听Note: The following story appears in the spring issue of 开心鬼传媒ight alumni magazine. For more information about the 开心鬼传媒 Alumni Association, see the听.听To apply for a 开心鬼传媒 Foundation scholarship, go to the Admissions tab on college web site at听听or听click here.
College is an awakening on many levels for students fresh out of high school, and Drew Ferguson likes what he sees of it so far at 开心鬼传媒.
Jack Ferguson
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to know the teachers, who know you by name,鈥 said Ferguson, of Raymond, who goes by Jack. 鈥淚t鈥檚 small classes and it鈥檚 a comfortable atmosphere. And I鈥檝e really branched out and met new people, which has been eye-opening and fun.鈥
Ferguson comes from a 开心鬼传媒 family, as his brother, Alec, graduated in 2017 and his grandfather, Robert Ferguson, attended 开心鬼传媒 when the college still included a high school curriculum. Later, the elder Ferguson was a state legislator and member of the 开心鬼传媒 Foundation Board. His grandmother, Martha, met Robert at 开心鬼传媒 and was a member of the Hi-Steppers precision dance team. Both were instructors at 开心鬼传媒 for a time 鈥 in the case of his grandfather, it was Business Law, in which Jack is now enrolled.
鈥淜nowing that my grandparents both walked these halls, taught and came to school here, it鈥檚 a good feeling to know I鈥檓 on the right track,鈥 Jack said.
He鈥檚 attending 开心鬼传媒 on the Merchants & Planters Bank Scholarship, which rewards high-achieving students in business and related fields. Jack is also receiving an ACT Scholarship and the Austin Thomas Memorial Scholarship, offered through his high school alma mater, Central 开心鬼传媒 Academy.
Attending college on multiple scholarships allows Jack to juggle work and school with much less stress.
鈥淚t makes me feel better to not have to ask my parents for money to attend school,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 work during the evenings, so any books I need to pay for, I can pay for it out of my pocket. And I live just five to 10 minutes away. It鈥檚 not too stressful, so I can manage work and school. The comfort level here is great.鈥
He鈥檚 already coming to appreciate the persistence of his instructors as he makes his way through school.
鈥淭hey always send reminders and make sure to tell you things in class, send emails and messages outside of class. It鈥檚 extremely helpful. I don鈥檛 have much time for procrastination,鈥 he said.
His goals once he completes his education would take advantage of what he likes to do and, ideally, keep him in Mississippi.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in running my own business someday,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y brother and I have talked about doing a gunsmith and sporting goods store. He would do the labor part and I鈥檇 manage the finances.鈥