2022 USM Foundation Impact Report

AS YOU CAN SEE, WHETHER NEAR OR FAR, THE GOLDEN EAGLE SPIRIT SPANS THE GLOBE.

Behind every gift is someone’s story.

This year’s Impact Report features a few of them—stories of alumni and friends who, no matter where they’ve been or where they’ll go, remain connected to Southern Miss through their philanthropy. Just like our students, our donors hail from far and wide. Yet, regardless of the miles, these Golden Eagles always return home to the nest.

When you give to Southern Miss, you’re giving to a first-generation college student who dreams of becoming a lawyer. You’re giving to a faculty member on the cusp of groundbreaking ocean research. You’re giving to ensure our campuses and research sites have state-of-the-art technology needed for our students to have the best learning opportunities possible. Though we don’t know where our Golden Eagles will land after they take flight, we do know your support of Southern Miss is an investment, Giving Wing to possibility for our students, our cherished University and our communities.

THANK YOU

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

This year has certainly been like no other as the University successfully launched our historic fundraising campaign. Thanks to your engagement and support, we are on track to reach and exceed our ambitious $150 million goal.

I have been overwhelmed with the support and love so many of you have shown me in the short time I have returned to serve as the 11th president of our beloved Southern Miss. Since my arrival, I have also been reminded of the reach of our Golden Eagle family across all corners of the globe.

Southern Miss alumni are CEOs, military generals, international performers, and Super Bowl and Olympic champions, as well as the teachers who educate our children, the scientists who lead the next big discovery, and the doctors and nurses who deliver life-saving care and provide comfort on our most painful days.

Golden Eagles change the world each and every day, carrying our culture of grit into everything they do as they chase their dreams with an unrivaled passion and relentless persistence.

Our excellent faculty and staff provide the foundation for our students’ success, enabling them to create a meaningful living and extraordinary life.

Today, tomorrow and over the course of the next few years, we must remain focused on the path ahead. Let’s continue to harness our momentum to solidify our place as the most distinctive comprehensive R1 university in the nation and to foster a new era of innovation and discovery—for Mississippi, our country and the world.

This is our time, our campaign. Our goals are audacious, and we will settle for nothing less. We will never give up—and we will never give in—as we look to the next peak on our path to the top. Together, we are mighty.

LETTER FROM THE USM FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

Eagles soar, relying on wind currents to travel from one destination to the next. Like those currents, you are Giving Wing to Southern Miss students, faculty and staff, enabling them through philanthropy. It has been just over a year since the public announcement of our University’s historic $150 million campaign, Give Wing: The Campaign for Southern Miss. Your support has been resolute. The Golden Eagle family is taking this campaign to new heights beyond our imagination—and in record time! As of Feb. 28, 2023, you have generously given more than $140 million toward our goal.

In the pages of this Impact Report, you will read stories of members of the Southern Miss family who care deeply and have created opportunities for others. These are but a few examples of alumni and friends whose giving demonstrates ways to support our campaign pillars of student success, including athletic support, academic excellence, and innovation and discovery.

Under the leadership of President Joe Paul, we are harnessing our Southern Miss grit and redefining the “Top.” In pursuit of audacious goals, together, we Give Wing to a new generation of scholars, scientists, caregivers, educators and more, changing lives—one at a time.

Thank you for joining us on this journey and for your generosity.

Stace Mercier

Dr. Joseph S. Paul Took Flight in ’75, ’79 Hattiesburg, Miss.

Took Flight in ’89, ’96 Hattiesburg, Miss.

CAN YOU SEE IT?

History is being made right in front of our eyes. As we enter the second year of the University’s most ambitious fundraising campaign, we have seen alumni and friends go above and beyond to support our beloved University.

In 2022, we saw success across all areas of the University. Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor opened its doors as the new home for the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families. The Luckyday Foundation continued their support by committing more than $9.6 million to the Luckyday Scholars Program. We also welcomed Dr. Joe Paul as the 11th president. I am enjoying working closely with him on the University’s fundraising priorities.

I fondly recall my first days on campus and the people I’ve met since. They were not simply newfound friendships, but a USM family. From my days of marching in The Pride, joining Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, being initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and participating in the Alternative Service Break program and various other student organizations, my experiences at Southern Miss certainly shaped who I am today. The scholarship support I received greatly assisted me in my pursuit of both my bachelor's and master’s degrees. It allowed me the opportunity to fully appreciate my college experience and create “mem’ries” I shall forever cherish.

As you read through this year’s Impact Report, take a moment to recognize the amazing things happening at Southern Miss. Donor support provides endless opportunities for our students, and we get to Give Wing to the next generation of leaders and trailblazers—the best and brightest Golden Eagles. Thank you for your financial support.

SOUTHERN MISS TO THE TOP!

MISSISSIPPI

FLORIDA MIRAMAR BEACH

EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE

Took Flight in ’94, ’96

President of the Board of Directors

Joe Quinlan, Took Flight in 1973

Vice President and Resource Development Committee Chair

Chairman – First National Bankers Bankshares Inc.

Shonna Brown, Took Flight in 2001

Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair

Associate Commissioner for Football Operations PAC-12 Conference

Jennifer Payne

Took Flight in 2004

Member-at-Large Communication and Event Specialist

Stace Mercier

Took Flight in ’89, ’96 Secretary Executive Director The USM Foundation

Chris Anderson, Took Flight in 1995 Policy and Bylaws Committee Chair

Chair – Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Louie Ehrlich

Took Flight in 1981

Immediate Past President President – Ehrlich Capital, LLC; Retired CIO – Chevron

Steve Strickland

Took Flight in 1986 Investment Committee Chair President – Stonehenge Private Client Group

CANTON

Kelsey Rushing

Kelsey Rushing President

Attorney – Office of Capital Defense, State of Mississippi

BOARD MEMBERS

Reed Allison

Took Flight in 1983

Senior VP of Investments – Stifel

GULFPORT, MS

Becky Cowart

Took Flight in 1976

Community Volunteer and Philanthropist

FRANKLIN, TN

Beverly Dale

Took Flight in 1968

Retired Health Industry Professional, Philanthropist and Social Advocate

LOS ALTOS, CA

Rebecca Boudreaux

Took Flight in 2001

CEO – Oberon Fuels

HAMBURG, GERMANY

Carlen Chestang

Took Flight in 1984

Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 (HR)

