OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi senior class
president Charles Cascio recently surprised longtime UM
administrator Thomas J. Reardon with news of a scholarship
in his name.
Cascio announced the Class of 2008/Thomas J. “Sparky”
Reardon Scholarship last week at the university’s annual
Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Class of 2008 plans to
raise at least $25,000 to endow the scholarship so that it
can be awarded in perpetuity to students who demonstrate
financial need and strong leadership abilities.
Reardon, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and
dean of students, said he was “humbled and honored” by the
announcement.
The scholarship serves as the 2008 senior class project,
which is chosen each year by class officers and an
executive committee. The committee of some 60 students
voted during the fall semester to create a scholarship and
name it for Reardon.
“Endowing a scholarship in Sparky Reardon’s name as our
senior class project is the best way we can think of to
honor what he’s done for Ole Miss students for almost 30
years now,” Cascio said. “He’s committed himself to
ensuring that we have a positive, productive experience at
Ole Miss.”
UM Chancellor Robert Khayat agreed: “Sparky Reardon has for
a long time been an integral part of the Ole Miss family,
and we’re thrilled the senior class is honoring him in such
a meaningful way. Our first priority is creating
opportunities for students, and we are grateful to the
Class of 2008 for helping us do that.”
Gifts to the scholarship endowment can be made through the
University of Mississippi Foundation. Checks should be made
payable to the University of Mississippi Foundation/Class
of 2008 and mailed to the Foundation at P.O. Box 249,
University, MS 38677. Gifts can also be made online at
http://www.umfoundation.com/seniors
or by calling 800-340-9542. The gifts are tax-deductible.
All gifts will count toward the university’s MomentUM
campaign, a four-year initiative to raise $200 million. The
campaign, which ends in December 2008, already has raised
more than $170 million for scholarships, graduate
fellowships, faculty support, a basketball practice
facility, residential colleges and a new law school on the
Oxford campus. Also in the plan is a cancer center at the
UM Medical Center in Jackson.
For more information about giving to the scholarship, call
800-340-9542 or e-mail ag@olemiss.edu. For general
information about the scholarship, contact Charles Cascio
at gccascio@olemiss.edu.