MISSISSIPPI PRIVATE COLLEGES
For Mississippi Business Journal
B » BRAD BLAKNEY Major: Business administration Brandon
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T ONE POINT, Brad Blakney was headed to Ole Miss to play college golf. That changed when the golf coach at Belhaven continued his relentless recruitment of the Brandon native. Blakney took two visits to Belhaven, and that did it. “I just felt at home,” said Blakney, who’s majoring in business administration. “I was really impressed with how kind they were and the model Belhaven stands for. So one day I literally just woke up and decided that’s where God wanted me to be.” Blakney became student body president, and is on track to graduate with a GPA high enough to get him into a top business graduate school. He has political aspirations, too. “I set my sights pretty high, so my goal would definitely be in Congress one day,” Blakney said. He encourages those considering Belhaven to “think outside the box.” “Don’t neglect a certain school or program just because you might be a State fan or Ole Miss fan or LSU fan or whatever. Go to the place God wants you to be at. “For people who have decided to attend Belhaven, my biggest piece of advice is to get involved, whether that be an organization on campus or leadership position or athletic team or getting a staff or faculty member to mentor you. You never know where those connections are going to lead down the road.”
ELHAVEN University is a liberal arts university dedicated to excellence in Christian higher education. The school is in a historic Jackson neighborhood, minutes from fine dining, good shopping and a thriving arts community. Today’s Belhaven is the culmination of three separate institutions of higher learning which merged over the years. Belhaven College, founded in 1883 as a privately-owned institution, merged in 1911 Belhaven with McComb Female Institute, and in 1939 with the Mississippi Synodical College. Until 1972, the College was owned and operated by the Synod of Mississippi, Presbyterian Church in the United States, through a Synodelected board of trustees. In 1972, the Synod gave ownership of the college to a self-perpetuating board of trustees. The school has a covenant relationship with the Synod of Living Waters of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Belhaven has received national recognition for its academic programs and affordability, and has earned regional accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools. Belhaven is one of just 30 schools in the U.S. to be nationally accredited in all four of the arts: dance, music, theatre and visual art. Belhaven was selected as one of the Top Christian Business Colleges in the country by Business Reform Magazine. The School of Business also received special recognition as an editor’s pick for “most biblical curriculum and focus.” In addition to traditional majors, programs of general studies are available. There are also pre-professional and certificate programs, as well as graduate degree programs. Belhaven offers 27 undergraduate majors and a 12:1 student to faculty ratio for the traditional undergraduate program. The university enrolled 1,150 traditional age students (18-22) on the main campus, causing leaders to utilize every available space to meet student needs. When combined with the University’s 930 adult and graduate students at the Lefleur’s Bluff building on I-55 North, Belhaven is serving more than 2,000 students in Jackson. – CLAY CHANDLER
» BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY » www.belhaven.edu » Address: 1500 Peachtree Street, Jackson, MS 39202 » Phone: 601.968.5940 » Fax: 601.968.8946 » Email: admission@belhaven.edu » Year Founded: 1883 » President: Dr. Roger Parrott » Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,150 » Financial Aid: It is available » Annual Tuition: Mississippi residents – $19,970 Out-of-state residents – $19,970 » Average Annual On-campus Room and Board Costs: $7,200 » Average ACT: 24
Mississippi Business Journal
» Percentage of Students with Financial Aid: More than 95% » Faculty-to-student Ratio: 12:1 » Popular Majors: Dance, Sports Medicine, Communication, Creative Writing, » Satellite/Annex Campuses: Memphis, TN; Houston, TX; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chattanooga, TN » Director of Admissions: Suzanne Sullivan »` Famous Alumni: Joel Bomgar, Tramaine Brock (NFL), Andrew Camenisch (Lord of the Rings), Elizabeth Spencer (author). » What is the most important thing a parent needs to know about your school? We are committed to working
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with families to help make private Christian education affordable. Belhaven cares for its students. We are here to help them grow not only in the classroom, but also outside the classroom. » What is the coolest thing a potential student should know about your school? Our men’s soccer team is the reigning national champion. Belhaven’s campus is very diverse culturally and geographically. We have more than 80 international students from 28 countries and 68 percent of our freshman class is from out of state. We also have a wide variety of intercollegiate athletic teams and we are nationally accredited in all 4 areas of the arts – dance, music, theatre, and visual art. DISCLAIMER: The information for the school profile was taken from the institution’s web site, and was assumed to be accurate at publication.
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