2015

New annual, endowed scholarships established at ECCC

Special to The Star Much-needed financial support will be available for Easl Central Corrununity College students thanks to alumni and friends who have established various annual and endowed scholars4ips. 'The ECCC Foundation would like to thank our donors who continue to support the scholarship program," said Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth, executive director for Foundation and Alumni Rela– tions. "We also encourage others to establish scholarships and help meet the financial needs of students." During 2014, the East Central Community College Foundation awarded approximately 126 scholarships valued at more than $94,000. Among the most recent scholarships established are the Dr. Vernon Clyde & Vashti Muse Endowed Scholarship, Dr. Earl Laird Sr. Scholarship, Derek PounceyMemorial Scholarship and Friend– ship BreakfastClub Scholarship, which were approved by the Col– lege's Board ofTrustees at its February meeting. Dr. Vernon Clyde Muse has devoted his life to education and has served as president of the Hinds Community College District since 1978 He began hi~ career at Canton High School as a science teacher and coach. He later served as a high school principal and then became as i-.tant superintendent of education for the Starkville Municioal Separate School District He al. o held positions as -..;peri'1 ~dent of education for both the Meridian Municipal Sepa– ~- Ser Kil Di~trict and Hinds County Public Schools. H i:-. a grnduate of Sebastopol High School. East Central Junior C~. Delta tate University and received master's and doctoral ~ee. ... from Mississippi tale University. ~~- Muse also devoted her entire life to education, having sen·-ed in the Starkville, Hinds County and Lauderdale County hool ystems prior to joining the Hinds Community College staff Ul 1980. She taught full-time at Hinds from 1980 until her retirement in :..W2. She devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to the advancement of teaching developmental education and in 2006, the Mississippi Association for Developmental Education named its most prestigious award in her honor. She received various local and national awards and in April 2010, the Mississippi Legislature presented a joint re~olution rec– ognizingMrs. Muse for her tremendous impact on education in the state ofMississippi. The Muse Scholarship will be awarded each year to a student who meets the following criteria: • Must be a full-time East Central Community College student pursuing an Educational Degree program of c;tudy (ac1rft_0mic or career/technkal field) at any iocation oi the El.CC dbma; • f 15

County. He was a graduate ofUnion High School and received degrees from the UniversityofMississippi and Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. He returned to his home in Union and established Laird Hos– pital in 1938. He was certified in Family Practice, Abdominal Surgery and General Surgery. He served 53 years in the medical profession. He was a veteran ofWorld War II and the Korean con· flict Laird received many honors from his community for his com– mitment to his profession and his hometown. Hewas honored with "Dr. Earl Laird Day" in 1975 and as t:nion's "Outstanding Citizen" in 1983. He served as chainnan of the Board of Peoples Bank of Mississippi and was also a successful land owner and cattle farmer. 'This two-semester scholarship will be awarded each year to a sophomore student who meets the following criteria: • Must be a full-time East Central Community College student pursuing a degree in the medical sciences (pre-med, pre-phannacy, nursing); • Have graduated from a high school in Newton or Neshoba county; • Have a 3.5 or better grade point average: and • Must have financial need. The recipient will be selected by the ECCC Scholarship Com– mittee. The Derek PounceyMemorial Scholarship wa established by friends and family of the former ECCC assistant football coach. Anative ofMeridian and Lauderdale County, Pounceywas a graduate ofWest Lauderdale High School and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Mississippi College. He received his master's degree in school leadership and administration from Mis– sissippi State University. During his career, he taught at Kate Griffin Junior High, North· west Junior lligh, Meridian High School, Philadelphia, Kemper County andWest Lauderdale junior and senior high. He taught courses in speech and debate, theater and English language arts and was the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Coca-Cola Educator ofDistinction Award. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a returning ECCC sophomore. Recipients will be selected by the ECCC Scholarship Committee. To be eligible, recipients must • Enroll as a full-time student at East Central Community Col- lege the fall semester of his/her sophomore year. • Be an education major; • Reside in the five-county district served by the college; and • Have earned a minimum 3.0 grade point average as a fre-.hman student Thf' !=" r.end ship Breakfa:..-t Club SchoJa.--shi;> v.-as es:al:>Eshed

• ~the reap: rteei1 es • Re5ide in Newton Cou.'ltY • Have finanoal need ·

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.

~2! • Bdtte of any disciplinary pr b' < m,

~o part of the endowment cori>us v.ill be used for the scholar– ship award. Scholarship recipients will be selected by the ECCC Scholarship Committee. The Dr. Earl L Laird Sr., Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Dr. Laird and his medical service to his fellowman. It will be used to assist those students entering the medical science fields. Laird was a native ofthe Rock Branch Community of Newton

• Have good academic standing; • Be free of any disciplinary problems; and • Display leadership qualities and good citizenship.

Formore information, contact Dr. Hollingsworth at (601) 635- 6327 or call toll free, (877) 462-3222, ext 327. Her e-mail address is sholling@eccc.edu