The Public Education Forum of Mississippi recently received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program to assist with the Mississippi Scholars and Mississippi Scholars Tech Master programs. Specifically, this grant will be used to sustain and expand both programs. Both Mississippi Scholars and Mississippi Scholars Tech Master positively impact the local community by encouraging and motivating students to be workforce and career ready. Mississippi Scholars is designed to recognize students to pursue and meet specific standards in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Furthermore, the program targets the middle 50 percent of students who can do well but need the extra motivation. The Mississippi Scholars Tech Master curriculum is designed to recognize students to pursue and meet specific standards in a tech-prep course of study and reward them for hitting specific benchmarks. Students earn and a medallion, certificate, and seals for the high school transcript and high school diploma for each program.
“Making an investment in our future workforce today and producing workforce-ready graduates is vital to our state’s future,” said Scott Waller, interim president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council.
“At the Walmart Foundation, we understand that organizations such as The Public Education Forum of Mississippi are essential to building stronger communities. They are committed to helping Mississippi students prepare for the workforce or higher education upon graduation from high school and achieve success in a global economy,” said Tice White, director of public affairs for Walmart. “Through this donation, we are hopeful that residents in Mississippi will benefit by increasing workforce and career readiness skills.
The Public Education Forum of Mississippi began in 1989 with the belief that Mississippi’s economic future depend on a solid foundation of a strong viable public education system. Since 2003 the Mississippi Scholars program has grown from two pilot school districts to more than 120 schools and or districts and recognized more than 40,000 graduates. Since the rollout of Mississippi Scholars Tech Master program in 2014 more than 3,000 graduates have been recognized with the Mississippi Scholars Tech Master designation.
The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.
To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.