Student Organizations

Student organizations on the UM-DeSoto campus have proved to be a vital part of academic life. Oncampus clubs and organizations can enhance personal and professional skills that are invaluable to the well-rounded college student. UM-DeSoto faculty and staff are helping to offer these experiences to our student body by facilitating hands-on training and connections in the community that will aid students as they graduate and move into a career in their chosen profession.

Not only are these groups coordinating local outreach events, but they are also learning to apply classroom knowledge to real world situations. Within each of these organizations, students can be seen taking the initiative to create proactive involvement within the Mid-South community.

Students for Justice

Advisor: Jeff Johnson
Officers: President- Rhonda Vance, Vice President- Heather Green, Secretary- Sally Goodin, Treasurer- Veronica White

Students for Justice (SFJ) is the newest student organization at the UM-DeSoto campus. Paralegal and Criminal Justice majors are actively involved in community service projects and professional development opportunities through this group. During the fall semester, they created awareness about domestic violence and raised money for The House of Grace, a shelter for abused women. Another project that they worked on during the school year was sending care packages to U.S. troops stationed overseas.

Picture are (Front L to R)- Tabitha Strong, Rose Berry, Jeff Johnson (advisor), Alena Murguia, and Shanerika Taylor. (Back L to R)-Rhonda Vance, Veronica White, Sally Goodin, Heather Green and Delores Quinn.

The University of Mississippi DeSoto's newest student organization, Students for Justice (SFJ), recently held the "Dollar Days" campaign to raise funds for The House of Grace domestic violence shelter in DeSoto County.

SFJ President, Rhonda Vance, and Vice President, Heather Green, presented a check for the campaign donations along with coloring books and crayons for children staying at the shelter.

Pictured are: (L to R) Rhoda Vance- SFJ President, Ellen Shirley- House of Grace volunteer, Jennifer Wood -House of Grace counselor, and Heather Green- SFJ Vice President.

Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society

Advisor: Ashley Gray

This unique academic honor society aims to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. ASL is also dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and recognizes high scholastic achievement in an adult student’s career.

Students inducted into the UM-DeSoto ASL chapter meet certain academic standards which included having no less than a 3.5 cumulative grade point average on at least 24 credit hours from UM-DeSoto. Members are selected from the highest 10 percent of the class who meet these requirements. Inductions into the UM-DeSoto chapter of ASL are held each February.

The University of Mississippi- DeSoto inducted its very first class into the Omicorn Delta chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL) in February 2007. This unique academic honor society aims to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. ASL is also dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and recognizes high scholastic achievement in an adult student's career.

Inductees into the 2007 UM-DeSoto Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society pictured are: (Front L to R) Robin Znaniecki, Amanda Jones, Heather Boland, La Tasia Conley, Heather Juzeszyn, Mona Ballard, Kelli Mussa, Wanda Horton, Carolyn Walker, Sarah Lewis, and UM-DeSoto Dean Bonnie Buntin. (Middle L to R) UM Vice Chancellor Morris Stocks, Kelly Adkins, Stefan Sanders, Jeffrey Solbrack, Kelly Miller, Angela Thompson, Jodie Weeks, and Angela Howarth. (Back L to R) James Roberts, Jeffrey Edwards, Michael Meador, David Windham, and Mark Woods.

UM-DeSoto Student Ambassadors

Advisor: Ashley Gray

“The best part of being an ambassador is getting information to others about the wonderful educational opportunity available through The University of Mississippi- DeSoto.”
- Stacie Grubbs/West Memphis, Accountancy

University of Mississippi-DeSoto Student Ambassadors are chosen based on student involvement, grades, character, and passion for The University of Mississippi-DeSoto. As representatives for UM-DeSoto, they participate in activities on campus and recruiting events around the community.

Some of these activities include recruiting events such as career and education fairs throughout the Mid-South. They welcome guests and prospective students to our campus during orientation, student appreciation day, and the annual career fair.

Student Ambassadors are also a vital asset to The UM-DeSoto’s communications team. They write letters and postcards to potential students, create program information folders, and make phone calls to prospects. If you are interested in applying for an Ambassador position for 2007-2008, please fill out an application available in the UM-DeSoto office. There is a $250 semester scholarship available for UM-DeSoto student ambassadors.

