Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State political science and mathematics double-major from Flowood has been awarded the highly-coveted Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

University senior Jamie A. Aron is the land-grant institution's 17th selection for what is widely considered the nation's most prestigious award for students committed to public service.

"What a pleasure it has been to watch Jamie's journey through Mississippi State," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "Jamie exudes excellence and service in everything she does and attaining this very impressive status as a Truman Scholar is a continuation of that amazing trajectory. Rhonda and I are extremely proud of her and offer our very sincere congratulations."

Also a John and Renée Grisham Presidential and Haley Barbour scholarship recipient, she is a 2012 Jackson Preparatory School graduate and the daughter of James Aron and Sandra Gilmer.

Aron has been a member of MSU's Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College since her freshman year, when she was selected for the Distinguished Scholars program (now known as the Presidential Scholars program).

In the MSU Student Association, she served as co-director of community and governmental relations. She is a 2014-15 member of the campus President's Commission on the Status of Women.

Aron also created and led MSU's first Women Empowered Leadership Conference. Held this past July, the five-day program encouraged female high school students to pursue higher education and become strong and impactful leaders on the community, state and national levels. She also has attended the Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women in Washington, D.C. The organization seeks to equip the next generation of global female peace builders to be community leaders.

Presented this year to 58 students, the highly-coveted academic and leadership recognition provides $30,000 in graduate-study expenses. All those selected make a commitment to public service after completing their degrees.

Established in 1975, the Washington, D.C.-based Truman Scholarship Foundation serves as a memorial to the nation's 33rd president. Supporting the graduate education and professional development of young people committed to public service and leadership are its primary missions. For more, visit www.truman.gov.

"My fellow Mississippians were brilliant leaders in every regard," Aron said. "Once the realization set in that I had won, I was overwhelmed with excitement, gratitude, and humility."

Aron, who aspires to work for the State Department and United Nations, said the Truman Scholarship will be instrumental in "connecting me with like-minded individuals who are prepared to tackle the problems of tomorrow."

"I am ecstatic to meet my Truman class and engage with leaders from across the country," she said, adding that she is confident this opportunity "will give me the tools and skills I will need to serve in various national and global leadership roles."

Aron expressed appreciation for the continued support of her family throughout the interview process and life in general. She also cited multiple MSU individuals, including President Mark E. Keenum and wife Rhonda Newman Keenum; Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert; Chris Snyder, honors college dean; Tommy Anderson, Presidential Scholars mentor; Meghan Millea, finance and economics professor in the business college; and Brian Shoup, assistant professor in the political science and public administration department.

Snyder commended Aron for being passionate and taking a creative approach when finding solutions to problems and creating opportunities for young women in the state and around the region.

"Jamie is representative of the outstanding young women scholars in the Shackouls Honors College. Many of our female students are involved in groundbreaking research, political leadership on and off campus, and helping to create an intellectual community at Mississippi State," he said.

"I know that Judy and Bobby Shackouls are very proud of Jamie and encouraging of the work being done by all of our honors students," Snyder added.

Complete details about the honors college are available at www.honors.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstatehonors and twitter.com/ShackoulsHonors.

Information about the political science and public administration department may be found at pspa.msstate.edu; mathematics and statistics at math.msstate.edu.

MSU, Mississippi's flagship research institution, is online at msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate, pinterest.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate, using hashtag #WeRingTrue.