U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

GURLEY, AL

Alan Coats

Took Flight in 1978

Director – BlackHorn Partners, LLC;

Retired Senior Director – Halliburton THE WOODLANDS, TX

Lisa Conn

Took Flight in 1991

Owner – Quill Communication

HATTIESBURG, MS

Robert Donnell

Took Flight in 1992

Owner – Donnell CPA Group, PC

HATTIESBURG, MS

Tom Gibbens

Took Flight in 1986

Sr. Vice President/Territory Manager

Lamar Advertising of Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, AR

Kevin Gilbert

Took Flight in ’94, ’96

Assistant Superintendent of Access and Equality

South Orange-Maplewood School District

MAPLEWOOD, NJ

Wade Howk

Took Flight in ’03, ’06

Chief Financial Officer

Hard Rock Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, OH

Carol Jones-Russell

Took Flight in 2003

County and Youth Court Judge

Forrest County

HATTIESBURG, MS

Joy Lightsey

Took Flight in 1973

Retired Business Owner – SunTech

RIDGELAND, MS

Vickie Lock

Took Flight in 2008

Registered Nurse

BRANDON, MS

Adele Lyons

Took Flight in ’86, ’88

Chief Executive Officer

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

BILOXI, MS

Keith Mooney

Took Flight in 1980

Sr. Vice President/Deputy CIO

Cadence Trust and Asset Management

WEST POINT, MS

Omar Nelson

Took Flight in 1994

Attorney – Gibbs Travis, PLLC

VICKSBURG, MS

Rhonda Phillips

Took Flight in ’83, ’86

Dean – Honors College, Purdue University

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN

Roderick Posey

Took Flight in ’74, ’75

Retired Accounting Professor

The University of Southern Mississippi and Alabama A&M University

HATTIESBURG, MS

Tracy Powell

Took Flight in 1986

Attorney – Sherrard, Roe, Voigt & Harbison, PLC

NASHVILLE, TN

Chuck Scianna

Took Flight in 1975

Owner and President – Sim-Tex, LP

BELLVILLE, TX

DeMario Smith

Took Flight in 1997

Executive Strategic Partner

American Fidelity Assurance Company

MADISON, MS

Adalius Thomas

Took Flight in 1999

Chief Executuve Officer

FSV Tech, LLC;

Retired NFL Player

CHAMBLEE, GA

A WORLDRENOWNED REPOSITORY

On the second floor of McCain Library and Archives lies the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, a hidden gem on the USM Hattiesburg Campus.

Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond came to USM in the late 1960s to teach children’s literature. She recognized an opportunity for her students to examine original materials, so she began an extensive letter-writing campaign to children's authors and illustrators asking them to donate their materials. Penning an average of 100 letters per week, de Grummond's efforts became the foundation for what is now one of the nation’s largest collections of children's literature because they responded.

Established in 1966 by de Grummond, the Collection holds the original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,400 authors and illustrators and more than 200,000 published books dating from 1530 to the present. These prized materials include Aesop’s Fables, dated 1530; a board game from 1790; and more than 400 cataloged versions of the Cinderella story.

Researchers from different disciplines around the world visit the Collection to study its fables, fairy tales, folklore, alphabet books, nursery rhymes, textbooks, religious books, moral stories, fantasy, fiction, primers and children’s magazines.

“The influence of children’s literature cannot be denied. It is through reading quality books that children become lifelong learners. Once children connect to a book, their lives are enhanced," said Ellen Ruffin, associate professor and curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection.

In 2022, three significant gifts made through the USM Foundation from longtime friends of de Grummond bolstered the magnificent Collection.

Dr. Eric Schonblom The Constance Savery Collection

Dr. Eric Schonblom is a retired engineer residing in Buckhorn, Ky. As a child, he enjoyed reading and recalls Emeralds for the King by Constance Savery as one of his favorites.

Since his retirement in 1997, he has read and collected each of Savery’s 50 books, as well as multiple short stories, poems and articles. There are two main characteristics Schonblom especially appreciates about her writing.

Savery wrote to educate and encourage. “She thought good and respectable people deserved more attention, so in her books, the good characters are described and drawn vividly, while the villainous often fade out of the storyline altogether,” Schonblom notes. “As an adult, I realized her writing is entirely free of bigotry or racial stereotyping, even in her early work in the 1930s and 1940s when antisemitism was so prevalent.”

In 2017, using source materials from Savery’s granddaughter, Schonblom wrote her biography, Another Lady: A Biography of Constance Savery

“As I was compiling my bibliography of Savery’s works, I scoured the Internet searching for her books and short stories, and in doing so, I discovered the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection,” he said.

“Constance Savery’s work diary mentions correspondence with Dr. de Grummond, who knew Savery was completing Emma, a two-chapter fragment left behind by the late Charlotte Brontë. The two women continued their correspondence until Dr. de Grummond’s death in 1987.”

While traveling for the holidays, Schonblom took a detour to Hattiesburg to see the Constance Savery Collection at Southern Miss. Pleased with his reception there, Schonblom began donating Savery items, including bound copies of her unpublished novels.

Over many years, Schonblom amassed an extensive library of Savery’s work. In April 2022, he donated the entirety of his collection, along with a $30,000 gift to bolster the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection Endowment for the purchase, maintenance and enhancement of the Collection and to support

other library needs. So fortuitous was his timing, because in July 2022, heavy rainfall and the collapse of two upstream dams resulted in a flash flood that filled his home with 26 inches of muddy water, destroying many of his possessions.

“de Grummond would not be the world-renowned Collection it is without the time-intensive contributions of children’s literature superfans like the wonderful Eric Schonblom,” Ruffin said. “He not only added to de Grummond’s holdings through his donation of a staggering collection of Constance Savery books, but he also took the time to transcribe all of the original material he donated, too.”

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

The Ezra Jack Keats Collection

The de Grummond Collection is the home of the Ezra Jack Keats Archive, the sole repository of Keats’ manuscripts, typescripts, sketches, dummies, illustrations and proofs for 37 books he wrote and/or illustrated.

