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John S. and Jutta Karnstedt Ferretti Fellow announced

Jennifer Hairston was recently announced as the 2014 John S. and Jutta Karnstedt Ferretti Fellowship recipient.

Delta State’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MA-LS), coordinated by the divisions of Languages and Literature and Social Sciences and History, is proud to announce the 2014 John S. and Jutta Karnstedt Ferretti Fellowship recipient.

This year’s recipient is Jennifer Hairston, who received her undergraduate degree in English secondary education from Delta State in 2000. She has taught in Washington County for the past 11 years. Currently, she is the job specialist for the Jobs for Mississippi Graduates program at Riverside High School.

Hairston, a native of Greenville, Miss., will be honored for her academic success at a reception event to be determined in October. She is the proud parent of three children: Anna, 13; Nathan, 9; and Ian, 2.

This fellowship is designated for an outstanding student in the MA-LS program.

“Jennifer Hairston is an outstanding scholar with a wealth of academic, professional and service experiences,” said Charles Westmoreland, assistant professor of history.   “We are proud to recognize her as this year’s Ferretti Fellow.”

In addition Hairston’s recognition, the event will honor Jutta Ferretti for her generosity in creating the Ferretti Fellowship.

“Jennifer’s commitment to learning makes her a fitting recipient of the fellowship, which honors Mrs. Jutta Ferretti and her husband, John,” added Westmoreland. “Nobody embodies a commitment to lifelong education and service better than Mrs. Ferretti. She is a Delta State treasure and her presence, energy and support is a true blessing to the university family.

“We in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program especially want to thank her for her dedication to our students.”

The degree program is one of only a few in the South and targets non-traditional students. It is designed to develop interdisciplinary expertise in gender and diversity, globalization, literature, the Mississippi Delta, philosophy and religious studies.

The fellowship is made possible by a $10,000 gift from Ferretti and her late husband John. Ferretti graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree in 2010, becoming the oldest graduate in the history of Delta State at the age of 86.

“Education has always been very important to me and my late husband, John,” said Ferretti, in a previous Delta State release. “Learning in all fields affects the present and future as there is still so much to be discovered that we are not aware of today.

“Education also opens many doors to the students which impact lives locally, state-wide, nationally and internationally. You cannot help people in this life without being helped yourself.”

For more information about the MA-LS program and the John S. and Jutta Karnstedt Ferretti Fellowship, contact the Delta State University College of Arts and Sciences at 662-846-4100, or visit https://www.deltastate.edu/mals.