Generous donors make it possible for students at The University of Southern Mississippi to receive a high-quality education, achieve their goals and pursue their dreams. Through the planned giving of alumni and friends of the University, students like Hannah Houston are gaining valuable educational experiences and able to plan for the future with less worry about financial burden.
A Mississippi native and recipient of the Marvin and Betty Reuben Scholarship, Hannah grew up surrounded with Southern storytelling as a medium for bonding, comfort and wisdom. As she aged, her voice in her own stories became clearer, and creative writing became her outlet for self-expression. Now a junior broadcast journalism major at Southern Miss, Hannah is honing her writing skills to become an effective journalist and help those far and wide use storytelling as a means to share their experiences.
“My goal is to write for those whose voices are not often heard. I want to bring the world closer together by highlighting local and personal stories from niche groups around the globe, educating people through journalism,” she says.
When Marvin and Betty Reuben made the decision to use a pooled income fund to support scholarships at Southern Miss, they aspired to help high achieving students in journalism. Hannah is extremely grateful for Marvin and Betty’s assistance.
“Thank you so much for supporting my dream of becoming a journalist. Managing three jobs on top of being a full-time student is extremely difficult, but this generous gift will allow me to focus on what I really love. Receiving this scholarship overwhelms me with validation that I am worth my words, and I really can change the world,” she says.
Additional gifts from the Reubens also established the Betty T. Reuben Science and Technology Scholarship Endowment and support learning on the Hattiesburg campus through the Marvin and Betty Reuben Science Lecture Hall Endowment, which is recognized in rooms 137 and 120 of the Walker Science Building. From scholarships to program support, their example shows how impactful your gifts can be at Southern Miss.
Contact Daniel Barton at daniel.barton@usm.edu or 601.266.6428 to learn more about ways you can make a future impact on our students.