The mission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is to

• Bring the multicultural, creative spirit of Keats into children's lives and literature;

• Support arts and literacy programs in public schools and libraries across the country;

• Celebrate new writers and illustrators of exceptional picture books for a diverse audience of children; and

Jacob Ezra Katz’s artistic talent was recognized when he was a young boy. Born in 1916 in Brooklyn, New York, he was the third child of a Jewish family who journeyed to the United States to escape vicious antisemitism in Poland. Growing up during the Great Depression, he was unable to attend art school after high school and instead took various commercial art jobs wherever he could find them. Keats was lucky to get a job helping paint murals for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and went on to illustrate backgrounds for Marvel comics. He joined the United States Army in 1943 and designed camouflage patterns, a service that helped save lives. In 1947, having experienced severe antisemitism, he changed his name to Ezra Jack Keats to get work as an artist. His illustrations began to appear in well-known publications and galleries, and eventually he was hired to illustrate children’s books authored by others.

• Preserve Keats' work and extend his legacy.

“I was like a child playing, and I was in a world with no rules.” Keats experimented with techniques that were completely new to him—combining collage, handmade stamps, and spattering ink—creating the striking illustrations for which The Snowy Day is now famous.

The Ezra Jack Keats (EJK) Foundation was established in 1964, with Keats serving as president and his lifelong friend, Martin Pope, as secretary. Upon his passing in 1983, Keats’ will directed the Foundation to use the royalties from his books for social good. Martin Pope and his wife Lillie designed the EJK Foundation to realize his wishes.

C.E. & S. Foundation

The Tasha Tudor Collection

Tasha Tudor was an author/illustrator of children’s literature whose work has brought joy to generations of readers. She wrote and illustrated more than two dozen published texts during her lifetime. Recognized worldwide for the expressive nature of her watercolors and pencil drawings, her artwork has now appeared in over 100 titles and on innumerable greeting cards.

Before legally changing her name, Tasha Tudor was born Starling Burgess on August 28, 1915, in Boston, Mass. She studied at the Boston Museum School and began illustrating children’s book in 1938. Over the years, she enjoyed writing and illustrating fairy tales, nursery rhymes and stories of holiday celebrations and farm life. Her illustration style has been frequently characterized as “romantically old-fashioned, Victorian and nineteenth-century.” In addition to numerous other awards and honors, two of her works, Mother Goose and 1 Is One , were named Caldecott Honor Books.

Housed within de Grummond, the Tasha Tudor Collection contains material for her books, a collection of her favorite Christmas cards, as well as many other illustrations, letters and original art.

It wasn’t until the early 1960s that Keats was invited to write and illustrate the book that became The Snowy Day, which was published in 1962. The following year, Keats was awarded the Caldecott Medal, the most prestigious children’s book award. During his acceptance speech, he described his thoughts while creating the picture book:

Since 1985, the EJK Foundation has contributed over $565,000 through the USM Foundation for awards, promotions, activities and development of the Ezra Jack Keats Archive and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. Annually, the EJK Foundation contributes $36,000 in support with supplemental gifts made periodically.

Each year during the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival, the de Grummond Collection and the EJK Foundation present the Ezra Jack Keats Award, which honors early career writers and illustrators of outstanding children’s books that reflect our diverse population.

“It’s an honor to work with Ellen Ruffin, curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, whose stewardship has been instrumental in helping the national renown of the EJK Award flourish,” said Deborah Pope, executive director of the EJK Foundation. “During our partnership, the EJK Award has jump started the careers of such star authors and illustrators as Meg Medina, Christian Robinson, Oge Mora, Micha Archer and Derrick Barnes. It’s a joy to know that de Grummond is not only one of the foremost collections of children’s literature in the United States, it is also a force that fosters the creation of wonderful books for today, as well as future generations of our multicultural communities.”

For Tasha Tudor’s Favorite Christmas Carols, the Collection contains a typescript, two galleys, illustration proofs, color separations, layouts and blueprints.

“Tasha Tudor is a household name in children’s literature,” Ruffin said. “Her work speaks to individuals of all ages and evokes pleasant memories with her depictions of idyllic times. Her scenes present children, animals and festivities, and she expresses her love of gardens in the florals used in her picture books.”

The C.E. and S. Foundation has donated more than $693,000 through the USM Foundation, including $200,000 in 2022 for the acquisition of the Tasha Tudor Christmas and Greeting Card Collection.

Ruffin exudes, “We are humbled by the extensive support of the C.E. and S. Foundation, which has assisted us in becoming the place for Tasha Tudor research, allowing us to expand our reach and impact to disciplines from English, library science and creative writing to graphic design, digital humanities and history.”

The de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection—a treasure trove of materials from Savery, Keats, Tudor and

Located in Louisville, Ky., the C.E. and S. Foundation is an organization that works to better the communities it serves. The Foundation invests in five areas of focus essential to educational achievement:

• Caregiver Engagement

• Social Emotional Support (Birth through Grade 12)

• Academic Support (Kindergarten through Grade 12)

• Family and Household Stability

• Postsecondary Education Success

so many others—would not be the extensive collection it is without the generosity of our donors and partners. Their generosity in time, monetary support and physical materials has an invaluable impact on the Collection and the future of children’s literature research.

EXPANDING THE TRACK TO SUCCESS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY

To honor the memory of their late father, Dr. Charles Moorman, the brothers established the Moorman STEM Jump Scholarship Endowment with a $1 million gift in 2021. Together, they hope to continue their father’s legacy.

The scholarship awards a minimum of $2,500 to incoming freshmen who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors. Specifically, the scholarship is geared toward capable students who are at increased risk of non-persistence due to barriers beyond their control, such as financial need and first-generation status. The Moorman brothers hope the scholarship will relieve barriers for selected students and enable them to excel at Southern Miss as they launch their careers in STEMfocused fields.

The Moormans recently made a second $1 million gift to support STEM education at Southern Miss. Building upon the success of the the Moorman STEM Jump Scholars Program, this second gift established the Moorman STEM Endowed Professorship. The endowment will provide funds to recruit and retain a STEM professor who will oversee the activities of the Moorman STEM Jump Scholars Program and work in support of underrepresented students in STEM.

When Charles Wickliffe "Wick" Moorman IV was a child, he spent many hours playing with his brother, Randall Moorman, M.D., in his father’s office. As his small hand pushed a toy train down imaginary tracks, he had no idea he would one day become the president and CEO of Norfolk Southern and Amtrak.

