Foundations Fall 2014

Making an impact every day M S U F o u n d at i o n Am b a ss a d o r s

CONTENTS

Features

2 6 10 12 14

An Infinite Impact continues Examining the best path Sharing a wealth of knowledge A passionate connection All in the family

News

17 18 20 23

Quinns challenge athletes to excel in their studies MSU administrator invests in undergraduate scholarship Montgomery challenge inspires gifts for new veterans facility Foundation announces incoming staff, new roles

NOTES: Vice

Sections

1 19 21 24 25

President for Development and Alumni Foundation Ambassadors President NOTES: Executive Director of Development PROFILE: John and Hayley Lundy BOARD: 2014 Board of Directors NOTES: MSU

EDITOR

Amy Cagle DESIGNER

Erin Norwood WRITERS

Amy Cagle, Casey McGee, Jack McCarty, John P. Rush and John Stuart PHOTOGRAPHERS

Megan Bean, Russ Houston, Tom Thompson and Beth Newman Wynn EDITORIAL BOARD

Cathy Lammons and John P. Rush

ON THE COVER

Back Row (l-r): Sameer Hasnoo, Thomas Sherman, Olivia Sanguinetti, Shelby Norris, Garrett Somers and John Stuart Front Row (l-r): Caitlyn Chapman and Allyson Parker

Foundations is published two times per year by the Mississippi State University Foundation. Please send comments and questions to P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762-6149 or phone 662.325.7000.

The Mississippi State University Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organization that assists the university in accomplishing its goals and mission by cultivating and soliciting private support and ensuring stewardship for all contributions benefitting Mississippi State University.

Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status is a violation of federal and state law and MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Discrimination based upon sexual orientation or group affiliation is a violation of MSU policy and will not be tolerated.

N OT E S

Mississippi State keeps climbing the charts

John P. Rush Vice President for Development and Alumni

Mississippi State University has good news to share as it relates to philanthropy through the MSU Foundation. Thanks to your generosity, we are moving forward from a landmark year in fundraising that resulted in an all-time university high of $106 million in total gifts and pledges.

The strength of the year, of course, was fueled by our Infinite Impact capital campaign as it brings new donors to our fold and sparks faithful longtime supporters to support new areas and programs.

Although it is great to achieve this milestone, there is still much work to be done. We do not view this as a plateau, but as a springboard to continue the betterment of Mississippi State for longevity. With your help as true maroon alumni and friends, we will continue our task to make a profound and lasting impact on our students, our communities, our world and our future.

We need you as part of this campaign. You can make a difference and spread the word of our success as we forge toward the future with purpose. Although our dollar goal for Infinite Impact lies ahead of us, we are gaining the confidence we will need to meet what is on the horizon.

Since the beginning of Infinite Impact in 2010, Mississippi State’s overall endowment has continued an upward trend and now totals more than $450 million. This tells us you understand the importance of making immediate gifts and also those that are an investment in the future with perpetual results. We must maintain our momentum in endowment growth. With your help, we can rise above more of our peers in the Southeastern Conference in terms of total endowment.

Capital campaigns like Infinite Impact bring an enormously positive impact to a university like Mississippi State. Along with identifying new donors, the campaign brings the opportunity for volunteers to participate more actively in the life of our university and help it achieve its strategic goals. With Infinite Impact comes an opportunity to build on our success and speed our emergence as one of the nation’s leading public institutions of higher learning.

At Mississippi State, we continue to prepare for the challenges of new generations. On the cover of our magazine, you will see some of the young men and women who are helping us get the job done. We believe these executive committee members of the MSU Foundation Ambassadors will be among the alumni and development leaders of tomorrow. They help us spread an awareness of philanthropy among their peers and among alumni and friends like you. And for now, that message strongly revolves around Infinite Impact.

Thank you for your desire to create an endless impact through Mississippi State University.

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Campaign maintains its successful pace; Total contributions surpass $450 million

Infinite Impact is more than a capital campaign. It’s the dream of a better and brighter future for Mississippians and people across the world. The challenge for alumni and friends is to fulfill that dream by shaping the future of Mississippi State University with gifts as we help lay the groundwork for achieving ambitious goals.

The campaign is giving Mississippi State the ability to adapt and assist an ever-changing world through success, discovery, outreach, globalization and experience. As fall begins, counting for Infinite Impact exceeds $450 million in gifts and pledges toward a $600 million minimum goal.

Since the endeavor began in 2010, each year of Infinite Impact brings much success to the institution. In particular, fiscal year 2014 ushered in an unprecedented all-time high record year of $106 million raised. The campaign also is having a definite impact on the university’s endowment growth, with its overall endowment now at $450 million.

As the MSU Foundation moves forward in a new fundraising period, it renews its focus on assisting the university in pursuit of its long-range goals. Through Infinite Impact, Mississippi State University is working to better position itself nationally. The university is quickly gaining a reputation as an institution on the move with cutting-edge research and service endeavors that are making a real-world difference as they spill beyond our university.

Gifts for scholarships, endowed positions, enhanced facilities, and endowed excellence funds can help the university pursue its goal of

becoming a top-tier nationally ranked institution.

A vast array of giving opportunities exists through the campaign for areas campuswide —ranging from colleges and schools, the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, MSUMeridian, the university’s library and MSU athletics. Alumni and friends may increase their support at all giving levels, including annual gifts needed across campus and gifts that impact the university’s endowment.

As Infinite Impact continues its pace, we will highlight giving opportunities in colleges, schools and major areas of the university. In this particular issue, we place focus on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, one of Mississippi State’s oldest academic units, as its works to sew the seeds of new endeavors with Infinite Impact gifts.

INFINITE IMPACT PROGRESS $600

$150

$451

$300

AMOUNT = MILLIONS

0

$451 MILLION as of September 2014

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences strengthens impact with gifts through capital campaign

Students and faculty in the MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences work to unlock the secrets of life at the most basic level, and their efforts have potential to create an almost infinite impact. Contributions through the Infinite Impact campaign can help the college extend its reach worldwide and achieve its goals.

