Campus visitors take turns petting one of the Department of Biology's cold-blooded residents during Mississippi Day activities. The event celebrates the state of Mississippi and the university’s contributions to its culture, education, health care and economy. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
Daylong celebration to highlight university’s achievements, programs and services
The University of Mississippi will put a spotlight on the Magnolia State during the 2024 Mississippi Day on April 13, 2024.
Mississippi Day brings together all 10 of the Oxford campus’ colleges and schools with 75 offices and departments to offer fun and family-friendly activities for everyone. Starting at 10 am, booths lining The Circle, Galtney-Lott Plaza, and Union Plaza will offer information, demonstrations, games, performances, and food throughout the four-hour event.
“Mississippi Day is a celebration of all the exciting things happening at Mississippi’s flagship university,” said Emily Ferris, associate director of outreach and continuing education and chair of the Mississippi Day 2024 committee. “Visitors can expect to engage in hands-on demonstrations, which will allow them to participate in learning and academic discovery.”
Megan Miller, assistant dean of student programs in the School of Engineering, said she and her sons, Thomas and Daniel, have loved seeing the event grow every year.
“Family favorites are the bounce house, the snake at the biology department tent, ROTC’s flight simulator, the drums from the Pride of the South marching band and the robotics teams with CMSE,” she said. “Thomas also enjoyed the science experiments at the chemical engineering tent and the indoor planetarium. We are looking forward to seeing how Mississippi Day evolves for 2024.”
The annual event was launched in 2022 at the suggestion of Noel Wilkin, provost and executive chancellor for academic affairs.
“Since its inception, Mississippi Day has proven to be a wonderful event at which the public get the opportunity to interact face-to-face with our faculty, staff, students and alumni and discuss the activities of the university,” Wilkin said.
Mississippi Day is free and open to the public. It is among several activities available for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors that weekend, including Junior Preview Day, The Grove Bowl, and a home baseball series against Mississippi State.
“The Mississippi Day programming greatly enhances what we are able to showcase to the prospective students and families that are visiting through Junior Preview Day,” said Martin Fisher, director of campus visits and orientation programs. “The hands-on activations are such a unique way to demonstrate what all is happening at Ole Miss and is not something we’d be able to offer without the partnership of Mississippi Day.”
For more information and updates on Mississippi Day, visit https://mississippiday.olemiss.edu/.
By Edwin Smith
