Mars Wrigley President Anton Vincent, a native of Mississippi’s capital city, has donated $100,000 to Jackson State University to establish a scholarship in honor of his parents who served on the faculty for 25 years.
The Pearl and George Vincent Educational Excellence Scholarship will be used to cover tuition, textbooks, supplies, and other fees included in the cost of education for eligible students.
To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must be undergraduate students majoring in education and enrolled full-time at JSU. Applicants must maintain a 2.75 GPA or above, and demonstrate a financial need.
“My parents were lifelong educators, between them 88 years of educational leadership. Teaching students from early childhood all the way to Ph.D. students,” Vincent said. “This scholarship is in honor of their commitment, leadership, and legacy in the educational field. I really want to offer talented students who are passionate about a career in education a chance. Investing in these students impacts all of society.”
According to College of Education and Human Development Dean Jerri Haynes, Ed.D., the donation will enable students to fill the void left by public education funding cuts, minimize students’ debts, support equitable outcomes, and expand students’ networks.
“The Pearl and George Vincent Educational Excellence Scholarship will pave the path to the future of education in the College of Education and Human Development by allowing our students access to become future educators. It will allow our students to spend more time on their academics and less time thinking about how they will pay for school,” Haynes said. “The contribution made by Mr. Vincent is transformative. We cannot say thank you enough for such a significant contribution to the future of education. People like Mr. Vincent make a difference in education and our society, and we are incredibly grateful.
Vincent is a graduate of Murrah High School in Jackson, where he was a scholar-athlete having played on championship basketball teams for coach Orsmond Jordan, Jr. He is enshrined in the Murrah High School Hall of Fame and was voted most likely to succeed.
“My parents were beautiful people. They were tough and supportive. Most importantly, they ensured we had a spiritual foundation, worked hard, didn’t make excuses, and never set limits on what we could achieve,” Vincent added. “These are fundamental principles that they instilled in me and my four brothers George, Michael, Pierre, and Tyrone. We’ve tried to embody those principles throughout our lives.”
Vincent is eager to play a role in supporting the next generation of educators who will soon follow in his parents’ footsteps in becoming educators.