Over the course of Infinite Impact, the college specifically seeks $47 million in private gifts from alumni and friends that will benefit virtually every aspect of Mississippi State’s diverse agricultural community. These gifts will support innovative teaching efforts and groundbreaking research in areas from water conservation to food security. Infinite Impact also supports scientists in the college and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station as they work to advance modern agriculture.

Likewise, the campaign will help the School of Human Sciences provide a variety of programs in fashion design and merchandising, human development, family studies, and agricultural information science and education.

“Gifts for Infinite Impact will better position Mississippi State University and our college for the future,” said George Hopper, college dean.

“Support for the campaign will enable us to take the science of agriculture that is developed in our state and teach it to humanity. By educating the next generation of leaders in agriculture, we can ensure our world will prosper for generations.”

Infinite Impact gifts can further the college’s vision through teaching, research, and outreach programs. The campaign utilizes the university’s

people—promising undergraduate and graduate students and renowned faculty—and works to stimulate positive changes in our region that will spread across the globe.

Privately-funded scholarships and fellowships have a powerful impact on students, offsetting financial burdens and allowing them to begin their careers with little debt. The college is committed to provide more assistance to talented students across its disciplines. Any amount given can be awarded for scholarships annually, while gifts of at least $25,000 are needed to establish individual endowments for scholarships that can grow over time. Gifts through Infinite Impact can help the college attract students and turn out graduates who will become innovative leaders for the future.

No single factor is more essential to quality education for dedicated students than outstanding teachers from which to learn.

Infinite Impact seeks to bring more endowed chairs and professorships to the college, which will allow it to maintain a superior faculty.

Beyond campus, those who hold endowed faculty positions will bring greater national recognition and esteem to Mississippi State.

“In today’s competitive environment, gifts for endowed chairs and professorships are critical to recruit renowned academic and research leaders, who, in turn, will attract junior faculty, graduate students, and external research funds,” said Hopper. “These endowed positions can advance the university’s reputation on a global scale.”

Specifically, the college seeks endowed chairs in agricultural marketing and agricultural leadership to advance MSU’s ability to reach nations that rely on agriculture as their primary source of revenue. Expertise in these areas, along with food safety and crop production, will enable the college to have a significant economic impact and help feed the world’s growing population. With premier faculty and endowed funds, MSU can remain a leader in global food security, which is a university research priority.

Within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, endowed positions can be established with minimum gifts of $500,000 for a professorship, $1.5 million for a chair, and $2 million for a dean’s chair. These commitments are typically in the form of outright gifts or multiyear pledges.

Campaign funds can also be used to enhance facilities to improve and expand the educational experience at Mississippi State. The college implements hands-on learning through laboratories, research fields, and teaching complexes to engage students and professionals.

For instance, the internationally known Insect Rearing Center provides tools to educate personnel who fight yellow fever, malaria, and other insect-borne diseases, as well as those who examine insects as a protein source for animal

feeds. Also, the Dorman Hall Teaching Gardens provide hands-on campus learning for students and faculty. With operating endowments established with gifts, each of these facilities can benefit students and faculty for years to come.

The college also benefits Mississippi State University with a strong lecture series, bringing to campus career professionals who have “real world” success. Hosting a lecture series can be expensive because of the cost of travel, accommodations and speakers. However, gifts through Infinite Impact will help defray the cost of a lecture series in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and the MSU Extension Service.

“There has never been a more exciting time to take part in all that is happening at Mississippi State,” said Jud Skelton, college director of development. “There are many ways to support our college during Infinite Impact from outright gifts to deferred gifts because all contributions enable donors to shape lives through Mississippi State University.”

Many opportunities exist for alumni and friends to assist the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. For personalized assistance, contact Skelton, at 662.325.0643 or email jskelton@foundation.msstate.edu or Dees Britt, the college’s assistant director of development, at 662.325.2837 or email dbritt@foundation. msstate.edu. All contributions to MSU through 2018, regardless of their designation, are part of Infinite Impact.

Examining the best path Downers inspire discovery with MSU research fund

There is often one mentor who makes a special impact in the life of a student. For three decades, Donald “Don” Downer provided expert guidance as he advised undergraduate students interested in beginning their pursuit of medical study at Mississippi State University.

Now retired, Don and his wife, Jackie, continue making an investment in the lives of students. As retired MSU personnel, they are furthering their legacy with a new endowment that is part of the university’s ongoing capital campaign.

The Starkville couple recently established the Dr. Donald Downer Undergraduate Research Endowment in the College of Arts and Sciences. The gift will benefit the Department of Biological Sciences as it creates research opportunities for undergraduate students.

The Downers realize the importance of encouraging academics and research in their home state of Mississippi. Jackie, originally from Morton, is the retired business manager from the School of Architecture, while Lexington native Don is the retired head of the Biological Sciences department.

Jackie knows firsthand the importance of a Mississippi State education, having graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Science in business education in 1967. Although Don received his Bachelor of Science in biology in 1966 from the University of Mississippi and a Ph.D. in microbiology in 1972 from the UM medical center, he later became a bulldog by choice.

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“I saw a job opening at Mississippi State for an assistant professor, and I thought to myself, ‘that would make Jackie happy!’ So I got the job, came back to Starkville, and it’s been a great time ever since,” recalled Don. “Upon arriving, I knew we were home.”

Don spent 30 years in the Mississippi State Department of Biological Sciences, serving as department head from 1994 to 2004 before retiring in 2008. As an adviser, he made a lasting impact on the lives of countless pre-medical students and health-related professions students who credit him for helping prepare them for the future.

Don and Jackie’s son, Dee Downer of Norman, Oklahoma, is proud of the influence his father made on many pre-medical students.

“I’ve got friends who have gone on to become doctors who attended Mississippi State with me, and they sing praises of my dad all the time. He even won a national award for being one of the top advisers in the United States,” said Dee.

The advising award recognition came in 2005 from the National Academic Advising Association, and is among Don’s long list of achievements.

“When I retired, I was advising hundreds of students. It’s really essential for students to receive mentoring from faculty, especially in preparation for regional medical centers. One has to know what the requirements are and what they look at the most. And this was just kind of natural for me because I had a medical center background before joining MSU.”

