OXFORD, Miss. – Two of Mississippi’s largest companies,
Cellular South and Ergon Inc., have made generous
contributions to the University of Mississippi School of
Engineering. Both companies were founded by UM graduates.
Wireless provider Cellular South has pledged $150,000 for
the Cellular South Distance Learning Lab in the Old
Chemistry building, and petroleum refiner Ergon has made a
$100,000 gift to the Campaign for the School of Engineering
for the building’s renovation and equipment.
“Both Cellular South and Ergon continue to be very generous
to the School of Engineering,” said Kai-Fong Lee, dean of
engineering. “We are so thankful that these Mississippi
companies continue to give time and resources to our
students.”
The Distance Learning Lab is to be used primarily for the
Introduction to Engineering course, which is taught online
for high school students throughout Mississippi. The lab
also will be used for other distance learning courses and
seminars presented by the school.
“We’re looking at this as an opportunity to participate and
be involved with the exciting things going on at Ole Miss,”
said Hu Meena, president of Cellular South. “This really is
a partnership between Cellular South and the School of
Engineering.”
Ergon also has been instrumental in assisting the school
with its co-op program, which integrates theory and
practice by blending classroom learning with practical work
experience.
“Ergon has a long history of working with the engineering
program at the University of Mississippi,” said Robert
Lampton, Ergon president of supply and distribution and an
Ole Miss alumnus. “It’s a great school, and we wanted to
help upgrade the facilities to keep it great.”
Leslie B. Lampton Sr., a 1948 UM graduate, founded Ergon in
1954 as a petroleum retailer with two employees. The
company has evolved into a network of diverse companies
employing more than 2,500. Also headquartered in Jackson,
Ergon and its nationwide subsidiaries stand as industry
leaders in refining and marketing, asphalt and emulsions,
transportation and terminaling services, oil and gas
operations, embedded computing and real estate
development.
Founded by Wade Creekmore Sr., a 1923 UM graduate, Cellular
South is headquartered in Jackson and has more than 85
retail locations. The company provides wireless service in
Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, the Florida panhandle and
southwest Tennessee, an area with more than 5 million
people.
For more information on the Campaign for the School of
Engineering, go to
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/engineering?school/campaign/.