Ļć½¶Ö±²„

Contact: Addie Mayfield

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”Ļć½¶Ö±²„ freshman Madison Bridges of Grenada is the winner of the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Alumni Associationā€™s 20th tuition drawing.

Bridges, a business administration major, will receive free, full-time tuition (12 credit hours) for the 2024 spring semester.

ā€œThis scholarship will help me tremendously because I wonā€™t have to stress as much about balancing school and work,ā€ said Bridges, who admits she was shocked and confused to learn she was the winner. ā€œMy granddad purchased the ticket, but I wasnā€™t even aware of it until after I was selected.ā€

Bridgesā€™ ticket was one of more than 3,800 sold by the Alumni Delegatesā€”the associationā€™s student organizationā€”offering Ļć½¶Ö±²„students a chance to win one semester of free in-state tuition. Eligible students include any undergraduate enrolled fulltime at the university. This semester, the Alumni Delegates raised nearly $16,000 from ticket sales.

Jeff Davis, executive director of the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Alumni Association, brought the idea of the drawing to Ļć½¶Ö±²„after seeing its success at other institutions. Although initiated in 2013, the program officially launched with its first drawing in 2014. Now in its 10th year, Davis said the program is a proud tradition for the Alumni Delegates that strengthens the associationā€™s connection with studentsā€™ parents and extended family members.

ā€œThe positive impact is definitely felt by the family of the student whose lucky ticket is drawn but, at the end of the day, the drawing is helping to raise scholarship dollars and build support for other deserving students as well, so itā€™s a win-win,ā€ said Davis.

The tuition drawing has proven successful in advancing both engagement and support over the last decade. According to Davis, additional funds raised over the cost of tuition each year help grow additional scholarship opportunities and priority programs within the association.

ā€œOur Alumni Delegates have done a great job organizing and promoting the tuition drawing, and we are proud to assist them in making a positive impact at Ļć½¶Ö±²„through this program.ā€

Founded in 1980, the Alumni Delegates is a diverse group of students serving as liaisons between the 145-year-old institution and its more than 161,000 living graduates. Members assist with organizational programs and activities on behalf of the association, such as football tailgate gatherings, class reunions and the associationā€™s annual awards banquet and leadership conference.

The Ļć½¶Ö±²„Alumni Association anticipates ticket sales in the upcoming spring to draw the winner for the fall 2024 semester. For more information about the tuition drawing, contact Orly Hardin, associate director for the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Alumni Association, at 662-325-3444 or ohardin@alumni.msstate.edu.

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