~ Don Downer

The reputation of Mississippi State’s pre-medicine concentration grew because of Don’s influence and continues to be known as an excellent pathway for medical school. The Department of Biological Sciences offers three Bachelor of Science degree programs (biological sciences, medical technology, microbiology) as well as an array of concentrations/specializations for pre-professional programs including medicine, dental, veterinary medicine, nursing,

occupational therapy and physical therapy. The department’s core curriculum is well-grounded in the life sciences and is designed to offer students a comprehensive education toward degrees that can be leveraged into a variety of careers in the healthcare industry as well as numerous areas in biology encompassing basic and applied research.

The newly established endowment will help the Department of Biological Sciences take student research a step further as it 7

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Harned Hall houses the Department of Biological Sciences.

challenges students. Dr. Nancy Reichert, current department head, feels the impact the Downer Undergraduate Research Endowment will have on the department will be immeasurable.

“The endowment will give students the opportunity to participate in research projects that provide hands-on learning in leading, cutting-edge topics in biology, which will reinforce and augment their coursework. This may inspire students to determine future career paths in research. And learning more about students’ interests will better-enable faculty members to assist students in career planning,” Reichert said.

She continued, “Even if students don’t choose research-based professions, the lab experiences made possible with the endowment will contribute to students’ competitiveness in applying to professional schools, such as medical school, and enable their faculty mentors to write meaningful letters of recommendation.”

Besides assisting students, Don and Jackie

feel their contribution is a way to give back for all they gained during their time at Mississippi State University.

“There’s no other way that I would have been as successful as I became had it not been for the opportunities given to me at Mississippi State. They hired me, and now I will always bleed maroon and white,” said Don.

In addition to making a donation as a way of returning thanks, Don feels a gift to MSU is also a point of pride.

“If you give back to Mississippi State, regardless of the amount, it keeps you in touch with what’s going on at the university and keeps you involved in the community,” said Don. “It should give you pride to be able to do so.”

For more information about the Department of Biological Sciences, visit www.biology.msstate.edu.

An impact on healthcare

There are many opportunities for alumni and friends, like Don and Jackie

Downer, to support the university through the Infinite Impact campaign, of which one of the priorities is positively impacting healthcare worldwide. In particular, a pre-professional advising center on the horizon for the College of Arts and Sciences is in need of private gifts.

The Department of Biological Sciences has more than 1,000 undergraduate

majors, many of whom are pre-professional students seeking admission into medical schools as well as other professional schools. A specialized advising center could keep track of students’ progress, ensure they are taking the right courses, assist in preparation of standardized entrance exams, and provide greater opportunities for interaction with professionals in these fields.

“With shortages of healthcare workers in Mississippi and the nation, this effort

could assist our students gain entry into professional schools and thereby contribute well-trained MSU graduates into these professions,” Reichert said.

For more information on how you can make an impact through the College

of Arts and Sciences, contact Alex McIntosh, college development director, at 662.325.3240 or email amcintosh@foundation.msstate.edu.

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Sharing a wealth of knowledge Coggins structure gift to impact students, faculty

Teaching and learning go hand in hand at Mississippi State University, and Jim and Pat Coggin are allowing the College of Business to elevate both of those core components to a new level with the creation of an endowment for a scholarship and a professorship.

As the College of Business nears its 100th anniversary, a $1 million commitment from the couple creates the James A. and Patricia H. Coggin Endowed Scholarship and the James A. and Patricia H. Coggin Endowed Professorship.

These endowments will help the business college meet the demands of a growing enrollment as it marks a century of excellence. The college’s continued success will lie in its ability to attract and retain the best faculty and recruit the brightest students, and the Coggin endowments will assist with these two goals.

The Coggin Professorship will enable the college to engage faculty who are experienced in their fields and who will impart the values of excellence and service to the next generation of leaders. Earnings from the Coggin Professorship will provide a salary supplement for the holder and will make possible research and service opportunities. The named professorship also adds to the prestige of the college and the faculty member selected for the position.

“We appreciate the universal need for developing and retaining strong faculty members and for encouraging dedicated students,” Jim said. “MSU is continuously striving to provide

its students with the best possible education and this means that alumni and friends, such as ourselves, need to be supportive in every way possible.”

The Coggin scholarship will assist a fulltime freshman enrolled in the business college with high academic qualifications. Recipients must demonstrate leadership abilities and work toward maintaining the scholarship for additional years of study as they make progress toward graduation.

The perpetual association of the Coggin name with the College of Business carries special meaning for the couple, but first and foremost they want their legacy to simply be about helping others.

“Of course students will benefit financially from the scholarship, and they will benefit academically from enhanced professorships, but the meaning behind the creation of the financial award is to help these young people have the best possible education,” said Jim.

Pat echoes Jim’s sentiments, saying, “We believe this new scholarship at Mississippi State will be just as much of a rewarding experience for us as the scholarship we created at Millsaps

Business dean Sharon Oswald and MSU President Mark E. Keenum flank Jim and Pat Coggin.

College in memory of our late daughter, Allison, who received her Bachelor of Arts and MBA there.”

Jim and Pat have spent much of their 50-year marriage in their home state, mostly in Jackson, and are proponents of giving back to the community.

Jim grew up in Tupelo and Pat is a native Jacksonian. They have a son, James Jr., who lives with his family in Madison.

For his undergraduate study, Jim remained in state, receiving a general business degree from Mississippi State in 1964 followed by an MBA from Mississippi College. He later graduated from Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. His education garnered him early positions with Mississippi Chemical Corporation and IBM.

It was Jim’s position with IBM that helped him launch a 36-year career in the retail business as he joined one of IBM’s clients, McRae’s Department Stores in Jackson. Jim held leadership roles as McRae’s became a household name in four states—Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. At the height of success, McRae’s was bought by Proffitt’s, Inc., and Jim became president, chief operating officer, and a member of the board of directors.

As Profitt’s Inc. acquired five major department store chains and spread throughout the U.S., Jim became president and chief administrative officer of the Fortune 500 company known as Saks Inc.

