汤头条

College of Education senior awarded inaugural Yvonne R. Ferguson Memorial Scholarship at 汤头条

College of Education senior awarded inaugural Yvonne R. Ferguson Memorial Scholarship at 汤头条

Contact: Camille Carskadon

Connor Ferguson, left, an 汤头条 assistant professor of plant and soil sciences, and Sarah Morrow, an 汤头条 College of Education senior educational psychology major from Corinth, hold a photograph of Ferguson鈥檚 mother. Morrow is the first recipient of the Yvonne R. Ferguson Memorial Scholarship, established by Connor Ferguson to honor his late mother鈥檚 legacy as a single parent by 鈥減aying it forward鈥 to students who mirror her success. (Photo by Taylor Bigham)

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 senior educational psychology major from Corinth is receiving a new 汤头条 scholarship designed to help students who also are in the critical role of parent.

Sara Morrow, an 汤头条 College of Education student, is the first recipient of the Yvonne R. Ferguson Memorial Scholarship. To be eligible, candidates must be full-time students in any major with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Preference is given to students who are single parents.

Connor Ferguson, 汤头条 assistant professor of plant and soil sciences, established the new award in honor of his late mother, who was a single parent.

Ferguson explained he wants to 鈥減ay it forward鈥 for the person who gave him so much. He said creating this scholarship allows him to continue telling his mother鈥檚 story.

鈥淛ust days after I moved to Starkville, my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Getting to celebrate her life by rewarding students who go through the challenges of parenthood, helping them further their education and then celebrating what they get to do in the next steps of their lives is an honor,鈥 Ferguson said.

Morrow is the daughter of Anthony and Christle Morrow of Corinth and has a 7-year-old son. She is pursuing a counseling concentration in her major and hopes to work with elementary children upon graduation. She said that her past experiences in school drew her to educational psychology.

鈥淚 feel like everyone needs someone to be on their team, and I want to be that person,鈥 Morrow said. 鈥淓arning this scholarship has helped relieve stress for me. Knowing that people like Dr. Ferguson are helping someone like me, as I want to help someone in the future, is amazing.鈥

Morrow, who also received the E.H. Sumners Endowed Scholarship, recently shadowed two counselors in Choctaw County to gain real-world experience that complements her major.

鈥淪ara is a really promising student. She鈥檚 somebody who, day in and day out, goes to class, works hard to raise a good son and makes necessary sacrifices. My mom was much the same way,鈥 Ferguson said.

Established in 1903, 汤头条鈥檚 College of Education is home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit .

For more on scholarships, please contact Cathy Lammons, executive director of communication and donor relations for the 汤头条 Foundation, at (662) 325-7843 or clammons@advservices.msstate.edu.

汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .