Robert Hughes and Lydia Robbins are the newest School of Engineering students to be named Stamps Scholars at the University of Mississippi. Submitted photo by Ryan Upshaw
Robert Hughes of Ocean Springs and Lydia Robbins of Oxford are two of this year’s recipients of the prestigious Stamps Family Scholarship program.
Hughes plans to study electrical engineering and mathematics, while Robbins hopes to earn a degree in biomedical engineering. As part of the Stamps scholarship program, Hughes and Robbins will have access to faculty mentoring, special programming and funding that is dedicated to support study abroad, undergraduate research, and internship or co-op experiences.
Both students also will be members of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class during their freshman year and will participate in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
With its partner universities, the Stamps Foundation seeks students who demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential and exceptional character. Potential Stamps scholars are invited to campus for a special weekend visit to get an in-depth look at the university’s academic programs as well as opportunities to interact with campus administrators and current students.
Cindy May, associate director of financial aid, serves on the Stamps Scholarship selection committee and assists recipients throughout their undergraduate experience.
“The Stamps Scholarship is the university’s most prestigious scholarship awarded to our top entering freshmen,” May said. “The university is excited about our partnership with the Stamps Foundation. With this scholarship, we are able to recruit some of the best and the brightest students.”
According to May, students are nominated for the scholarship by deans of the various academic departments and vetted by a committee of university faculty and staff. Finalists are then interviewed by members of the Stamps Foundation.
Hughes reflected that receiving the scholarship greatly influenced his decision to attend Ole Miss.
“The call left me ecstatic but also conflicted on what my future held,” he said. “Previously, I had been seriously considering a different university, but becoming a Stamps Scholar was an opportunity I could not pass up. It, ultimately, tipped my decision in becoming an Ole Miss Rebel.”
Ranked third in his class of 415, Hughes earned the status of National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. He served as both secretary and president of Mu Alpha Theta math honor society and co-founded the Superintendent’s Focus Group. He was also selected to serve on the Mayor’s Youth Council. A scholar-athlete, Hughes was a member of the cross-country team during his four years at Ocean Springs High School.
In his community, Hughes committed a lot of time serving his church, supporting its audiovisual needs, particularly with the St. Paul Youth Group where he also led small groups as part of the leadership team.
He hopes to continue engaging in extracurricular and academic experiences during his time at the university.
“I value the opportunities such as internships and co-ops that previous Ole Miss students have been able to take advantage of,” he said. “Additionally, I hope to involve myself in multiple student organizations as well as participate in student government. I hope that these organizations will help bolster my leadership abilities and prepare myself for my career.”
Robbins was active both in and out of the classroom at Oxford High School. Ranked fourth in her class of 250 students, she was named a National Merit Commended Scholar and received the Model United Nations Award, the Lady Bulldogs Coaches Award and the Scholar Athlete of the Year award among other honors.
A student leader, she served as freshman class president and senior class secretary. Robbins also co-founded and served as co-president of Oxford High School’s Youth Legislature Club as well as attending Mississippi Girls State.
As an athlete, she captained the Lady Bulldogs basketball team. In the community, she was also active in her church serving as a small group leader for second- and third-grade students.
She is interested in using her degree in biomedical engineering to consider all professional options available to her. Robbins may pursue either a career in medicine or in the engineering industry.
“After graduation, I plan to either work in the engineering field, or I might seek admission to medical school. I am not sure which pathway I will choose, which is why I plan to shadow doctors and participate in internship opportunities in both fields during the summer,” Robbins said. “I am incredibly thankful that the Stamps stipend fund will help make summer internships possible.”
Robbins has already begun to reap the benefits of being named a Stamps Scholar and looks forward to the opportunities the Stamps Foundation will provide during her time at the university.
“Through the Stamps Scholarship I have already met many wonderful peers and faculty members that are extremely supportive and outgoing. I am aware that I will be able to call on other scholars for advice, study sessions and support,” she said. “The community that Stamps provides is one that I hope will be often called upon in the next four years and beyond, and I am excited to meet scholars from around the nation at the biennial conventions.”
Hughes and Robbins will join previous engineering students receiving the Stamps scholarship including alumnus Benjamin Branson (BSME 17) and current chemical engineering students Harrison McKinnis and Robert Wasson.