Since Jim’s retirement in 2007, he uses his management experience in other ways. He currently serves as a member of the executive advisory board in Mississippi State’s College of Business, holds a seat on the Board of Trustees of Millsaps College in Jackson, and spends a lot of time working with his church and various civic organizations.

Pat, whose maiden name is Holler, is a 1964 graduate of the Mississippi University for Women where she earned a degree in English

with a minor in journalism. For a time, Pat wrote scripts for Mississippi ETV, now MPB. This led to her co-authoring a book called Meet Mississippi which was later condensed into the official Mississippi tour guide. She has been an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill Industries, among other things.

Although not a graduate, Pat shares Jim’s passion for Mississippi State. The couple has a long history with the institution and this motivates them to give back.

“My years at Mississippi State were some of the best times in my life and the school set a strong foundation for my eventual career in business,” Jim said. “It is only natural for us to want to return something to the university.”

Jim continued, “MSU is so alive today, accomplishing much for our state and beyond in terms of education, research and economic development. We are very proud to be supporters.”

Jim and Pat enjoy spending time in Starkville and on campus. This includes visiting with grandson, James Coggin III, who is a senior MSU business major with an interest in marketing. Along with furthering relationships with family and fellow alumni and friends, they look forward to becoming acquainted with future recipients of both the scholarship and the professorship named in their honor.

As Pat summed up their decision to give this endowment, she said, “Fortunately, we are in a comfortable part of our lives and we have made the decision to give and support the things that reflect where our heart and interests lie.

Mississippi State, of course, was an easy choice for us.”

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A passionate connection Grateful pet owner establishes CVM endowed excellence fund When two of Rocky Sullivan’s French Bulldogs needed specialty care, he was advised by his out-of-state primary care veterinarian to bring them to Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine because of the college’s commitment to animals and the people who care for them.

“I had previously experienced MSUCVM’s commitment to the human-animal bond through the outstanding services provided several of my ‘Frenchies’ over the years by Dr. Susan Nelms, an MSU-CVM graduate and board certified veterinary ophthalmologist in my hometown,” said Sullivan, a Birmingham, Alabama, resident. “I saw this same commitment demonstrated by Dr. Paul Taylor, also an MSUCVM graduate, who provides care for my Boer goats I use as commercial breeding stock on my farm.”

Pleased by the dedication these two veterinarians demonstrated, and the referral of his primary veterinarian, Sullivan decided to seek advanced medical care at MSU-CVM’s Animal Health Center in Starkville.

MSU-CVM clinicians and students treated two of Sullivan’s French Bulldog family. Both Mitzi and Luke had to be treated for special issues. Mitzi is thriving after having been 12

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treated for neurological spinal problems and undergoing a nasal resection to open her airways to relieve Brachycephalic Syndrome, a common abnormality in French Bulldogs.

Luke received advanced care at the MSUCVM, but, because of previous health issues, he did not survive. Luke received compassionate care in his final days and his precocious nature will forever live in the hearts of the Animal Health Center staff and students.

Over the course of Mitzi and Luke’s treatments, Sullivan built a deeper personal connection to MSU-CVM and observed firsthand how gifts impact the college. It is in Luke’s memory and in Mitzi’s honor that Sullivan makes his commitment to the college for an endowed excellence fund.

Sullivan has chosen to financially support Mississippi State with a gift from his Individual Retirement Accounts because of his desire to provide state-of-the-art care to other animals.

Far left: Student Courtney Brown and Rocky Sullivan pictured with MSU mascot Champ (left) and Mitzi.

Above: Dr. Katherine Gerken, small animal rotating intern, with Sullivan and Mitzi. Far right: Julie Burt, CVM referral coordinator, visits with Mitzi.

The gift will one day result in more than $900,000 for the Rocky Sullivan Endowed Fund For Excellence that will establish a lasting legacy for his two best friends and impact the college in perpetuity.

Earnings from the fund will support activities and programs, scholarships and faculty support, equipment or areas of need identified by the dean of the college to ensure a margin of excellence in teaching, research and service. Sullivan developed great confidence in MSU-CVM for several reasons, from the help provided by referral coordinator Julie Burt and the expertise demonstrated by the head of neurology/neurosurgery Dr. Andy Shores, to students who are passionate ambassadors.

“Julie Burt and the CVM team, including fourth-year student Courtney Brown, were wonderful with the hands-on treatment and follow-up care for Mitzi,” Sullivan said. “The owner experience at Mississippi State is by far a cut above other hospitals because the care is tremendous, and MSU takes into account the welfare and health of both the patient and the caregiver.”

Animal Health Center staff members work closely with referring veterinarians to keep them updated on their clients to help ensure that treatment plans are well understood and followed. The center serves as the primary focus for clinical instruction of veterinary students and provides postgraduate students with opportunity

for expanded study as they complete internships or residencies.

“Rocky went through a lot of highs and lows with us. There were tears of sadness and of joy,” Burt said. “Through it all, Luke and Mitzi’s care and treatment were of the utmost importance for both Rocky and all of us at the Animal Health Center.”

She continued, “Through his generosity we can continue to provide the means for comprehensive and compassionate patient care while teaching our students how to be exceptional veterinarians. Luke and Mitzi have been great teachers and Rocky’s gift will ensure they will continue to teach.”

Sullivan plans to continue his association with the MSU-CVM because of his gratitude and because of his belief in their work. He will also encourage other pet owners to seek care at the veterinary hospital because of his first-rate experience.

“It is from the deepest part of my heart that I thank each individual at MSU for all the acts of kindness and support they repeatedly did for me, Mitzi, and Luke during our time at the Animal Health Center,” Sullivan said.

There are many ways for alumni and friends to contribute to the MSU-CVM and its faculty, staff and students. In particular, the Companion Animals Require Excellence (CARE) Fund supports diagnostic equipment and supplies used to provide care at the Animal Health Center; laboratories and expertise needed to train future veterinarians in the latest methods of companion animal treatment; research to combat diseases of companion animals; vital publications for the MSU-CVM library and referral services for veterinarians.

