CHANCELLOR’S 3 THINGS TO KNOW
Welcome to the November edition of @ The Flagship! With Thanksgiving approaching and the end of the fall semester upon us, I’m filled with gratitude for the Ole Miss community. Our students, faculty and staff have persevered amid obstacles presented by the pandemic. Your efforts, generous spirit, and commitment to our university have contributed to many successes this semester in the face of unprecedented challenges. And now, here are 3 Things to Know:
Crowning Achievement: I want to salute UM senior Asya Branch, who was recently crowned Miss USA 2020. A native of Booneville and an integrated marketing communications major, she was the first African American to win the Miss Mississippi USA pageant and the first Miss Mississippi to be crowned Miss USA in its 69-year history. Asya is passionate about helping at-risk youth and advocating for criminal justice reform, and she is the founder of an initiative called “Finding Your Way: Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents.” Asya will now move to New York City to fulfill her duties. Congratulations, Asya – we’re so proud of you and your many successes!
Serving Our Country: Congrats to Cadet Megan Steis, an Ole Miss senior who was recently selected as the #1 AFROTC cadet in the nation by the Navy Federal Credit Union with their “Navy Federal Credit Union ROTC All-American Student of the Year Award.” Megan is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Chinese with a minor in Intelligence and Security Studies. Megan will be part of Navy Federal Credit Union’s media package where they will recognize each ROTC service’s award recipient during a bowl game on ESPN over the holidays. Way to go, Megan!
A Passion for Serving Others: A few weeks ago, I visited the Grove Grocery, the recently renamed food bank serving our UM community. While there, I encountered passionate volunteers and saw first-hand the big-hearted effort behind this vital resource. The experience offered a touching reminder of how our people recognize and respond to needs in our community and beyond, resulting in powerful change. I hope you’ll read more of the inspiring examples of service and community engagement in our special section below, A Culture of Caring.
Stay safe, stay well and Happy Thanksgiving!
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor
TOP STORIES
Exemplary Research & Outreach
John Green, UM sociology professor and administrator, is part of a research team awarded the highly competitive National Excellence in Multistate Research Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project was honored for research on pressing demographic, economic, social and environmental challenges faced by rural communities.
High-flying Entrepreneur
Nestor Delgado, a third-year student in UM’s School of Law, took first place in the sixth annual LandShark Tank Pitch Competition. His company, ROTR Drone Solutions, helps businesses integrate existing drone technology into their operations.
On Par with the Best
Ole Miss women’s golf earned its highest ranking in program history when the Rebels came in at No. 2 in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. It marks the fourth straight week that the Rebels have been ranked within the top 5 by Golfweek.
FLAGSHIP FACTS
A Culture of Caring