Mississippi State University Foundation
Infinite Impact celebrates monumental conclusion p. 4 Inside Fall 2020 Daria Pizzetta p. 10 | Why Give? p. 20 | METP p. 32
Volume 20 | Number 2 PRESIDENT AND CEO MSU FOUNDATION John P. Rush BOARD CHAIR MSU FOUNDATION D. Hines Brannan Jr. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cathy Lammons MANAGING EDITOR Amy Cagle GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hailey Hannis WRITERS Amy Cagle Addie Mayfield Georgia Sisson CONTRIBUTING STAFF Erica Way, Marketing Manager CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Megan Bean Beth Wynn
••• Post Office Box 6149 Mississippi State, MS 39762 phone: (662) 325-7000 fax: (662) 325-8426 msufoundation.com
Foundations is published two times per year by the Mississippi State University Foundation. Please send comments and questions to P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 397626149 or phone (662) 325-1006. The Mississippi State University Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization that assists the university in accomplishing its goals and mission by cultivating and soliciting private support and ensuring stewardship for all contributions benefiting Mississippi State University. Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law is prohibited. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Compliance and Integrity, 56 Morgan Avenue, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
viewpoint contents
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Campus Views A fall semester of studying and socially distancing
features 10 | Daria Pizzetta Longtime architect creates scholarship for late mother
32 | Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation Gift continues elite METP scholarship program for Mississippi's future educators
30 | Hossein Toghiani MSU faculty member remembers wife with memorial in chemical engineering
38 | Louis A. Hurst Jr. A Bulldog tribute to a generous, humble contributor
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Noteworthy News 06 | Presidential Scholars Elite students enroll at MSU
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18 | A Mississippi Staple Extension host dishes up sweet potatoes 24 | Agriculture and Life Sciences Academic college focuses on future 40 | Personnel Changes Promotions made and key roles filled
In Each Issue 03 | Viewpoint Foundation President and CEO 04 | Achievements A closer look at Infinite Impact
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15 | Student Perspective Arrington DeLars Ervin in his own words 1 6 | Foundation Favorites Jack McCarty proposes leisure activities 20 | Why Give? Gerald Wilbanks sets example for others 29 | Get to Know Meet Will Staggers 39 | Then and Now Perry Cafeteria through the years 43 | Foundation Board A complete list of our voluntary board
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Our Cover MSU and the MSU Foundation have successfully concluded the decade-long, billion-dollar Infinite Impact campaign thanks to an outpouring of generous support. PHOTO MEGAN BEAN
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
viewpoint
Realizing infinite possibilities for MSU
JOHN P. RUSH
'94, '02 President and CEO MSU Foundation
How big is one billion? When Infinite Impact began in 2010 with a goal of $600 million, that question seemed larger-thanlife. But just a few years later, after surpassing the initial goal faster than anyone thought possible, the standard was raised and what once was unimaginable became conceivable. The momentous campaign concluded on June 30 of this year with an astonishing total of $1.07 billion raised. As we celebrate the unprecedented success of this goal, I find myself in a familiarly serendipitous position because it seems unimaginable to find adequate words to express the sincere gratitude that resonates throughout our university. The generosity of alumni and friends charted the ambitious course throughout Infinite Impact and in the final months of the endeavor, the Bulldog family rallied again with a renewed spirit of giving—not simply for the sake of the campaign, but for the sake of our students who were facing new, unexpected challenges in the midst of a global pandemic. Despite the unfavorable circumstances and difficulties faced, MSU was able to rapidly adapt and overcome. Maintaining a commitment to continued academic success and the well-being of all students in a time of social distancing is no small feat, but this accomplishment was greatly aided by an outpouring of private gifts. I am proud to be a part of a university community whose unwavering spirit of camaraderie and support shines just as bright in the difficult times as in the good times. The force of that spirit enabled MSU to not only reach the $1 billion Infinite Impact goal but exceed it. Moreover, the significance of this strong finish is further underscored by the immediate, positive difference it made in a time of need. And I can’t think of anything that more perfectly characterizes the purpose behind this entire campaign journey or the faithfulness of the Bulldog family. Things may not always turn out the way we plan, but more often than not, it’s for the better. On behalf of the MSU Foundation and the entire university, thank you for the infinite impact you have created and for helping to inspire future generations to pursue the infinite, often unimaginable, possibilities that lie ahead. Together, we have far exceeded all expectations and, in the words of the legendary Jack Cristil, “You can wrap this one in Maroon and White.”
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achievements
INFINITE IMPACT celebrates monumental conclusion
Infinite Impact leaves a lasting legacy like no previous fundraising campaign undertaken by Mississippi State University. Following its decade-long run, the campaign closed in June with an incredible $1.07 billion in gifts to advance the university. The monumental support of 72,747 generous contributors enabled MSU to reach this echelon of philanthropy, surpassing a $1 billion milestone previously never achieved by an educational institution in the state of Mississippi. The success of Infinite Impact is evident across the 142-year-old university as MSU makes strides in numerous areas. As an outcome of campaign commitments, MSU has been enhanced in its ability to attract and serve a diverse population of eager students and dedicated faculty; contribute research, expertise and innovation to society; and advance its stature nationally in higher education. Infinite Impact will continue to resonate positive achievements for MSU well into the future, as an accountability to the state and nation inspires the institution to continually elevate its performance. Infinite Impact began in mid-2010 with an initial $600 million goal that would be exceeded several years ahead of schedule. Because of this overwhelming support, the MSU Foundation board of directors and MSU President Mark E. Keenum formally extended the goal to the $1 billion-level, the largest ever set forth by the university. During Infinite Impact, gifts benefited MSU’s core group— its students and faculty, along with ushering in critical support for facilities and programs. Universitywide, the priority goals for Infinite Impact secured $247.4 million in scholarship support; $78 million for faculty support; $121.4 million for new facilities and improvements for existing facilities; and $626.5 million for annual and program support. Another significant noteworthy accomplishment was the $285.2 million raised in deferred gifts, much of which will grow the university’s overall endowment over time.
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Campaign support was widespread, impacting the academic colleges, the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, MSU-Meridian, MSU Libraries, and athletics. Almost every area of MSU was touched by philanthropy in some way, and the generosity of donors brought seven consecutive record years of support over $100 million—a new fiscal year average for MSU fundraising efforts. Over the nearly 60-year history of the MSU Foundation, alumni and friends have loyally met fundraising challenges. MSU’s two previous comprehensive campaigns were successful—the first raising more than $143 million in the 1990s; the second coming a decade later and raising more than $462 million. Many alumni and friends were part of these campaigns, which had lasting results for the university’s endowment and campus infrastructure, among other areas. However, Infinite Impact not only exceeded its billion-level goal, it substantially grew the university’s already strong base of supporters as 37,009 first-time donors made MSU their philanthropy of choice. Attainment of this monumental goal brought a passionate conclusion for Infinite Impact, but not an end to the university’s success. Layer upon layer, MSU is building a greater, more expansive reputation for its overall learning and research environment. Through alumni, friends, corporations, foundations, and organizations, MSU and MSU Foundation leadership will continue stewarding investments to seize new opportunities and forge a more ambitious path toward becoming an elite national university. Furthermore, MSU will reap the rewards of the campaign and share its impact with future students and rising generations of people everywhere.
STORY AMY CAGLE
PRIMARY CAMPAIGN GOALS
$1.07 BILLION
$626.5 Million
TOTAL RAISED
CAMPAIGN TIMELINE:
Annual & Programs Support
+ Consecutive $100+ Million Giving Years
Million FY10
$78 Million Faculty Support
Facilities Support
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED:
$2.5
$2.8
Million
2016/2017
Million
$3.1
2017/2018
TOTAL ENDOWMENT GROWTH:
$291.3
Scholarship Support
$121.4 Million
July 1, 2010 -Â June 30, 2020
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$247.4 Million
$521
Million FY20
Million
2018/2019
$3.8
Million
2019/2020
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
777
1,815
New
Total
ENDOWED POSITIONS
46
New
96
Total
72,747
Campaign Donors
Including
37,009 New Donors
18.2%
Average Alumni Participation (Over Infinite Impact)
$285.2 Million
Total Deferred Commitments Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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noteworthy news
Presidential Scholars selected for 2020-21 Presidential Scholars are known for their academic skills, creativity, and desire to excel. They are among the elite students in the United States who enroll at Mississippi State University to further their goals as part of the prestigious Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. Earnings from endowment-level gifts for Presidential Scholarships help cover the cost of tuition, fees, and housing over the course of four years. The experience provides a one-time educational enrichment scholarship for study abroad, internships or other qualified educational pursuits, an undergraduate research fellowship award, and exceptional mentoring opportunities.