“Randall and I spent countless hours playing in our father’s second floor office in College Hall,” Wick said. “Sometimes, he’d pay us to go to the library and memorize poetry, too. Our memories of USM are good, mostly because my father was an exceptional professor and mentor.”

Beginning in 1954, the bulk of Dr. Charles Moorman’s career was spent at Southern Miss. He was a professor of English, chair of the English department, associate dean of the Graduate School, dean of students, and vice president of Academic Affairs. After years in administration, he returned to the classroom until his retirement in 1990. In each of his roles, Dr. Moorman was known for helping students pursue academic majors that ensured promising careers upon graduation. The Charles W. Moorman Distinguished Professorship in the humanities was established in 2011 in honor of his retirement.

“The endowments established by Wick and Randall Moorman will help generations of students succeed in their STEM educations and future careers,” said Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USM. “The fact that these gifts honor their father is particularly meaningful to me. As a Southern Miss undergraduate in the mid-1980s, I took Dr. Moorman’s world literature class. I vividly recall him standing on the stage in Stout Hall, dressed in a full suit and tie, reciting long passages from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales in the original Middle English. At the time, I had no idea of his many accomplishments and accolades; I just knew he owned that stage and kept an entire auditorium of students engaged, even if they were not particularly interested in literature. Even though I was a physics major, Dr. Moorman’s class remains one of my clearest memories from my undergraduate years, and that signifies the outstanding teacher he was and what an impact he had on students.”

While neither Wick nor Randall is an alumnus of Southern Miss, they remember a wonderful childhood in Hattiesburg and are eager to keep their father’s memory alive while helping students reach their full potential. Wick is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology and Harvard Business School, and Randall received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.

Leaving a legacy for their father, combined with the impact the scholarship and professorship will have on future students, was the catalyst for their gifts. “Students need to have the tools and training needed to leave USM world-ready,” Wick said. “While my father studied and taught in the humanities, my brother and I come from engineering and medical backgrounds, respectively. The cross-section of his desire to prepare students for careers, recruit the finest professors in their fields, and our insight into business and medicine made STEM support at Southern Miss a perfect fit.”

Randall lives in Keswick, Va., and is a professor of medicine and clinical cardiologist at the University of Virginia. While there, he has grown and led a large multi-disciplinary group focused on using Big Data for early disease detection.

Wick spent his entire career in the railroad industry. Starting with Norfolk Southern, he served as CEO after

a “wandering series of jobs,” with a second retirement from Amtrak. He resides in Virginia with his family, where he owns and enjoys a “hobby” vineyard. “I want to live well, help others, and enjoy the remainder of my life because we only have a short go at it.”

That understanding leads him to encourage students to work hard, seize opportunities and take risks while accepting the advantage of a little luck. Wick reflects on walking the tracks in downtown Hattiesburg as a child. “I was a kid who loved the trains. Now, I can help others who are at the beginning of their own journey.”

IMPACT GREATER THAN MILES

Born in a small Mississippi railroad town in the 1950s, George Edwards Jr. was taught to never settle.

Unable to attend college themselves, his parents strongly desired for their children to gain a good education and worked hard to set them up for success. He made his parents proud by graduating valedictorian of his high school and continuing on to pursue a college degree.

Meanwhile in Muirkirk, Md., his future wife, DeBra, was also being raised in a household that valued education and the opportunities it afforded. She attended Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, and is now a retired legal administrator, having worked for Vinson & Elkins, LLP for 25 years and Haynes and Boone, LLP for 15 years.

Like many who visit Southern Miss’ campuses, George was drawn to the welcoming atmosphere of the University on a field trip his senior year of high school. He joined the U.S. Army at 17 years old and enrolled at Southern Miss in 1977 after completing nearly five years of service. While at USM, he continued to serve in the Reserves for another year and earned his degree in accounting in 1981, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.

“My parents were hardworking people who wanted all seven of their children to achieve a successful life through education,” George said. “I am proud of the fact I am the first to graduate and did so summa cum laude, and I have been able to achieve many successes in life due to my education from Southern Miss. As the oldest, I led the way for two of my siblings to also graduate from USM.”

For 39 years, George enjoyed a career as a certified public accountant at ExxonMobil Corporation. During his time there, he received the Corporate Leadership Award from the Minerals Management Service (MMS) for his initiatives and high standards in the reporting of federal and Indian oil and gas royalties and for his contributions to the MMS’ timely and accurate distribution of mineral receipts in excess of $253 million in 2003. That same year, he served as the chairman of Leadership Houston (Class XXI) and was elected the first Black trustee to the Cypress-Fairbanks School Board of Trustees in 1995, where he served as vice president.

After retiring in January 2020, George felt led to focus more on educational matters. He serves as a trustee for the Neuhaus Education Center, a nonprofit organization that works to provide literacy for all students no matter their age or situation. He is also a board member for Energy Capital Credit Union. In addition to making a local impact in his Cypress, Texas, community, George is also making an impact nearly 500 miles away at Southern Miss. In 2021, he established the Gordon Edwards Computer Science

Scholarship Endowment in honor of his late brother, who graduated from USM in 1981.

“Gordon was a thinker. He loved working with computers, and he loved his chosen profession of information technology (IT). He informed me during his later years of life that he wanted his legacy to be one of helping IT students achieve the success he experienced by earning a degree in computer science from Southern Miss. So, I made that happen.”

As with any healthy sibling rivalry, George jokingly says he then had to create an endowment in his own name. He established the George Edwards Jr. Accounting Scholarship Endowment in 2022. He explains, “USM prepared me academically to operate successfully in my chosen profession. I felt capable of competing with anyone, whether working alongside a team or individually. I look back with fond memories of my time at Southern Miss. I enjoyed the atmosphere, my professors, my peers, and most of all the preparation I received to become a successful accountant. I want to see more students enjoy their college experiences and succeed in the accounting world.”

Education is very important to George and DeBra, and they strongly believe every person should have the opportunity to learn and succeed. The couple has three sons who have all become strong advocates in the educational realm and a granddaughter, Lily,

whom they absolutely adore. The Edwards are active in their neighborhood Homeowners Association and enjoy traveling. George serves as a deacon at Second Baptist Church in Katy, Texas. They are members of the USM Foundation Honor Club at the Joseph Cook Fellowship Level.

