in this issue: Starnes scholar sees political office as a way to improve Mississippi Ole Miss First is keeping the MomentUM going The power, contribution of mentors invaluable as part of scholarship program Chancellor helps family surprise alum with scholarship named in his honor Ole Miss First scholarship roster Check out the new and improved Ole Miss First Web site. Log on to www.olemissfirst.com to learn more about the Ole Miss First scholarship program. Read about the scholars or make a gift. |
Chancellor helps family surprise alum
with scholarship named in his honor by Chris Schulz
“I can’t think of anything that I would’ve appreciated more,” said Palmer, who celebrated his 80th birthday in September 2007. “It was such a surprise.” Palmer’s son, Scott, along with Palmer’s daughter and son-in-law, Carol and James Threadgill, established the Charles Palmer Ole Miss First Scholarship. They came up with the idea during the holidays and asked the chancellor to help them surprise the Ole Miss alumnus. “We had the chancellor call him to say, ‘Next time you’re in Oxford, I want to sit down and talk to you,’” said Carol Threadgill (BRL 80). The Threadgills live in Tupelo, where James is vice chairman of BancorpSouth. The first recipient of the Charles Palmer Ole Miss First Scholarship will be an incoming freshman enrolling this fall. Besides tuition, Ole Miss First scholarships include a unique mentoring program that provides a mentor for each scholar during his or her four years at UM. Charles Palmer and his wife, Jean, who live in Forest, spend quite a bit of time in Oxford and plan to become mentors to the inaugural Palmer Scholarship recipient. “We thought that would be a neat way to honor him for his 80th birthday,” said Scott Palmer (BBA 78), who, with his father, runs Palmer Insurance Agency in Forest. “We’re glad we could do it. We wanted to have the scholarship in place for a student in the fall, so we decided to surprise Daddy early.” Khayat said he enjoyed being involved in the surprise. “One of the privileges of serving as chancellor is the occasional opportunity to participate in a heartwarming expression of family love,” he said. “The surprise gift of an Ole Miss First scholarship to Charles Palmer by his children was one of those life-enriching experiences.” Jill Waycaster West, development officer for the Ole Miss First scholarship program, met the Threadgills last year in Tupelo and told them about Ole Miss First. “The Palmers and the Threadgills are great people and longtime supporters of Ole Miss,” West said. “This scholarship is another remarkable gesture of support from a fine family.” The named Ole Miss First scholarship had stiff competition for Charles Palmer’s best birthday surprise ever, said Carol Threadgill. “On his 50th birthday, Ole Miss beat Notre Dame in football in Jackson. That was a pretty good birthday, too.” • |
Charles Palmer of Forest learned about an early birthday gift when UM Chancellor Robert Khayat informed him that his children had founded an Ole Miss First scholarship in his name.