Jacquline Vinson (right) congratulates Sherika Mays, a senior English education major at the University of Mississippi, for winning this year's T.P. Vinson Memorial Scholarship.
OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi secondary education major and a Batesville teacher were honored at the third annual T.P. Vinson Memorial Scholarship Banquet.
Sherika Mays, a senior English education major from Byhalia, was recognized at the Feb. 25 event and awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Joy Drake, a lead teacher at Batesville Intermediate School and Ole Miss alumna, received the T.P. Vinson Memorial Educator Award, which included a stipend and plaque.
“Sherika Mays and Joy Drake represent all that T.P. stood for and more,” said Jacquline Vinson, widow of Theopolis Pride Vinson, the former assistant dean of education for whom the scholarship and award are named. “I am so excited that we are able to continue to financially support students and teachers of such caliber.”
Established after Vinson’s death in 2003, the scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding African-American junior or senior education major. Recipients are chosen for leadership ability and dedication to community service. The scholarship was the first to be endowed in honor of an African-American faculty member at the university.
“For me, the scholarship was about so much more than money,” Mays said. “The news came on a bad day; I was having a hard day at work. I was seriously considering taking a semester off school until I received that phone call.”
Batesville Intermediate School teacher Joy Drake (left) received the second T.P. Vinson Memorial Educator Award after being nominated by her principal Jeremy Stinson.
Mays, who will graduate in May, was selected for her diverse community service efforts. She actively volunteers her time through Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority with organizations such as Teachers of Tomorrow, The Pantry, The Boys & Girls Club and More Than a Meal.
She used her scholarship money to buy books for her final semester. A first-generation college student, Mays plans to attend graduate school next fall to study literacy research.
“The scholarship gave me more than money,” Mays said. “It gave me hope. Knowing that someone cares enough to reach out and help me in this way gave me the drive to keep moving, keep trying to help others.”
The educator award, established in 2011, is given annually to a Mississippi educator selected from peer nominationss. Drake was nominated for the award by her principal, Jeremy Stinson.
“It was a complete surprise,” Drake said. “I thought I was there to support some friends. There were so many people at the banquet there who took the time to point out the impact Dr. Vinson had on his community. I was very impressed.”
As a lead teacher, Drake aids second- and third-grade teachers in the development of effective teaching techniques. Her primary focus is on training teachers in literacy education.
“Nine years ago, my principal pulled me out of the classroom and said she was making a lead teacher position,” Drake said. “I’m here to support the teachers and the students and give them the tools they need to be successful.”
Besides serving as assistant dean for the School of Education, Vinson served as a pastor at Philadelphia M.B. Church. The scholarship fund was established by his wife and three children and accepts ongoing donations through the UM Foundation to support and recognize education students and Mississippi teachers.