Thank You to our Alumni

In Spring 2005 and Spring 2006, I mailed our newsletters to all BA and MA grads from MSU’s Department of English; these alumni also received a request for a donation to help support our programs, faculty, and students.

To date, this request for financial support has generated $7,200 from our generous alumni: Mr. Robert J. Allen; Mr. Philip J. Betbeze; Ms. Andrea Boone; Dr. and Mrs. R. D. Boswell, Jr.; Dr. Joseph E. Carrithers; Mrs. Barbara H. Criswell; Dr. and Mrs. John D. Davis, IV; Ms. Susanne L. Hicks; Dr. Melissa Holland; Ms. Donna L. Holton; Mr. Andy Johnson and Ms. Elizabeth Trevathan; Mr. and Mrs. Millard M. Kopp; Dr. and Mrs. James D. Land; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley S. Owen; Mr. Sank Owen; Ms. Lydia Roberts; Dr. Frank J. Whittington; Ms. Mary M. Williford

The generosity of these alumni has allowed us to enrich the Skelton Scholarship and the Holland Fund as well as the English Advancement Fund. Their kindness has also allowed us to attach a handsome check to each of the certificates received by students who won the writing contests, listed above. On behalf of the students and my colleagues, I say thank you!

We also want to repeat our hearty thanks to the family of Helen W. Skelton. In 2005, the Skeltons established a $25,000 endowed scholarship in honor of Helen W. Skelton, who died in 2004 at the age of 61. A life-long advocate of higher education, Mrs. Skelton received her MA in English from MSU in 1965. We will always honor Mrs. Skelton and her family by choosing worthy recipients of this scholarship, one that reflects Mrs. Skelton’s dual commitment to civic service and academic achievement.

Of course, our needs continue to grow. In addition to supporting our writing contests, we need further support for scholarships, for faculty travel, and for departmental equipment, especially for our Clyde Williams Film Room and our new Writing Center.

If you’re interested in making a tax-deductible donation to help us to meet these needs, please contact Trish Hughes, Director of Development at MSU. You can reach Ms. Hughes at 662-325-8309, or at thughes@msstate.edu.