Though many miles away, George stays connected with USM through the Southern Miss Alumni Association, attending as many football games as he can and giving back to the University. He and DeBra are already trying to talk 12-year-old Lily into becoming a Golden Eagle.

George Edwards: Took Flight in 1981

A VISION OF SUPPORT

Kevin Harrison: Took Flight in 1987

There’s a bit of magic happening every day on the Southern Miss Gulf Park and Hattiesburg campuses.

At The Children’s Center for Communication and Development, the laughs are louder, the hugs tighter and the celebrations bigger. Since 1974, The Children’s Center has helped children with complex disabilities secure brighter futures through a transdisciplinary approach. The Children’s Center provides opportunities to work on language, motor and social skills through play. Specialists in speech-language pathology, early oral intervention, audiology, special education, behavioral therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy help each child reach their maximum potential.

Kevin Harrison felt that magic the first time he stepped through the doors of The Children’s Center nearly two decades ago. After settling down with his family, the Hattiesburg native wanted to get involved in philanthropy in his hometown. A friend connected him with The Children’s Center, and after the first visit, he knew it was where he wanted to invest his time and money.

“The director at the time took me around the facility one day, and I just fell in love,” Kevin said. “There’s something about the love children have, especially children with special needs. I really don’t think we should call them special needs, though… I think we should call them special gifts.”

Kevin graduated from Southern Miss in 1987 with a degree in speech communication. His father owned Heritage Vision Center and one day asked him, “Son, until you find something else, do you want to work for me?” Kevin agreed to join his dad with the intention of finding another job in the very near future.

“While in college, I worked at a local retail store. When I finished school, I said whatever career I choose, it’s not going to be in retail.” However, it took Kevin less than a year to realize he really did enjoy working in retail, heavily due to the relationships he formed with others.

“The more I became involved with Heritage Vision Center, the more I liked it because I got to see customers on a regular basis and continuously meet new people.” In 1993, Kevin became the Hattiesburg store manager, and in 2005, he purchased the company from his father. After 30 years managing Heritage Vision Center, he says with a wink, “I think I’ll stick around.”

Not long after Kevin first visited The Children’s Center, he took his daughter Beth to visit. “I told Beth, ‘You have to meet these kids.’ Well, she fell in love with it, too. She wanted to raise money for them, so she started making and selling bracelets and donating the proceeds.”

Kevin also began donating a percentage of his sales from Heritage Vision Center each year. Kevin, his wife, Wanda, and Beth became regulars at The Children’s Center, often taking turns reading to the children. In 2007 at the age of 15, Beth passed away. Devastated, Kevin and Wanda worked with The Children’s Center to create the Rebekah Elizabeth Harrison Endowment in her memory. That was the start of a wonderful partnership in which Kevin would form special relationships with the children and staff members for years to come. The Children's Center also honored

the care and resources they need for years to come while simultaneously honoring his late daughter.

“It wasn’t until I got older that I understood what my parents meant when they said giving is so much better than receiving,” Kevin said. “When your focus is on others, your blessings grow exponentially. When I think about the endowment, supporting studentathletes or the number of glasses I’ve given away… if I could have it all back, I would be so much poorer. Philanthropy ties me to those I’ve lost and hope to honor, and it also connects me to this community I’m proud to be a part of.”

In 2014, Wanda passed away, leaving an even larger void in Kevin’s heart. In order to push forward, he dug into his work, community and church family. “To me, life is all about relationships, and I’ve been blessed to have had the most genuine love with my family, friends and wonderful customers. I have a philosophy in my business—my purpose is not to sell eyeglasses or contact lenses, it’s to help people see better, look better and feel better. We do that by providing people with good quality products that are going to help them enjoy life.”

Beth’s memory by naming a room for her and planting a 15-year-old oak tree overlooking the playground, just as she loved to do.

“Kevin Harrison, or ‘Uncle Kevin’ as many of the kids call him, has been a loyal and generous friend for over a decade,” said Sarah Myers, director of The Children’s Center. “As a nonprofit, we rely heavily on the support of individuals and organizations in our community. It is because of longstanding partnerships with people like Kevin and local businesses like Heritage Vision Center that we are able to continue providing services for children with complex disabilities at no cost to their families. His contributions help facilitate the work we do, and we are so grateful for his ongoing generosity.”

Kevin also provides glasses free of charge for any child at The Children’s Center who needs them. As the Rebekah Elizabeth Harrison Endowment continues to grow, he takes comfort in knowing children will receive

When he least expected it, a new relationship developed. Kevin met Lynda Avery at church and the two immediately connected. Both having prior marriages, each understood the difficulty and uncertainty of pursuing a new relationship. They married in 2016 and continue to make a difference in the Hattiesburg community through their careers and philanthropy. Lynda is a nurse practitioner and founder of Legacy Health Center, a nontraditional health consulting, integrative medical practice.

Kevin and Lynda are actively involved in CrossPoint Community Church. They are members of the Circle of Champions, Eagle Club, McCarty Legacy, Aubrey K. Lucas Society and the USM Foundation Honor Club at the Joseph Cook Fellowship Level. Kevin is also a Life Member of the Southern Miss Alumni Association.

“OUR STORY IS HERE”

Doug and Pam Rouse: Took Flight in 1970

Doug and Pam Rouse have lived in several locations throughout their lifetime, but there is only one they consider home.

Born and raised in Hattiesburg, Doug and Pam met in junior high, and it wasn’t long before the two became inseparable.

When choosing a college, there was never a question both would attend USM. Pam was a Southern Miss cheerleader for two years. She loved cheering on the Golden Eagles, especially #38, which Doug proudly wore as a defensive back.

When they weren’t at The Rock, Doug and Pam were involved in many other campus organizations. Pam was a Tri Delta and remains involved with the sorority today. Doug spent most of his time on the gridiron or studying toward his dream of acceptance into medical school.

“The education I received at USM laid the foundation for me to get into medical school,” Doug said. “I was confident I could go anywhere and pursue any specialty I wanted.”

Doug and Pam both served as counselors for Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp, which provides summer camp experiences for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. Those summers allowed Pam to discover her love for teaching special education.

