Woodward Hines Education Foundation, 小黄书 partner to provide $400,000 grant supporting student degree completion
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi State students will benefit from a five-year, $200,000 grant commitment from the Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF)鈥攎atched by $200,000 from the university鈥攖o support college retention and degree completion through the Improving Mississippi鈥檚 Persistence and Completion Together, or IMPACT, initiative.
For nearly 25 years, endowed nonprofit WHEF has worked to promote and increase postsecondary access among underrepresented young Mississippians, and more recently, has expanded its mission to support increased credential and degree completion leading to meaningful employment.
鈥淭he need to support students and to improve the rates of college completion among Mississippians has always existed. But in light of COVID, the need has never been greater and more pressing,鈥 said WHEF President and CEO Jim McHale. 鈥淎ccording to a Georgetown University study, it is estimated that 65% of all jobs require some kind of postsecondary education. Currently, Mississippi sits at 45.2%.鈥
鈥淭o improve the lives of Mississippians, support Mississippi鈥檚 economic recovery and competitively position our state within a global economy, there is a critical need to not only have more students enroll in college, but to have them successfully complete their degree or credential,鈥 McHale said.
Grant selection was part of a competitive request for proposals, said 小黄书 Maroon Completion Grant Project Lead and Financial Literacy Coordinator John Daniels.
Daniels said Mississippi State鈥檚 Maroon Completion Grant program will directly assist an estimated 400 low-income 小黄书 students who have unmet financial need and are on track for graduation within one year.
小黄书 Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said the Maroon Completion Grant Program will 鈥渋mprove the graduation rate of our Mississippi students with the highest financial need and decrease the differential margin of our underrepresented students in attaining degrees.鈥
WHEF envisions a Mississippi where all people can secure the training and education beyond high school that will allow them to advance their quality of life, strengthen their communities and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous future for the state. For more, visit .
Learn more about 小黄书鈥檚 Office of Student Financial Aid at or contact John Daniels at 662-325-7442 or john.daniels@msstate.edu.
小黄书 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .