Our department's John C. Stennis Scholars are named in memory of MSU alumnus John C. Stennis, who served in the United States Senate from 1947 to 1988, rising to the powerful position of President Pro Tempore of the Senate and fourth in line for the Presidency. Senator Stennis also served as Chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee and previously as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. He was so respected in the Senate that Congress named a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier after him, which was commissioned into service before the carrier honoring former president Truman.
Our two newest Stennis Scholars, who are not yet pictured, are high school seniors Laura Hamm and Lyle Wert. A soon-to-be graduate of Tupelo High School, Laura Hamm served as President of Teenage Republicans and as a delegate to Harvard Model Congress. She has campaigned for President Bush and for a state representative, and served as a page in the state legislature. An award-winning soccer player, Laura served as captain of her high school team. For a senior project, she established an art camp for mentally and physically challenged individuals. After graduating from MSU, she plans to become a lawyer to represent people with disabilities. A soon-to-be graduate of Starkville High School, Lyle Wert served as President of Young Democrats and served as Delegation Head for his school's Model UN Security Council delegation (the USA). He has also served as a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program and as a Page to the Mississippi Youth Congress. Lyle has campaigned for presidential and gubernatorial candidates, and for Mayor Dan Camp. He spearheaded a mock presidential debate at his high school, and has lived in New Zealand. After graduating from MSU, Lyle plans to serve in appointed or public office in the U.S.
Terrance Smith, on the extreme left, is a sophomore John C. Stennis Scholar. A graduate of Meridian High School, Terrance was very active in his schools honors program and ranked in the top 10% of his class. He has served as Treasurer of the Junior National Honor Society and of the Yearbook staff, as well as President of his freshman class. A well-rounded individual, Terrance has participated in indoor and outdoor track and field, and rose to the position of Battalion Commander in the Junior ROTC. A recipient of the National Minority Leadership Award and listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students, he participated in the Affirmative Action March on Washington. Terrance's career interests involve law school.
Laura Shelton New, an incoming freshman Stennis Scholar, is second from the left. A graduate of Starkville High School, Shelley is a well rounded individual who combines general academic and political interests with athletics and the arts. As a member and then President of the Young Democrats, she revitalized the organization, and was active in the most recent presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. Shelley's public service activities include the MSU Model Security Council and Youth Congress. She has also participated in Varsity Soccer and been stage manager for her school's musical each year. Shelley plans to pursue graduate studies and a career as a Capitol Hill staffer.
Whitney Holliday, another incoming freshman Stennis Scholar, is in the front center of the picture. A graduate of Gulfport High School, Whitney has been a leader at her school, serving as Vice President of Youth Council and a member of the Student Council. A member of numerous clubs, she co-founded B.U.S.Y., a designated driver program to provide safe transportation to young people on holiday evenings. Her community service activities include a mission trip to an Arizona Navajo reservation. Winner of Outstanding Representative at YMCA Youth Legislature, Whitney was also active in the Haley Barbour for Governor campaign. After law school, she aspires to become the first woman U.S. Senator from Mississippi.
John Grant, third from the right, is a graduating senior Stennis Scholar majoring in political science and minoring in history. At Mississippi State University, John has been extremely involved in various student organizations and programs, and he has held many leadership roles, including President of the Political Science Scholars Forum and Junior/Senior Political Science Department Representative. Currently, he is serving as President of the MSU Pre-Law Society. Additionally, John has been very involved in the Mississippi Model Security Council Program at MSU, as well as serving as an MSU delegate to the Southern Regional Model United Nations in Atlanta, GA and the National Model United Nations in New York. He is also very active in the Stennis-Montgomery Association and attended its annual trip to Washington D.C. in the Spring of 2005 to attend the Presidential Inauguration. In the summer of 2005, John interned in Washington D.C. for the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. His future plans include attending law school and eventually entering a career of public service.
William Lee Weiskopf, a sophomore John C. Stennis Scholar, is on the far right of the picture. A graduate of Columbia High School, Lee is ranked in the top 5% of his class. In four years of high school, he served as Class President, as Student Body President, and as class representative twice. A well-rounded individual, Lee lettered in football, participated in several school musical productions, and has won various history awards. He has served in such leadership positions as state Secretary of the Mississippi Teen-Age Republicans, and President of the Beta Club and of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Lee's career interests involve law school and eventual private practice or service in the area of prosecution.
Not pictured is Mary Annette Morgan, a junior Stennis Scholar. She is a graduate of Pillow Academy, where she was a Student Council representative and president of her sophomore and junior classes. In addition to multiple-year participation in the Mississippi Model Security Council program, Mary Annette worked on the political campaign of a county judge and has been continually involved in community activities. She plans to enter law school following graduation from MSU and eventually seek a career in public service.
Also not pictured is Aaron Rice, a sophomore Stennis Scholar. A graduate of Oak Grove High School, Aaron actively participated in Mississippi Youth Congress, Model United Nations, and Mississippi Boy's State. At MSU, Aaron has served as President of Cresswell Hall dorm, the freshman-sophomore student representative to the Political Science Department, and a member of the MSU Debate Team, Pre-Law Society, and College Republicans. He worked on the campaign staff of Republican gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour. Having attended a National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Diplomacy, and Intelligence, Aaron is interested in a governmental career at the Pentagon or other agencies relating to international relations. Aaron took a leave of absence from MSU to serve as a Marine Lance Cpl. in Iraq, and is recovering from wounds he received there.
Students in our department have the opportunity to meet prominent public officials. In the picture above, past scholars are pictured with Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck, a graduate of our department. Amy frequently returns to MSU to talk with our students about how to become a successful leader in Mississippi public affairs.
One annual conference that our students attend is the Southern Women in Public Service program sponsored by the Stennis Center. In the above picture, Stennis Alumnus Tamikia Carr meets with Vice President Al Gore's wife, Tipper.
Our students also meet with numerous other public figures who visit our department. In the above picture, political science alumni Nikita Gandy, Ben Needham, and Collins Alumnus Ta'Shia Shannon are to the left of former congressman Mike Espy. Espy was the first African-American from a rural district elected to Congress. Students Yashica Tate and Terrance James are to the right of Espy.
Biographies of Senator Stennis are available at numerous locations.
To learn more about Senator Stennis and the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, established by Congress in his memory and directed by his former staff leader Rex Buffington, click here.
To learn more about the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at MSU, established by the people of Mississippi to honor him after he nearly died from a Washington mugging, and directed by Marty Wiseman, click here.