Ole Miss Women’s Council Scholar Benefits from Guidance
An aspiring broadcast journalist from Jackson, Mississippi, Olivia Quin, an Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy Scholar, benefits from the guidance of a seasoned marketing and communications professional.
Alicia Dean, the marketing promotions and event specialist at Elvis Presley Enterprises/Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, mentors Quin, a University of Mississippi sophomore majoring in journalism with an emphasis on multimedia news and sports media.
The OMWC program is built on the pillars of philanthropy, scholarship, leadership and mentorship. Scholars are paired with professionals who offer guidance in all aspects of their lives, including their future careers, networking opportunities and essential life skills.
“My mentorship with Alicia Dean is nothing short of amazing. She is currently connecting me with the media department for the Memphis Grizzlies as well as several other organizations,” Quin said. “Not only is she providing me with learning opportunities, but she also genuinely cares about me. We recently spent three hours at dinner talking and catching up about our lives.”
Dean joined the OMWC Rose Society last year and started serving as a mentor in August of this year.
“I’ve received such joy from mentoring because I believe in passing along knowledge to the next generation of professionals who are willing to listen, work hard and want to learn,” said Dean, a 2007 Ole Miss graduate who manages activities that support the planning, execution and promotion of signature events at Graceland and assists with additional marketing and PR-related events throughout the year.
OMWC Scholars are also encouraged to participate in community service and leadership organizations.
Quin is a member of Kappa Delta sorority; a Provost Scholar; a member of the Gamma Beta Pi Society, Eta Sigma Society and National Society of Scholars; and an intern with Rebel Grove.
“I’m honored to be involved with such an amazing group of people and to have such an amazing mentee in Olivia,” said Dean about the OMWC and scholars.
“I wish I had known about this program when I was at Ole Miss because I can see that it transforms the lives of the mentees as well as those who come in contact with them.”
The OMWC founded in 2000 provides scholarships to male and female students who demonstrate strong leadership skills and have a passion for serving others. Before being assigned their life and career mentors as sophomores, freshman scholars meet with the two staff academic advisors weekly and are paired with peer mentors.
“The Ole Miss Women’s Council is my favorite organization,” said Quin. “The best thing about being a scholar is how much the council members and our advisors care about us. Allison Lavender and Adkins Trout, our academic advisers, truly do so much for us and dedicate a great deal of time to us in and out of the office.”
The scholarship program offers $40,000 to cover students’ four years of undergraduate education. In addition to the financial resources, the program provides other means of support the scholars need to be successful, including leadership development, cultural activities and travel, monthly homestyle dinners with speakers, and support for study abroad and internships.
“The impact is insurmountable. They pour so much into us. Anything I can ever think of needing, they have already thought of, from snacks to scantrons to study help. You name it, and they have it for you. It is amazing. I am forever indebted to the Ole Miss Women’s Council and everyone involved,” said Quin.
Now in its 24th year, the OMWC is considered one of the most transformational scholarship programs in the nation. It has built an endowment totaling nearly $20 million and awarded scholarships to 185 students. Currently, 38 scholars are enrolled in the program.
For more information or to support the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy, contact Suzanne Helveston, program director, at shelveston@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2956, or visit this site.
By Reagan Collins/UM Development