The Rouses married and graduated in 1970. They then moved to Jackson for Doug to start medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and Pam to begin her teaching career at the Hospital School for Crippled Children, now known as the Children’s of Mississippi Hospital School program.

A high school knee injury and heavy involvement in athletics throughout his life led Doug to develop an interest in orthopaedics. He completed a family medicine internship at UMMC and an orthopaedic residency program at Georgia Baptist-Scottish Rite

Hospitals in Atlanta. He and Pam then moved to Canada for him to complete a competitive sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship with Dr. Robert Jackson, the father of arthroscopy in North America.

From Mississippi to Georgia to Ontario, Southern Miss was never far from their hearts. The Rouses remained involved with USM through sports, philanthropy and ongoing relationships.

After moving back to the Hub City in 1981, Dr. Rouse and a fellow physician, Dr. Richard Conn, established Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, PA. He also returned to The Rock as the team physician for football and other athletic teams at USM.

Pam explains, “There’s such an energetic spirit in this college town that adds a fullness to our lives. It’s fun watching college students enjoy the activities and their collegiate experiences while discovering what they want to do in life. Hattiesburg will always be home.”

Since their first gift of $35 in 1971, the Rouses have financially supported Southern Miss for 52 consecutive years. They are members of the Eagle Club, Circle of Champions, M-Club, Aubrey K. Lucas Society, Partners for the Arts, Life Members of the Southern Miss Alumni Association, and the Honor Club Gallery of Benefactors – Bronze Level, which is the highest giving level of the USM Foundation Honor Club. Doug was initiated into the Alumni Hall of Fame and received the Alumni Meritorious Service Award, Alumni Outstanding Service Award and Alumni Continuous Service Award. He has served on the Board of Directors for the USM Foundation, Athletic Foundation, Alumni Association, and the DuBard School for Language Disorders. Pam also served on the DuBard School Board, as well as the Partners for the Arts Board and the Southern Miss Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The Rouses’ fingerprints are all over Southern Miss. From Fraternity and Sorority Life and Athletics to The Children’s Center for Communication and Development and the arts, they are making an impact.

“Southern Miss gave so much to us. It gave us a great education, lifelong friends and life experiences we could not have found anywhere else,” Pam said. “It’s one of the best investments we can make. Investing in other people and the future just makes you feel good.”

“The continuing education programs like Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) are also important to us,” Doug added. “We want other people to have the same opportunities we had as students and are still able to experience today.”

The Rouses are active members of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church. Much of their time is now spent with their grandchildren, Vivi Bishop and Rebecca Rouse, and they would not have it any other way.

A SHARED PASSION FOR GIVING BACK

Kyle and Alexis Stoner: Took Flight in 2016

Kyle and Alexis (Tymkiw) Stoner met in 2012 at the Eagle Catholic Campus Ministry's Welcome Weekend two weeks into their freshman year at Southern Miss. Just over a decade later, the couple recently established the Stoner Family College of Business and Economic Development Internship Scholarship Endowment.

position at Southern Miss brought the couple back to Hattiesburg and Alexis into the classroom.

As one of the School of Marketing’s internship coordinators, Alexis recognizes the tough decisions students face when choosing their internships.

“In my role, I see the struggle students endure. Their choice might be between paying their rent versus gaining vital work experience,” she said.

“Many students work either part-time or full-time in addition to their coursework. I can't in good conscience encourage them to leave paying jobs to take a nonpaid internship—even when vital, that would be impractical and unrealistic.”

Both Kyle and Alexis faced challenges with their internship experiences. Kyle was offered an accounting internship in Washington, D.C., but he was not able to take it due to travel, housing and daily living costs. Alexis took an unpaid internship in New Orleans to further her marketing skills. The Stoners wanted to alleviate that burden on current students by establishing an internship-focused scholarship for the next generation of Golden Eagle business students. The scholarship provides an opportunity for students to take the leap into a work experience that is critically important for their career paths, especially when those placements can lead students into their dream careers.

“We hope our scholarship will defray some of the costs associated with accepting a great internship, which can be a life-changing experience,” Kyle said. “Alexis and I know how important internships are in preparing for a future career.”

Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW) Crew members, Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society members and participants in the British Studies Program.

Kyle’s Southern Miss experience began when he was just a child. He recalls feeling the excitement of game day at The Rock with his dad and walking under the beautiful live oaks on campus. Southern Miss has always felt like home.

Alexis’ path into academia began as a practitioner, providing her real-world knowledge to impart to her current students. “One of the constant joys in my life is helping people sharpen their skills. My corporate experience, coupled with the desire to teach, made coming back to Southern Miss as an instructor of marketing a perfect fit,” she said.

Alexis, a Slidell, La., native, received the Academic Excellence Scholarship to attend USM. Her sharp analytical skills and interest in communication's role in business drew her to the marketing program. When it came time for Kyle to choose which college he would attend, USM was on the radar for the Gulfport, Miss., native, but receiving the C Spire Presidential Scholarship sealed the deal. He knew the financial assistance would enable him to graduate college debt-free.

After earning their bachelor's and master’s degrees in business administration and accounting, respectively, the couple married and moved to New Orleans to begin their careers. Kyle accepted a position with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Alexis with Marriott Hotels. After a few years, the offer of a marketing instructor

The Stoners’ motivation to support Southern Miss started as students who had a desire to give back to the programs that meant so much to them. As scholarship recipients, they understood the impact of philanthropy firsthand. Starting with $10 a month, Kyle and Alexis slowly increased their giving as they progressed in their careers. To date, they have given for 11 years consecutively.

Both were active on campus. Kyle, a Sigma Nu, served as the vice president of the Student Government Association for two terms and was a member of Southern Style. Alexis served in multiple leadership positions across Pi Beta Phi, Student Government Association (Election Commission) and Lambda Sigma Honors Society. Both were Honors College Scholars,

He now works as a senior consultant for Deloitte, where he helps advise business leaders on areas of growth to improve business. He attributes much of his success to the School of Accountancy by providing opportunities to form connections in the business world.

