Dean Alex Cheng (back row, left) meets with Brevard and Adler scholars (front row, from left): Haley Watts, Kelly Bates, Nayan Chawla; (back row, from left): Bryce Little, Laine Keel and William Guy. Submitted photo by Ryan Upshaw
Thirteen University of Mississippi students have been named recipients of major scholarships in the School of Engineering this fall.
Representing Mississippi, Alabama, Illinois and Tennessee, they are this year’s Brevard and John G. Adler scholars. This exceptional group of students posted an average ACT score of 33.4 and an average 3.92 high school grade-point average.
“We are pleased to welcome these outstanding students into the School of Engineering,” Dean Alex Cheng said. “We are also thankful for the generous support of our donors who make it possible for us to award these scholarships and attract the best and brightest students to the university.”
A graduate of West Lauderdale High School, Kelly Bates is one of this year’s recipients of the Brevard Engineering Scholarship. After being recruited by universities such as Yale, Vanderbilt and Harvard, she chose to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering at Ole Miss and accepted membership in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
“I was completely humbled,” she said. “I never expected to receive something like this, and it just solidified my decision that Ole Miss would help me thrive, grow and experience the most as a college student.”
Bates, a native of Collinsville, earned the title of STAR student and valedictorian. Named one of Mississippi’s U.S. Presidential Scholars, she participated in the UM Summer College for High School Students engineering program. She served as president of the National Honor Society and on the Youth Ambassador Council for the Mississippi Children’s Museum.
She hopes to get involved in undergraduate research experiences early on in her college career as she prepares to attend medical school.
“The research opportunities here along with the close-knit community makes it the best of both worlds,” Bates said. “Where else can you work in an R1 rated lab where the professor knows you by name and wants to help you learn and grow?”
Other Brevard scholars include Nayan Chawla of Cleveland, William Guy of Saltillo, Baylee Howard of Corinth, Bryce Little of Clinton, Laine Keel of Lucedale and Jennifer Myers of Raymond.
Chawla was named a STAR student and National Merit Finalist at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. He served as a student government senator and member of the physics club, mock trial team and Technology Student Association. He plans to study computer science as a member of the Honors College.
Salutatorian at Saltillo High School, Guy served as vice president and president of the student council, junior class president, senior class secretary and attended Mississippi Boys State. He was also a member of the Scholars Bowl and math and science teams. He plans to study electrical engineering as part of the Honors College. He will also be a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class.
Corinth High School’s STAR student, Howard earned the title of salutatorian and was named to the Hall of Fame. She served as student council vice president and was a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council and Junior Leadership Alcorn. She received various honors at state-level math and science competitions. She will pursue a degree in biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.
A National Merit Finalist, Little earned the rank of Eagle Scout at Clinton High School. Ranked eighth in his class, he participated in the Tech Jackson Computer Coding Competition and was named Model United Nations Outstanding Diplomat. He attended Mississippi Boys State and participated in the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Committee. He will study biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.
Keel was ranked third in his class at George County High School. He attended the APEX Leadership Summit at Ole Miss and received numerous academic awards. He was captain of the quiz bowl team and president of the mathematics club. He will study biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.
Myers was named STAR student and valedictorian at Hillcrest Christian School. She served as vice president of the National Honor Society and editor of the yearbook. She played varsity soccer for four years and has volunteered as a youth soccer coach. She plans to study biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.
Receiving the Adler scholarship sealed the deal for Jake Noll of Columbia, Illinois, to enroll at the university.
“This scholarship was the final push in my decision to choose Ole Miss as my future home,” he said. “Thanks to this generous scholarship, I will be coming out of college debt free. This lifts a huge weight off of my shoulders and allows me to focus entirely on my studies.”
Noll graduated as valedictorian of Columbia High School. An Eagle Scout, he served as vice president of the National Honor Society and captain of the cross-country team. He was also a member of student council and the scholastic bowl. He will study chemical engineering as part of the Honors College.
“I toured many schools across the country. I found what was missing once I toured Ole Miss and visited its engineering department, Noll said. “What Ole Miss had that other schools lacked was this: personal connection and belonging. At Ole Miss, I felt that I would be a name and not a number.”
He hopes to work in the area of alternative energy or the aerospace industry, and he would like to further his education in materials engineering after graduation.
This year’s other Adler scholars are Charles Gilliland of Memphis, Tennessee, Elizabeth McCutcheon of Hartselle, Alabama, Ashton Murrah of Corinth, Samuel Plash of Mobile, Alabama, and Haley Watts of Hattiesburg.
Gilliland was a National Merit Commended Scholar at Memphis University School. Listed on the faculty honor roll, he was captain of the cross-country team. He has worked with the Memphis Research Group as an intern in security research analysis and database management. He will study computer science as part of the Provost Scholars program.
McCutcheon earned the status of valedictorian and AP Scholar with Distinction at Hartselle High School. She also participated in the UM “Heads in the Game” summer research program. She served as senior class president, HHS ambassador and attended Alabama Girls State. She will study biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.
A National Merit Commended student, Murrah was ranked third in her class at Corinth High School and chosen for the Hall of Fame. She was a member of Junior Leadership Alcorn and the Mayor’s Youth Council. She was also a student council representative and captain of the cheerleading squad. She will pursue a degree in biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.
A National Merit Finalist, Plash served as student body president and was named valedictorian at UMS-Wright Preparatory School. He served as class president for two years and was captain of the football team. He received various academic awards including the Edward C. Greene scholarship for the top student in the junior class. He will pursue a degree in civil engineering as part of the Honors College. Plash will also be a member of the Ole Miss football team.
Watts represented the Mississippi School for Math and Science at the Lott Leadership Institute in summer 2016. She served as an MSMS emissary and was a member of the student government association and mock trial team. She participated in university research in an epidemiology lab. She will pursue a degree in biomedical engineering as part of the Honors College.