Courtney Cochran Courtney Cochran of Tupelo is a freshman majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in English. She was awarded the Mickey and Babs Holliman Presidential Endowed Scholarship, named for the Belden couple who created the endowment. The Presidential Scholars program offers many resources for pursuing research, internships, and study abroad opportunities that appeal to a recipient’s passions. These opportunities, along with mentoring, were the deciding factor for Cochran in enrolling at MSU. She embraces the community of scholars as she pursues her educational goals. Her future plans include involvement in the development and promotion of environmental policy in preparation of a possible career in environmental law.
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Lindsay Culpepper Lindsay Culpepper of Pelham, Alabama, is a freshman majoring in wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture with a concentration in conservation biology. She is the recipient of the Steve and Melody Golding Presidential Endowed Scholarship, named for the Vicksburg couple who created the endowment. Culpepper is a third-generation Bulldog, having both parents and a grandfather who graduated from MSU. Her future educational goals include an opportunity to study abroad to participate in research. She will have the privilege to study under exceptional faculty members, which will prepare her for success in a career aimed toward conservation and protection of our natural world.
John Fox John Fox of Brandon is a freshman majoring in accounting with an interest in history. The Bobby and Judy Shackouls Honors College offers a unique atmosphere and learning environment, which inspired him to commit to attending MSU. Fox is the recipient of the Morgan Keegan Presidential Endowed Scholarship, and he is grateful for the financial assistance that will help him to pursue a professional degree. The scholarship program will provide a mentorship program for Fox under the direction of Associate Professor Donald Shaffer, which will help to enrich Fox’s educational experiences in the College of Arts and Sciences and at the university.
Kyla Homewood For Kyla Homewood of Pensacola, Florida, MSU has always been her first choice for a college education. She was keenly aware of the family environment upon visiting campus. When offered the Louis A. Hurst Jr. Presidential Endowed Scholarship, it became clear she had made the best choice. The scholarship was established by the late Louis A. Hurst Jr., an MSU business graduate and bank examiner. As an entering freshman, Homewood plans to major in economics and hopes to further her education by attending graduate school for a future career in development economics.
David Heson The possibility of attending MSU became a reality for David Heson with the Hassell Franklin Presidential Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship was created by Houston native Hassell H. Franklin, a 1959 industrial management graduate and the founder of Franklin Corporation. A native of Guntown, Heson had earlier visited the campus on several occasions. He attended The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, which gave him opportunities to participate in various competitions at MSU. Majoring in physics, Heson will study under faculty who will provide excellent guidance for his future, which includes obtaining a Ph.D. He plans to eventually become an educator in his field.
Laura King By majoring in secondary education at MSU, the passion to become an educator will soon be realized for Laura King. The Monroeville, Alabama native always knew she would attend MSU. Each time she visited campus, she felt the sense of community and the acceptance of diversity among students. She knew the university could empower students to obtain a quality education. King was awarded the Bobby and Barbara Martin Presidential Endowed Scholarship, named for the Ripley couple who were among the inaugural supporters of the Presidential Scholars program. King hopes to one day teach high school history, government, and economics and pursue a Ph.D. in history.
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Guillermo
Hoffmann Meyer MSU is a natural fit for Starkville native Guillermo Hoffmann Meyer. Rather than attend another university, after living near the welcoming campus and exploring what MSU offers, Meyer feels MSU provides everything essential to pursue his college goals. Meyer is the recipient of the John and Georgia Ann McPherson Presidential Endowed Scholarship, created in 2006 by Georgia Ann McPherson and the late John McPherson from Indianola. A freshman computer science major, Meyer plans to further his education one day by earning a Ph.D. Since his interest centers around research, he hopes to someday enjoy a career in a research-related field.
Ann Olivia Radicioni Ann Olivia Radicioni of Clinton decided to attend MSU after visiting campus. While meeting with faculty and staff, she realized the support she would receive at MSU would give her the tools necessary for success. Radicioni is the recipient of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship, named for the late Gillespie V. “Sonny" Montgomery, a longtime congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a political science major, Radiconi will have opportunities to study under excellent faculty members. She plans to further her education with a law degree and follow a childhood dream to pursue a career in the legal field.
Emma Van Epps Emma Van Epps of Memphis, Tennessee, is a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering. She is the recipient of the Luke and Ruth Davis Presidential Endowed Scholarship, named for the late Germantown, Tennessee, couple. The Presidential Scholars program made a major impression and was the deciding factor in Van Epps attending MSU. The program provides many opportunities to help her explore her interests through study abroad and possible internships. The Presidential Scholars program and the noteworthy James Worth Bagley College of Engineering will be a pathway to help Van Epps spark her passion and interest in a mechanical engineering career. 8
FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
For more about Presidential Scholars and the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College experience, visit www.honors.msstate.edu.
STORY AMY CAGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ADDIE MAYFIELD
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Enjoy beautiful pictures of familiar campus scenes that bring back special memories of your time at Mississippi State. The official State calendar has become a Bulldog tradition. With pictures by MSU’s own award-winning photographers, it’s truly a oneof-a-kind treasure. Order online today at msufoundation.com or call 662.325.7000.
Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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Pizzetta helps design dreams with MSU scholarship In the nearly four decades Daria Pizzetta has been an architect, the field has changed tremendously. And today, she’s even more focused on the impact of her design while she challenges and inspires the students she recruits to her profession. Pizzetta has enjoyed a vibrant career as an architect and her Mississippi State University education provided her a firm foundation for a wealth of opportunities. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a principal for H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture in New York City, founded by renowned architect, Hugh Hardy. In 2017, H3 became the independent Performing Arts, Cultural and Academic Building Studio of Arquitectonica International Corporation, benefiting from the global presence, professional support, and administrative resources of Arquitectonica and its more than 450 staff worldwide. A career in New York City took Pizzetta a long way from her Mississippi roots. Growing up in Biloxi, she loved to draw and imagined following in the footsteps of her dad, Don Pizzetta. “My dad owned a general construction company on the Mississippi coast, and his family had been mechanical contractors,” Pizzetta said. “I always enjoyed watching him work and was intrigued with the build process because it
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
Daria Pizzetta cradles her father, Don, who attended MSU, and her late mother, Stephanie, for which she named an MSU scholarship.
yielded a tangible, lasting result.” The young Pizzetta’s ambition was to eventually lead her father’s company; however, he strongly encouraged her to pursue a career he felt was more suited for her. He had studied mechanical engineering at MSU and thought his daughter should pursue architecture there. Pizzetta recalls MSU had just begun its architecture program at the time she enrolled. She would graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1983 in a class of 28 students, among them, three other women. Since then, her passion for her craft has grown, and she encourages future architects through the gift of scholarship. “I compete every day with architects who attended the most prestigious schools—Harvard, MIT, and Yale—and I believe MSU measures up to them,” said Pizzetta. “I enjoy helping students become architects, and my endowed scholarship financially helps some of them achieve their
MSU architecture graduate Meredith Yale (left) interned for Pizzetta at H3.
biggest dreams.” At MSU, Pizzetta established the Stephanie Mihojevich Pizzetta Endowed Scholarship in memory of her late mother, a University of Southern Mississippi graduate and medical technologist at Biloxi Regional Medical Center. Since its inception, some 30 students in the School of Architecture who have completed their second year of design studio and fulfilled other established criteria have received the scholarship. “When my mother died, I was 26, and it really affected me. She was my biggest cheerleader, and she passed away just before I obtained my architecture licensure,” said Pizzetta. “Years later, the scholarship came from a desire to honor her and what she meant to her family and her community.” Beyond the scholarship, Pizzetta voluntarily promotes the School of Architecture as part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, led by female dean, Angi Bourgeois. Since 2014, Pizzetta’s been a School of Architecture advisory board member. For her professional success, she has been honored by the college and the MSU Alumni Association with the lifelong title of Alumni Fellow. Pizzetta encourages MSU students to follow their passion, and she understands the importance of that journey. After beginning her career with Shaw Walker
Architects in Gulfport, a firm heavily involved with government contract work, her desire for creative freedom led her to New York City. Amongst the backdrop of great architecture, she took up residence there in late 1984 with just two suitcases while visiting a friend. She first secured a position with Ferrenz, Taylor, and Clark and later with Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates that evolved into H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture. It was at H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture that Pizzetta found her longtime professional home, marking 28 years there in March. In leading project teams and the firm’s interior design staff, she has been responsible for the overall planning and design effort for many cultural, academic and institutional projects. The innovative firm’s primary projects include libraries, museums, theatres and civic projects. With an impressive portfolio amassed nationally, one project is close to Pizzetta’s heart —the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in her home state. Her leadership with H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture brought the museum’s new building to life after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She remains involved in the South, participating in the post-Katrina Mississippi Renewal Forum: Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal and also twice chairing the Mississippi AIA honors awards jury.
