High School Seniors Return for MOST Conference Reunion

Johnson, from Aberdeen, told more than 100 high school seniors who participated in the 2024 MOST conferences last summer that the experience and friendships that came with it are why she chose to enroll at Ole Miss.

"When I came to campus in July of 2019, I saw that the campus wasn't how everyone made it seem to be," said Johnson, who is pursuing a master's degree in higher education. "I fell in love with the university for myself and I knew this was the place for me to be."

The 2024 attendees returned to campus Tuesday (Nov. 12) for a reunion, to reconnect with new friends and continue the conversations started over the summer.

Mia Johnson, of Tupelo, and Kendall Hardin, of Batesville, said they made many new friends during the networking sessions at the conference.

"I saw several of the people today that I met at the first conference this past summer," Mia Johnson said. "It feels good knowing that should I decided to attend Ole Miss next fall there will be people I know here, too."

MOST is designed to recruit, retain and graduate students from Mississippi by giving rising high school seniors the chance to experience the university's dynamic campus community alongside the academic opportunities.

A future biology major, Hardin said the information provided by mentors had a profound impact.

"Some of my best friends from high school came to and graduated from Ole Miss after attending a MOST Conference," she said. "Their testimonies influenced my decision to come and see for myself. I've had a great time both this summer and today. I'm so glad that I came."

Johnson encouraged participants to be intentional about their futures and to make good decisions.

"Set clear goals early on," she said. "Start by thinking about what you want to achieve, both academically and personally. Whether it's your career path, personal growth, or experiences you want to have, setting clear, achievable goals helps guide your decisions and keeps you focused." she said.

At the reunion, visiting students were assigned mentors, some who were themselves MOST participants. Mentors arranged networking activities with the seniors, took them on tours of the Residential College and introduced them to academic advisers for their chosen majors.

"There was definitely a lot more to it than met the eye," said Landon Anderson, of Richland. "I'd never been to Ole Miss before this, but I always wanted to come and see what it's like. Now that I've been here for MOST, I definitely want to attend here."

Oxford native Zoe Metcalf, reflected on the previous summer's conference.

"Everybody was so cool," Metcalf said. "I learned so much about academic opportunities while having a lot of fun at the same time. I definitely want to attend here in 2025."

Dakeira Ivy, of Houston, said that last summer's conference has piqued her desire to return and learn more about the many academic programs and scholarships at the university.

"I hope I get offered a scholarship, but even if I don't, I plan on applying," Ivy said.

The university will host two conferences next summer to provide opportunities for even more students, said Karrye Tynes, director of the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement.

"I'm amazed, though not surprised, at the profound impact that MOST has had on the lives of prospective students, many of whom ultimately become successful current students, at the University of Mississippi," Tynes said. "The MOST suite of programs, including the conference and reunion, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of offering students meaningful access to mentorship, university resources, leadership development and community building."

Top: Rodger Davis Jr. (right), a Minority Outreach to Scholastic Talent peer mentor, engages with the students over lunch at a reunion of 2024 MOST Conference participants. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services