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Graduating Class Scholarship established

24 July 2019

Morehead State University graduating seniors who plan to pursue a graduate degree at MSU can now potentially earn additional financial assistance through the Graduating Class Scholarship. This scholarship is a $1,000 award for one graduating senior to be used during the 2019-20 academic year for graduate studies. The recipient of this semester's scholarship is Hannah Rice (19) from Van Lear.

Rice graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She was an Undergraduate Research Fellow beginning in January 2019, completing a family developmental study alongside Dr. Shari Kidwell, associate professor of psychology at MSU. The two presented their research at MSU's Celebration of Student Scholarship and the Kentucky Psychological Association. Before that, she was an aftercare worker for the Rowan County Christian Academy from August 2018 to January 2019. She plans on using the scholarship award to pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology at MSU with plans to either work at a juvenile detention center or a correctional facility as a rehabilitation counselor.

"As a graduate student, there are not as many scholarship opportunities as there are for undergraduates," Rice said. "This scholarship will tremendously help me achieve my goal of getting my master's."

The MSU Class of 2019 who participated in the senior class giving campaign this past spring made this scholarship possible. By making a gift of $20.19 during I Heart MSU Week, the student philanthropy initiative, 66 graduating seniors made gifts to the fund resulting is $1,332 for the scholarship.

"This scholarship is a great way for graduating seniors to make a difference in the life of a fellow classmate," said Sydnee Bradley, immediate past president of the Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA). "SAA was so pleased with the success of this student-led fundraising campaign and we are excited to make this an annual scholarship for graduating seniors who plan to continue their education at MSU."

Students who donated to the Graduating Class Scholarship fund received a royal blue giving cord to wear during commencement. Student donors could also make their gift in honor of their parents, an advisor or favorite professor. Those honored by a senior class gift were displayed on the video screen before MSU's Spring 2019 Commencement Ceremony.

Application criteria for the 2019-20 Graduating Class Scholarship include having a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and completing a bachelor's degree at Morehead State University.

For more information on this scholarship, or to establish your own, contact MSU's Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email giving@moreheadstate.edu or visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu/give to contribute today.