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A favorite Pizzetta portfolio project – the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
Some years ago, she was the primary planner and project manager for the 400,000-square-foot United States Federal Courthouse in the city of Jackson. Just one state over, she’s in the early phase of an estimated $75 million Performing Arts Center at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Pizzetta is a lifelong learner and while in New York, she has devoted time to explore her family’s history. Her maternal grandfather, Tony Mihojevich, was a well-known commercial shrimper on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who came from Croatia by way of Ellis Island as an immigrant when he was two years old. In America, he obtained only a third-grade education, but he supported his two daughters in earning degrees and gaining jobs in the medical profession. He hoped his 10 grandchildren would earn degrees and have their own successful careers. In essence, through her MSU scholarship in memory of her mother, Pizzetta’s helping keep that dream alive for other students who follow behind her. Pizzetta has a great sense of family, and she has
Pizzetta sightseeing at Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia, with husband Charlie Brown and their daughters, Charlotte (center) and Stephanie
professionally maintained her maiden name throughout her 25-year marriage to Charles D. “Charlie” Brown, a two-time graduate of Fordham University who is the executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Fitch Ratings and its parent company, Fitch Group Inc. She’s also been a strong role model for the couple’s two daughters, Charlotte and Stephanie. “Charlie and my daughters are great supporters of my career and my volunteerism with Mississippi State,” Pizzetta said. “We are at a point in our lives where we can help others and, in particular, help students receive an education. I feel great when I get thank-you notes from my scholarship recipients, and I know my mother would be happy that I impact hardworking and creative students in her name.” Since 2001, Pizzetta has worked at H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture with students on co-op from MSU because she facilitated the association. At the firm, “students add excitement to our architectural environment, and we are always inspired to keep up with the technological advances they have already accessed through the university,” said Pizzetta. “It’s a win-win situation, and we hope to bring MSU students into our firm’s culture for years to come.”
STORY AMY CAGLE PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED
Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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State to You is a new video series that will bring MSU to you and keep you connected and informed through virtual tours highlighting campus locations and local alumni businesses.
www.alumni.msstate.edu/statetoyou
Bulldog Bites is a new virtual speaker series that will feature MSU faculty, staff, researchers, and alumni sharing their work, expertise, and impact on a wide range of topics.
www.alumni.msstate.edu/bulldogbites
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
student perspective
My Bulldog Experience:
Arrington DeLars Ervin eering Sophomore, Biomedical Engin Overland Park, Kansas
ore at Mississippi I am currently a sophom ally, I’m from Overland State University. Origin also home to my 2019 Park, Kansas, which is g High School graduatin Blue Valley Southwest lete ath an , I excelled as class. While at BVSW l and within both my schoo , and a student leader g was more important community, but nothin ult, I tch education. As a res than getting a top-no students. 10% of my class of 299 m graduated in the top her both graduated fro grandmother and fat My y. eas s wa U MS ionally, I wanted to The choice to attend n legacy student. Addit I am a third-generatio , ore ref the ; field either as sity ver the uni to work in the medical engineering, as I aspire al dic me bio on s MSU will die focus my stu ree in this major from l an undergraduate deg fee I and , ian sic phy a pharmacist or a ity. ns. affordability and divers afford me many optio MSU were the level of end att to g idin dec in , Howard, Two other key factors Florida A&M, Vanderbilt schools, ranging from nt ere diff ny ma networking ing After explor e to attend MSU. The s simply more affordabl wa it , ers oth few a Kansas, Duke, and final reason, diversity. i, which leads me to my ipp siss Mis in ust for rob y that when I first came opportunities are ver and I shared with him ity, ers div ut abo ed talk I only saw Black My dad and I recently ear minority students, dge Program for first-y Bri r me Sum e lleg , when the fall Co my Bagley Black college. However if it was a historically as U MS w vie than to an cational environment students and beg more diversity in an edu saw I er. wis the e am lis, Missouri; Minneapo semester started, I bec an areas of St. Louis, nding my life in suburb spe er Aft n. my classroom, see r eve I had only Black student in s; and often being the nsa Ka y, Cit s nsa Ka criterion at and Minnesota; lize it was a deciding . Although I did not rea me for new s wa nce this MSU experie right choice. ending MSU was the a firmed for me that att to realize the power of the time, it quickly con and I have also come s, ces suc ’s son per any sident’s and Deans’ Education is critical to ys. I made the MSU Pre wa of iety var a in lf nifest itse to continue good education can ma ic success, and I aspire ich shows my academ wh 20 20 ing spr olarship, and Lists for fall 2019 Psi Phi Academic Sch ly received the Omega ent rec I n, itio add In . ply appreciate the academic excellence as the recipient. I dee ul to have been chosen nkf tha y ver am I ich for wh MSU students. king in me and other investment they are ma
Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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foundation favorites
Jack McCarty, a proud alumnus and executive director of development for the MSU Foundation, enjoys sharing more than just investment advice with alumni and friends. His passion extends to sparking people’s interest in a range of topics from entertainment to news. Here’s a sundry of Jack’s latest “top picks” that he hopes all Bulldogs will pass along to others.
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MSU’s STATEwide Impacts | Reservoirs of Hope A team of agricultural and biological engineering researchers at MSU has found that on-farm water storage systems not only retain significant volumes of recycled surface water for irrigating crops, but also substantially reduce farm runoff of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other potential environmental pollutants. By advancing the use of these innovative systems in the Mississippi Delta region, where nearly all the row-crop acres are irrigated with water extracted from the Mississippi Delta Shallow Alluvial Aquifer, the team is helping to improve water quality, protect our natural resources, and enable the state’s largest industry to be more sustainable.
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
Forever Maroon and White | The Legacy of Louis A. Hurst Jr. (1925-2020) A Poplarville native and 1949 MSU accounting graduate, Louis was a proud Bulldog who generously invested his time and resources to benefit his alma mater, namely supporting scholarships. He gave numerous students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals through a Presidential Endowed Scholarship he created in the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and another scholarship in the College of Business. Kind, loyal, interesting, engaging— bearing all these qualities, Louis was a great philanthropist and an even better friend whose legacy will continue at MSU.
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Image courtesy of MSU Office of Agricultural Communications
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Mississippi Meals | Doe’s Eat Place What is the best restaurant in Mississippi, you ask? Well, the original Doe’s Eat Place in downtown Greenville has to enter the conversation. Dress fairly casual and walk through the kitchen on your way to an awesome steak. I also recommend trying the fries, a Doe’s salad, fried shrimp, and ordering tamales to go! While you’re there, be on the lookout for local MSU supporters like Anita Bologna, Charlie Nelson, Bubba Simmons, Emery Skelton or Gibb Steele. You can’t beat great food and great company.
Scenic Autumn Getaway | Explore the splendor of the Green Mountain State Vermont makes the perfect fall road trip. Rent a car in Burlington and take off—but not before enjoying an outdoor dinner anywhere along the streets of downtown. If you have more time to spend, fly into Boston and drive up from there. Venture to out-ofthe-way places like Peacham, a classic, old, small New England town with gorgeous scenes and photo opportunities that you’ll want to set as the wallpaper on your phone. Be sure to stop in Waterbury, home of Ben & Jerry’s first ice cream factory, to grab a scoop or two of your favorite flavors. Adventurous types should get a guide and catch a smallmouth bass on Lake Champlain. Don’t do it all in one trip— you will want to go back!
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Hunting for Knowledge | Deer University Podcast Fall in Mississippi marks the beginning of two important seasons—football and hunting. If you’re interested in the latter, check out Deer University, a podcast by MSU professors and co-directors of the university Deer Lab, Bronson Strickland and Steve Demarais. Covering a range of topics related to deer biology and management, from culling and nutrition to rut movement patterns and common diseases, the researchbased podcast seeks to help listeners improve their wildlife management skills and hunting experiences. In the College of Forest Resources, Bronson is the St. John Family Endowed Professor of Wildlife Management, and Demarais is the Taylor Endowed Chair for Applied Big Game Research and Instruction.
MSU History Lesson | “The Quarterback Whisperer: How to Build an Elite NFL Quarterback” What do Tom Brady and former Bulldog quarterback Dave Marler have in common? Bruce Arians. Arians, who coached Marler in ’78 during his first stint on the MSU coaching staff, has since become one of the most successful NFL coaches and is Brady’s coach today. Read all about the larger than life visionary who trained some of the greatest quarterbacks in the game in “The Quarterback Whisperer” by Bruce Arians and Lars Anderson. After finishing this great and easy read, check out Anderson’s “The All Americans” for a riveting, true account of four players’ journeys from the football field to the battlefield during World War II.
