After more than 30 years of supporting engineering education at the University of Mississippi, the Woods Order is being replaced by a new program.
The Jesse B. “Jess” Woods Jr. Society was established to solely fund student activities that promote a well-balanced engineering education. The Woods Order was established in the late 1970s to honor distinguished alumni and to help support the School of Engineering.
“Employers expect and demand graduates who exemplify the same skills and diversity as Jess Woods did,” Gardner said. “The strategic activities to be supported by the society include a career fair/internships, global experiences, service and leadership opportunities, and student societies.”
The Woods Society also will promote campus involvement, competition, research, educational travel, lab upgrades and scholarships, he added.
“We’re asking everyone who believes in Ole Miss engineering to join us in this noble cause to support a spirit of excellence,” Gardner said.
Fifty years ago, Woods’ brilliant career was cut dramatically short by a fatal hemorrhage he experienced while in the Pentagon gym. At the time of his death, he was working for the U.S. Navy as a nuclear engineer under Adm. Hyman Rickover.
Previously, the two-time Taylor Medal-winning alumnus of the University of Mississippi School of Engineering excelled with degrees in chemical engineering and mathematics. His challenging curriculum, student involvement and Navy ROTC involvement helped prepare him to study at Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar.
“Jess came to Ole Miss on an NROTC scholarship, majored in chemical engineering and joined ATO fraternity,” said Paul Murrill, former chancellor of Louisiana State University, who also came to Ole Miss on an NROTC scholarship, majored in chemical engineering and joined ATO. “We took all our classes together and roomed together. In addition to his outstanding academic performance, Jess was elected permanent class president of the entire student body for the Class of 1956. He was a weight lifter and not a bookworm or wimp. He was a great guy, enjoyed dancing and was very well liked. He always had a smile on his face.”
“Jess was a trailblazer, exemplifying the path and spirit that epitomizes the Ole Miss engineering student as he was involved on campus and abroad,” said Kevin Gardner, development officer for the School of Engineering. “The student performance of Jess Woods is a story to tell and celebrate as it exemplifies the achievement of this well-versed degree.”
For more information about the Woods Society and how to join, contact Kevin Gardner at 662-915-7601 or email him at kevin@olemiss.edu.
