Contact: Christie McNeal

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State students from Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas are receiving building construction science scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year.

Building construction science is a major academic offering of MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design. Also one of only two such studio-based programs in the U.S., its interdisciplinary curriculum in business, engineering and construction science prepares MSU graduates for careers in construction or construction-related fields.

This year’s scholarship recipients include (by hometown):

BELDEN—Freshman Ross Weeden, son of Mark and Carla Weeden receiving a $1,000 Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors Scholarship. A graduate of Tupelo High School, he also is receiving a $1,000 Mississippi Concrete Industries Association Loyalty Scholarship, which may be renewable for four years if criteria are met.

COLUMBIA, Tennessee—Sophomore Victoria Thompson, receiving a $1,000 Chip and Jennifer Crane Endowed Scholarship. Daughter of David and Julie Thompson, she is a graduate of Battle Ground Academy.

DECATUR, Alabama—Sophomore Jalyn Wallin, daughter of Richard and Lorraine Wallin receiving a $1,000 Brislin Inc. Annual Scholarship and $2,000 Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors Scholarship. Wallin, a graduate of Austin High School, also was honored with the First-Year Student of the Year Award for having the highest 2016 fall-semester GPA in her class.

FULTON—Senior Tanner Wallace, son of Ted and Carol Wallace, was recognized at the annual Building Construction Science year-end banquet with the Director’s Medallion. This top award requires its recipient to work diligently in the classroom, participate in building construction science extracurricular activities and be a role model to students. Selection criteria include academic effort, participation, leadership abilities, strong moral character and a concern with the sustainability of the program. For the third time, Wallace also received the Student of the Year award for having the highest 2016 fall-semester GPA in his class.

GULF BREEZE, Florida—Freshman Maxwell Kirchgessner, receiving a $1,000 Kline Mechanical Systems Annual Scholarship. Son of Douglas and Lauren Kirchgessner, he is a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School.

KITTY LAKE, Alaska—Senior Cora Howell, daughter of Jamie and Kecia Howell receiving a $1,000 Brislin Inc. Annual Scholarship. Howell was homeschooled.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee—Senior Jonathan “Jon Luke” Cave, receiving a $1,000 Brislin Inc. Annual Scholarship. A graduate of Evangelical Christian School, Cave also received the Third-Year Student of the Year Award for having the highest 2016 fall-semester GPA in his class. The son of Richard and Rene Cave, he is a three-time recipient of the award.

SLIDELL, Louisiana—Junior Evan Hodges, a Salmen High School graduate and son of Alan and Natalie Hodges receiving the Second-Year Student of the Year Award for having the highest 2016 fall-semester GPA in his class; and senior Regan Horn, daughter of Craig and Lisa Horn receiving a $1,000 Abbey Burnett Bridges Endowed Scholarship. A graduate of Northshore High School, Horn also was honored with the first Student Researcher Award. Funded Visiting Assistant Professor Mohammed Mawlana, the award recognizes its recipient’s demonstrated professionalism, excitement, energy and drive in successful pursuit of research. Horn, who serves as president of the MSU Associated Builders and Contractors Student Chapter, also received the Award of Appreciation for her willing service.

SMYRNA, Tennessee—Sophomore Hunter Bullock, son of Scott and Shelley Bullock receiving a $1,000 Brislin Inc. Annual Scholarship. He is a graduate of Smyrna High School.

WACO, Texas—Sophomore Christopher Sharp, son of David and Jane Sharp receiving a $1,000 Mississippi Contractors Endowed Scholarship. A graduate of Reicher Catholic High School, Sharp also was one of three recipients honored with the First-Year Student of the Year Award for having the highest 2016 fall-semester GPA in their class.

WEST POINT—Sophomore Jackson Bates, son of Brandon and Suzette Bates, was one of three recipients honored with the First-Year Student of the Year Award for having the highest 2016 fall-semester GPA in their class. He is a graduate of Oak Hill Academy.

For more information on MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, visit www.caad.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.