University of Mississippi alumna and donor Renvy Pittman (center) visits with Grove Scholars (from left) Jaylia Jones, of Grenada; Andre'onna Orange, of Waveland; Helena Hansen, of Carriere; and Ivy Nguyen, of Ocean Springs, on the Ole Miss campus. The Grove Scholars program works to close the gap between access and equity for students before their freshman year through graduation from the university. Photo by Eva Luter
Innovative support program helps underrepresented students thrive, aims to boost state’s workforce
The University of Mississippi Grove Scholars program – which helps Mississippians from underrepresented groups earn degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or health care – is growing as it enriches lives and makes the state’s workforce more competitive.
The program uses a cohort model, an incentive structure and a summer bridge program to help close the gap between access and equity for students before their freshman year and continuing through graduation. Grove Scholars qualify for the Ole Miss Opportunity scholarship, a program that guarantees financial aid for eligible Mississippi students if their family’s annual income is $40,000 or below.
“We really want to make sure that students in the Grove Scholars program aren’t just getting a great degree but they’re having a transformative educational experience that sets them on a trajectory as lifelong learners and as individuals with marketable skills who can contribute to Mississippi’s economy and beyond,” said Gray Flora IV, the program’s director.
Since 2016, 77% of all Grove Scholars have either completed their degrees or are still actively pursuing them. Of the graduates, 65% have completed or pursued a specialty program in a STEM or health-related field.
“It is our intent for Grove Scholars to become a nationally recognized program that will be a model for other universities across the country,” said Lee Cohen, dean of the UM College of Liberal Arts.
Grove Scholar alumnus Jontae Warren, of Booneville, earned a degree in pharmaceutical sciences in 2018 and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2021. He is a clinical pharmacist in Ochsner Baptist Hospital‘s Level IV Neonatal ICU in New Orleans.
“This program is important for students because it can be scary starting college as a first-generation student,” he said. “Grove Scholars allows you to quickly make friends who have similar and different interests and gets you started on the right trajectory toward graduation and your career.”
Sixty-two students are enrolled in the program, with leadership hoping to increase that number to 100 by 2025. This year’s freshman cohort is the largest to date, with 26 students.
All Grove Scholars’ expenses, such as tuition, room and food, are covered for a summer session before their freshman year, a bridge experience that orients them to the university and college-level work.
“Students start on campus while it’s a little quieter and learn where everything is,” said Yasmin McLaurin, the program manager. “That first week of classes can be very overwhelming to a first-generation student.”
Ansu Edwards, a 2021 chemistry graduate from Ocean Springs, is a medical student at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He called his experience as a Grove Scholar “nothing short of amazing” for helping him succeed in college and in interviews for medical school.
“The program is a beacon of encouragement for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds like me and my other friends in Grove Scholars,” he said.
“It advocates for diversity and equity, ensuring everyone can pursue their dreams and gain the support they need. Additionally, this program provides students with a foundation of essential college and life skills that are indispensable for personal growth and success both during and after college.”
The Ole Miss Opportunity scholarship covers most expenses during the fall and spring semesters, and the Grove Scholars program pays for one class every summer of participants’ undergraduate years as part of its year-round approach to student development.
The program offers such services as increased tutoring, help finding jobs, identification of internship and shadowing experiences, stipends for unpaid or lightly paid internships, study abroad, financial assistance with fees related to graduate school and entrance exams, guidance on changing majors and improved programming activities. It hosts gatherings and dinners throughout the year.
Grove Scholars know Flora and McLaurin have built a support system with a family-type atmosphere.
“I think knowing that is probably the most important part,” McLaurin said. “They don’t have to make mistakes alone. We say, ‘Any question, big or small, come to us. We will figure it out together. There’s nothing here that you have to navigate alone.'”
Ximena Hernandez, a freshman from Vancleave who is pursuing a degree in allied health with plans to become a nurse, said the support of her fellow Grove Scholars is invaluable.
“We are able to get together and do our homework,” she said. “We want to go into the medical field, and we all know it’s going to take work and dedication.
“We know we’ve got to get it done; we can’t procrastinate. It’s really helpful to have friends like that.”
The program has garnered $2.1 million in support from UM alumna Renvy Pittman, of Los Angeles, and she recently committed a planned gift of $2.5 million.
“This is important work being done in the state where I grew up and owe a lot to,” Pittman said. “These students are so bright and happy to be here, and they are working hard in really challenging disciplines.
“The hope is this encouragement allows them to have meaningful careers and that will have a good effect on their families.”
When asked why donors should invest in the program, McLaurin said, “We have kids who come from very low-income high schools, very impoverished backgrounds, but they come here with our support and excel.”
By Tina H. Hahn
