Photo courtesy of JSU
The largest bank headquartered in Mississippi has pledged funds to establish a scholarship endowment at Jackson State University.
Hancock Whitney announced the creation of the aptly named Hancock Whitney Bank Endowed Scholarship along with a $25,000 pledge. The scholarship is being created to help female students pursue degrees in math, finance, accounting, and economics
“Hancock Whitney was founded to help people achieve their dreams. Our associates come to work every day to help create opportunities for people and the communities we serve. Certainly, quality higher education helps pave the way to making dreams real and opens doors to opportunities for young people anxious to contribute to their world,” Hancock Whitney President and CEO John M. Hairston said. “We are honored and proud to partner with Jackson State University—an icon of educational opportunity in our home state—to create a scholarship that will help young women secure the educational foundations they need to succeed in a variety of quantitative fields.”
The bank’s principal $25,000 investment will be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match, based on funds availability, through the university’s Title III matching funds program, with the potential to double the endowment to $50,000.
Gwen Caples, interim vice president for JSU’s Institutional Advancement and External Affairs, said, “Jackson State University greatly appreciates receiving the Hancock Whitney Bank Endowed Scholarship. As the endowment grows over time, it will create a legacy of learning, extend the impact of the bank’s generosity well beyond a lifetime, and provide scholarships for students for years to come.”
To qualify for the scholarship, candidates must be full-time undergraduate female students at Jackson State pursuing degrees in mathematics, finance, accounting, or economics, maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA, and demonstrating financial need. The scholarship will help recipients pay for tuition, books, supplies, and other fees.
Starting in October 2021, Hancock Whitney will also take part in Jackson State’s virtual professional development series, pairing local leaders and Jackson State alumni at Hancock Whitney to share expertise on topics pertinent to personal and professional success.
