From left to right: Cameron Koch, William Kalusche, Chase Rydeen, Ethan Luckett, Marin Troike, Philip Thomas, Paige Lohman, Seth Gray, Jake Azbell and Hunter Myers.
Twelve University of Mississippi students from six states have received scholarships from the School of Engineering. Representing Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Texas and Tennessee, the students are this year’s Brevard and John G. Adler scholars.
“We appreciate the support and legacy of the Brevard Family and Mr. John Adler, who established these scholarships to enable these students to pursue a first class engineering education at the University of Mississippi,” said Alex Cheng, dean of the School of Engineering. “This outstanding group of students posts an average ACT score of 33 and an average 3.98 grade-point average from their respective high schools.”
William Kalusche of McComb received the 2014 Brevard Engineering Fellowship. The top scholarship awarded to an incoming freshman is valued at $28,000 over four years. Kalusche was the salutatorian and a STAR student from McComb High School. A member of the National Honor Society, he was captain of both the soccer and tennis teams. He was also a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council.
“When I received the notification from Mr. Upshaw that I had been selected for a Brevard scholarship, I was ecstatic,” said Kalusche, a general engineering major on a pre-medicine track as part of the Provost Scholars program. “I feel that the School of Engineering at Ole Miss is the best place to help me prepare for my future. My plans are to attend medical school and become a licensed physician.”
Other recipients of the Brevard Engineering Scholarship are Cameron Earl Koch of Metropolis, Illinois, Ethan Edward Luckett of Dyersburg, Tennessee, David Chase Rydeen of Frisco, Texas, and Marin Bell Troike of Collierville, Tennessee.
Koch was valedictorian of his class of 146 at Massac County High School. A participant in UM’s Lott Leadership Institute for High School Students, he served as senior class vice president, National Honor Society President and captain of the football team. The Illinois State Scholar plans to study mechanical engineering as part of the Center for Manufacturing Excellence and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Additionally, he was selected for membership in the Chancellor’s Leadership Class.
The valedictorian from Dyer County High School, Luckett was named to the ACT Wall of Honor and a Choctaw Scholar, the school’s highest academic honor. He earned honors in statistics, calculus and advanced topics in the Tennessee Mathematics Teacher’s Association Math Competition. He plans to study computer science as part of the Honors College.
Rydeen, who graduated from Ballard High School, was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honors Society, varsity tennis team and was accepted to the Governor’s Scholars Program. He plans to study electrical engineering as part of the Honors College.
A Collierville High School graduate, Troike was a member of the Youth Leadership Council, National Honor Society and the Cum Laude Society and served as a Senior Ambassador. She was captain of the varsity volleyball and golf teams. She plans to study civil engineering as part of the Provost Scholars program.
Recipients of the John G. Adler Scholarship include Jacob Skyler Azbell of Riddleton, Tennessee, Anna Elizabeth Braswell of Mobile, Alabama, Seth Brian Gray of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Paige Lohman of Moline, Illinois, Hunter Myers of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Jason Matthew Stone of Union City, Tennessee, and Philip Bradford Thomas of Galveston, Texas.
Azbell was salutatorian of his class of 153 at Smith County High School. Treasurer of the Beta Club and president of the Math & Science Club, he participated in both Smith County Youth Leadership and Tennessee Boys State. He plans to study electrical engineering as part of the Honors College.
A graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Braswell received academic awards in AP chemistry and calculus and was a four-year member of the Student Government Association. The state finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award also served as captain of the cross country team and was a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to study geological engineering as part of the Honors College. Additionally, she will be a member of the Ole Miss women’s track and field team.
Gray, a graduate of Valley View High School, served as a student council officer, National Honor Society president and Interact Club president and attended Arkansas Boys State. He received the DAR Good Citizen award and was a member of the March of Dimes Youth Council. He plans to study chemical engineering as part of the Honors College.
A Moline High School graduate, Lohman was an Illinois State Scholar and a four-year member of the Student Congress and served as senior class president and captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She plans to study mechanical engineering as part of the Honors College and the Center for Manufacturing Excellence.
Myers, a summa cum laude graduate from Mountain Home High School, served as state treasurer of Future Business Leaders of America and attended Arkansas Boys State. He is an Arkansas Distinguished Governor’s Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He plans to study chemical engineering as part of the Honors College and the Center for Manufacturing Excellence.
Union City High School graduate Stone was a member of the varsity football team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Beta Club. He also received the Jackson, Tennessee, area Ole Miss alumni club scholarship. He plans to study computer science as part of the Provost Scholars program.
Thomas, salutatorian at Ball High School’s STEM Academy, served as Mu Alpha Theta president and founding president of the Diverse Views of Current Events Alliance organization. The National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction was a member of the National Honor Society. He won first place in the Junior Laser Security System Project Based Learning Competition and second place in the Freshman Alternative Energy Project-Based Learning Debate. He plans to study chemical engineering as part of the Honors College.