“My professors certainly prepared me to pass the CPA exam and encouraged me to apply for internships with big international accounting firms. Classmates who had been where I was offered advice on how they prepared for the interviews and answered all my questions,” he said. “Those relationships and connections set me up to get my internship in the spring semester of my senior year. The internship then set me up to get a job, prepared me to navigate the industry and work my way up to the position I really wanted.”

Highly engaged Golden Eagles, Kyle and Alexis are also generous with their time volunteering as alumni advisors for Sigma Nu and Pi Beta Phi. “We love being able to remain involved with our fraternity and sorority. We are passionate about helping them grow and working with students to become the leaders that Greek Life helped us to be,” Alexis said.

The Stoners are Life Members of the Southern Miss Alumni Association, members of the Aubrey K. Lucas Society, the USM Foundation Honor Club at the Patrons of 1910 Level, and support Southern Miss Athletics through the Eagle Club.

Kyle and Alexis believe giving back is part of their connection with the University. “No matter where we end up, we know we can stay connected through philanthropy,” Kyle said. “Our Southern Miss stories are a big part of who we are, and it is important to us that we return what we received. Every little bit helps a student at Southern Miss.”

PHILANTHROPY'S IMPACT : FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE BLUE ECONOMY

Capturing. Educating. Immersing.

These pillars define the mission of GenSea, a collaborative effort at The University of Southern Mississippi to build bridges connecting high school students and teachers to the Blue Economy through immersive field experiences and internships. Led by the Center for STEM Education and the School of Ocean Science and Engineering, GenSea is thriving thanks to generous support from a Mississippi foundation.

Robert M. Hearin was a prominent figure in banking, oil refining, natural gas distribution and insurance in Mississippi. He served as the president and CEO and co-owner of Mississippi Valley Gas before passing away in 1990. Hearin’s initial Foundation was established in 1965. Following his death, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation was formed as an independent nonprofit foundation based in Jackson, Miss., whose principal goal is to contribute to the overall economic advancement of Mississippi.

Seeing the potential of the GenSea initiative, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation provided initial funding to pilot GenSea and has now invested in a second year of funding. To date, their investment in GenSea is $758,000. The program has introduced more than 1,000 high school students and teachers to coastal career paths thus far, ranging from port operations to marine engineering.

“The Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation is pleased with the impact we are seeing with this program,” said a trustee of the Foundation. “GenSea aligns with our principal goals by giving youth along the Gulf Coast opportunities to explore the vast career opportunities right in their Mississippi hometowns.”

GenSea program manager, Tara Skelton, works with school districts and teachers to coordinate field experiences. “I’m

incredibly proud of the work we’ve done in the program’s first year, and I look forward to increasing the number of teachers and students who can participate in the years to come,” Skelton said. “We are working on expanding our field trip offerings to include second-tier experiences, which are designed for groups who’ve completed an introductory field trip and want to go more in-depth on a subject like ocean engineering or hydrography. We’ve also partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of the Gulf Coast to expose teen members to blue economy careers.”

Trena Attipoe, an engineering teacher at Long Beach High School, describes her experience attending a GenSea workshop: “My expectations for the GenSea

workshop were surpassed, and I learned so much each day. Hearing about the coastal industry is not the same as experiencing it yourself. When I toured the Ocean Aero facility, I was elated! I had no clue what it took to make an underwater drone beforehand. The people I met during developmental training were so passionate about their expertise. It inspired me to take the knowledge and enthusiasm I gained that day back to my classroom.”

This program increases awareness of coastal opportunities for high school students, including trips, workshops and student internships. Areas of study include hydrography, ocean engineering, computer ocean modeling, marine biology and aquaculture. Professional development courses for teachers are also crucial, equipping them with confidence and the resources necessary for success.

Support from the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation allows for planning, developing and implementing such

an experiential educational experience. “We are working to reach as many students around the state as possible, realizing not everyone is geographically close enough to make an in-person field trip,” Skelton explains. “With the philanthropic support we have received, we have also created a video series for students and teachers that can be accessed online.”

In addition to their support of GenSea, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation continues to provide numerous educational opportunities through scholarships for Southern Miss students. In 2022, $175,000 was donated through the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation Annual Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to full-time undergraduate students, bringing their total support to USM to more than $4.4 million.

Thanks to the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation’s philanthropy, GenSea continues to grow, enabling the future of the Mississippi Gulf Coast to reach new heights, impacting the region and the world through its discoveries.

AN INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

Ka’Lon Duncanson: Takes Flight in 2023

It was sheer kindness and a little Southern hospitality that landed international student Ka’Lon Duncanson in the small town of Waveland, Miss.

Born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas, Ka’Lon was an outgoing child who was quick to help others and yearned to explore. When he was 19, he became certified by the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organization, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), as an open-water scuba diving instructor. In this role, his friendly personality made it easy to interact with tourists from around the world while creating many long-lasting connections. One such connection was with the Mahner family. Ka’Lon and the Mississippians hit it off during their vacation in the Bahamas, and when they returned to the island 10 months later, they reconnected with Ka’Lon.

Discussing his future, the Mahners invited him to visit their home in Waveland. They felt sure he would thoroughly enjoy himself on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and find opportunities in the United States that might not be available in the Caribbean.

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall on Grand Bahama as a Category 5 storm, devastating the island. Ka’Lon rode out the storm at his mother’s home at the center of the island. The home soon flooded, and he and his family were forced to leave and take shelter at a local church.

The tourism industry came to a halt due to the destruction, and Ka’Lon was temporarily relieved of his employment. The following month, he decided to take the Mahners up on their invitation and visit coastal Mississippi. During his trip, Ka’Lon fell in love with the area and culture. He discovered an opportunity to pursue a higher education at USM’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, just a short drive from the Mahners’ home.

As an international student, Ka’Lon credits his host family as the catalyst for his decision to choose Southern Miss. “I like to call Cynthia my Mississippi mom. One of her daughters went to USM, and she was so proud of the University that she gave me a tour herself.”

the Honors Keystone Award. The GenCorp Aerojet Endowment assisted Ka’Lon with funding for class materials for the 2022-23 academic year.

He shares, “The Honors Keystone Scholarship allowed me more time to focus on my undergraduate research and develop my thesis. Because of this assistance, I completed my research almost a year in advance and even submitted it to the Southwest Academy of Management Conference (SWAM). Without this scholarship, I would have spent much of my time worrying about how I would fund my tuition.”