For more information on supporting MSU-CVM, contact the college’s director of development, Jimmy Kight, at 662.325.5893 or email him at jkight@foundation.msstate.edu.

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All in the family Scholarship cements Corey-MSU connection

During his lifetime, Scott Corey pursued his love for photography, chronicling life through that passion, but never forgetting his roots and Mississippi State University. He could picture an MSU campus where recipients of a special scholarship honoring his late parents would pursue their engineering studies. However, he had no idea the scholarship he envisioned would soon become a part of his own Bulldog legacy.

Scott was a former senior associate and photographer for the Mississippi State University Extension Service and a loyal alumnus who died in February 2014. A few months earlier, Scott, along with his siblings, Mark Corey of Niskayuna, New York, and Nannette Corey Woods of Boca Raton, Florida, established the Dr. and Mrs. Marion and Nancy Corey Endowed Scholarship to honor their parents. Following Scott’s death, the scholarship was renamed The Corey Family Endowed Scholarship, including Scott in the memorial.

“Scott was very passionate about education and felt the scholarship was an honorable way to remember his parents and help students achieve their education,” said wife Leslie McKee Corey, an MSU alumna who is a senior generalist for the university’s human resources office. “He and his family are very close, so having his name perpetually linked to the scholarship would have pleased him greatly.”

The Corey connection began at Mississippi State when Dr. Marion Corey earned his master’s degree in civil engineering and later joined the 14

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faculty, where he would serve as a professor of civil engineering for 37 years. He was a registered professional engineer in Mississippi and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. He later earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Nancy Miner Corey was an MSU history graduate who was active with the Starkville Junior Auxiliary where she served as president.

“The importance of education was instilled in us early by our parents, and we were very much a part of the university,” said Nannette Corey Woods. “I have many memories of entering McCain Hall, where I could hear dad speaking loud and clear from the end of the hall. I will always remember hearing my daddy lecturing like a preacher as he taught class.”

Woods also recalled how proud she was when her mother returned to school later in life to finish her degree in history, saying, “She was taking care of a family, yet she still possessed a strong desire to complete her degree.”

The scholarship was designed to reflect two interests important to the family—higher

Left: Leslie McKee Corey (left) with Mark Corey and Nannette Corey Woods Right: Nancy and Marion Corey

education and engineering. Its original intent, which was to benefit graduate students, remained intact. In particular, recipients will be enrolled in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, concentrating their studies in structural or environmental engineering.

“It was only natural for the scholarship to continue in this manner since Scott had worked diligently on the details for it to assist engineering recipients pursuing graduate study,” said Leslie.

Scott was an artist in a family full of Mississippi State engineers since Mark and Nannette, along with their father, are also engineering graduates of MSU. However, Mark acknowledges Scott’s interest was also encouraged by the family, saying, “Dad set up a dark room in the basement before digital photography was ever a thing. He taught Scott a lot, and that really peaked an interest that Scott carried forever.”

Scott began his career as a photographer at Mississippi State after graduating from the university with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and photography. He later worked as a staff photographer for K-Mar at Keesler Air Force Base and owned his own photography business.

While working on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Scott received a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Southern Mississippi. At the time of his death, he was completing his dissertation for a Doctor of Philosophy in communication from USM.

Besides photography, Scott also enjoyed teaching a public relations class at MSU.

“He loved the class he taught, and he told me, ‘I have 16 children!’” said Leslie. “He would

worry about them getting jobs and graduating, just as his dad did earlier with his students. I think teaching that class was more rewarding than Scott ever imagined.”

The students Scott taught had a great impact on him, and Leslie hopes that this scholarship can return that impact tenfold.

“We want it to help someone who might not be able to further their education for a masters or Ph.D. program. Someone that is very deserving of it and might not be able to get an education without this assistance,” said Leslie.

As a man who was passionate about people and education, Leslie said that she knows Scott would be extremely happy with the scholarship.

“He was very kind and very giving,” said Leslie, “Scott put forth effort with everything that he did. He did his research, and it was going to be correct. He didn’t do anything halfway and this all began as his idea.”

Leslie said she hopes the scholarship will reach a student who has a similar hard-working mentality.

“The gift for the scholarship will make the impact that Scott would have wanted because he loved MSU and truly cared about the education the institution offers its students,” she said.

The coming years will bring generations of Corey Scholars to MSU and cement the family’s connection with the land-grant institution.

Future recipients of the scholarship will carry a part of the Corey legacy of passion and giving with them throughout their lives.

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NEWS

Quinns challenge athletes to excel in their studies

James and Edwina Quinn of Greenwood are longtime Mississippi State supporters who are impacting the daily lives of student-athletes. The couple has helped strengthen the overall learning experience for studentathletes, many of whom are among the strongest academic performers in the Southeastern Conference.

James and Edwina Quinn

Besides the classrooms of MSU, academic life for students participating in sports revolves around the Templeton Athletic Academic Center, which provides the most intense academic counseling available to students participating in MSU’s 16 NCAA Division I sports programs. Now a laboratory in the facility honors the Quinns’ giving and passion for academics and athletics. Known as the Quinn Family Open Study Laboratory, the study area serves as a central component of the learning environment.

“The laboratory continues the traditions of excellence in academics and athletics for which Mississippi State University is known, and we are extremely proud to have our name associated with the facility,” said James Quinn. “Over the years, we believe the laboratory will challenge students and aid them to become as successful off the playing fields as they are on the fields.”

Specifically, the Quinn Family Open Study Laboratory houses counseling offices for learning specialists, study hall monitor stations, private study rooms for group sessions, and more than 50 computer stations and work spaces. The laboratory serves around 125 student-athletes daily during the fall and spring semesters.

Quinn knows firsthand the importance of an MSU degree. He earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Mississippi State’s College of Business, graduating with special

honors in 1960. He is a real estate consultant, appraiser, and realtor with 50 years of experience and has professional designations as an MAI (Member of the Appraisal Institute) and as a CRE (Counselor of Real Estate).

He was national president and a principal member of the Real Estate Counseling Group of America Inc. and has instructed appraisal courses at major universities.

