Eighteen students of the Mississippi School of the Arts were honored recently as Lincoln County Mississippi Scholars.

The Mississippi Scholars Initiative is an education program managed by the Public Education Forum of Mississippi, which utilizes business leaders to motivate students to complete a rigorous course of study in high school. The course path begins in eighth grade and is intended to give students a boost for college and life. In addition to a minimum number of credit hours in school, students must maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average, 95 percent attendance, no out-of-school suspensions, a minimum ACT or ASVAB score, passing scores on all end-of-course exams, and a minimum of 80 hours community or volunteer service.

Forty-six percent of MSA graduates are also Mississippi Scholars. This year, MSA students received $22,500 through Mississippi Scholars. To-date, the class of 2023 has earned a total of more than $7.14 million in scholarships.

“We are grateful to the generous donors and for this program that encourages our students to reach higher,” said MSA counselor Dr. Harlie Blauw.

The 2023 MSA Mississippi Scholars received scholarships from multiple donors.

• The University of Southern Mississippi — Jillian Asa, Elizabeth Duggan, Mary-Margaret Duggan

• The University of Mississippi — Alexander Cruz

• Angel’s Attic — Cecil Bolton

• Rotary Club of Brookhaven — Jordan Brown

• Brookhaven Servitium Club — Abigail Young

• Bank of Brookhaven — Adele Bryant

• Trustmark Bank — Simone Smith

• BankPlus — Jonathan Tripp

• Belk Ditcharo Dental — Eden Cartwright

• JumpStart Test Prep — Carolina Cassisa

• The Gardner Group — Emma Stapp

• Boerner Law Firm PC — Locklyn Wilchynski

• Lincoln County Mississippi Scholars — Katherine Daleke, Audrey Henderson, Cadence Laird, Elliot Nix, Michael Novinksi, Amy Roberson and C Waters