UM Incoming Honors Freshman Jillian LaRosa Receives Prestigious Scholarship

Jillian LaRosa, of Long Beach, received the McDonnell-Barksdale Scholarship, which will provide $8,000 annually toward her education at the University of Mississippi.

LaRosa is one of 18 incoming freshmen accepted into UM’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College who are the recipients of some of the most bountiful scholarships at the university.

“All of our students in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College boast outstanding records of academic excellence, public service and leadership,” said Ethel Scurlock, dean of the Honors College. “To earn our scholarships, students must distinguish themselves among a highly competitive group of applicants.

“Our committee was especially impressed with the credentials of this incoming class. We expect our scholarship students to excel in their academic programs, meaningfully engage in our honors community, and ultimately become leaders in their professions and in the communities where they live.”

A chemical engineering major, LaRosa aims to become a cosmetic chemist “to create nontoxic, efficient and affordable skin-care products.”

LaRosa said she looks forward to the smaller class sizes offered by the Honors College and connecting with her professors and classmates.

The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state’s flagship university. Included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. Its 16 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and an Honors College acclaimed for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action. Recognized among the nation’s most beautiful, Ole Miss’ main campus is in Oxford, which is routinely acknowledged as one of the country’s best college towns.