Edwina McCool Quinn is a realtor and is also an ardent supporter of MSU athletics and academics. She and her husband share a passion for athletics, especially MSU baseball.

Of the laboratory naming, Edwina said, “We are happy to encourage students who are working toward MSU degrees. They are following their passion for sports and also preparing for their future professions, and we want to help them become successful.”

The Quinns are part of a maroon and white family tree that dates back four generations. Among the many branches is their son, James Michael Quinn, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1990. The coming years will bring the couple’s grandchildren, Madison and Grayson, to campus as the family legacy continues to grow at Mississippi State.

For more on supporting Mississippi State athletics, contact Michelle McBride, director of development for athletics, at 662.325.6312 or email her at mmcbride@foundation. msstate.edu.

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NEWS

MSU administrator invests in undergraduate scholarship

Julia Hodges possesses a great understanding of how gifts benefit Mississippi State. She’s gained that knowledge during a distinguished career, as she witnessed the satisfaction derived by friends and colleagues who support MSU and the impact that this support has on students.

In the spirit of philanthropy, Hodges has established an endowed scholarship that will allow future recipients to follow in her footsteps and pursue a degree in computer science. The Julia Hodges Endowed Scholarship will benefit full-time undergraduates who meet academic requirements and show progress toward graduation.

“It is very exciting to see this scholarship come to fruition, and I hope it will be a difference maker for the recipient and for the Department of Computer Science and Engineering since it is where I hold tenure as a faculty member and served as a department head,” said Hodges, who joined Mississippi State in 1984.

In creation of the scholarship, Hodges’ goal was two-fold. “I wanted to establish the scholarship to help my department be competitive and allow flexibility in selection of the recipient to attract the best and brightest students,” she said.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the prestigious James Worth Bagley College of Engineering is well-known for its progressive teaching and cutting-edge research. As a professor of computer science and engineering, Hodges was actively involved in research in artificial intelligence and knowledgebase systems.

A Tupelo native who resides in Starkville, Hodges initially thought about including 18

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Julia Hodges

Mississippi State in her estate plans. However, she realized that she wants to witness the impact of her gift firsthand while she remains involved in the daily operations of campus.

She is currently associate vice president for academic affairs and co-interim dean for MSU-Meridian.

“It is very gratifying to know I can be part of my own legacy today because of the steps I have taken with the MSU Foundation, and I am looking forward to becoming acquainted with future recipients of my scholarship,” Hodges said.

Hodges has a long resume of achievement, much of it at Mississippi State, where she earned undergraduate and master’s degrees.

She also holds a doctorate from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. For a time, she taught in the Starkville Public Schools before joining Mississippi State, where she is recognized as a Hearin-Hess Professor of Engineering, one of the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering’s major faculty honors.

Over her career, Hodges has made a positive impact on the lives of countless students and she hopes to inspire others.

“I am blessed that I can do this. I firmly believe in paying forward and that to whom much is given, much is expected,” said Hodges, who looks forward to getting acquainted with the first recipient of her scholarship this year.

NOT E S

Spreading the message of philanthropy

JOHN STUART MSU Foundation Ambassadors President

The MSU Foundation Ambassadors are striving to make an impact at Mississippi State University on an almost daily basis. Since we chartered our organization three years ago, our group has been growing both in number and in recognition at Mississippi State. In fact, some members of our dedicated executive council are pictured with me on the cover of this magazine in appreciation of all gifts that impact our Bulldog experience.

This year, I have the opportunity and privilege of serving as president. I am honored to not only lead our group and promote the importance of giving back to our university, but also to serve the members in all our organizational endeavors.

As we continue our work on campus, we are always aware of alumni and friends who make an impact on everyday life at MSU. Our capstone event every semester is Donor Appreciation Day, which has become our primary marketing day for the MSU Foundation and our group. On this day, we enlist MSU students to write thank-you notes to hundreds of donors, and they are always willing to help. Together, we gather on the historic Drill Field and reflect on how private gifts make our education and the MSU experience possible.

Of course, all that we do revolves around Mississippi State’s capital campaign, Infinite Impact. Last fall, we assisted the MSU Foundation in the launch of the multiyear campaign. We’ll continue sharing the message of how your gifts help MSU create an infinite impact as we move through the milestones of the campaign.

I am forever grateful for this opportunity to serve Mississippi State, and extremely thankful for those who support the university. During my time as a bulldog, and through all of my education as a marketing student in the College of Business, I have learned that value and cost are not necessarily the same. While a gift to the MSU Foundation can seem like only a dollar amount to some, the value is far greater for the contributor and the recipient.

As I, along with my fellow Foundation Ambassadors have learned, the true value of the gift is the gravity it has on each of us. It’s something that can never be bought, and over time will help our maroon family grow. Our goal as Ambassadors is to help more of our fellow students understand this, so that they, too, will support Mississippi State University for a lifetime.

As a Mississippi native who hails from Senatobia, I hope all my efforts as a Foundation Ambassador will advance my university and my home state. I am thankful for the opportunity to attend MSU with scholarships and look forward to soon count myself, just like many of you, among the university’s most loyal alumni.

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NEWS

Montgomery challenge inspires gifts for new veterans facility

The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation has made a $100,000 challenge commitment to match private gifts for a new campus veterans center to be erected on the Mississippi State University campus.

“This is a most generous donation and a wonderful tribute to the late Sonny Montgomery who will always be remembered as a champion for assisting our servicemen and women,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Currently the veterans center is housed in an older building that cannot adequately serve this growing portion of MSU’s enrollment. A new home will enhance the educational and transitional environment for student veterans.”

The MSU master plan proposes the stateof-the-art facility to be built on the northern central portion of the Starkville campus.

Thus far, $2.2 million is in hand from private contributions toward the construction, and an additional $1 million is still needed in gifts.

Once completed, the building will house a large classroom/multipurpose room, a computer lab, study rooms and office spaces.

Brad Crawford, president of the Montgomery Foundation, said, “We are extremely proud to be among the contributors for this facility that will be a larger base of operations for veteran activity at Mississippi State University.”

By stepping forward, the Montgomery Foundation seeks to encourage other private gifts to make the facility a reality, Crawford said.