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Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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Haynes dishes up a Mississippi staple STORY GEORGIA SISSON
As host of the MSU Extension Service’s video segment, “The Food Factor,” Natasha Haynes knows that a meal should be delicious, nutritious, and a way to bring people together. Haynes’ love for people and feeding them make her a perfect fit for the role of host of the nutrition-based show. “The Food Factor” reaches audiences through digital media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. With every episode, Haynes, an experienced educator as an Extension agent in Rankin County, brings warmth and fun. One important Mississippi staple crop, the sweet potato, has taken its turn in the show's spotlight on several occasions. Sweet potatoes are versatile, easy to prepare, and nutritious—all things “The Food Factor” crew looks for in a dish to prepare for their online audience. Here is a healthier take on a classic Southern dish, featuring Mississippi’s favorite orange root vegetable.
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
Maple Sweet Potatoes Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes 2 Tbsp. plain, nonfat yogurt 3/4 Tbsp. maple syrup 1 Tbsp. orange juice You can serve this as a stuffed potato (be sure to save those skins when scooping out the cooked sweet potato!) or in a small, decorative dish.
Directions:
and Wash two medium-size sweet potatoes prick with a fork. Microwave on high for 3–4 minutes or until potatoes are soft. a Cut in half and scoop potato flesh into . medium, microwave-safe bowl Mash sweet potato. Add yogurt, maple syrup, and orange juice. Microwave for 1–2 minutes.
THE DIRT ON MISSISSIPPI SWEET POTATOES • 3rd — Mississippi’s rank in U.S. sweet potato production • From 90-120 days required to grow a sweet potato • 4.55 million hundredweight produced annually • 26,000 acres harvested in 2019 • $95 million — production value for 2019 Top three most popular varieties in Mississippi based on acres planted: No. 1 — Beauregard No. 2 — Hernandez No. 3 — Nancy Hall For more nutritional tips and tasty recipes, follow "The Food Factor" on Facebook and Twitter @FoodFactorMS and Instagram @foodfactor_msuext.
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Why GIVE ? MSU connection energizes Wilbanks’ dedication Gerald and Daris Wilbanks
Growing up the Mississippi town of Booneville, Wesley G. “Gerald” Wilbanks was always interested in how things worked—a trait that undoubtedly led to his subsequent career path. Yet, the fact that he ended up as an engineer is still somewhat ironic given the results of a career assessment he was given in high school. “My aptitude indicated I could be almost anything I wanted to be except for a farmer or an engineer,” said Wilbanks. “However, I really liked electrical gadgets and fantasized about becoming a disc jockey on the radio.” Wilbanks began frequenting a local radio station in his hometown to visit a friend who was a DJ. Through those visits, his interest in electronics grew, and he became fascinated with radio transmission and figuring out how the “newfangled” televisions worked. “It all seemed magical to me and that’s what led me to the field of electrical engineering,” said Wilbanks. Although no one in his immediate family had ever attended college before him, Wilbanks’ parents always encouraged him to pursue higher education and earn a college degree. Following their advice, he became the first in his family to receive not only one, but two degrees—an Associate of Arts from then-Northeast Mississippi Junior College in 1962, followed by a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University in 1964.
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Early on in his professional career, Wilbanks began to recognize the valuable weight carried by his MSU degree. The first job he accepted after graduating was with Union Carbide Chemicals in Port Lavaca, Texas, where his university affiliation was greatly welcomed. “Coming from a topflight engineering school was considered a real educational attainment,” said Wilbanks. “That was a point of pride, and I really wanted to live up to the expectations that others seemed to have of the university.” Upholding that motivational sentiment, Wilbanks continued to excel throughout his more than 50-year progressive career. In 1991, Wilbanks was recognized as Engineer of the Year by the Engineering Council of Birmingham, Alabama. He also is a Life Fellow member and former president of the International Society of Automation. Wilbanks currently serves as president of Documentation and Engineering Services (DES), a consulting business he founded in 2000. Prior to forming DES, he was a vice president at Birmingham-based Rust Engineering. “The reputation and credibility of MSU’s engineering program has been a real asset to me and opened many doors as I’ve worked with clients, associates, and colleagues in professional societies,” said Wilbanks. “It has also been a positive influence on the friends that my wife and I have
Gerald and Daris (center) surrounded by their family
made over the years.” Wilbanks and his wife, Daris, make their home in Trussville, Alabama. Despite residing some 150 miles away from the MSU campus, Wilbanks has maintained close ties with his alma mater. He has served many years on the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering’s advisory board and has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow for the Bagley College. Furthermore, he and his wife have generously supported the university for almost 40 consecutive years. “I really wanted to give something back to the university that means so much to me and provided me with a highly respected degree,” said Wilbanks, whose gifts have benefited areas including the Bagley College, athletics, facilities, the Robert D. Guyton Chair in Electrical Engineering, and student competitions, among others. “Therefore, in addition to our church, the majority of our charitable giving goes to Mississippi State University. I started giving a small amount and just continued to give each year.” Since becoming the first in his family to have earned a university degree, Wilbanks is now joined by a growing list of family members who share his connection to Mississippi State. In addition to his sister Shirley Jean Wilbanks (’74), daughter Lisa Wilbanks Hudson (’83), son Gerald S. “Scott” Wilbanks (’86), and son-in-law Calvin Hudson (‘84), the
most recent addition to the lineage of Bulldogs is Wilbanks’ grandson Wesley Hudson (‘15). Although not an official graduate, Wilbanks’ wife, Daris, has also earned her True Maroon affiliation. “My wife worked to send me through college, so when I graduated in 1964, we also celebrated her well-deserved ‘honorary degree'," said Wilbanks. From disc jockey dreams with limited engineering potential, to recognized leader in the field, Wilbanks’ successful career is proof that hard work and a good education can make all the difference. And in pursuing his passions, Wilbanks never neglected to invest in the place that first invested in him. “It means a lot to me as a person to be able to give back to MSU because I feel like I am part of this great institution, and I’m grateful the university has chosen to make me feel that way,” said Wilbanks. “If everyone gives just a little, the sum of that togetherness will add up to a major impact on providing for future graduates.”
STORY ADDIE MAYFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED
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Campus Views
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The nature of Cowbell Well There is no better way to enjoy the four seasons than outdoors at Mississippi State University, one of the most striking campuses year-round. MSU students, faculty, and staff are hard at work this fall. And university leaders are proud the 142-year-old land-grant institution is delivering in-person instruction and a wide array of online coursework for students everywhere. Over 22,000 students are enrolled and pursuing their degree paths through MSU. These Bulldogs are engaging in classes while safely distancing to maintain the health and well-being of all. MSU provides the academic, leadership, and social opportunities to help each person excel as the campus community strives to uphold the health and safety initiative in place for the fall semester by being and living Cowbell Well. Learn more at www.msstate.edu/cowbell-well. PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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noteworthy news
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences cultivates opportunities to sustain deep-rooted mission
As one of Mississippi State University’s oldest academic units and a foundational component to the land-grant’s establishment, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is both a prominent leader in its respective fields and a promising venture, from which the seeds of innovation and discovery emerge. The work being done in CALS each day expands well beyond the lecture halls and laboratories and is ultimately shaping the world.
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The study of agriculture was formalized into an academic college at the then-Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi in 1903. Today, CALS is one of the leading institutions dedicated to agriculture, life sciences, and human ecology in the Southeast. Encompassed by nine schools and departments, CALS presents a broad array of opportunities for academic study in the core components of society. From improving health outcomes and food safety, to pioneering more sustainable production systems to better feed and clothe a growing global population and preserving natural resources, CALS is at the forefront of meaningful research and education. More than 2,300 students are currently enrolled and engaged in the college’s offerings, which include 17 majors and 46 concentrations for undergraduates and 17 majors and 41 concentrations for graduate students. In addition to a number of pre-professional programs and minor fields of
study, CALS also offers five certificate programs to further enhance academic training. The college is also closely associated with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) and the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Such symbiosis further enables the renowned faculty and researchers within the collaborative units to share knowledge and solutions with students, farmers, businesspeople, and government agencies throughout the state and beyond.
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT CALS is a renowned leader in applied science, from which new discoveries and potential are emerging each day. Such innovation requires significant investments in facilities that adequately reflect the quality and everchanging needs of the college’s faculty and students. The recent completion of the animal science complex, located at the corner of Blackjack Road and Hail State Boulevard, answers this call and expands several areas of study and interdisciplinary programming within CALS and MAFES. The complex houses three separate buildings—the Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory, the Animal and Dairy Science Building, and the Poultry Science Building— that collectively add nearly 80,000 square feet to the CALS campus footprint. The facilities will further enhance MSU’s national and international leadership in agricultural sciences research and education and the university’s outreach efforts to assist Mississippi’s livestock farmers. Naming opportunities are available within the facilities and offer powerful ways for alumni and friends to create a meaningful legacy in the college. Following completion of the new complex, the college is now shifting its focus to Ballew Hall, which formerly served as the main animal and dairy science building since opening in 1962. The historic structure will be renovated to serve as the new home of CALS and will also include office space for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine and MAFES Experiment Station. Ballew Hall, along with the University Florist, the Mississippi Entomological Museum, and the Child Development and Family Studies Center, make up just a small portion of CALS’ infrastructure. Encompassed by 15 buildings on campus, as well as a vigorous portfolio of nontraditional learning spaces, including 560 acres of working farmland, 10 greenhouses, 1,650 acres of pastureland, aquaculture ponds, an award-winning dairy, and a renowned turfgrass breeding nursery, the diverse environment of CALS is well-equipped to prepare students for rewarding careers in agriculture and the life sciences.
