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Kickoff Reception for Mark Houston Scholarship Award in Accounting Held November 4

Tom Chain spoke fondly of his time working with Houston and is excited for the opportunity the scholarship will provide to students.

This past Friday, Nov. 4, the Delta State University Foundation proudly announced the establishment of the Mark Houston Scholarship Award in Accounting in support of students in Delta State’s Division of Accountancy, Computer Information Systems and Finance.

Vice President of University Advancement, Rick Munroe gave the welcoming remarks. “Accounting is so important to Delta State. It has a legacy here,” Munroe said.

Mark Houston was a 1982 graduate of Delta State, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy in just three years and earning his CPA the following year. He served for more than 20 years as a county auditor and manager in the Technical Assistance Division of the Office of the State Auditor.

“Mark shined in everything he did, he was a leader and a great team player. In fact, we still use materials that Mark wrote when he was the director in teaching our classes,” said Tom Chain, director of technical assistance with the State Auditor’s Office. “We are so excited to have this internship and hope that lots of students apply.”

Dr. Glendescene Williams addresses the family.

Dr. Glendscene Williams, chair for the Division of Accountancy, Computer Information Systems, and Finance spoke of the value in establishing this scholarship.

“Thank you for seeing there should be more people like Mark that should have careers in government because we know that—city government, county government and state government—they’re our legacy,” said Williams. “And those legacies tend to give back. Mark Houston is considered one of our living legacies, and this will be a gift that keeps giving.”

Family members Dr. Scott Houston and Ms. Terri Deviney also spoke to the crowd, along with Arthur Johnston from the Delta State University Foundation Board of Directors, Dr. Billy Moore, dean of the College of Business and Aviation, and Dr. E.E. Caston, Interim President of Delta State.

Beginning with the Fall 2023 semester, the scholarship will be awarded each year and will include a paid summer internship in the Office of the State Auditor. The recipient will be known as the University’s “Houston Scholar.”

Rising juniors and seniors in the Division of Accounting, CIS and Finance within Delta State’s College of Business and Aviation will be eligible for the scholarship and internship.

The endowment will also help honor Houston’s beloved professors as the John Yurkow and John Quon Accountancy program was dedicated to them later that day.