At MSU, The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans is a national leader in providing campus-based veteran 20

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Air Force ROTC

resources in support of 2,000 currently enrolled student veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. The university’s 136 year-old land-grant institution has been recognized for its veteran-friendly campus, most recently as a top 30 institution by U.S. News & World Report.

“This generous gift from the Montgomery Foundation celebrates the late Congressman Montgomery’s legacy of service to veterans,” said Ken McRae, director of the MSU center. “The gift will assist us in improving our support to MSU’s student veteran community now and in the future.”

A Meridian native, Montgomery was a 1943 general business graduate of then Mississippi State College. He began his political career in 1956 with election to the Mississippi Senate and would serve a decade in that role. In 1966, Montgomery was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and held office through seven presidents before retiring in 1996. He won national acclaim for legislation known as the Montgomery G.I. Bill and was known on Capitol Hill as “Mr. Veteran.” The Montgomery Foundation was established prior to Montgomery’s death in 2006 at the age of 85.

Alumni and friends may support the new veterans center by contacting Wes Gordon, director of development for the Division of Student Affairs, at 662.325.9129 or email wgordon@foundation.msstate.edu.

NOT E S

Building on the Bulldog tradition of giving

JACK MCCARTY Executive Director of Development

Traditions are important, and they provide a symbol to rally around and give Mississippi State University its uniqueness as an institution.

While recently reading “Daily Devotions for Die-Hard Bulldog Fans” by Ed McMinn, I was reminded it was W.M. Matthews from Harris, Texas, who initially declared “our banner will be maroon and white.” It was on that day in 1895, that a tradition was born at then Mississippi A&M. A later modern-era tradition emerged from these colors as they gave a platform for the legendary Jack Cristil to “wrap it” for legions of fans. In the world of philanthropy, however, the non-traditional gift often makes the greatest stories. Let’s examine their capacity for Infinite Impact:

Real Estate: Highly appreciated real estate is a great way to make a gift. The donor receives a tax deduction for the full value of the property by avoiding capital gains taxes. In recent years, the MSU Foundation has had great success with our proactive approach to real estate gifts as alumni and friends trust us with their assets.

IRA Transfers: In this issue, you will read about a non-traditional gift in the form of an IRA transfer from Rocky Sullivan. By making the MSU Foundation a partial beneficiary of his IRA, Rocky will create a future impact in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Charitable Lead Trusts: CLTs pay income to a charity typically for a period of years, and then remaining assets pass to a donor’s family. Scott Lumpkin, vice chancellor of advancement at the University of Denver in Colorado, endorsed the method during the Foundation Board’s Summer Workshop, stating simply, “If you want to leave a large sum to your heirs, take care of serious estate tax issues, and make a gift; the Charitable Lead Trust is the choice.”

Bulldog Forest: The Bulldog Forest will hopefully become an MSU tradition as it allows lasting investments through land and timber gifts. Experts within the College of Forest Resources work with the MSU Foundation to manage significant acreage that maximizes revenue and preserves the integrity of the individual properties. These properties carry the donor’s name and can benefit any area of MSU.

I know firsthand that family land is sacred. In Stephen J. Small’s book “Preserving Family Lands,” he looks at preservation strategies for families. I could easily make the case that families can preserve their heritage as well as leave a legacy through the Bulldog Forest.

I encourage each of you to always make outright gifts of cash, which are invaluable to the life of our university, and consider non-traditional gifts. Some of these are essential to take care of your loved ones as well as your beloved Mississippi State University.

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Transform your real estate into a meaningful gift for Mississippi State University. If you have questions about how to make a gift, or would like to request a free copy of our Guide to Giving Real Estate, please contact a member of our MSU Foundation real estate team today. For more information, visit our website at www.bulldogforest.msstate.edu.

Jud Skelton Director of Development for Real Estate (662) 325-0643 jskelton@foundation.msstate.edu

Jeff Little Director of Development for the Bulldog Forest (662) 324-8151 jlittle@foundation.msstate.edu

NEWS

Foundation announces incoming staff, new roles Britt

Harrington

Moore

Thomas

A couple of new faces have joined the fundraising team in the MSU Foundation while several others have undertaken new roles.

Kight

Canton native Dees Britt is the new assistant director of development for both the MSU Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Previously Britt worked with MSU’s Division of Student Affairs as an admissions counselor and later was an admissions coordinator and recruiter for both the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Forest Resources. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2009, followed by a master’s degree in teaching and community college education, with an emphasis in marketing in 2013, both from Mississippi State.

Another new hire is Zack Harrington who is the assistant director of development for the College of Business and its Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy. A Hattiesburg native, Harrington holds two degrees from MSU: a 2009 bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis in real estate mortgage finance and a 2010 master’s in sport administration. Previously, Harrington worked with SERVPRO Cleanup Services in sales. He is also a former quarterback of the Bulldog football team.

Along with the addition of Britt and Harrington, three veteran fundraisers have assumed new roles.

Jimmy Kight has transitioned to the role of development director for the College of Veterinary Medicine. Previously, he was assistant director of development for the College of Business.

Kight began his MSU career in 2007 after receiving a degree in communication from the university. A Philadelphia native, he first worked as a regional in-state MSU admissions counselor.

Also moving into a new role as director of corporate and foundation relations is Nathan Moore. He now leads the coordination of this major gifts area for the MSU Foundation and serves as a liaison for many campus units.

Moore had served as the director of development for the College of Architecture, Art and Design since 2008. Prior to that position, he worked for the MSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships. He is a Starkville native who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public policy and administration, both from MSU.

Succeeding Moore as director of development for the College of Architecture, Art and Design is Perry King “P.K.” Thomas IV. The Tupelo native comes from the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, having served as assistant director of development since 2010.

Before joining MSU, Thomas worked as a district executive for Yocona Area Council of Boy Scouts of America and as an admissions counselor for Mississippi State. He earned a 2003 communication degree and a master’s in physical education and sport administration in 2008, both from MSU.

