Published: November 03, 2009 10:52 pm      

Excellence in Education

• Lowell Wallace has been selected to receive the State Farm Companies Scholarship at Meridian Community College.

This $1,000 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by contributions from area State Farm Insurance agents. State Farm Foundation matched each gift. Gary Eldridge, now retired, initiated this cooperative effort. Meridian agents Percy Bland, Charles Garrett, Bobby Graham (retired), Chris McDonald, Jerry Townsend (retired), Charles D. Smith (retired), Pamela Deitz (retired) and Quitman agents Cindy Belcher and Robert Donald, helped to build this endowment.

Wallace attended Starkville High School and completed his GED in 1987. He is a sophomore in the University Transfer Program studying to become a social worker. A President’s List scholar, he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students.

Wallace strives to be an example to other non-traditional students. His goal is to counsel adolescents who have experienced abuse.

• Joseph A. Jones of Waynesboro has been selected to receive the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Scholarship at Meridian Community College.

This $800 award is funded through the MCC Foundation.

Jones is a 1987 graduate of Forest Hill High School in Jackson. After 22 years as an automobile body repairman, he is seeking a new career in the Commercial Truck Driving Program at MCC. Successful completion of the eight-week program includes obtaining a commercial driver’s license and passing the Department of Transportation Commercial Driver Written Examination.

• HATTIESBURG – Maria Miller of Decatur was selected a member of The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band for the 2009-10 academic year at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Miller is a sophomore and the daughter of Deborah and David Miller.

Since its founding in 1920, the band has evolved into a nationally renowned university marching band. The band performs at all home football games, several away games, post-season bowl game, and high school marching band contests and festivals during the fall semester.

• OXFORD – Three area residents currently attending the University of Mississippi were among 300 new members recently inducted into UM’s chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Ryan Jimenez and Elizabeth Page, both of Meridian, and Heather Hasselle of Marion, were the inductees. The NSCS, which is based on the values of scholarship, leadership and service, invites the Top 20 percent of university freshmen and sophomores to participate. NSCS not only offers more undergraduate scholarship money to its members on a competitive basis than any other honor society in the nation but also provides outstanding opportunities to its members.

The newly inducted members have joined other Ole Miss NSCS members to accomplish a number of service projects to fulfill the NSCS mission of “honoring and inspiring academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime.” The group will be working with the Oxford Food Pantry, the Mississippi Literacy Council and a classroom at Oxford High School.

• SCOOBA – Jessica L. Stafford of Meridian has been accepted for admission and is currently enrolled in the Funeral Service Technology program at East

Mississippi Community College at the Scooba campus.A native of Mobile, Ala., Jessica is the daughter of Gayle and Barry Bufkin of Meridian.

Established in 1975, the Funeral Service Technology Department at EMCC is the oldest mortuary school in Mississippi. It is fully accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), and is recognized by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB) and the Mississippi

State Board of Funeral Service.

HATTIESBURG – Liz Pomierski of Lauderdale was selected to serve as president of the College of Health Ambassador for the 2009-10 academic year at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Students are selected to represent the College of Health as an ambassador based on the student’s academic achievement and leadership qualities. Ambassadors represent the college at a variety of campus and community events and are dedicated to expanding the College of Health by increasing the college student body and promoting health and excellence through research, teaching, and service.

Pomierski is a senior health administration major and the daughter of David and Tabitha Pomierski. She is a member of Eta Sigma Gamma, SGA Senate, SGA Presidents Cabin, Honors College and the Student Advisory Board.