Unlocking Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to the Ole Miss Luckyday Scholarship
The Luckyday Scholars Program, an initiative made possible by the Luckyday Foundation, aims to support Mississippi students in their pursuit of higher education at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Founded in 1978 by Frank Rogers Day, the Luckyday Foundation has been instrumental in providing financial assistance and developmental opportunities to countless students. The Scholars program began at the University of Mississippi in 2001. The Luckyday Residential College was officially dedicated in 2010 in honor of Frank Rogers Day’s legacy of service and generosity; a statue of Mr. Day was unveiled in the archway of the Luckyday Residential College. To date, thousands of Mississippi students have benefitted from the support offered through the Luckyday Scholars Program.
The Luckyday Mission: Scholarship, Community, Service, and Leadership
The Luckyday Scholars Program at Ole Miss provides a transformative college experience by offering financial support, mentorship, and a vibrant community. The program emphasizes four core values: scholarship, community, service, and leadership. Through these values, the program aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals prepared to make a positive impact on their communities. As a Luckyday Scholar, students are engaged in these four areas.
Financial Support
The Luckyday Scholarship provides students with up to $24,000 in scholarship aid over four years. The scholarship is $6,000 each year. This financial assistance helps ease the burden of tuition, allowing students to focus on their academic and personal growth.
Community Engagement
The Luckyday Program fosters a strong sense of community among its scholars. First-year Scholars live in the Luckyday Residential College during their first year. Living as part of a community allows students to build friendships and connect with other Luckyday Scholars during the first year. Upperclass student mentors also help new students navigate the transition from high school to college. The Luckyday Residential College (LRC) is a living-learning community where Scholars make lifelong connections through special events and programming, everything from discussions about current events to movie nights or cooking classes in the LRC’s kitchen. In addition, students engage in numerous social and academic programs each semester, which aids students in their growth as leaders and members of a vibrant community! Multiple events each semester are open to all Luckyday Scholars. Each class of Scholars has specifically targeted opportunities and requirements to help you grow throughout your educational journey.
Service Opportunities
Service is a cornerstone of the Luckyday Scholars Program. Each Scholar performs ten hours of service every semester. Service provides us with the opportunity to learn more about our community and be an active participant in addressing pressing issues. Scholars reflect on service experiences within the residential community and in the Freshman Year Experience course. These experiences allow students to connect with their community and contribute to addressing pressing issues.
Read also: Analyzing Ole Miss Enrollment Trends
Leadership Development
The Luckyday Scholars Program is committed to developing the leadership skills of its participants. Leadership opportunities start early at Luckyday. First Year Scholars may apply to serve as members of the Luckyday Leadership Council made up of scholars who work together with Luckyday staff to help plan and lead activities and events, as well as provide input on all areas of the Luckyday experience. The programs provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, connection to a robust community of scholars, significant service experiences, and intentional leadership development.
Scholarship Opportunities at Ole Miss
The University of Mississippi offers several scholarship opportunities, including the Luckyday Scholarship. These scholarships aim to support students with financial assistance and promote academic excellence.
Luckyday Scholarship for Incoming Freshmen
The Luckyday Scholarship is awarded competitively to 80 first-time freshmen in the amount of $24,000 ($6,000 per year for four years).
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a Mississippi resident
- Have a minimum overall high school GPA of 3.5
- Maintain good standing with the program by meeting all scholarship requirements
- By March 1, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA
Luckyday Community College Transfer Scholarship
The Luckyday Community College Transfer Scholarship is awarded competitively to 25 community college transfer students in the amount of $12,000 ($6,000 per year for two years).
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a Mississippi resident
- Have completed a minimum of 48 college credit hours
- Have a minimum 3.0 college GPA on all college credits
- Maintain good standing with the program by meeting all scholarship requirements
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Successful applicants to the Croft Institute typically qualify for one of various kinds of financial aid available at the University of Mississippi:
Read also: Campus Life at Ole Miss
- Academic Excellence - (based on 3.0 GPA or higher and ACT/SAT score) from $500 to full tuition per year for four years
- Accountancy Scholarships - $3,000 per year for four years
- Chinese Flagship Scholarships - up to $24,000 over a five-year period
- Carrier and Newman Scholarships - $6,000-$10,000 per year for four years
- Day Business Scholarship - $10,000 per year for four years
- Honors College Scholarships - $8,000 per year for four years
- Presidential, National Merit, and Discovery
The Institute each year awards Croft Scholarships to its most competitive incoming freshmen, the Croft Scholars. Croft Scholars receive $8,000 per year for four years. These are among the largest and most prestigious scholarships available at the University, and they may be combined with most other forms of financial assistance. Croft Scholars must maintain a GPA of at least 3.4. The Croft on-line application is both for admission into the program and for the Croft Scholarship competition. If you would like to be considered for other University of Mississippi scholarships, you must complete the general UM Scholarship application available through the UM online supplemental application.
