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Scholarship Support Enables Ph.D. Student to Finish the Journey

Kevin Bryant

Kevin Bryant

Kevin Bryant is a doctoral student at The University of Southern Mississippi pursuing a degree in communication studies. With the help of the Don George Communication Graduate Scholarship, he is on the home stretch to earning his Ph.D.

In 2017, three years after beginning his program, Kevin’s mother fell very ill, and he returned home to Cookeville, Tenn., to care for her. Determined to make his mother proud, he sought to finish his Ph.D., but not without obstacles.

“Due to the coronavirus, my instructor position at Tennessee Tech University was not renewed for the 2020-21 academic year,” Kevin said. “Luckily, my committee at USM knew about this scholarship. It allowed me to return to Hattiesburg to finish this long path of earning my doctorate. Without this scholarship, I would not have had the chance to complete my degree. I am forever grateful!”

Kevin is currently finishing up his dissertation and set to graduate in August 2021, when he plans to continue teaching collegiate courses as well as coaching forensics (speech and debate). Wherever life leads, Kevin is prepared for the opportunities, as well as the challenges, that lie ahead, thanks in part to the generosity of donors whose support enabled him to complete his degree.

Named in honor of Professor Emeritus Dr. Don George, the Don George Communication Graduate Scholarship provides assistance to graduate students who have a strong ambition to succeed in the field of communications.

Dr. George was a professor of speech communication at Southern Miss for 22 years and also taught overseas in Indonesia, Lebanon and China. He was admired by his students and respected among his colleagues. Through this scholarship, his kindness and generosity continue to impact students still today. The endowment was created through proceeds from the George Family Trust and realized upon Dr. George’s passing in 2011.

You Can Help

Have you thought about making your own perpetual impact to help students, just as Dr. Don George did? If you would like to explore different giving options, such as naming Southern Miss as a beneficiary of an insurance policy, a will or bequest designation, or another type of estate gift, please contact Daniel Barton at 601.266.6428 or daniel.barton@usm.edu.

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 118 College Drive #5210, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the USM Foundation or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the USM Foundation as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the USM Foundation as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the USM Foundation where you agree to make a gift to the USM Foundation and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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