Scholarships

To apply for any of the following scholarships, go to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Tab under MyState

1. J. Harry Adams Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics: In October 2009, J. Harry Adams gave $25,000 to establish the J. Harry Adams Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics. This scholarship is available to a full-time student majoring in Mathematics. The student needs to be of "good moral character, and show qualities of leadership", and should have demonstrated financial need.
    
2. Frank L. Culley Memorial Scholarship: (Credit for tuition and fees, awarded alternately by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Physics and Astronomy). Frank L. Culley, class of 1928, left a bequest of approximately $50,000 worth of stock to establish the Frank L. Culley Memorial Scholarship fund at MSU. He died at the age of 90 in 1994. While at MSU, Mr. Culley participated in Army ROTC and served during W.W. II as a Captain and Lt. Colonel. Later, he was promoted to full Colonel. After he retired from military service, he earned the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics. Among his distinctions is achieving the rank of Chief of Geodesy Army Corps of Engineers and breaking the radio code between Moscow and Sputnik in the first travel expedition. Predominately, he was responsible for implementing the use of computers into the U.S. Space Program. This scholarship is available to a full-time junior or senior student majoring in math or physics. They must have demonstrated high academic achievement, a minimum 3.0 GPA, leadership ability, and professional development. Preference is given to an unmarried parent or female.
    
3. Alton C. Grimes Endowed Scholarship: ($250-$500 per semester). Professor Alton C. Grimes established an endowed scholarship intended to support deserving students majoring in mathematics or an area that would include at least 18 credit hours of mathematics, beginning with first year calculus. Grimes was a long-time professor of math at MSU who wished to encourage students to seek mathematical professions. The scholarship is available to students completing their sophomore year and with an overall GPA of 2.5. The student needs to be a Mississippi resident and exhibit strong leadership qualities.
    
4. Dr. Donald R. Hunt Endowed Scholarship: ($200-$300 per semester). In November of 2000, friends and former students of Dr. Hunt established the Dr. Donald R. Hunt Endowed Scholarship at MSU. Dr. Hunt received a master's degree in Mathematics from MSU in 1967 and was the head track coach at MSU for several years. This scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student majoring in mathematics having demonstrated high academic achievement and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
    
5. J. Michael Pearson Endowed Scholarship: ($500 per semester). The father of J. Michael Pearson, a former professor in the Mississippi State Department of Mathematics & Statistics, established this scholarship in his honor. Michael Pearson received a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in 1980, a master's degree from Mississippi State University in 1982 and a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in 1989 (all in Mathematics). He returned to Mississippi State as a member of the faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 1992 until 2002. In 2002, he joined the staff of the Mathematical Association of America, where he now serves as Executive Director. This scholarship will be awarded to a full-time mathematics major, who has demonstrated academic achievement (including a 3.0 GPA), and demonstrated financial need.
    
6. Christopher Randolph Stark Memorial Scholarship: ($500-$800 per semester). The children of the late Christopher Randolph Stark made a gift to the university in honor of their father. The purpose of this scholarship is to attract superior students to MSU and assist them with their education in mathematics. The scholarship is available to a full-time junior or senior mathematics major who has a minimum 3.5 GPA and has demonstrated leadership and character. The student must be a Mississippi resident or the child of an MSU alumnus who was a resident of Mississippi.
    
7. Albert Maury Shurlds, Sr. Endowed Mathematics Scholarship, and Albert Maury Shurlds, Sr. Annual Scholarship: ($500 per semester). In June of 2012, Henry William Shurlds III established this scholarship in honor of his father. After 19 years of high school teaching, Maury Shurlds came to Mississippi State University for a master's in Mathematics. He accepted a faculty position shortly after, and continued working in the MSU Department of Mathematics for almost twenty years, ultimately rising to the rank of Associate Professor. He retired in 1985. The scholarship is available to a full-time undergraduate mathematics major, who is a resident of the state of Misissippi. The student should have a demonstrated record of academic achievement, including a 3.0 high-school GPA (if an entering freshman), or a 3.0 college GPA (if not an entering freshman).
    
8. Jimmy L. Solomon Scholarship in Mathematics: ($500 per semester). In October of 2008, the family of Jimmy L. Solomon established this scholarship in his honor. Dr. Solomon was a long-time member of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Mississippi State University, and served as department head from 1981 until 1991. In June 1991, he became the interim Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and in April 1992 he was named as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Mississippi State University, a role in which he served until August 1995. He then became Dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology at Georgia Southern University. The recipient of this scholarship must be a full-time junior or senior majoring in mathematics. The student should have demonstrated academic achievement by maintaining an overall GPA of at least 3.2, and a GPA of 3.4 in mathematics courses.
    
9. Dolores M. and John L. Tilley Endowed Scholarship: ($200-$250 per semester). In December of 1999, Dolores and John Tilley established this scholarship. John Tilley was a long-time professor of mathematics at MSU who also served as the department head. This scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to two mathematics majors, one junior and one senior, on the basis of academic achievement. The junior needs to have finished all the freshman and sophomore mathematics courses and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 in those courses. The senior needs to have finished all the freshman, sophomore, and junior level mathematics courses and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 in those courses. Both recipients need an overall academic achievement of 3.0 GPA.
    
10. Departmental Freshman Scholarships: (up to $1,000 per semester). The Department of Mathematics & Statistics offers several scholarships to strong incoming freshman. Recipients are chosen on a competitive basis. No application is required. The award will be applied in equal parts to the fall and spring semesters of the freshman academic year, contingent upon continuance as a mathematics major and maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA.
     
11. S-STEM scholarship and mentoring program: “Breaking the Silo: Mathematics as a Common Language in Science”: (up to $6300 per year). This scholarship is designed to support deserving students majoring in Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics at Mississippi State University. First-generation students or students coming from struggling educational districts are especially encouraged to apply. This scholarship is designed to: (1) Support students financially to complete a Bachelor's degree in the academic majors of Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics; (2) Support students academically through peer support and academic tutoring experiences; and (3) Expand student opportunities with career development seminars and undergraduate research experiences. Recipients of this scholarship will take a 1-credit hour course on Mathematics as a Common Language in the Fall semester and will participate in academic tutoring support for science and mathematics classes. Additional workshops within this program focus on study skills and time management strategies, mentoring activities and peer connections, and incorporation of undergraduate research experiences for support and academic development.
    Scholarship consideration will be based upon financial need, designation of academic major (CH, MA, or PH), high school GPA and ACT scores along with essays and teacher recommendations that demonstrate student curiosity and commitment to academic excellence. A minimum math ACT score of 24 is required for consideration. Continued scholarship support will be contingent upon maintenance of a 3.00 GPA and participation in workshop activities.
    Students interested in applying will need to complete the scholarship application form and arrange for two letters of recommendation; one letter must be from a Mathematics or Science High School Teacher; the second letter may be from any teacher who has taught student within past two years. Demonstration of financial need through a FAFSA application will be required prior to scholarship award.

Mathematics majors are also eligible for a wide variety of other scholarships that are administered through the College of Arts & Sciences. The deadline for applications is generally December 1st.

It would be worthwhile for a mathematics major to apply for both Departmental as well as College scholarships. The Admissions Office also has some information on scholarships for freshmen and transfer students.