By easing the financial burdens of college expenses, Ka’Lon’s scholarship donors aid him in becoming the best version of himself. He expresses that the scholarships allow him to be more present on and off campus. “I do a little bit of everything on campus. Because I do not have to work to pay for school, my scholarships allow me to lead different student organizations, while also assisting students and focusing on my schoolwork.”

Ka’Lon wasted no time submitting his application for admission to Southern Miss. Once accepted, he returned to the Bahamas, applied for a VISA, packed his bags and returned to Mississippi to begin his new journey.

Keen on entrepreneurship and making a local impact, he decided to pursue a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Always eager to meet others and lend a helping hand, campus involvement and community service became a significant part of his endeavors. He currently serves as president of the Gulf Park Student Government Association, as well as vice president and treasurer of the Spanish Society and treasurer for the Biology Club. Ka’Lon is the founding president for Fins and Flippers, a campus organization for students interested in aquatics, emergency first response and community service. In addition to his campus involvement, he is a student worker in the Office of Student Affairs, all while devotedly working on his undergraduate thesis as an Honors College Scholar. Ka’Lon’s research focuses on what Mississippi Gulf Coast divers value in their diving experiences.

As a student leader and honors student, Ka’Lon was awarded three scholarships. He is the recipient of the GenCorp Aerojet Endowment, an SGA Scholarship and

Apart from university life, Ka’Lon spends his time volunteering for the community. Ka’Lon provides technical support and is the “music man” for the Raw Oyster Club, an all-female dance group that participates in local festivals and parades. He enjoys parading alongside Cynthia, who is a member.

Ka’Lon also helps senior citizens in the Bay St. Louis area when they are in need of help moving furniture and other physical activities. He continues to make friends through his services and enjoys keeping in touch even after the work is done.

Ka’Lon is pondering his post-graduation plans with an open mind. Expected to graduate in fall 2023, he is applying for internships through the Fund for American Studies Internship Program in Washington, D.C., as well as considering graduate school at USM with an interest in working in higher education administration.

“The challenges I overcame to get to Southern Miss have equipped me to cope with future uncertainties. While at Southern Miss, my personal and professional skills have grown. I am not the same person I was when I first arrived. Thank you to the scholarship donors who made this journey possible and the Mahners for showing me another coast to fall in love with.”

GIVE WING : THE CAMPAIGN FOR SOUTHERN MISS

STUDENT SUCCESS

Give Wing to today’s brightest students, tomorrow’s front-runners and the next generation of trailblazers.

$120.5 MILLION

$117.8 MILLION

SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENTS

Goal: $53.5 Million

Raised to Date: $52.1 Million

Academic Scholarships RTD: $51 Million

Athletic Scholarships RTD: $1.1 Million

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Goal: $31 Million

Raised to Date: $28.5 Million

Eagle Club Scholarships RTD: $10 Million

Non-Athletic Scholarships RTD: $18.5 Million

From one corner of the globe to another, thank you for joining us on the journey to take Southern Miss to new heights. Let's redefine the top—together.

PROGRAM AND OTHER STUDENT SUPPORT

Goal: $19.7 Million

Raised to Date: $18 Million

Athletic Programs RTD: $12.7 Million

Non-Athletic Programs RTD: $5.3 Million

FACILITIES

Goal: $16.3 Million

Raised to Date: $19.2 Million

Athletic Facilities RTD: $16 Million

Center for Military Veterans, Service Members

and Families RTD: $3.2 Million

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY

Give Wing to the scholars who inspire our students as they lead by example and break new ground.

Give Wing to innovations with a worldchanging impact in diverse fields of study.

$26 MILLION $3.5 MILLION $21.2 MILLION $1 MILLION

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

Goal: $20 Million

Raised to Date: $19.6 Million

FACULTY/STAFF POSITIONS AND SUPPORT

Goal: $5.7 Million

Raised to Date: $1.3 Million

ACADEMIC FACILITY SUPPORT

Goal: $.3 Million

Raised to Date: $.3 Million

RAISED TOWARD OUR $150 MILLION GOAL! $140 MILLION

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

AND INITIATIVES

Goal: $1.5 Million

PROGRAMS

Raised to Date: $.2 Million

OTHER INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY

Goal: $2 Million

Raised to Date: $.8 Million

FACTS AND FIGURES

THE USM FOUNDATION PROVIDED OVER $12 MILLION IN SUPPORT TO THE UNIVERSITY.

The USM Foundation administers a variety of scholarships for eligible students through the GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES (GO) SCHOLARSHIP AND COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS APPLICATION SYSTEM.

Academic Divisions

Faculty and Staff Support

Financial Aid Libraries

Operation and Maintenance of Plant Other Restricted Purposes Research

22 NEW SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENTS ESTABLISHED THIS YEAR

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021

PRIVATELY FUNDED

2,170 SCHOLARSHIPS were awarded to Southern Miss students, totaling nearly $4.9 MILLION.

1,027 FULLY FUNDED ENDOWMENTS AS OF JUNE 30,

HISTORY WAS MADE IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 WITH THE LAUNCH OF

THE CAMPAIGN FOR SOUTHERN MISS, GIVE WING :

the largest fundraising campaign in school history. The $150 million campaign rests on three priority pillars: student success, academic excellence, and innovation and discovery.

Unrestricted $16.9 MILLION CONTRIBUTED THROUGH THE FOUNDATION, including approximately $16.3 MILLION in outright gifts and more than $600,000 in planned gift commitments

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021

ABOUT THE USM FOUNDATION

Chartered in 1959, The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to serving the University community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss. The Foundation manages donor contributions from alumni and friends of Southern Miss to provide our students with the most advanced educational opportunities. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, whose members serve as advocates for the University, its colleges and programs. Foundation Board Members are committed to building successful partnerships with Southern Miss and its many generous supporters.

LOCATION AND OFFICE HOURS

The USM Foundation is located on the third floor of the Trent Lott Center. Alumni and friends are encouraged to stop in while visiting the Hattiesburg campus during regular business hours from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

CONTACT INFORMATION

118 College Drive #5210

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

601.266.5210 | foundation@usm.edu usmfoundation.com givewingtosouthernmiss.com

@USMFoundation