FACULTY EXPERTISE Cultivating young professionals in agriculture and life sciences is a task CALS faculty embrace. Faculty
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within the college are creative-thinking, problem-solving practitioners in their fields who are instilling a balanced foundation for approaching complex issues and better positioning students for success far beyond the classroom and the pages of textbooks. In addition to preparing students for the future workforce, CALS faculty holding an appointment in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station conduct research that lays the groundwork for transformative breakthroughs in agriculture, medicine, and more. This research helps stakeholders from individuals to industry to governmental leaders make informed decisions on everything from best management practices to policies that improve outcomes for both producers and the environment. However, the dedicated faculty that drive such efforts are highly sought after. As MSU competes with other universities and industries, endowments for professorships and faculty chairs are critical to attract and retain these top-notch leaders. The college currently houses three endowed faculty positions—the Dr. Glover B. Triplett Endowed Chair in Agronomy, the Milton Sundbeck Professorship in Animal and Dairy Science, and the Edgar and Winifred B. Hartwig Endowed Chair in Soybean Agronomy, all established with gifts by their namesakes. CALS leadership is currently working to fill the Hartwig Chair, which was brought to fruition in part by the Mississippi Soybean
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Promotion Board. This investment, which complements the organization’s own mission, demonstrates the value of strategic partnerships. Additional chairs and professorships are particularly needed through endowment-level gifts to grow priority research opportunities and expertise in other commodity areas.
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY Leveraging MSU’s distinction by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a national leader in academic research for the advancement of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), CALS is working with the university’s UAS task force to advance precision agriculture training with two new flight courses. While the primary curriculum focuses on preparing aspiring pilots to pass the certification required by the FAA to fly unmanned aircrafts commercially, the courses also offer hands-on flight instruction and the chance for students to build and operate their own UAS apparatuses. The flight courses are part of a growing number of precision agriculture offerings available at MSU. In 2015, the Diane Hawks Precision Agriculture Curriculum Endowment was created by its namesake to build upon CALS’ prior concentration offering in the area and assist in the establishment of a collaborative precision agriculture certificate program. Studies in both the certificate program and area of concentration benefit from the
OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRESS True to its roots, CALS continually strives to increase accessibility to higher education, seeking unmatched education and well-being for all. CALS’ recent addition of online graduate degree offerings in agribusiness, animal and dairy sciences, and early intervention open new entry points for ambitious students to learn and engage from afar. Opportunities also abound for undergraduate students, particularly those in community colleges. A new culinology pathway agreement allows students in Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Culinary Arts Technology program to earn a bachelor’s degree in culinology from the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion. Similar agreements have been forged in Poultry Science, including a dual-degree program offered with Alcorn State University.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE Students are the future and an investment in their lives impacts everyone. Current CALS students are the pioneers of tomorrow who will be setting policy, sustaining natural resources, developing food and fiber to feed and clothe increasing populations, fighting the diseases of the 21st century, combating the spread of infections among animals and humans, and answering the demands endowment’s perpetual support, allowing students to immerse themselves in a range of advanced applications from global positioning and geographic information systems to remote sensing. These hands-on learning experiences equip students with the skills necessary to collect and analyze enlightening data that can enhance food production and assist the industry in becoming more efficient and sustainable. Yet, not all precision-based developments require advanced technology or flight systems. Oftentimes, a shift in perspective or the pursuit of a single idea is all it takes to make a positive difference. Thanks to support from alumni couple Barry and Lana Knight that created the World Food Prize Mississippi Youth Institute Fund in their name, MSU is also able to offer opportunities for high school scholars from across the state to get involved in such progressive approaches through the globally recognized program. Held on campus each year, the event encourages students to discuss food security issues and solutions with global experts, broadening capacities for critical thinking and solution-driven collaboration. Private support for programming and outreach in these areas enables CALS to address global challenges and provide students with international perspectives and experiences to help prepare them for their professional careers.
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of a growing world. Thankfully, the hands-on learning experiences that characterize the college are readying today’s students for tomorrow’s pressing needs. In the School of Human Sciences’ Fashion Design and Merchandising program, students benefit from additional opportunities to better comprehend the supply chain path of America’s favorite textile through the program’s valuable relationship with Cotton Incorporated. Similar synergetic partnerships offer advantageous opportunities for CALS students to grow their skill set, gain comprehensive, working-knowledge, and build their professional networks, and are also valuable to businesses and industry off campus who rely on the knowledge and innovation fostered through the college. Accordingly, support for student internships is a high priority. Alumni and friends can help advance these opportunities by investing in scholarships that afford students the chance to accept positions at nonprofits and other nontraditional areas that offer great exposure and experience but would otherwise not provide the essential financial compensation upon which most students rely. Support that enables undergraduate students to get involved in research and pursue a more in-depth prospectus is also critical to student success. The George Hopper Student Development Fund, established this year in honor of the college’s recently retired dean, is an excellence fund that bolsters enhanced learning through awards for travel, scholarships, and other
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essential resources. Additional gifts to the fund can ensure perpetual support and a lasting legacy. Private support drives funding from other sources and allows CALS to create innovative approaches to address the most challenging needs facing our world—from alleviating world hunger and protecting our most valuable resources, to building resilient communities and helping future generations reach their full potential.
More on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences can be found at www.cals.msstate.edu as well as via Facebook @MSUCALS, and Twitter and Instagram @ MSUAG. For assistance with giving opportunities, contact Will Staggers, the college’s director of development, at 662.325.2837 or wstaggers@foundation.msstate.edu.
STORY ADDIE MAYFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS AND OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Get to know
WILL
STAGGERS Born in Starkville to a family of avid Bulldog fans, William “Will” Staggers has always been proud of his True Maroon roots. Will graduated from MSU in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and began his career as a teacher and coach at Quitman High School. He later returned home to Starkville and worked in commercial insurance before joining the MSU Department of Procurement and Contracts. In 2015, Will became assistant director of development for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), MSU Extension Service, and Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station and was promoted to director of development for the areas earlier this year. When he’s not on campus, Will enjoys spending time with his family and being an uncle to his niece and nephew. What’s it like to secure support for your alma mater? It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve had a chance to be a part of in my personal and professional life. Even before I was a student, MSU was a big part of my everyday life, and I’m grateful that is the same today. Most memorable gift you’ve secured? The Frank Dowsing Endowed Scholarship is my most memorable gift. Frank was an incredible individual who was among the first African Americans to play football at MSU in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. I had the privilege of meeting Frank’s family and former classmates and was blown away by his inspiring story. Favorite spot on campus? It’s hard to beat Davis Wade Stadium during a prime-time SEC night game. What makes CALS interesting? Advancements being made in the precision agriculture arena are pretty incredible. Also, CALS and MSU Extension are very much on the front lines of rural health and mental health issues within the agricultural community. The direct, positive role CALS plays in improving industry and well-being within our state is a true point of pride.
Legacy of love:
Scholarship memorializes engineering professor Every great love story starts with a little bit of chemistry. This proved more than true for Hossein and the late Rebecca “Becky” Kay Toghiani, two chemical engineers whose remarkable love for one another and the study of chemical engineering spanned nearly three decades. Today, an endowed scholarship in Becky’s memory marks the couple’s shared passions and celebrates her life and career as a professor emerita at Mississippi State University. Becky was a longtime faculty member in the James Worth Bagley College’s Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, where her husband, Hossein, continues his work as the Thomas B. Nusz Endowed Professor. The allure of a noteworthy named chemical engineering school brought the couple to Mississippi State. They both earned three degrees each in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia. For their accomplishments, the Toghianis were selected as fellow inaugural members of the Bagley College of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Among the university’s most esteemed researchers, she was affectionately known to her students and colleagues as "Dr. R", and he continues to be known as "Dr. H." “Becky truly loved teaching and the interaction with her students more than anything else in the world,” said
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Hossein, who established the scholarship in her honor. “She put her students first, challenged their minds, mentored them, and helped them rise to the great expectations she had for them.” At MSU, Becky’s honors included the 2000-2001 Hearin Professor of Engineering Award, the 2001 Outstanding Faculty Woman Award by the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, the 1996 John Grisham Master Teacher Award, and the Bagley College of Engineering Career Award. Furthermore, Becky’s research grants while at MSU encompassed a range of chemical engineering subjects. These included the thermodynamics of mixtures, where she developed a state-of-the-art facility for vapor-liquid equilibria measurement. She expanded MSU’s collective expertise in solubilities in inorganic systems, including double salt chemistry, high ionic strength solution chemistry, computational chemistry, density functional theory, and legacy nuclear waste remediation. “Becky served the department, the Bagley College, and the university with passion,” said Jason Keith, Bagley College dean and Earnest W. and Mary Ann Deavenport Chair. “The endowment ensures this passion will live through future recipients of the scholarship named in her honor.”
