Lincoln County Mississippi Scholars Program is celebrating the imminent graduation of 148 seniors in the program and another record-breaking year of scholarship awards.

     The program held its annual banquet Monday night at Easthaven Baptist Church to recognize each student graduating as a Mississippi Scholar from Lincoln County and Brookhaven schools and to award 122 scholarships totaling about $112,500.

     Over the life of the program in Lincoln County, Mississippi Scholars has given out $501,000 in scholarship money, said Mississippi Scholars Chairman Kenny Goza.

     Whether they were a scholarship recipient or not, Goza offered encouragement to students about success they’ve achieved by completing the more rigorous curriculum Mississippi Scholars requires.

     “Education is one of the most powerful weapons to change the world,” Goza said.

     Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Cliff Brumfield echoed that theme, remarking on the motivation demonstrated by each of the seniors present.

     “You have a passion for your future, and we have a passion for you,” Brumfield told the seniors at the banquet.

     Graduates from each area school were present, including Bogue Chitto, Enterprise, Loyd Star, and West Lincoln attendance centers, Brookhaven High School, Mississippi School of the Arts and Brookhaven Academy.

     For the first time in the program, a home-schooled student, Rachel Gardner, was recognized as a Mississippi Scholar.

     To be recognized as a Mississippi Scholar, a student must, among other requirements, maintain a 2.5 GPA and complete a more rigorous curriculum focusing on math and science.

     The program has students talking.

     Gardner, the home-schooled graduate, heard about the program while she attended BHS in ninth grade. But she continued to hear about it from her peers.

     “A lot of my friends talked about it,” Gardner said.

     Gardner said she was excited to be Mississippi Scholars’ first home-schooled graduate. She received a scholarship awarded by Sen. Sally Doty, and plans to attend Ole Miss.

     Goza explained the program has seen tremendous growth since it began.

     In 2006, its first year, the program awarded $8,000 in scholarships. That has grown steadily every year, up to this year’s more than $100,000.

     David Culpepper, a Mississippi Scholars leader, offered a stark anecdote of the program’s growth.

     “Our first banquet was in the corner at Mitchell’s,” Culpepper said.

     Culpepper attributed the program’s success to time and effort.

     Most scholarships are one-time awards, though some are renewable over four years and can be rather significant, Culpepper said.

     Goza paused for a moment following the banquet to answer a few questions, sleeves rolled up and sweat visible on his forehead. But Goza wasn’t ready to take a break.

     “I’m already thinking about next year,” Goza said.

     The annual banquet is one of the things that keeps Goza going.

     “It’s most rewarding to see all those kids,” Goza said.

     Goza praised the way the local community has fostered the growth of Mississippi Scholars and the success of its banquet.

     “We have no budget for this program,” Goza said. “The community has to invest in the program.”

     One goal of Goza’s is to increase the percentage of area seniors completing the program.

     Goza said Monday night’s total of 148 is an average number. He said the number fluctuates with the size of the graduating classes.

     “The discouraging thing, that’s about 40 percent of graduates,” Goza said. “I would love to see over 50 percent of graduating seniors in the program.”

     Goza said about 500 seniors usually graduate from Lincoln County schools every year, and about 35 to 40 percent of them complete the Mississippi Scholars program.