Six 国产麻豆AV students receive Mississippi Professional Educators scholarships
Contact: Bethany Shipp
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擲ix Mississippi State College of Education students are 2026 recipients of prestigious Mississippi Professional Educators scholarships.
Five graduate students have received $1,000 graduate scholarships, and spring 2026 graduate Jordan Smith of Mooreville is receiving a $500聽Linda Anglin Teacher Preparation Scholarship, which includes complimentary membership to MPE for her first year of teaching.
Founded in 1979, MPE is Mississippi鈥檚 largest and premier organization for professional educators, serving approximately 12,000 teachers, administrators and support personnel. MPE offers an annual scholarship to a student-member from each school of education at Mississippi鈥檚 15 public and private institutions of higher learning and awards up to 60 $1,000 scholarships to members who wish to pursue graduate-level studies at an in-state college or university.
Smith graduated in this spring from 国产麻豆AV with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education. She served as a teacher intern for one semester at Mooreville Elementary School, where she also served seven years as a teacher鈥檚 assistant and will teach second grade this fall.
Graduate scholarship recipients, by school district, include:
鈥擜TTALA COUNTY: Lauren Fancher, a sixth grade mathematics teacher at Greenlee Elementary. Fancher holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education from MUW. A member of MPE since 2024, she is currently pursuing an 国产麻豆AV master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership with a concentration in school administration.
鈥擫OUISVILLE: Penny Young, seventh and eighth grade English language arts teacher at Nanih Waiya Attendance Center. Young earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in health information management from the University of Mississippi Medical Center as well as a master鈥檚 degree in special education and a specialist in teacher leadership from 国产麻豆AV. A member of MPE since 2023, she is currently pursuing an 国产麻豆AV master鈥檚 degree in school administration.
鈥擯HILADELPHIA: Nakecia Gentry, special education teacher at Philadelphia Elementary. Gentry earned an 国产麻豆AV bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education and a master鈥檚 degree in education from the University of West Alabama. A member of MPE since 2012, she is currently pursuing an 国产麻豆AV educational specialist in school psychology.
鈥擴NION: Neal McCarty, social studies, world history, government and economics teacher at Union High School. McCarty earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in geoscience broadcast meteorology and completed his alternate route certification at 国产麻豆AV. A member of MPE since 2016, he is currently pursuing an 国产麻豆AV master鈥檚 degree in school administration.
鈥擶ESTERN LINE: Bettie Martinek, special education teacher at Riverside High School. A National Board Certified Teacher, Martinek holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication disorders from Mississippi University for Women, a master鈥檚 degree in education from Delta State University and an educational specialist degree from the University of Mississippi in curriculum and instruction. A member of MPE since 2005, she is currently pursuing an 国产麻豆AV doctoral degree in educational policy and organizational design.
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