The Toghianis spent many hours passionately researching in the Swalm building. The inaugural Rebecca K. Toghiani Memorial Endowed Scholarship award was presented to Vivian Mayora. A 2019 MSU chemical engineering graduate, she now works as a production engineer for Dow Chemical Company in Texas. Bradia Henfield, a senior chemical engineering major from Freeport, Grand Bahama, has been selected to receive the scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Toghianis were married for more than 27 years and have two daughters, Parisa, an MSU chemical engineering alumnus who is an engineer with Frito-Lay, and Parvaneh, a graphic design graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design who is a product designer at Uber. When considering her accomplishments in life, it was no secret that Becky was most proud of her family and having the opportunity to educate young minds through her daily work at Mississippi State. Accordingly, the scholarship endowment will serve as a lasting tribute to her legacy and the investments she made at the university she called home. “As complementing parts of a dual-career couple, it was important for Becky and me to have rewarding professions,”
The late Professor Rebecca K. "Becky" Toghiani
Professor Hossein Toghiani
Hossein said. “Coming to MSU was a wonderful move for us and our family. Starkville was a great place to raise our girls, and the scholarship will now strengthen our family’s connection perpetually with the university.”
Former students, colleagues, and friends can help grow the Dr. Rebecca K. Toghiani Memorial Scholarship with gifts at www.msufoundation.com. For more information on supporting engineering scholarships at MSU, contact Paul Zimmerman, the college’s assistant director of development, at 662.325.0009.
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Making the grade: Hearin and METP raise bar for excellence in teaching
It often takes a special teacher to cultivate the best academic performance in a student, and the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has taken steps to ensure outstanding college graduates with this capability are placed in public schools across Mississippi. A gift from the Hearin Support Foundation initiated the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP), bringing some of the best teaching graduates to Mississippi classrooms for the first five years of their careers. 32
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Since the program’s inception, 68 METP scholars have graduated from Mississippi State University and are fulfilling their teaching commitments in school districts across the state. Because of the Hearin Support Foundation, more will follow as the collaborative teacher preparation program and its competitive scholarships attract students from both in state and out of state. “There is a critical need for highly qualified teachers in Mississippi, and the METP scholarship enables MSU to help ensure the pipeline for teachers continues to grow, and the program’s long-term results with teachers who remain in Mississippi classrooms will help improve the academic achievement of students,” said Teresa Jayroe, MSU associate dean of education.
MSU METP Scholars for 2019-2020
The Jackson-based Hearin Support Foundation initially provided a five-year grant to fund METP scholarships, with equal amounts for the state’s largest universities — specifically the College of Education at MSU and the School of Education at the University of Mississippi (UM). In subsequent years, the Hearin Support Foundation expanded the program with further investments at both universities. “The College of Education is extremely grateful to the Hearin Support Foundation for its generous support. This commitment will be of benefit to young people across the state for generations,” said Richard Blackbourn, MSU dean of education. Designed to attract the best and brightest students from around the nation, each four-year METP scholarship is valued at $100,000 and enhances recruitment of applicants desiring to major in secondary English, secondary mathematics, secondary science, elementary education, and special education. Full tuition, with room, board and books, a $1,000 technology stipend, along with a fully funded national or study-abroad experience, rounds out the financial award. Opportunities to collaborate with faculty, staff, and fellow scholars from other campuses enhance the overall experience. “The biggest benefit METP scholars gain is that they are immersed in the practices and policies of the teaching profession,” Jayroe said. “After graduation, their classrooms, and moreover their students, will be influenced by the depth of this honors-like experience as it better prepares them for 21st century coursework.” The METP program accepted its first cohort at MSU
in 2013. Since then, 182 students, including 30 new scholars for the 2020-21 academic year, have received the scholarship at MSU. METP graduates are part of a network of support throughout Mississippi as they currently fill 68 teaching positions in districts around the state, including schools in Chickasaw, Clarke, DeSoto, George, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Itawamba, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lee, Madison, Marshall, Neshoba, Oktibbeha, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Rankin, Simpson, Stone, and Wayne counties. Day-to-day METP activities are guided by Michelle Stubbs and Annice Jenkins, program managers. They provide scholars with academic advising and program support for their educational experiences and professional growth. Stubbs and Jenkins also mentor METP graduates for their first three years as teachers. While attending classes and receiving guidance from program managers, METP scholars serve as campus volunteers at the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability and the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic. Scholars also participate in cross-campus visits with their UM peers. Beyond experiences at their respective campuses, the two groups study alongside each other every year. Their regular fall and spring visits rotate between Starkville and Oxford as they come together for a weekend of seminars to discuss education issues. This year, MSU METP scholars are witnessing new learning techniques as they interact with the just-opened Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Partnership Middle School at MSU that educates sixth and seventh grade students in the district. The Partnership Middle School, built in part with private gifts, serves as an
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MSU METP scholars study abroad at the University of Oxford in England and visit historical places like Windsor Castle.
innovative research site for the College of Education. “METP scholars have an exciting opportunity to work hands-on with students and teachers of the Partnership Middle School and that association can continue in the years ahead, benefiting the program, the College of Education, and the school district,” said Stubbs, who also leads the World Class Teaching Program, a university-based initiative to recruit and mentor teachers seeking advanced certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. College of Education faculty work closely with METP scholars. In particular, advisers for the specific disciplines the scholars pursue help guide them. "The impact of METP scholars on the elementary education program is evident,” said Rebecca RobichauxDavis, a professor in the MSU Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education (CISE) who serves as one of the academic advisers for the METP elementary education majors. “In their classrooms, METP scholars are energetic and inquisitive. They tend to naturally lead small group discussions and activities, pushing their classmates to think more critically about what they are learning. They are overtly eager and ready to positively impact their current practicum students and their future students," she said. Fellow CISE professor Missy Hopper, an academic adviser
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for METP majors in secondary English education, also finds the experience rewarding. “It is always a pleasure and a challenge to work with METP scholars – both in a class and on outside projects,” said Hopper. “Their enthusiasm for learning about all areas of education is contagious, and they are often looked up to by their peers because of their knowledge base and passion. They will undoubtably be our future leaders in Mississippi schools.” Admission into the METP program has become increasingly competitive at MSU and UM. “Because of the competitiveness of selection, statistics reflect the overall caliber of freshman education majors has increased at both universities,” said Stubbs. “There is no end to the initial impact METP scholars are having on public education in our state and that also becomes a long-term win for wherever they decide to teach past their five-year commitment—hopefully Mississippi.” The impacts of the Hearin Support Foundation have been significant at MSU for a number of years. Along with METP, the foundation also extends transformational assistance to the university’s James Worth Bagley College of Engineering and the College of Architecture, Art and Design. Since 1995, the foundation has primarily supported the state’s universities and colleges and economic development through grants.
Meet METP Scholars among 111 undergraduates at MSU Yolanda Cooper, Class of 2022 “I want to be a great and effective teacher in Mississippi, and MSU and METP have given me the opportunity to achieve that goal when I graduate.” Yolanda Cooper of Noxapater is a first-generation college student and a secondary English education major in her junior year of study. Once she graduates, Cooper plans to satisfy her five-year METP commitment outside the school district where she grew up to impact another part of her home state. She is grateful for the great support system of MSU and METP. As an METP Scholar, her advice to fellow students is to achieve their goals but always be true to themselves. Cooper is currently a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader at the MSU Learning Center, leading free academic study sessions to help students succeed in historically difficult classes. At MSU, she is also part of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and the Baptist Student Union.
Katie Watkins, Class of 2022 “When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher like my mom, aunt, and grandmother. As I grew older, I realized other teachers also made a big impact in my life. Now I aspire to make a positive difference in childrens’ lives, and METP will allow me to realize that goal.” Katie Watkins, a junior majoring in elementary education from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is the first person in her family to attend MSU. She is a member of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and a College of Education student ambassador, and she has been an autism clinic volunteer at the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability. At MSU, Watkins is also a Baptist Student Union member and a Brickfire Project mentor, tutoring children from financiallychallenged families. She holds foster and impoverished children close to her heart, volunteering and influencing those, ages 3-11, in an annual summer program through Street Reach Ministries in the neighborhoods of Memphis, Tennessee.
