Mississippi State University Receives $100M Gift for Scholarships, Largest in School’s History

Mississippi State University has recently received a $100 million gift for student scholarships from a Texas couple, the largest donation not only in the school’s history but to a higher education institution in the state of Mississippi.

Additionally, the gift from donors George and Kathy Bishop is among the most significant contributions designated only for scholarship support at any world university, school officials said, Erudera.com reports.

The couple has also previously contributed to the school, establishing the George Bishop Family Endowed Scholarship, under which they provided $10 million in 2018. In a statement announcing the donation, the university said that with a total investment of $110 million, the Bishop family would further secure MSU’s role as a vibrant center for scholarships and education.

Expressing appreciation for the investment at Mississippi State, President Mark E. Keenum said that the gift would make a change in the lives of generations of students, their families, and communities, adding that it also reflects Bishops’ visionary understanding of higher education power, among other things.

“Our university has been making a difference here at home and around the world for more than 145 years by providing students with an exceptional education and unmatched service opportunities, and the Bishops’ gift will ensure that many more young people will be able to pursue and attain a college degree, compete for the jobs of the future, and serve their communities,” President said.

George Bishop was a former member of the university’s Foundation Board of Directors, who, in 2019, received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from MSU. He said that MSU had given him the foundation to be successful, and now he wants to give back to the institution, which he described as influential for him and many others.

“It’s a blessing to help people, and I especially want to help students that have the desire to work but don’t have the funds to accomplish their goals on their own,” Bishop added.

Vice president for development and alumni at MSU, John Rush, also commented on the gift, saying it breaks down barriers and enables more students to access education.

Mississippi State University was founded in 1878. In the fall of 2021, there were 23,086 students, 70 percent of whom studied full-time. Most students in 2021 (18,584) were undergraduates, 4,104 were graduate students, while the remaining 398 were professionals in veterinary medicine.

The university offers more than 160 degrees, among which 14 master’s degrees in 69 programs, an educational specialist degree in eight programs, doctoral degrees in 44 programs, and 14 graduate certification programs.

Currently, 97 students have benefited in scholarships from the donation of the couple, and the university is optimistic that this increased support will provide greater assistance to more students each year.

Image source: the Twitter account of the Mississippi State University