Journalism alums create scholarship fund to honor Mississippi newspapers

Students preparing to study journalism at the University of Mississippi are eligible to receive a new scholarship to broaden their educational experience at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media.

The Sun and Sun-Sentinel scholarships were recently created by Ole Miss alumni Ed and Becky Meek with a gift of $200,000.

The scholarships recognize the work of Bill and Jean May, Clay and Krista McFerrin with The Mississippi Sun, which later became The Charleston Sun-Sentinel.

“It is one of the best weeklies in the state and is located in one of the most deprived sections of our state,” Meek said.

“They focus on local news to the extent that one eight-page section recently had 78 stories in it and pictures that included 111 citizens from the area. That is great local coverage and I want to honor their good work with a second scholarship.”

To qualify for the scholarships, high school students from Charleston and Tallahatchie counties must be pursuing a degree within the School of Journalism and New Media.

While it is preferred that those awarded the scholarship are from Tallahatchie County, if none are eligible, it will be given to other Mississippi resident students.

The recipients will be selected by the a university scholarship committee. Those eligible will be reviewed upon the need of the funds, leadership and motivation.

According to journalism school dean Will Norton, the amount the scholarships are worth will fluctuate in relation to the economy and price of tuition.

Norton is welcoming of the scholarship and its basis of creation.

“Ed and Becky Meek have established these scholarships to support young men and women as they seek degrees in higher education,” he said. “More significantly, they are encouraging young people to pursue careers as media professionals. The McFerrins and Mays stand as examples to our students that quality community journalism is the source of an informed democratic society.”

Meek was raised in Charleston, Miss. and created the scholarships to honor two families who did much work within Tallahatchie County.

He credits the Mays and McFerrins with being his mentors and helping him learn the trade.

The Mays edited and published The Sun until their retirement.

“They are why I went into journalism,” Meek said.

Clay McFerrin became part of The Sun-Sentinel team in 1982.

In 1986 he became the editor and general manager and in 1995, the editor and publisher.

Krista McFerrin has overseen many responsibilities needed for the newspaper to run including office management, circulation and advertising.

The Meeks have supported the university’s journalism program in the past through monetary gifts.

A gift of $5.3 million to the University of Mississippi in 2007 funded the creation of the School of Journalism and New Media and the school was named in their honor.

The addition of new media to the school of journalism allows a focus and emphasis on technology and its future impact on the global society.

“My only thing is I came into college not knowing what I wanted to major in. For those students who know that journalism is going to be their thing-it will be a great way to help them,” journalism graduate student Lindsay Jordan said. “I think it will be great for prospective students to Ole Miss for journalism to offer a scholarship. It might help them decide to come here. I wish there had been scholarships like that when I decided journalism.”

Students interested in learning more about or applying for the scholarship should contact Dewey Knight, financial aid associate director, at 662-915-1166.