MVSU student named 2018 White House HBCU Scholar

September 17, 2018

ITTA BENA, Miss.— The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities recently announced the names of 63 students from 54 HBCUs who have been selected as 2018 HBCU Competitiveness Scholars, and among them was Mississippi Valley State University’s Jamireia Hampton.

Hampton was one of three Mississippi students selected for the recognition program designed to honor current HBCU students for their competitiveness. Hezekiah Williams from Hinds Community College-Utica and Reagon Johnson of Tougaloo College were also recognized. 

Hampton, a junior English major from Kemper, expressed how excited she was to be named a Competitiveness Scholar. 

“I was astonished and in disbelief that I had been selected to be an HBCU Competitiveness Scholar,” said Hampton.

“I am truly honored, and I hope this will help set my resume apart from other competitors when applying to graduate programs,” she added. 

An active and engaged student, Hampton is a member of the Alpha Lambda National Honors Society, National Council of Negro Women Collegiate Section, Gateway Leadership Ambassadors Program, Career Services Center Ambassadors, University Ambassadors and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Bachelorette Achievement Program.

She is also a member of the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Although she currently majors in English, Hampton said she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Sociology.

Comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, Competitiveness Scholars are recognized for successfully preparing to compete for top opportunities that improve long-term outcomes.

Each candidate was nominated and endorsed by their institution’s president and was selected from among several highly distinguished HBCU students chosen based on their academic achievement, campus, and civic involvement and entrepreneurial ethos or "go-getter" spirit.

In the course of their one-year term, Competitiveness Scholars will learn and share proven and promising practices that support individual and HBCU competitiveness, with the goal of strengthening prospects for career and life success.

Competitiveness Scholars will assemble September 16-18 at the 2018 National HBCU Week Conference held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in Washington, D.C.

During this national convening – themed, “HBCU Competitiveness: Aligning Institutional Missions with America's Priorities” – the scholars will participate in workshops designed to improve leadership, encourage ongoing personal and professional development and discover areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.

As the embodiment of unique competitive advantages HBCUs provide students, Competitiveness Scholars are afforded opportunities to highlight their exceptional contributions to institutions, ignite new passions and explore ideas critical to lifelong growth and development.

To learn more about the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, CLICK HERE.