|
|
|
|
Students honored with Montgomery Leadership Awards |
|
Saturday, 14 April 2007 |
By SHOSHANA BRACKETT
Starkville Daily News
Three Mississippi State University students were honored yesterday with leadership awards named for the long-time congressman popularly known as “Mr. Veteran.”
The award presentations were made in conjunction with the unveiling of a new “Sonny” Montgomery bust. The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation presented a bust of the late senator to Mitchell Memorial Library, home of Montgomery’s papers and collection.
“We thought it was very appropriate for there to be a bust in the library in conjunction with all of his papers and collection that is housed here,” said Bob Bailey, president of the Montgomery Foundation.
“We are trying to carry on the memory, the legacy of our great friend, Sonny Montgomery,” he said.
“It’s important not just only to the library ... but it’s important to our students, our faculty because it represents an individual who represented the university and the state in the highest levels of integrity and leadership,” said Frances Coleman, dean of the MSU Libraries.
MSU President Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong noted Montgomery’s love for MSU, Mississippi and the United States.
“This is just another way to solidify our relationship with my friend and our hero, Sonny Montgomery,” Foglesong said.
Dr. Kim Sessums, the artist who sculpted the bust and a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist, said he tried to “capture the essence of the man.”
“I feel like I got to know him better doing this piece,” Sessums said.
The Foundation also awarded the first Montgomery Foundation Leadership Awards to three students demonstrating leadership ability.
The scholarship awards encourage more leadership development by honoring students with proven leadership skills, Bailey said.
Three students that best exemplified leadership attributes were selected, said Dr. Cade Smith, director of the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program.
The new award recognizes rising seniors with a $5,000 scholarship and medallion. The medallion features the engraved words of character traits of courage, integrity, service before self, excellence, passion and compassion.
The three recipients, Cadet Capt. Joshua Burnett, Christopher Walker and Aaron Rice, all have military ties.
Burnett, director of operations for Arnold Air Society, serves as the training flight commander for sophomore cadets preparing for summer field training.
A political science major, Burnett was selected this year as one of the top 24 cadets in the country in his academic year and selected to attend a leadership conference at the Air Force Academy.
While introducing Burnett, Lt. Colonel Terry Dickensheet, professor of aerospace studies, said Burnett exhibited the character traits engraved on the medallions.
“He came to us three years ago with those character traits already,” Dickensheet said. “Joshua Burnett epitomizes those core values.”
Walker, Battalion Cadet S-3 Training Officer and Commander in Chief of Physical training, is a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard and is scheduled to commission in May 2008 with a bachelor of science in clinical exercise philosophy.
Lt. Colonel Marcus D. Majure, professor of military science, said he immediately thought of Walker when asked to select a student for the Montgomery award. “Sonny” Montgomery would have been proud to have Walker serve in the Army, he said.
Rice received the award for the ALHP. While serving in Iraq, he lost his left leg below the knee after his vehicle struck an anti-tank land mine. After returning to MSU, Rice was elected attorney general of the MSU Student Association.
Smith said Rice was a humble man who loves serving as a leader.
“It’s wonderful to be associated with that energy, that creativity,” Smith said.
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 15 April 2007 )
|
|
|
|
