The Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy is embarking on a recruitment campaign to identify high school students who show great potential in helping shift the private, public and philanthropic sectors toward a model based on teamwork and community.

The women's council seeks young women and men who have already exhibited ethical and caring behavior through a deep desire to help others.  Furthermore, they should be risk-takers, inspired to create a shared vision through their abilities to articulate and demonstrate leadership and, in the final analysis, serve humankind.

The Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy plans to recognize these young women and men as new leaders of the 21st century by designating them council scholars and inviting them into the university's freshman class through a scholarship award.

Scholarship

The council's inaugural goal is to award six students (men and women) a scholarship of $5,000 per year during their Ole Miss tenure. As council scholars, they are expected to participate in leadership, scholarship, mentorship and stewardship programs.

Mentorship

The students are assigned a cluster of mentors from the council or from the Ole Miss community who are highly respected leaders in their fields.  These committed individuals are in regular communication with each student to guide them on their future career, help with life skills and network with alumni and other personal and professional supporters. Plans call for the council scholars to regularly meet in small groups and participate in the carefully designed program.

Leadership

To improve the quality of institutions, corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations, etc., the next generation must aspire to levels of influence and decision making. They, too, must rely on proven systems, while having the courage to create new models.

Council scholars participate in a series of leadership symposiums sponsored the Lott Leadership Institute using the philosophy of servant leadership as the core curriculum. The students are expected to demonstrate their leadership training in campus-wide organizations and serve as council speakers at special events.

During the summer breaks, the young men and woman are given opportunities to "shadow" leaders in the public and private sectors, develop community-service projects in their hometowns and ultimately, serve as mentor to future council scholars.

By mixing the right ingredients with commitment, The University of Mississippi can emerge as the country's leadership training ground for college students in the 21st century. 

Giving Back

Upon completion of his or her degree, each council scholar is expected to pledge a modest amount of financial support to the Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy Scholarship Endowment Fund for a minimum of five years in order to "reseed" the program. This stipulation was designed to teach each scholar the simple but powerful "act of giving." Each student also is expected to demonstrate his or her commitment to community service by undertaking a volunteer initiative to actively exhibit new leadership skills.  Mentors continue to help guide the process, monitor development, and help each council scholar evaluate his or her growth.

For more information about the Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy or the Council Scholarship Endowment Program, please contact The University of Mississippi Foundation at (622) 915-5944 or (800) 340-9542.  

The University of Mississippi Foundation
Brandt Memory House
Post Office Box 249
University, MS   38677