Manufacturers association endows scholarship
Mississippi's largest university is receiving much-appreciated scholarship support from the state's longtime "voice" of the manufacturing industry.
At a Feb. 7 campus program, officials of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association presented Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum with $60,000 in honor of the organization's 60th anniversary.
The gift will support a new endowed scholarship fund for state residents enrolled as industrial systems engineering majors in the university's James Worth Bagley College of Engineering.
"The support of so many alumni, friends and organizations across Mississippi and the nation has been invaluable in moving our university forward. The Mississippi Manufacturers Association is one such organization. We are proud to partner with MMA in boosting economic opportunity in our state and very appreciative of its generosity in helping fund engineering scholarships," Keenum said.
MMA also is funding two scholastic awards for the 2012-13 academic year. These gifts will enable earnings from the endowment to accrue sufficiently to support future scholarships.
Both inaugural and future scholarships will be designated for full-time juniors or seniors who have met required academic benchmarks.
"MMA believes in supporting the next generation of leaders," said Jay C. Moon, MMA association president and CEO.
"We anticipate this scholarship will provide an incentive for young people to pursue the education and training required to take advantage of the opportunities available in advanced manufacturing," Moon added.
Over its six decades of operation, the MMA consistently has supported and encouraged efforts by the membership to produce high-quality goods and services. It also has worked to identify, disseminate and utilize information at local, state and national levels that promotes a strong manufacturing environment throughout the Magnolia State. (For more, visit www.mma-web.org.)
One of MSU's two oldest academic programs, the Bagley College currently enrolls more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate majors. One of some 20 named U.S. engineering colleges, it is listed in the top 10 percent for overall engineering research expenditures--a rank above most other Southeastern Conference schools.
MSU President Mark Keenum, left, accepts the Mississippi Manufacturers Association gift from Jay Moon. PHOTO: Russ Houston | University Relations
Allison Matthews | University Relations