Cameron Wells, Class of 2023 “I choose to live my passion through education and the METP program because I know education is one of the most effective ways to make a positive difference and shape the future of our world.” Cameron Wells is an MSU sophomore secondary mathematics education major from Pascagoula. Math has always been his favorite subject, and he knew his career choice would revolve around it. After visiting many colleges, Wells knew the moment he drove past the welcome entrance that MSU was right for him. And METP reaffirms his belief in his chosen career path. Wells cites his mother as the biggest influence in his life because she went to impossible lengths to make sure he and his siblings were well. He admires her and hopes he will one day be as good a parent and “teach” his children and the children in his classrooms the value of that quality. Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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Meet METP graduates among 68 teaching in Mississippi schools Olivia Byrd, 2019 Alumna Olivia Byrd graduated with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and a concentration in mathematics education. Byrd now teaches Algebra 1, primarily in nineth-grade, and Spanish (her minor field of study) in grades nine through 12 at Tremont Attendance Center in the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi. The district is near her hometown of Hamilton, Alabama. Byrd’s mom operates a preschool there, and both her parents earned associate degrees from community college; however, they are proud she graduated from MSU. “METP has been an incredible blessing for me and my family because it basically filled in where my other MSU scholarships ended," said Byrd. "I always wanted to be a teacher and chose math after I realized others struggled with it.” Byrd encourages those considering a teaching career to focus on their strengths.
Alana Cadman, 2017 Alumna Alana Cadman of Hurley earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics education. Cadman was a community college transfer student who became the first in her immediate family to attend MSU. She heard about METP on a campus tour and realized her ACT score could make her a contender. As an METP scholar, Cadman fondly recalls studying 10 days in Canada, learning about that country’s public education system, and visiting schools in Alberta. With the scholarship, she graduated debt-free. By teaching in the state, Cadman proudly follows her mother and grandmother, both retired from the field of special education in Mississippi. She now makes her contribution, teaching seventh and eighth-graders at George County Middle School, where she is head of the math department.
Clinton “Dre” Davis IV, 2017 Alumnus Clinton “Dre” Davis IV of Vancleave earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a concentration in English education. Davis was an inaugural METP scholar and recalls the highly competitive process. “I was an alternate and as May 2013 approached someone dropped from the group; I was floored I made the cut—it was perfect to get a chance to be among the best in the state for this new program. I felt I had run a marathon and won a much-needed, debt-free education.” Davis teaches eighth-grade English and language arts at Vancleave Middle School in the Jackson County School District, and he is an assistant seventh-grade football coach and Fellowship of Christian Athletes volunteer. Davis encourages MSU METP Scholars to follow him into a master’s program and work toward all certification possible, making the most of their future potential.
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Abbey Ragan, 2020 Alumna Abbey Ragan followed in the footsteps of her parents in attending MSU. With an METP scholarship, she earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education with a concentration in middle school education. Ragan teaches first grade at Hope Sullivan Elementary School in the DeSoto County School District in Southaven, near her home in Germantown, Tennessee. As a deaf individual, she has had to overcome obstacles to become a teacher. “My deafness has profoundly impacted my teaching philosophy and has given me a quest to try to help the many children I’ll encounter in my future teaching career to overcome their own obstacles,” Ragan said. “The reason I chose elementary education was because of how important I know early intervention is in the development and learning of young children.” Studying and learning in the METP environment at MSU has given Ragan a great start in passionately shaping her students.
Jordan (Hutton) Savell, 2018 Alumna Jordan (Hutton) Savell of Brandon comes from a family of educators—all four of her grandparents are retired from the classroom. A teaching degree was important to her, and METP was the deciding factor for her to attend MSU. Savell earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics education. Since then, Savell has worked at Puckett High School in the Rankin County School District as an eighth-grade math teacher and Beta Club adviser. Because Savell gradated debt-free with METP, she and her husband, Tyler, have made a down payment on their first home. “METP is a great networking opportunity to meet future educators across the state, and our MSU cohort still chats, discusses ideas, and encourages one another,” Savell said. And she advises, “after you’ve honored the five-year commitment to teach in Mississippi, you only need three more years to become vested in the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS)."
For additional information about METP and how to apply at MSU, visit metp.msstate.edu or contact Michelle Stubbs or Annice Jenkins at 662.325.5543. More on the College of Education can be found at educ.msstate.edu and @CollegeofEd_MSU.
STORY AMY CAGLE PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SUBMITTED
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Hurst leaves Bulldog legacy Louis A. Hurst Jr. of Houston, Texas, will be remembered for his legacy of impact at Mississippi State University. Hurst enjoyed a steadfast connection with MSU as an alumnus, a true Bulldog fan, and a loyal contributor to academics and athletics who desired to make a positive difference in his home state. He died July 22, 2020, at age 95. Born on May 15, 1925, in Poplarville, Mississippi, Hurst served in the military before college. He honored his country with service in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. After military service, Hurst proudly continued his family’s Bulldog tradition of education. He followed in the footsteps of his late father, Louis A. Hurst Sr., who earlier attended the land-grant institution. In 1949, Hurst earned an MSU accounting degree and later graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He had an illustrious 32-year career as a bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation before retiring in the early 1980s as an assistant regional director for the FDIC’s Memphis Region. His years in the banking industry taught him much more than the value of a dollar—his wise investments allowed him to contribute generously to MSU. Hurst voluntarily served the MSU Foundation board of directors and the College of Business senior executive advisory board. He was honored as the MSU National Alumnus of the Year in 2007 and was the College of Business Alumnus of the Year in 2003. He was also saluted
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among the college’s top 100 graduates for its centennial. The Louis A. Hurst Jr. Residence Hall at MSU stands as a named tribute honoring his legacy. A part of the Zacharias Village complex, the 82,000-square-foot residential facility was dedicated in 2006. A strong belief in a quality education is reflected in the legacy left by Hurst at MSU. The L.A. Hurst Jr. Scholarship Endowment in the College of Business, established in 1999, emphasizes moral and ethical character as traits he desired in recipients. Hurst also established the L.A. Hurst Presidential Endowed Scholarship, a four-year award for MSU’s elite students in the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. At MSU, the Hurst legacy is perpetual. Proceeds from a planned gift from Hurst will continue his immeasurable impact through scholarships, helping generations of future Bulldog students fulfill the promise of a college education.
STORY AMY CAGLE PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Then and Now Perry Hall nears 100 years of serving timeless grandeur at MSU
Perry Hall was built in 1921 in the heart of then-Mississippi A&M College. The building’s Late Gothic Review style, which incorporates large wooden arches supporting a gabled roof, is more suggestive of a stunning cathedral than a cafeteria. Once the largest college cafeteria in the United States, the building was also used as a dance hall and an indoor football practice site. The cafeteria would serve campus as A&M evolved into Mississippi State College and ultimately Mississippi State University. In 1993, Jane Perry of Spanish Fort, Alabama, provided MSU with a $1.5 million gift annuity to renovate and preserve the cafeteria. The gift was a memorial to her late husband, George D. Perry, a 1919 graduate and 1972 MSU National Alumnus who presided over the MSU Foundation board for a decade. In recognition of Perry's long association with his alma mater and the significant gift, the cafeteria became Perry Hall. The historic landmark remains a centerpiece of campus dining. The Perrys are also remembered for their gift to build the Carillon Tower at the Chapel of Memories. Fall 2020 | FOUNDATIONS
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noteworthy news
Foundation places personnel in new assignments, expands roles for others The MSU Foundation continues increasing efforts to strategically provide more specialized assistance for alumni and friends interested in supporting Mississippi State University through giving programs. An often-overlooked method of giving—real estate—is gaining more in-depth attention as two veteran fundraisers, Jud Skelton and Jeff Little, assume more inclusive roles with the real estate services area, comprised of Bulldog Properties and the Bulldog Forest. Both men have been part of the MSU Foundation’s real estate team for well over a decade. Skelton assumes the new role of senior director of development for real estate services. With oversight responsibilities for the Bulldog Properties program, Skelton’s primary focus will be related to the solicitation, acquisition, management, and sale of real estate gifts for all areas of the MSU campus, including the various colleges, athletics, and general university. A Mississippi Delta native, Skelton is a 1998 MSU business administration graduate who earned an MBA from Millsaps College in 2000. He joined the MSU Foundation in 2001 as major-gift fundraiser for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and in 2007 expanded his role to include real estate. Fellow MSU alumnus Little has been promoted to senior director of development for the Bulldog Forest. Little’s primary focus is the solicitation, management, and stewardship of the properties within the Bulldog Forest. A McComb native, he earned an MSU bachelor’s degree in English in 1995 and completed a juris doctorate degree in 1999 from the Mississippi College School of Law. Little joined MSU as the primary fundraiser for the College of Forest Resources in 2005 and assumed responsibilities for The Bulldog Forest in 2007. One MSU Foundation fundraiser has moved to another academic area. Stephen Lack of Starkville has assumed responsibilities as lead fundraiser for the College of Business, overseeing the unit’s fundraising, alumni, and development activities. Originally of New Orleans, Louisiana, Lack joined MSU in 2018 as assistant director of development for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. Prior to MSU, Lack served as business resource coordinator for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. He received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg in 2010 and earned a Master of Arts in Migration and Refugee Studies in 2013 from
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POGUE
the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Another addition for the College of Business is Lilly Pogue as assistant director of development. A native of Galesburg, Illinois, Pogue earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, in 2017. While there, she held two internships within the university’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, one being with the Alumni Association. Most recently, Pogue spent three years as a development specialist for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Chicago, Illinois. A new face has joined the MSU Foundation’s Office of Gift Planning. Kevin Randall fills the newly created position of assistant director of gift planning. He works with Wes Gordon, director of gift planning, to help secure private gifts for MSU through charitable estate planning. Randall grew up in Starkville and attended MSU for his prerequisite coursework before earning a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from the University of Mississippi Medical School in 1999. He was a physical therapist at the Longest Student Health Center at MSU for 14 years before spending almost six years as a physical therapist and clinic manager for Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Physical
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Therapy in Columbus and Starkville. The MSU Foundation also welcomed Joseph Iupe III of Starkville as director of finance and budget. He succeeds Janet Carraway who became the executive director of finance earlier this year. In his new role, Iupe supervises the accounting and business offices of the MSU Foundation and MSU Alumni Association, bringing to the role extensive experience in auditing nonprofit organizations. He comes to MSU from T.E. Lott and Company in Starkville, having worked as a manager since October 2017. He earlier worked with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP in Memphis, Tennessee, where he held progressive positions and ended his tenure there as audit manager. Iupe earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from MSU in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and he is a certified public accountant in Mississippi and in Tennessee.