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PROFILE

DONORS:

John and Hayley Lundy Ridgeland, Mississippi

HO M E T O W N :

A love of agriculture drew John Lundy to Mississippi State University. He grew up on a farm in the Mississippi Delta town of Leland and worked his way through MSU, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics. He began his career in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station in Stoneville, Mississippi, which, along with his degree, helped catapult him to Washington, D.C., where he made friends and worked with many MSU alumni.

John is currently a partner of Capitol Resources LLC. Earlier in his career, he held roles as director of transition for Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, and a legislative assistant for both Texas Congressman Larry Combest and Mississippi Congressmen Mike Espy.

Despite a busy career, John remains active with his alma mater, serving on the MSU Foundation Board of Directors. He is also involved in Bully Bloc, which supports

Mississippi State’s interests in the legislative and political process.

Today, MSU is a family affair for John and his wife, Hayley, a native of Moss Point, who holds a business degree from the University of Mississippi. She and John met when she worked on Sen. Trent Lott’s staff as his personal assistant. Hayley later worked in White House legislative affairs for the George H.W. Bush presidential administration. After earning an interior design degree from Marymount College, she joined a private design firm in Arlington, Virginia.

Since returning to Mississippi, the couple resides in Ridgeland and visits campus often with their three daughters—Eliza, Anne Marie and Mary Gibson. The family supports the university with their financial gifts, which have included contributions for the John and Hayley Lundy Loyalty Scholarship, faculty awards, and support for Bulldog athletics.

Loyalty. Pride. Passion.

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2014 Board of Directors BOARD

OF F I C E R S

President - Bobby S. Shackouls | President and CEO of Burlington Resources Inc. (retired) | Houston, Texas Vice President - E.W. “Earnie” Deavenport Jr. | Chairman and CEO of Eastman Chemical (retired) | Kiawah Island, S.C. Treasurer - Mary M. Childs | President, CEO, COO and Vice Chairman of The Peoples Bank | Ripley, Miss.

CEO - John P. Rush | Vice President for Development and Alumni | Mississippi State University Secretary - Jack R. McCarty | Executive Director of Development | Mississippi State University CFO - David D. Easley | Executive Director of Finance | Mississippi State University

MEMBERS

Richard C. Adkerson | Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.

J.W. “Jim” Bagley | Executive Chairman of the Board of Lam Research Corp. (retired), Trophy Club, Texas D. Hines Brannan Jr. | Managing Director of Accenture (retired), Atlanta, Ga. George W. Bryan Sr. | Owner of Old Waverly Golf Club, West Point, Miss.

Albert C. Clark | President of C.C. Clark Inc., Starkville, Miss.

John N. “Nutie” Dowdle | Chairman of the Board of Dowdle Enterprises, Columbus, Miss.

Haley R. Fisackerly | President and CEO of Entergy Mississippi, Jackson, Miss.

Hassell H. Franklin | Chairman and CEO of Franklin Corp., Houston, Miss.

Steve Golding | Bulldog Club President, Vicksburg, Miss.

S. Bryce Griffis | President of Sturgis Timber Co., Sturgis, Miss.

Jan L. Gwin | Managing Director of Raymond James Financial Inc., Memphis, Tenn.

David B. Hall | Chief Operating Officer of Hall Timberlands, Meridian, Miss.

Wilbert G. “Mickey” Holliman Jr. | Chairman and CEO of Furniture Brands International (retired), Belden, Miss.

Mark S. Jordan | Real Estate Developer of Mark S. Jordan Companies, Canton, Miss.

Malcolm B. Lightsey Sr. | President and CEO of SunTech Inc. (retired), Ridgeland, Miss.

John R. Lundy | Partner of Capitol Resources LLC, Jackson, Miss.

Lewis F. Mallory Jr. | Chairman and CEO of Cadence Bank (retired), Starkville, Miss.

Bobby P. Martin | Chairman of The Peoples Bank, Ripley, Miss.

Mike M. McDaniel | CEO of M3 Resources LLC, Houston, Texas Richard H. Mills Jr. | Founder and Manager of Tellus Operating Group LLC, Ridgeland, Miss.

William C. “Bill” Mitchell | Vice President of Brown, Mitchell & Alexander Inc., Gulfport, Miss.

Roderick A. “Rod” Moore | Executive Vice President and CEO, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance (retired), Brandon, Miss.

James E. “Jim” Newsome | Partner of Delta Strategy Group, Washington, D.C. Linda F. Parker | Secretary of Sunbelt Wholesale, Bolton, Miss.

Richard H. Puckett Sr. | Chairman and CEO of Puckett Machinery Co., Jackson, Miss.

Nancy Qualls | President of Qualls and Associates, Little Rock, Ark. Charles W. “Tex” Ritter Jr. | President and CEO of The Attala Co. (retired), Kosciusko, Miss.

Tommy R. Roberson | MSU National Alumni Association President, Madison, Miss.

James J. ”Jim” Rouse | Vice President of ExxonMobil (retired), Houston, Texas Richard A. Rula | President of Hemphill Construction Co., Florence, Miss.

Michael W. “Mike” Sanders | Consultant for Jimmy Sanders Inc., Cleveland, Miss.

Wallace L. Seal | Manager of North Beach Haulers LLC, Bay St. Louis, Miss.

John Walter “Walt” Starr Jr. | Periodontist, Golden Triangle Periodontal Center, Columbus, Miss.

Cynthia M. Stevens | Management Principal Government Relations of Deloitte LLP, Alexandria, Va. Milton Sundbeck | President of Southern Ionics Inc., West Point, Miss.

William A. “Lex” Taylor III | Chairman and CEO of The Taylor Group Inc., Louisville, Miss.

Douglas T. “Doug” Terreson | Senior Managing Director of Energy Research for International Strategy & Investment, Point Clear, Ala. J.F. “Bud” Thompson Jr. | Partner of Thompson Limited Partnership, Meridian, Miss.

Anthony Wilson | Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Operations of Georgia Power Co., Atlanta, Ga. Turner A. Wingo | Owner of Sherry’s Hallmark (retired), Collierville, Tenn.

James K. Dossett | Legal Counsel, Jackson, Miss.

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