Members of the 2010-11 Hall of Fame at the University of Mississippi are (front l-r) Jeffrey Tyler New of Olive Branch, Katherine Virginia Burke of Charleston, Mo., Mary Katherine Graham of Germantown, Tenn., Nickolaus Damon Luckett of Drew, Chelsea Kate Caveny of Hattiesburg, and (back l-r) Johnna Lauren Childers of Booneville, Christin Nicole Gates of Kosciusko, William Harold Rosenblatt of Jackson, John Stephens Worley III of Jackson and Jessie James Austin of Jackson.
OXFORD, Miss. – Ten University of Mississippi seniors have earned entry into the school’s 2010-11 Hall of Fame, one of the university’s highest honors.
Chancellor Dan Jones bestowed the honor Friday (Feb. 4) in a campus ceremony, noting that the selection is based on a student’s academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities and potential for future success. The Ole Miss Hall of Fame has recognized students with outstanding achievements since 1930.
“The selection of these outstanding students into the Hall of Fame is a reflection of their impact on life at this university,” said Jones as he offered congratulations to the students and their families. “They will continue to make an impact on their communities and the world as they take their talent, skills and commitment to the next phase of life. I join the entire university community in congratulating them.”
Students receiving the honor this year are Jessie James Austin of Jackson, Katherine Virginia Burke of Charleston, Mo., Chelsea Kate Caveny of Hattiesburg, Johnna Lauren Childers of Booneville, Christin Nicole Gates of Kosciusko, Mary Katherine Graham of Germantown, Tenn., Nickolaus Damon Luckett of Drew, Jeffrey Tyler New of Olive Branch, William Harold Rosenblatt of Jackson and John Stephens Worley III of Jackson.
Austin serves on the Cabinet for the Associated Study Body president. He co-chairs the Minority Affairs Leadership Council and serves as fundraising director of the Black Student Union. An accountancy major, he holds the Roger Friou Accounting Scholarship and was a summer intern in the KPMG Future Diversity Leadership Program in Jackson. A former member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, he is in the Columns Society, a group of 24 students who serve as official hosts for the university. He chairs Rebels for United Way and belongs to One Mississippi, a student coalition that promotes social integration within the student body. His other community service includes work with the March of Dimes, Go to High School/Go to College Initiative, Second Baptist Church After-School Tutoring and Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. He is the son of Jessie and Doris Austin of Jackson.
Burke, an international studies major, is a member of the Honors College and Croft Institute. She is ASB president and a member of UM’s Strategic Planning Council. She is a member of the Ole Miss Ambassadors, a student-run organization designed to bridge the gap between student life and the professional world. She has served on the Student Programming Board and Student Alumni Council. Listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll, she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the highest liberal arts academic honorary; and Phi Kappa Phi, the highest academic honor society recognizing scholarship in all disciplines. She received the Outstanding Student in Economics Award. Her volunteer efforts have included work with More Than a Meal, United Way, Azalea Gardens Retirement Community and Charleston Middle School Career Day. Her parents are Stephen and Carol Jane Burke of Charleston, Mo.
Caveny was among 12 national recipients of the 2010 George J. Mitchell Scholarship and last year, she became the university’s 14th recipient of a national Harry S. Truman Scholarship, both recognizing her commitment to and experience in public service. A public policy leadership major, she is a member of the Honors College and Trent Lott Leadership Institute. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, she belongs to Phi Kappa Phi, One Mississippi and Ole Miss Ambassadors. In public service, she has been involved since 2008 with the Sunflower County Freedom Project as a teacher, grant writer and mentor. Her extensive community service also includes Leap Frog tutoring and work with Hope for Africa. She is the daughter of Jennifer Caveny of Hattiesburg.
Childers, a marketing communications major, is an ASB Cabinet member. She has served as co-director of First Year Experience, Freshman Focus and Transfer Leadership Organization. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, she is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, as well as One Mississippi, Ole Miss Ambassadors and the Columns Society. She was elected the 2010 Miss Ole Miss. Her extensive volunteer service includes work with United We Serve: Let’s Read, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention, Mississippi Blood Services, United Way and Children’s Miracle Network. Her parents are Travis and Tami Childers of Booneville.
