OXFORD, Miss. — Billie-Jean Lalita Forrest of Toccopola, a
sophomore at the University of Mississippi, is among 50
students nationwide to receive a $1,000 Merit Award
scholarship presented by the National Society of Collegiate
Scholars.
A premedical student in UM’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale
Honors College, Forrest was inducted into NSCS in March.
NSCS recognizes outstanding academic achievement among
first- and second-year college students. Membership, by
invitation only, is based on grade-point average and class
standing.
“Billie-Jean brings enormous focus and energy to every
challenge, especially to the challenges she sets for
herself,” said Douglass Sullivan-Gonzalez, Honors College
dean. “Independent and intellectual, she excels in finding
her own route to high achievement.”
“I am honored to represent the University of Mississippi at
the national level,” said Forrest, daughter of Dr. S.K.
Forrest.
In June 2006, Forrest helped provide health care for
low-income Hispanic women with high-risk pregnancies. She
said she hopes to practice medicine in a rural or
inner-city setting because she is concerned about the
availability of health care for all citizens.
An avid writer, she is the author of three published books.
Her short story “Bodie” was selected from more than 100
submissions for inclusion in “The Collegiate Scholar,” an
online publication produced by NSCS.
“Billie-Jean’s work stood out because it was really
compelling and engaging,” said Stephen E. Loflin, the honor
society’s executive director.
NSCS has more than 500,000 members in 228 collegiate
chapters across the country. Members are provided with a
network of other members and alumni and exclusive access to
scholarships, career resources and leadership
opportunities.
For more information on NSCS and a capsule biography of
this year’s winners, go to