Peter Woods (left) and DSU President Dr. Daniel Ennis at Peter’s Pottery in Mound Bayou.CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University has unveiled a new scholarship opportunity for business students, generously endowed in the name of Sandy and Ruthie Woods, parents of Peter Woods, the renowned proprietor of Peter’s Pottery in Mound Bayou.
The scholarship initiative stems from the desire of Peter Woods and his family to honor the legacy of their beloved parents, who fervently championed the cause of education. In reminiscing about his parents’ commitment to learning, Woods said, “We wanted to set up a scholarship in memory of our mother and father. They were big advocates of education. They worked to put all their kids through college, all eleven of us, and so we just wanted to give back because they were sharecroppers and we came from poor means. We are blessed now and we just want to help others out.”
Reflecting on their humble beginnings and subsequent success, the Woods family remains deeply committed to giving back to their community. Woods elaborated, “We wanted to give back to Delta State because three of our siblings graduated from there, so it has been very helpful to our family.”
Dr. Daniel Ennis, President of Delta State University, expressed profound gratitude for the Woods family’s generosity, saying, “We are so grateful for the generosity and them thinking of Delta State. We are so proud to have someone this distinguished and accomplished among our family. When I go out of Mississippi now and tell people where I’m from, they often say, ‘Oh! That’s where Peter’s Pottery is!’”
Ennis continued, “Mr. Woods is a great ambassador for the Delta, and a great friend of Delta State. We are so happy to have him and his family in our world.”
Apart from this notable scholarship initiative, Woods continues to extend his support to various areas of the university, including the Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC), Annual Fund, Alumni Association, as well as serving on the Foundation board, and contributing to the Art Department and the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing.
For more information about scholarship opportunities at Delta State University, visit their website at https://www.deltastate.edu/financial-aid/.
