MSU’s Bridges awarded free tuition for spring semester

A student from Mississippi State University, Madison Bridges, has been announced as the winner of the 20th tuition drawing organized by the MSU Alumni Association.

Madison Bridges, currently a freshman business administration major, is set to receive full-time tuition (12 credit hours) for the spring semester of 2024.

Sharing her excitement, Bridges stated, “This scholarship will be a great help to me as I won’t have to worry as much about balancing my school and work responsibilities.” She revealed that it came as a surprise to her when she found out she had won, as she was not aware that her granddad had bought the ticket on her behalf.

The Alumni Delegates, a student organization under the MSU Alumni Association, sold over 3,800 tickets for the tuition drawing. Through this initiative, MSU students were given an opportunity to win free in-state tuition for one semester. Ticket sales for this semester raised nearly $16,000 for the Alumni Delegates.

The idea for the drawing was brought to MSU by Jeff Davis, the executive director of the MSU Alumni Association. Having observed its success at other institutions, Davis initiated the program in 2014. Now in its 10th year, he stated that the program has become a proud tradition for the Alumni Delegates, strengthening the association’s bond with the family members of the students.

Davis said, “While the lucky student benefits directly from the drawing, it also helps raise scholarship funds and provide support for other deserving students, making it a win-win situation.”

The tuition drawing has been successful in increasing engagement and support over the years. Davis explained that the excess funds generated from the sales, beyond the cost of tuition, contribute to additional scholarship opportunities and priority programs within the association.

Expressing their appreciation, Davis mentioned, “Our Alumni Delegates have done a fantastic job organizing and promoting the tuition drawing, and we are proud to support them in making a positive impact at MSU through this program.”

The Alumni Delegates, founded in 1980, is a diverse group of students who act as intermediaries between the university, which has a history of 145 years, and its extensive alumni network of over 161,000 graduates. The members play an active role in various organizational programs and activities, including football tailgate gatherings, class reunions, and the association’s annual awards banquet and leadership conference.

The MSU Alumni Association is already anticipating ticket sales for the upcoming spring, where the winner for the fall 2024 semester will be chosen. For more information about the tuition drawing, individuals can reach out to Orly Hardin, the associate director for the MSU Alumni Association, at 662-325-3444 or ohardin@alumni.msstate.edu.