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Delta State flight operations majors Jeremy Tackett (at left) and Wesley Womble of Benoit unveiled the portrait of Tommy Sledge that will hang in the Gibson-Gunn Hall, home of the Delta State Department of Commercial Aviation. Tricia Walker, in the background, waits to close the event with her version of “America the Beautiful.”
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The Baioni Conference Center of Broom Hall at Delta State University was filled to capacity Wednesday with Delta State faculty, staff and students as well as community members to honor the late Dr. Tommy Sledge.
The College of Business announced the establishment of the Thomas N. Sledge Endowed Scholarship of Commercial Aviation in honor of Sledge who passed in December 2008. Sledge served Delta State’s Department of Commercial Aviation for 18 years (1990-2008), 11 of them as department chair.
“Tommy was the consummate professional and a man of honor and integrity,” said Dr. Billy C. Moore, dean of the College of Business. “He was focused on providing quality education in aviation and was committed to Delta State and its students. I’ve never known anyone who enjoyed his profession more.”
Alinda Sledge echoed Dr. Moore’s assessment of her late husband’s love for his career. “I cannot think of a more fitting way to honor Tommy,” she said. “He absolutely loved aviation. He loved to fly and he loved to teach. I am thankful to the faculty and students of the Department of Commercial Aviation for their efforts and kindness.”
The Thomas N. Sledge Endowed Scholarship will provide funding to assist full-time students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commercial Aviation program at Delta State University. The Commercial Aviation Scholarship Committee shall award the scholarships to applicants based primarily on academic achievement and need. It is anticipated that the first scholarship will be awarded in Fall 2010 with the selection being made during the Spring 2010 semester.
The initial scholarship will be for $500 annually and will be renewable for a period of two semesters (for a total of three semesters-the summer term counts as one semester) as long as the recipient is in good standing in the program and is enrolled full-time as defined by the Undergraduate University Bulletin.
Delta State flight operations majors Jeremy Tackett (at left) and Wesley Womble of Benoit unveiled the portrait of Tommy Sledge that will hang in the Gibson-Gunn Hall, home of the Delta State Department of Commercial Aviation. Tricia Walker, in the background, waits to close the event with her version of “America the Beautiful.”
