Jerry and Ruth Scott Scholarship awarded to 17 MSU-Meridian students
MERIDIAN, Miss.—Working students completing their degrees at Mississippi State University-Meridian are eligible to apply for the Jerry and Ruth Scott Scholarship, and 17 are benefiting from this award for the 2025-26 academic year.
Established by the Scotts in 2016 and managed by Citizens National Bank’s Wealth Management Division in Meridian, the Jerry and Ruth Scott Foundation was created to benefit adult working students with high academic achievement.
The following recipients are receiving $3,500 scholarship awards this year:
BAILEY—Kayla Davis, elementary education
BRUCE—Charleigh Kakales, elementary education
CARTHAGE—Victoria Pigg, elementary education
CLINTON—Logan Parker, counselor education
COLLINSVILLE—Lanie Crawford, elementary education; Meridith Sibley, psychology; and Jolee Todd, psychology
DECATUR—Lexie Usry, elementary education
HEIDELBERG—Joshua Wheaton, counselor education
HOULKA—Prisila Martinez, applied science
LAKE—Emma Beckwith, elementary education
LOUSIVILLE—Deanna Sangster, interdisciplinary studies
MARION—Lyric Marshall, psychology
PACHUTA—Lauren Buster, elementary education
PLEAHATCHIE—McKinley Goodin, criminology
SCOOBA—Catherine Compton, applied science
UNION—Julia Espinoza, elementary education
The Scotts made their home in Meridian for more than 30 years. Active in the community, Jerry served as a certified registered nurse anesthetist with Anderson Regional Health System, and Ruth attended MSU-Meridian from 1989 to 1993. The couple shared an appreciation for education, along with art, music and travel.
“The Scotts did not have children, and so upon their passing, they left funds entrusted to Citizens National Bank to manage and support full time working students with a GPA of 3.5 or above,” said Mary Lauren Deweese, vice president of CNB Wealth Management.
Since the foundation’s creation, 77 scholarships have been awarded totaling $269,000, she added.
The priority date for completing the general scholarship application for maximum consideration of competitive scholarships, including private scholarships like the Scott Scholarship, is March 1 for the 2026-2027 academic year.
To learn more about MSU-Meridian or to apply for a scholarship, visit meridian.msstate.edu.