COLUMBUS, Miss. – Lauren Duckworth, a freshman from Reform, Ala., is the 2018-2019 recipient of the MUW Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an entering full-time student who is a family member of an MUW alumna or alumnus.
Duckworth is an English and secondary education major as well as an MUW Owls Softball player. As a student at The W, she is keeping with family tradition. Both her mother, Amy Meeks Duckworth, ’96, and cousin, April Sylvia, ’04, are MUW alumnae.
“I am honored to be selected for this scholarship,” said Duckworth. “I can pursue my academic goals, continue my athletic career playing a sport that has meant so much to me and follow in my mother’s footsteps as a member of The Long Blue Line.”
She intends to graduate from The W with a bachelor's degree in English and certification in secondary education. Duckworth aspires to be a high school English teacher as well as a softball and/or volleyball coach. She always knew she wanted to teach, but she credits one of her high school teachers with instilling in her a love for English.
“My English teacher sparked an interest. Hers was my favorite class, and I looked forward to attending and learning every day,” Duckworth stated. “I want to inspire students and make them excited to learn. I strive to make an impact in other students’ lives in the same way.”
Lauren Duckworth’s mother, Amy Meeks Duckworth, said she chose The W because it is a smaller campus and close to home. She loves that the smaller class sizes allow the professors to know each student as a person, and she knows Lauren will receive the same top-quality, well-rounded education that she did.
Amy Meeks Duckworth is excited that Lauren will live on campus, get involved and meet new people, but she is even more excited that Lauren will be able to continue her softball career. “Sports have always been a big part of Lauren’s life. Attending The W just seemed like the perfect fit for her, especially when athletics returned to campus,” she said.
Lauren Duckworth said she knows she will enjoy being around all the sports she loves if she one day becomes a coach, but she wants to be known as an amazing teacher. “The coaching title would come second to the teacher,” she explained. “But in everything I might do, as a teacher or a coach, I just hope to inspire people.”
MUW Alumni Association President Katy Canion Pacelli said the MUWAA is pleased to award the scholarship to Duckworth. "Lauren is an excellent student and athlete and a fabulous choice for our Legacy Scholarship. We are delighted that she has chosen to continue the family tradition by joining The Long Blue Line."
Recipients of this award complete an extensive application process that includes academic achievements, extracurricular activities and work and volunteer activities and requires a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor as well as a short essay about why the student has chosen to attend The W.
The MUWAA exists to support and promote the mission of The W while providing alumni engagement opportunities. Any former student who has completed at least 12 semester hours at the university and who has made an annual contribution to the MUW Foundation is an active member eligible to vote and hold office for the year. For more information, visit the Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association website at https://longblueline.muw.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 19, 2018