Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Six Mississippi State students are receiving 2009 LEAP Scholarships for the university's master of arts in teaching program.
MAT-S is a post-baccalaureate degree for individuals preparing for careers as professional educators. After graduating from the 14-month program, participants will be eligible to apply for an alternate-route Class AA Mississippi teaching license.
LEAP participants receive $5,000 to help defray costs of the program. Each also is loaned a laptop computer to use while completing degree requirements.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the scholarship program is a collaborative effort between MSU's Starkville and Meridian campuses. Other partners include the Mississippi Department of Education's Mississippi Teacher Center and approximately 40 state school districts, along with MSU's College of Education.
New LEAP Scholars include (by hometown):
CARTHAGE--Kerri A. Estes, a graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.
LOUISVILLE--MSU graduate Kristi T. Jernigan.
MERIDIAN--Melony P. Dees, a graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.; and MSU graduates Scott A. Farmer and Delois A. Samson. [EDITOR: Melony and Delois are the correct spellings.]
STARKVILLE--Crystal Z. Holder, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Martin.
For more information on the MAT-S degree or LEAP Scholarships, visit www.leap.msstate.edu or telephone Susan Steward at 662-325-0527.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.