For a complete list of MSU Foundation personnel, visit msufoundation.com.
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Real Estate that makes a Real Difference. Gifts of real estate can greatly benefit students and enable Mississippi State University to grow and thrive. Whether retained and preserved for educational purposes or liquidated for immediate support, gifts of real property create strategic opportunities in the donor’s area of choice and also provide certain personal benefits. A variety of real estate types that can be transformed into rewarding charitable gifts exist. • Timberland
• Vacation Home or Condominium
• Recreational Property
• Commercial Investment
• Agricultural Farm
• Undeveloped Property
• Residential Home
• Mineral Interests
The MSU Foundation offers two programs to assist property owners with utilizing their real estate – Bulldog Properties and Bulldog Forest. Both avenues offer meaningful ways to begin a remarkable legacy. Contact the MSU Foundation’s real estate services team today to learn how easy it can be to make a real difference.
Jeff Little, Senior Director of Development, Bulldog Forest (662) 325-8151 | jlittle@foundation.msstate.edu Jud Senior Director of 2020 Development, Real Estate Services FOUNDATIONS | Fall 42Skelton, (662) 325-0643 | jud.skelton@foundation.msstate.edu
foundation board
Officers:
CHAIR — D. Hines Brannan | Managing Director of Accenture (retired) | Atlanta, Ga. VICE CHAIR — Anthony L. Wilson | Chairman, President and CEO of Mississippi Power Company | Gulfport, Miss. TREASURER — Mike M. McDaniel | President of Saber Power Services LLC | Houston, Texas PRESIDENT AND CEO — John P. Rush | Vice President of Development and Alumni, Mississippi State University | MSU MSU SECRETARY — Jack R. McCarty | Executive Director of Development, Mississippi State University | MSU CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER — Janet H. Carraway | Executive Director of Finance, Mississippi State University | MSU
Members:
David Abney | MSU Bulldog Club President | CEO (retired)/Executive Chairman of the Board, United Parcel Service | Atlanta, Ga. Richard C. Adkerson | Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. | Phoenix, Ariz. William B. “Bill” Berry | CEO of Continental Resources Inc. | Oklahoma City, Okla. Sherri Carr Bevis | MSU National Alumni President | Community Relations Liaison for Singing River Health System | Gulfport, Miss. George H. Bishop | Chairman of the Board for GeoSouthern Energy Corporation | Sealy, Texas George W. Bryan Sr. | Owner of Old Waverly Golf Club | West Point, Miss. Frederick V. “Fred” Buie | President and CEO of Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Co. | Des Moines, Iowa Albert C. Clark | President and CEO of C.C. Clark Inc. | Starkville, Miss. Randy J. Cleveland | Vice President, Americas for ExxonMobil Production Company (retired) | Fort Worth, Texas Helen M. Currie | Chief Economist for ConocoPhillips | Houston, Texas John D. Davis IV | Neurosurgeon/Founding Partner for NewSouth NeuroSpine | Flowood, Miss. Earnest W. "Earnie" Deavenport Jr. | Chairman and CEO of Eastman Chemical (retired) | Greenville, S.C. Timothy S. "Tim" Duncan | President and CEO of Talos Energy Inc. | Houston, Texas Hassell H. Franklin | Chairman and CEO of Franklin Corporation | Houston, Miss. S. Bryce Griffis | President of Sturgis Timber Company (retired) | Starkville, Miss. David B. Hall | President and CEO of Hall Timberlands | Meridian, Miss. Wilbert G. "Mickey" Holliman Jr. | Chairman and CEO of Furniture Brands International (retired) | Tupelo, Miss. Rodger L. Johnson | President and CEO of JKC Holdings Inc. | Atlanta, Ga. Mark S. Jordan | Real Estate Developer of Mark S. Jordan Companies | Ridgeland, Miss. Paul J. Karre | Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Communications, International Paper (retired) | Pawleys Island, S.C. Francis C. "Franc" Lee | President and CEO of Tower Loan | Flowood, Miss. Malcolm B. Lightsey Sr. | President and CEO of SunTech Inc. (retired) | Ridgeland, Miss. Rusty C. Linton | Orthopedic Surgeon for Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic P.A. | Columbus, Miss. John. R. Lundy | Partner with Capital Resources LLC | Ridgeland, Miss. Lewis F. Mallory Jr. | Chairman and CEO of Cadence Bank (retired) | Starkville, Miss. Bobby P. Martin | Chairman of The Peoples Bank | Ripley, Miss. Roderick A. "Rod" Moore | Executive VP and CEO of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance (retired) | Brandon, Miss. Janice I. Nicholson | Professor Emerita for University of North Alabama (retired) | Florence, Ala. Thomas B. "Tommy" Nusz | Chairman and CEO of Oasis Petroleum Inc. | Houston, Texas George D. Pillow Jr. | Chairman of Senators Coaches Inc. | Killen, Ala. Joffrey R. “Jay” Pryor | Vice President for Business Development of Chevron Corporation | Houston, Texas Charles W. "Tex" Ritter Jr. | President and CEO of The Attala Company (retired) | Kosciusko, Miss. M. Diane Roberts | Associate Professor of Business of Indiana University East (retired) | Louisville, Ky. James J. "Jim" Rouse | Vice President of ExxonMobil Company (retired) | Suwanee, Ga. Wallace L. “Lee” Seal | President of North Beach Investments LLC | Bay Saint Louis, Miss. Bobby S. Shackouls | Chairman, President and CEO of Burlington Resources Inc. (retired) | Houston, Texas Allen K. Sills Jr. | Chief Medical Officer of National Football League | Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University | Franklin, Tenn. Cynthia M. "Cindy" Stevens | Management Principal Government Relations of Deloitte LLP (retired) | Sarasota, Fla. William A. "Lex" Taylor III | Chairman and CEO of The Taylor Group Inc.; President of Taylor Machine Works Inc. | Louisville, Miss. Douglas T. "Doug" Terreson | Head of Energy Research for Evercore ISI | Point Clear, Ala. Laurie R. Williams | Director of Membership and Growth (All Plans) for Molina Healthcare | Madison, Miss. Turner A. Wingo | Owner of Sherry's Hallmark (retired) | Collierville, Tenn. Stacy E. Thomas | Legal Counsel | Jackson, Miss.
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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Jackson, MS Permit No. 134
Post Office Box 6149 One Hunter Henry Boulevard Mississippi State, MS 39762-6149 www.msufoundation.com
Mississippi State University Foundation @MSU_Foundation @msu_foundation
ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED
Giving + Getting the most from your assets When most people think about making a charitable gift, they think of giving cash. While we welcome gifts of many kinds to help support Mississippi State University, there are ways you can give and benefit from a gift of other assets.
• • • • •
You can avoid paying capital gains tax if you give appreciated assets. You will receive a charitable deduction for your gift which can lower your tax bill. You can make a gift today while preserving your cash for immediate or future needs. You and your family can receive benefits such as lifetime income. You may be able to make greater gifts than you ever thought possible.
For more information on how you can give and get the most from your assets, contact the MSU Foundation Office of Gift Planning. MSU is an AA/EEO university.
Wes Gordon, Director of Gift Planning (662) 325-3707 | wgordon@foundation.msstate.edu
