JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Ole Miss and Mississippi State are much more known for rivalry than collaboration. But the two schools are now coming together in hopes of producing the kind of student that will take education in Mississippi to a new level.
The Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (MET) is a joint effort to attract high-performing students into the teaching profession. Full scholarships will be offered, including room and board. Upon graduation, the students will be required to spend at least five years teaching in a Mississippi school.
The two universities are striving to aim MET toward potential math and English teachers for middle and high schools. Students of any age may apply for the scholarships, and recipients will be chosen through an interview process.
The universities hope to recruit 20 students at each campus, per year.
"Anything we can do to get these young people to come in and be better teachers, better instructors will help us reach our core standards, core requirements," says Dr. Mark Keenum, President of MSU. "Again, the overarching of all of this is to elevate the status, the prestige of our teachers."
MET will be funded through a private gift from the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation in Jackson. The Foundation has made a five-year commitment.
"This is a very large commitment on their part. We're very grateful for that. We certainly envision this going on in perpetuity. We think this is the beginning stage, and will be an opportunity to attract the best and brightest to education in Mississippi," says Dr. Daniel Jones, Chancellor of The University of Mississippi.
Interested students should contact their school administrator for more information on applying for the MET scholarships.
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