Gates is Senior Class secretary/treasurer, Columns Society secretary and ASB executive assistant. A member of the Honors College, onors CHoshe is majoring in psychology. She belongs to Phi Kappa Phi, is listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and was nominated for the Truman Scholarship. A Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholar, she is director of external affairs for the Black Student Union and serves on the Black History Month planning committee. Her extensive public service includes note taker for UM Student Disability Service, work with the Oprah Winfrey Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko and volunteering at Azalea Gardens and Graceland Care Center. She is the daughter of Debra Gates Elmore of Kosciusko.
Graham, a member of the Honors College and Lott Institute, is pursuing degrees in both public policy leadership and accountancy. She is listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and belongs to Phi Kappa Phi. She serves on the 2011 Senior Class Executive Committee and chairs the Columns Society Judicial Committee. She has been a co-director and executive assistant on the ASB and co-director of Ole Miss Ambassadors. She is organizing a campus chapter of the national Kind Campaign, a new nonprofit to combat girl-against-girl bullying. Her extensive community service includes fundraising for the Sunflower County Freedom Project, Mississippi School for the Blind and the state’s Children’s Museum, and she helped raise more than $11,500 for Delta Gamma’s Service for Sight project. She has also volunteered for such projects as United for Haiti, Campus Safety Week and at the North Mississippi Regional Center. Her parents are Neal and Katherine Graham of Germantown, Tenn.
Luckett, a public policy leadership major, is a member of the Lott Institute. A former member of the Honors College, he is a Kelly Gene Cook Charitable Foundation Scholar, LuckyDay Scholar and Gresham-Duncan Scholar. He interned at UM’s William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation and was the institute’s representative at the national Deliberative Democracy Conference. He is a co-founder of One Mississippi, and his extensive ASB service includes his present post on the Senate Appropriations Committee. He serves on the Chancellor’s Standing Committee for International Programming, the Gay Straight Alliance and the Minority Affairs Leadership Council. His community service includes workshop co-leader for Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition, member of the Drew Rosenwald School Renovation Committee and volunteer at Graceland Care Center. He is the son of Linda Luckett and the grandson of Willie Lee and Willie Ann Luckett, all of Drew.
New, a managerial finance major, has served as an Ole Miss Orientation leader. He participated in the Women’s Council Leadership Series and served on the Student Alumni Council. On the ASB, he has been a senator, Executive Council assistant and Freshman Focus mentor. An Ole Miss Ambassador, he belongs to Alpha Lambda Delta academic honor society and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary. He was elected the 2010 Colonel Reb. His community service includes work with the Oxford Food Pantry, Leap Frog, Hurricane Katrina Relief, Jean Jones Walk/Run and Muscular Dystrophy Association. His parents are Jeff New of Oxford and Rick and Melissa Bateman of Olive Branch.
Rosenblatt, a history major, is ASB treasurer and former chair of the University Judicial Council, a board of 10 faculty-staff and 10 students who conduct hearings for students who violate university policy. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and recipient of the Larry D. Givens Outstanding Junior History Award and Scholarship. He is vice president of ODK and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta. A former member of the Honors College, Student Alumni Council and Freshman Focus, he has been active in community service, including mentoring with Big Brother, Big Sister. He is the son of Cyril and Judy Rosenblatt of Jackson.
Worley, an international studies major, is a member of the Honors College and Croft Institute. He received a Barksdale Fellowship, LuckyDay Scholarship and National Merit Finalist Academic Excellence Scholarship. He served several terms on the ASB Senate and was chosen ASB Freshman Senator of the Year. He was co-president of Students for a Safe Ride, member of the Grade Scale Proposal Task Force, Judicial Council and Student Alumni Council. He participated in Ole Miss Ambassadors and One Mississippi. An Eagle Scout, he served as a peer mentor with the Ole Miss Academic Mentor Program. His community service has included work with Habitat for Humanity and Lafayette Humane Society. His parents are John and Patrice Worley of Jackson.