Computer science major nominated to receive Senior Leadership Award

Cornelius Hughes

Cornelius Hughes

While many students are nominated for the University of Mississippi School of Engineering’s annual Senior Leadership Award, few are actually chosen to receive the honor. So when Cornelius Hughes of Greenville was told of his nomination for the coveted recognition, he was greatly humbled.

“This nomination alone is probably the one honor I am most proud of, mostly because my faith had been rekindled through those who believed in me enough to even nominate me for such an esteemed award,” said the 22-year-old computer and information science major. “It forced me out of my complacency, and I’ve had to accept the nomination in spite of me being shy, humble and just letting it slip by.”

A McTeer Foundation scholar and member of the National Honor Society, Hughes has been on both the chancellor’s and dean’s honor rolls at the university. While managing to maintain a stellar grade-point average, he works in the UM School of Law, where he manages law school servers and assists faculty and students with both hardware and software issues. Hughes also provides phone support for remote students and faculty.

His community service includes helping at Our House Inc., an outreach program for abused men, women and children that also promotes abstinence from drugs, alcohol and premarital sex among teens and young adults. A member of Prayer House of Deliverance Ministry, Hughes conducts back-to-school drives to help less fortunate families obtain clothes and school supplies, a feeding program for the hungry, a jail visitation outreach, and youth conferences.

Hughes said his favorite professor “hands down” is Dawn Wilkins, UM professor of computer and information science.

“The classes that I most enjoyed were pretty much all of the classes that I took under her because she approaches in angles that are different from others,” he said. “Her programs were very creative, thought-provoking, [and] challenged and pushed me in ways that I never thought possible, forcing me to think outside of the box.”

Likewise, Wilkins said that Hughes is most deserving of his accolades.

“Cornelius is a wonderful role model for the younger students. He is intelligent, disciplined and very easy to work with. He always has a smile and a laugh for those around him,” she said.

Postgraduation, Hughes said he is considering a variety of options.

“I plan to probably look into many of the internships offered by the computer science department and, hopefully, get accepted into one of them,” he said. “Beyond that, I plan on returning to the university in the fall for either grad school or to pursue a second major in either math or engineering. Ultimately, I plan to go to culinary school and become a world-renowned chef.”

Meanwhile, Hughes said that engineering is teaching him more than academics.

“I’m learning how to just be patient and not waiver and be tossed to and fro by anything that comes my way,” he said. “It is teaching me to stand firm in my decisions, preparing me to be a successful and well-rounded individual not only in the work force but in life as well.

“I owe all of my future success to those who have left their legacy in me, and I plan to uphold the faith they placed in me by being the best representati[ve] of both them and myself that I can possibly be.”