a nonprofit organization in Ridgeland, where she will promote STEM education through K-12 and wider community outreach programming.
“I chose my majors because of the profound knowledge, love and passion I have for the fields of food science and agriculture, and that is what led me to my new position,” said Smith. “I love venturing out beyond Mississippi to learn new techniques and information, yet I believe a person cannot truly help or understand Mississippi citizens unless they are living in the state and experiencing some of those similar circumstances.”
As Smith works to strengthen skillsets and expand learning opportunities for others in her home state, she is bringing the impact of Michael’s scholarship gift full circle.
“I think teachers are what make America great. I would never have been successful without the great teachers I had at Rosedale High School and MSU. That is why I started this scholarship about 10 years ago,” said Michael. “I’m very proud of Jailyn for making such a commitment to make the state even better and have no doubt she will succeed.”
STORY ADDIE MAYFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED
Jailyn visits with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith during NASDA internship.
a testament of faith
Austin Lizana is on a mission to Mars. The junior mechanical engineering major wants to be part of the engineering team that puts the first person on the red planet. Growing up in Kiln, the Stennis Space Center was the backdrop of his childhood and inspiration for his future career path.
“Space really is the final frontier,” said Lizana. “Right now, it’s the sole aeronautical mission to send someone to Mars, and I’d at least like to help send someone there. It’s hard not to be fascinated by this floating blue and green orb that we’re on and the mysteries of our galaxy. Growing up that close to a NASA facility certainly influenced me to become an engineer.”
Lizana’s fascination and interest for space came about early on in high school. He credits his physics teacher and former Stennis employee, Keene Golding, for giving him the hands-on learning and experiments he would continue in his engineering courses at Mississippi State. Focusing on mechanical engineering, he is acquiring a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge to apply his interests and work with his favorite topics of projectiles, motion, energy and forces.
“Mr. Golding provided me with the foundation and love for engineering,” said Lizana. “We had great handson experiments and learning opportunities that led me toward engineering after high school. I still get that same hands-on factor here at Mississippi State. I’m currently working in a quality assurance engineering co-op at Airbus Helicopters in Columbus, where I get to apply what I learn in my classrooms and labs to the real world.”
While Lizana may know where his future is going, there was a time that he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to attend school at all. In August 2013, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that starts in the cells that form bones. Lizana attended only one day of his seventh-grade year before being diagnosed. The tumor was in his tibia, leaving him homebound for the rest of the school year as he underwent surgeries and treatment.
In the following years, he still had to balance his education and health. He graduated from high school in the top 10 in his class, all while pushing through obstacles like surgeries and rehabilitation.
Today, Lizana is eight years cancer-free. He knows that everything from his diagnosis to his recovery to his future educational endeavors was for a reason and part of God’s plan. As a junior, he is involved with Engineering Without Borders, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the MSU Baptist Student Union where he leads worship every Sunday and plays guitar. Lizana also is the recipient of the Jimmy and Rebecca Vickery Annual Scholarship at MSU, which allows him to stay involved and focus on his goals without the added pressure of financial burdens.
“You never know what a student is going through or has gone through,” said Lizana. “Any type of support helps in ways that many don’t realize. The support that I receive from the Vickery’s scholarship allows me to come to Mississippi State and not have to worry about everything else that is going on in the background, like medical needs or insurance.”
The Vickerys, who established the annual scholarship in 2014, know first-hand the importance of scholarships. Both Jimmy and Rebecca earned their degrees from MSU in 1970. Their son John David followed suit and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from MSU in 2000. The Madison couple was inspired to give back after seeing the positive effect a scholarship had on their son’s educational success. “We saw how much it meant to John when he received a scholarship,” said Rebecca. “Meeting our scholarship recipients, like Austin, gives us satisfaction knowing that we can help them through these crucial years, so they can focus on becoming well-rounded individuals and get involved outside the classroom. You can tell that Austin is a respected and loved member of the Mississippi State community. We’re grateful to be a part of his educational journey.”
As Lizana gets closer to his dream of working at NASA and going to Mars, he’s thankful for everything and everyone that has brought him to where he is today.
“I’m not sure what my future holds, but whatever it entails, I know God will be a part of it,” said Lizana. “There are going to be days where you get a 100% on your final, and there are days where you get a cancer diagnosis. Those in-between days are when I try to broadcast the same level of contentment and happiness because that’s all that we have on this earth. Don’t waste a second of your day being down and out—be a light in this world and lift others up.”
STORY ASHLEIGH LEE PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED
