Donation establishes scholarship, prize for business-minded engineers at MSU
April 10, 2012
Starkville, Miss. – A Texas couple’s gift will establish a new scholarship and financial award for business-minded engineering majors at Mississippi State University.
Tim and Christy Duncan of Kingwood have created the Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship to motivate engineering students to pursue the Jack Hatcher Entrepreneurship Certificate or a minor in business. They also established a $5,000 award for the MSU New Venture Challenge business plan competition through Talos Energy, which Tim serves as CEO and president.
Gerald Nelson, director of Mississippi State’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, said that the gift is unique among universities.
“Participating students will be exposed to business aspects of engineering. Our desire is that this exposure will help further advance their professions and enhance their skill sets,” Nelson explained. “Without the Duncans’ support, the entrepreneurship program would not be able to provide such wonderful opportunities for Bagley College of Engineering students.”
To be eligible for the annual scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in the Bagley College of Engineering’s (BCoE) entrepreneurship certificate program or be business minors and actively involved with the entrepreneurship center.
The $5,000 prize will be awarded to the first place finisher in Mississippi State’s annual New Venture Challenge competition. It requires that the winner put 70 percent of the prize money into his or her business in preparation for the statewide New Venture Challenge, sponsored by the Mississippi Technology Alliance.
“Christy and I are true believers in the value of an engineering degree from the Bagley College, and if the students are willing to challenge themselves to add business classes to their course load, then we want to assist them in any way we can,” Tim explained.
Both Tim and Christy Duncan are BCoE graduates with degrees in petroleum and mechanical engineering, respectively. In addition to being CEO of Talos Energy LLC, Tim is active in many Houston-area engineering and business organizations. He was recently named a BCoE Distinguished Fellow. Christy owns The Mudpie Company, a pottery studio in the couple’s hometown.
For more information about the Entrepreneurship Center, visit http://www.ecenter.msstate.edu/.
More information about the Bagley College of Engineering and its certificate program can be found at www.bagley.msstate.edu.