Birthday Gift Supports Business Students

When she went to her husband with the birthday gift – the Valentine Business Scholarship Endowment – he jumped right in and helped with support and funds.

"What an amazing birthday gift, one that strengthens the university my family and I love and one that hopefully provides a financial incentive for outstanding young people from southwest Mississippi to head to Oxford and obtain that valuable UM education – the key to future success for them," Dennis Valentine said. "And in the process, just maybe they will grow to love Ole Miss as we have.

To encourage students from the Brookhaven area to attend Ole Miss, the Valentines' gift created the scholarship endowment, with first preference going to students from Copiah, Franklin, Lawrence or Lincoln counties. Second preference is designated for transfer students from Copiah-Lincoln Community College majoring in business.

Dennis Valentine decided to attend Ole Miss when he was 8 years old, when Charlie Flowers played fullback on the football team. Amy Valentine traveled to Ole Miss games with a childhood friend whose brother played football, and neither of the Valentines ever considered attending any other university.

"In thinking back, we probably made our decisions based on low-priority issues," said Amy Valentine. "However, we both had memorable times in Oxford. We met lifelong friends, experienced new situations and found time to earn our degrees."

The Valentines, both Meridian natives, attended the university at different times but were introduced by mutual friends. Dennis Valentine graduated in 1973 with a degree in production management, and Amy Valentine earned a degree in secondary education-library science in 1975. The university became a family affair when their three children all earned degrees in Oxford.

"Our children grew up playing in the trees in front of Farley Hall and in the 'drive-in Grove,'" Amy Valentine said. "Because we lived a three-and-a-half-hour drive away, we didn't get to be in Oxford as much as we liked, but we tried our best to make Oxford and campus very comfortable for them when we were there."

Ken Cyree, dean of the School of Business Administration, expressed gratitude for the scholarship endowment.

"Amy and Dennis Valentine and their family love this university and place great value on providing opportunities for other individuals to benefit from similar educational experiences. We truly appreciate their generous gift that will have a far-reaching impact on our business students."

After working many years in manufacturing, Dennis Valentine is self-employed with Valentine Insurance Solutions of Brookhaven. He specializes in employee benefits and life insurance. Amy Valentine is a retired librarian with Brookhaven Elementary School.

Their children are the late Will Wilson Valentine; Kathleen V. Calcote (Colby), of Brookhaven; Eleanor V. Hartzog, of Ocean Springs; and Patrick Valentine, of Ocean Springs. 

To make a gift to the Valentine Business Scholarship Endowment, send a check with the fund's name written on the memo line to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; or give online here. For more information on supporting the School of Business Administration, contact Jackson Ansley-Kurtz, development associate, at jgansley@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2293.

Top: Amy Valentine (right), of Brookhaven, established the Valentine Business Scholarship Endowment at the university in honor of the birthday of her husband, Dennis Valentine. The couple made a major gift to fund the scholarship in hopes of encouraging students from Copiah, Franklin, Lawrence and Lincoln counties to enroll at Ole Miss. Photo by Bill Dabney/UM Foundation