As representatives for The University of Mississippi-DeSoto, Student Ambassadors participate in activities on campus and recruiting events in the community throughout the year. This past year, Ambassadors also participated in a retreat by Ole Miss Outdoors to enhance team building skills.

Pictured are - Josh Filtz, Brandy Parnell, Lance Hall, Ashley Emerson, Megan Brewer, and advisor Ashley Jones. Not pictured: Lindsey Wilbanks

UM-DeSoto Student Ambassasors recently participated in a teambuilding retreat at the Olive Branch City Park. Steve Wehrle with "Ole Miss Outdoors"  led the event where Ambasasdors participated in activites that focused on trust, leadership, and teamwork.

Pictured are: (From L to R) Steve Wehrle from Ole Miss Outdoors, Student Ambassadors Lance Hall, Lindsey Wilbanks and Megan Brewer.

MAE (Mississippi Association of Educators)

Advisors: Dr. Boyd, Dr. Smothers-Jones, Dr. Owens
Officers: Presidents Megan Brewer and Ruthie Winter

“My favorite part of MAE is getting to work with a group of people who have the same passion you do. We are all here because we want to make an impact on the future generations through teaching.”
- Megan Brewer/Olive Branch, Secondary Education
As The University of Mississippi-DeSoto’s largest student organization, MAE is a professional organization that supports tomorrow’s teachers. Student members enjoy many of the same benefits and membership advantages as the active professional member in the classroom. A member receives:
  • state and national representation
  • liability protection
  • financial benefits with credit cards, home mortgages, and insurance
  • invitations to attend workshops and conferences
  • other national and local discounts at participating retail stores

The goal of UM-DeSoto’s MAE is to serve as a support group for the students involved in the organization. The members are able to network with fellow students and their professors in a relaxed environment while discussing what they have learned in class. Also, the students are able to share questions and ideas that they may have about their courses and their chosen profession in education.

Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE) is comprised of education majors on the UM-DeSoto campus. Each year they participate in Read Across America to collects books for elementary school classrooms. They also host an appreciation reception in the spring for their clinical instructors and support area schools during Teacher Appreciation Week. This organization offers
support and networking opportunities for education majors.

Pictured are a few of the over 60 members involved in MAE on the UM-DeSoto campus this year (L to R)- Kecia Lloyd, Ashley Strawn, Rachel Harper, Sherry Shumway, Amy Bartlett, Brandy Parnell.

MAE works on several community service projects including Read Across America. They attend the state MAE conference in order to network and share ideas with educators throughout the state. Students also organize an appreciation reception at the DeSoto Center each May to honor student teachers and clinical instructors who participated in the final-semester student-teacher internship program in area classrooms.

Student Social Work Organization

Faculty Advisor: Sherri Williams-Jenkins and Jill Shaw
sw2@olemiss.edu
Officers: Campus Liason, Sarah Chandler

“Student Social Work Organization uses its resources to educate the student body about ways they can be involved in their community. By doing this it has made me aware of resources that I can use as a professional to better help my clients.”
- Rachel Shackelford/Social Work

The Student Social Work Organization is a volunteer group through which students can develop a support network of peers, develop skills in organization, leadership, and volunteerism, and provide social work visibility within DeSoto County. The organization, also works with Social Work majors from Tupelo and Oxford campuses. All three campuses will be working together to build a strong student organization.

One of the objectives for this group is to organize on-campus activities to raise awareness in others about social work. The goal is to focus on a specific service organization and provide others with information about it. One event Student Social Work Organization students participated in last year was a coat drive that collected over 50 coats that were given to children in the community.

The Student Social Work Organization is for UM-DeSoto students interested in obtaining community experience outside of the classroom. This year members held their annual coat drive to benefit children involved with The Palmer Home in DeSoto County. Members also participated in a weekend visit to a local retirement home where they played bingo and brought pies for the residents.

Pictured are (L to R)- Joanna Howard, Jill Shaw (advisor), Sarah Chandler, Terrica Campbell, Felicia Bolton, Faye Thomas, and Cassandra Harris.

Coming in Fall 2007-2008:

DeSoto Student Government: selected students will serve as representatives of the student body.

Student/Community Networking events: featuring community leaders who will share advice and information with UM-DeSoto students during panel discussions.