The Miss Hospitality program has supported talented and intelligent women for more than 70 years through a scholarship and prize program. Contestants are eligible for more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including cash and college-granted funds. The next Mississippi Miss Hospitality will receive a $25,000 prize package.
Mississippi Miss Hospitality partners with colleges and universities across the state to provide opportunities for contestants to further their education. The program is appreciative of a strong patron program, ensuring a fantastic prize package for contestants. The contestant crowned the State title holder must attend school in Mississippi and enroll in a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester during her reign.
Thank you to the following partners for their support in 2023:
Join us in providing scholarship opportunities for contestants to continue their education by donating to one of the below scholarship funds.
Jay Slaughter Memorial Scholarship
Jay Slaughter was the heart and soul of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Board of Directors for many years. His love for this program was evident through the continued service he provided during his lengthy illness. In keeping with Jay’s dedication to providing generous scholarships for our contestants, the Board of Directors has established the Jay Slaughter Memorial Scholarship, which will award scholarship funds to the program’s three Mississippi Speech winners.
Donors: Susan C. Slaughter, Mark and Susan Morgan, Bryan and Amy Batson, Pam Baylis, Harriet Phalen, Kelly Buxton, and Kate Howard
Former Miss Hospitality Scholarship
There are several scholarship opportunities available exclusively to former Miss Hospitality contestants to help our candidates continue their education. A variety of package options are available that include ticket(s) in a special seating section for former titleholders.
Donors: Ann Claire Kelly, Erin Morgan Rigel, McKay Lee Bray, Jaycee Janzen, Mary Beth Wilkerson, Jenny Lynn (Ethridge) Wilkerson, Kacey Wallace
Lake Little Spirit of Miss Hospitality Scholarship
In 2019, we lost one of our Miss Hospitality family members, Starkville’s Lake Little. Through her grace, intelligence, and passion for her community and state, Lake epitomized the highest virtues of the Miss Hospitality program. Her light will forever shine as an incredible example to us all. In memory of her loving and hospitable spirit, the Board of Directors re-named the Spirit of Hospitality scholarship in Lake’s honor.
Donors: David and Pattie Little, Layton Little, Melissa Cross
Felicia Manely Horton Scholarship
Felicia Manley Horton represented Oxford in the 1983 Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition. The program not only led to a lifetime friendship with her hospitality sister, Pattye Fava Meagher of Monticello but also her unwavering passion for service and community. Following her passing in 2022, Felicia’s loved ones chose to honor her legacy through a scholarship endowment. The Felicia Manley Horton Community Service Scholarship will award college funds annually to the contestant who displays the greatest commitment to supporting her hometown through community service as a local titleholder.
Donors: CAPT Jeffrey Charles “Jeff” Horton and Pattye & Tom Meagher