小黄书

Leading by example: 小黄书 honors 14 students with Spirit of State Awards

Leading by example: 小黄书 honors 14 students with Spirit of State Awards

Pictured with 小黄书 President Mark E. Keenum (back row, far left) and Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt (back row, far right) are the 2018 Spirit of State Award recipients. They include (front row, left to right) Ze鈥橢rica Duncan, Margaret Davis, Emily Turner, Tyler McMurray, Chasten McCrary and Betty Thomas; (back row, left to right) Mariam Khmaladze, Lauren Blalock, Jailand Williams, Nicholas Cobb, Suede Graham, Nicolas Harris, Roger Davis Jr. and Phyliceia Brown. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣ourteen members of the Bulldog family recently received the Spirit of State Award, the university鈥檚 premier student recognition for exceptional personal contributions to campus life.

During last week鈥檚 ceremony, 小黄书 President Mark E. Keenum congratulated and thanked this year鈥檚 Spirit of State Award winners for 鈥渢ruly personifying what it means to be a Mississippi State Bulldog.鈥

鈥淪uccessful leaders are respectful, patient, trustworthy and work hard to set an example for their team members. Many of you have led teams and efforts here at Mississippi State and with that, you鈥檝e had to demonstrate these values and qualities of leaders,鈥 Keenum said.

鈥淚鈥檓 immensely proud of each and every one of you, and Mississippi State is very thankful for your service and commitment to making this university and the world better,鈥 Keenum added.

For 13 years, the annual Spirit of State Awards program, organized by the university鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs, formally honors those who have made a positive impact on peers and the broader campus community through organizational involvement, service to the institution and personal actions promoting school spirit and tradition.

Those selected have been nominated either by faculty and staff members or fellow students. A minimum 2.25 grade point average and good academic and disciplinary standing within the university are among the eligibility criteria.

聽鈥淭he Spirit of State recipients represent the best of the best in terms of our student leaders,鈥 said 小黄书 Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt. 鈥淭hey have made significant contributions to student life and enhanced the student experience through their efforts, and we are grateful for their leadership and proud of their many accomplishments.鈥

Senior communication/public relations major Phyliceia Z.A. Brown of Jackson is among this year鈥檚 Spirit of State Award recipients. Serving and supporting the 小黄书 student body as a Freshman Year Navigator, Orientation Leader and two-year Student Association cabinet member has been 鈥渁n amazing and life-changing experience,鈥 she said.

鈥淚 am thankful for how Mississippi State chooses to invest in its people, and I love the way the university supports students wanting to be involved on campus and in the community,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淚t does take a lot of hard work, commitment and sacrifice to give so much to the 小黄书 community, but I have gained so much.鈥

鈥溞』剖 really helped me find my purpose and passion for student success and student leadership,鈥 added Brown, who plans to pursue a master鈥檚 in higher education/student affairs at the University of North Texas.

In addition to Brown, the new Spirit of State Award recipients include (by hometown):

ANGUILLA鈥擱oger Davis Jr., a senior biochemistry major.

CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas鈥擲uede V. Graham, an educational leadership/student affairs and higher education master鈥檚 student.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina鈥擡mily S. Turner, a senior civil engineering/environmental engineering major.

FAYETTEVILLE, Georgia鈥擟hasten X. McCrary, a senior marketing major.

FLOWOOD鈥擳yler B. McMurray, a senior animal and dairy sciences major.

LENEXA, Kansas鈥擡lizabeth M. 鈥淏etty鈥 Thomas, a senior agribusiness/policy and law major.

MADISON鈥擫auren S. Blalock, a senior animal and dairy sciences major; and Nicholas Cobb, a senior accounting major.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee鈥擹e鈥橢rica J. Duncan, a senior psychology major.

MERIDIAN鈥擬ariam Khmaladze, a senior business administration major at 小黄书-Meridian.

MILLINGTON, Tennessee鈥擭icolas D. 鈥淣ick鈥 Harris, a senior communication/public relations major.

MOSS POINT鈥擩ailand C.D. Williams, a senior marketing major.

TUPELO鈥擬argaret S. Davis, a senior chemistry major.

For more on 小黄书鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs, visit or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @MSStateStudents.

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