The MSU Alumni Association and its more than 129,000 alumni have announced the dates for their 2014 Send-off Parties for students heading back to school this fall.

Local chapters, in conjunction with the Alumni Association and the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, will host these events that bring together alumni and friends with current, incoming and prospective students and their parents.

Send-off parties give incoming freshmen and transfer students a chance to gather with future classmates, while allowing alumni and friends the opportunity to offer congratulations and well-wishes as newcomers get set to enroll at Mississippi State University. It’s also an opportunity for prospective students and their parents to learn more about what State has to offer.

All incoming students attending will receive an official 2014 send-off T-shirt.

The following area Send-Off Parties are scheduled:

• Lincoln County: State Room, 112 Cherokee St., Brookhaven, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 22. Please RSVP to Jason Snider at jsnider@kdmc.org or 601-695-8123 if you plan to attend. Food will be served and dress is casual.

• Lawrence-Jefferson Davis counties: Coopers Ferry Park in downtown Monticello behind the Civic Center, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 22. A “HotDawg” party with hot dogs and drinks will be provided. The event is free, but donations from alumni and friends are appreciated. Dress is casual. Please RSVP if you will be attending to Ford Wall at ford@atlasscreens.net or 601-757-0018 or Renea Rayborn – rrayborn@lincoln.k12.us or 601-455-0243.

In all, more than 50 events have been scheduled July 17-Aug. 4. A list of the locations is available at www.alumni.msstate.edu/sendoff.

MSU fall semester classes get underway Aug. 19 on both the Starkville and Meridian campuses.

The 2014 send-offs mark the ninth consecutive year the events have been co-sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association and Office of Admissions and Scholarships.

“Send-off parties are one of the countless ways that alumni chapters impact and serve our university,” said Jeff Davis, the alumni association’s executive director.

“These events are a great opportunity for students to meet and connect with loyal alumni and current students from their hometown, learn about the values and mission of Mississippi State, and be welcomed into the MSU family,” he added.

At each gathering, attending students and families will meet representatives from the association and admissions and scholarships office, along with other MSU faculty and staff members. As part of the programs, campus representatives will answer all manner of questions about campus life.

Davis said new students are being encouraged to attend so they may be better prepared for their new higher education experience.