Scholarships Make Lasting Impact on Ole Miss Students

The late Lonnie Smith earned undergraduate and law degrees at the university. The foundation he established has provided life-changing financial assistance to some 110 Mississippi students, including 15 full-time undergraduates this academic year.

Among those students are Emily Williams, a junior pharmaceutical sciences major with a minor in public health from Hattiesburg, and Anna Cate Hays, a freshman integrated marketing communications major from Flora. Both students agree that the scholarships made a crucial difference in their ability to pursue college degrees.

"This scholarship has not only eased the financial strain associated with higher education but has also enabled me to concentrate fully on my academic and professional goals without the constant worry of student debt," said Williams, recipient of a Lonnie Smith Memorial Scholarship.

"This has profoundly affected my present circumstances and my future aspirations, providing me with a significant opportunity to achieve my dreams and succeed in the field of pharmacy."

The financial support also has allowed Williams to become involved in campus activities and community service organizations. She has been active in Kappa Delta sorority, serving as the chapter's team captain for the annual RebelTHON fundraiser; Gamma Beta Phi honor society; the Ole Miss Dance Company, serving as a choreographer and dancer; the American Pharmacist Association-ASP; and the Ole Miss Big Event. She also has volunteered with Girl Scouts of America and Big Sis of Oxford.

"I have had the opportunity to pour my energy into extracurricular activities that directly serve the community of Oxford," she said. "Knowing that Mr. Smith gave so generously because of the help he once received reminds me that we all have a responsibility to lift others as we climb.

"His example motivates me to continue serving others and creating opportunities for those who come after me."

Williams has been accepted for early admission to the UM School of Pharmacy. Her goal is to pursue a career as a pharmacist in a hospital setting.

"I am passionate about patient care and look forward to making a positive impact in the health care field," she said.

Hays received a Velma Waldrop Smith Memorial Scholarship. She has her eyes set on becoming a magazine fashion stylist and writer.

"This support has given me the financial freedom to fully immerse myself in my studies and take advantage of incredible opportunities, including the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College," she said. "Because of this generous support, I can pursue my passion, blending my love for art, graphics, photography and storytelling.

"More importantly, I am committed to becoming a productive citizen and a proud example of what an Ole Miss graduate can achieve. The belief in students like me makes a lasting impact, and I hope to one day pay it forward by supporting future generations in the same way."

The scholarship has helped Hays enjoy more of the opportunities the university offers its students, she said.

"The financial burden it has lifted helps me focus on other activities that enrich my college experience, which I enjoy," Hays said. "I am forever indebted to this scholarship program for their generosity." 

Smith earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1958 and his law degree in 1960. He practiced law for over 40 years as a member of the Picayune firm Williams, Smith & Stockstill. Besides supporting his alma mater, he was active in his community, serving on the First National Bank of Picayune board of directors and representing Pearl River and Hancock counties in the Mississippi Legislature for 12 years.

Before his death in 2002, Smith used his holdings of First National Bank of Picayune stock to create the Smith & Waldrop Foundation. The foundation funds two scholarships at Ole Miss: one named for his mother, Velma Waldrop Smith, and the other for his father, Lonnie Smith.

"Without question, Lonnie would be impressed by the impact the scholarship programs are making for Ole Miss students," said David Hemeter, the foundation's president. "The scholarship programs have exceeded his vision.

"In establishing the scholarships, Lonnie's desire was to make Ole Miss attendance possible for deserving students who, in many cases, would not have otherwise had the opportunity. His dedication to extending educational opportunities to young people came from his own personal experience. He was always thankful for the scholarships he obtained that allowed him to attend the university."

With gifts in 2025 already totaling more than $267,000, Smith's enduring financial support for the scholarships has surpassed $3.2 million. This indicates that his plan to help others attend his beloved alma mater and obtain a life-changing college education is working, Hemeter said.

"The foundation is deeply impressed by and proud of the high-quality education Ole Miss offers scholarship recipients," he said. "This excellence is evident through direct communication and correspondence with students, from their first year of college to graduation."

Top: Emily Williams (left), a UM junior from Hattiesburg, mentors a young friend as a Big Sis during a service project to package food for Lovepacks, an Oxford nonprofit that provides supplemental food for Oxford school-age children in need. Williams credits a scholarship established by an Ole Miss alumnus with giving her the freedom to serve the community through various volunteer activities. Submitted photo

 See more photos from Anna Cate Hays' and Emily Williams' campus activities