Excellence in education
July 29, 2004
John Eric Howell of Meridian recently graduated suma cum laude from Tulane University with a bachelor of science degree in political economy. He was awarded the Murphy Prize for the highest grade point average in his major. He also was elected to the William Wallace Peery Society.
Howell was recognized as one of the top 10 students in Tulane University's graduating class and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society.
Howell served as an intern in U.S. Rep Chip Pickering's Washington, D.C. office in the summer of 2003. In the fall, he plans to attend Harvard Law School to pursue a doctorate degree. Howell is the son of John and Sherry Howell of Meridian.
Sarah Sanders of Meridian has been accepted to the 2004-2005 junior class at the Mississippi School of the Arts.
MSA is a statewide school that provides arts education to artistically gifted 11th- and 12th-grade Mississippi students in a residential learning environment. Located on the historic Whitworth College Campus in Brookhaven, the school offers advanced programs of study in vocal music, theatre and visual arts.
Sanders is the daughter of Gil Sanders of Carthage. She attended Leake Academy, where she was involved in art and the Spanish Club. At MSA, she plans to study visual arts.
Sanders is the granddaughter of Patricia Sanders and the late Kenneth Ray Sanders Sr. of Meridian.
Lauren Pedroso of Meridian was one of 96 female high school seniors across America selected to represent Mississippi at Girl's Nation 2004 at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md.
Pedroso is a senior at Clarkdale High School.
Pedroso was chosen because of her enthusiasm for learning, her intelligence and her leadership potential. The selection came after she attended the American Legion Auxiliary Mississippi Girls State.
The program will introduce Pedroso to the structure and functions of the federal government. Each Girl's Nation delegate will have the opportunity to visit the National Mall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, the State Department and Capitol Hill.
Snowden C. Wright of Meridian recently graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. He was one of more than 1,000 students to receive a bachelor of arts degree at the spring 2004 commencement exercises. He majored in English and creative writing.
Wright is the son of Charles W. and Rebecca S. Wright.