Croft scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding freshmen, the Croft Scholars. Croft Scholars receive $8,000 per year for four years-a total of $32,000, which may be combined with other scholarship support.
The Rose Bui Memorial Scholarship for Academic Excellence ($8,000 per year) is awarded each year to the top rising sophomore who does not already have substantial scholarship support.
The Foreign Student Scholarship for the most competitive foreign student in the Institute ($9,000 per year) is awarded every time the incumbent graduates.
The Mike Aune Memorial Scholarship for a rising sophomore concentrating on Latin America makes a significant contribution to defraying tuition expenses.
Read also: Understanding Ole Miss Pharmacy School Costs
Maintaining Good Standing: Program Requirements
Once selected as a Luckyday Scholar, students must meet specific requirements to maintain good standing within the program.
Academic Performance
- Luckyday Scholars must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA on all course work attempted at the University of Mississippi.
- If a Scholar falls below this requirement, they will be placed on probation for the following semester and routinely meet with program staff.
- Luckyday Community College Transfer Scholarship recipients must maintain a 2.5 resident GPA on all coursework attempted at the University of Mississippi.
- All students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Service Engagement
- Participate in at least 10 hours of volunteer service per semester.
Program Participation
- Attend general semester meetings in the fall and spring to learn about program opportunities related to leadership, service, and community connections.
- Enroll in Luckyday-specific sections of EDHE 105 (first year Scholars) or EDHE 305 (transfer Scholars) during the fall semester of their first year.
- These courses introduce students to campus resources and connect them with staff and faculty at the University of Mississippi.
- The courses also give students the opportunity to develop skills and understanding in the areas of leadership, service, and connection to their community.
- All freshmen take a 3 credit-hour course the fall of their first year.
Residential Requirement
- First-year Scholars live in the Luckyday Residential College during their first year.
- All freshmen live in Luckyday Citizenship Hall their first year.
- Do scholars need to apply for housing? Yes, housing is required for Luckyday Scholars for the first year, once they have been admitted into the University. given for housing.
Additional Considerations
The Luckyday Program administrators in their discretion may consider remaining financial need after the freshman year.
The Luckyday Experience: A Year-by-Year Breakdown
The Luckyday Scholars Program offers a structured experience designed to foster growth and development throughout a student's college journey. Each class of Scholars has specifically targeted opportunities and requirements to help you grow throughout your educational journey.
Freshman Year
First year Luckyday Scholars are immediately introduced to the four connected values of Luckyday; scholarship, community, service, and leadership. During the first year, Scholars will engage in understanding the meaning and importance of each of these values. Freshman Scholars attend cohort meetings each semester focused on personal and professional development opportunities specific to the freshman year. Additionally, freshman Scholars meet one-on-one during both the fall and spring semester with Luckyday staff to develop personal and professional development goals. All Luckyday Scholars take part in Luckyday-specific sections of EDHE 105: The Freshman Year Experience. This course helps Scholars start strong in both academic studies and exploration of possible majors and careers. The seminar classes are taught by Luckyday staff and upperclass Luckyday Academic Coaches. First year Scholars are also assigned to upperclass Luckyday Peer Mentors who help new students make connections, identify resources, and navigate the college experience. First Year Scholars may apply to serve as members of the Luckyday Leadership Council made up of scholars who work together with Luckyday staff to help plan and lead activities and events, as well as provide input on all areas of the Luckyday experience.
Sophomore Year
Sophomore Luckyday Scholars engage in personal reflection on their professional goals through one-on-one meetings with members of the Luckyday staff. During these sessions, as well as during cohort-specific programming, special attention is paid to the connection between academic knowledge and the future work environment. Sophomore scholars continue their service participation they started in the first year, and are encouraged to more deeply connect their service to their future plans in their career or community involvement. Exploring leadership opportunities is always encouraged, and sophomore Scholars have the opportunity to apply to lead and serve as Peer Mentors, Academic Coaches, Luckyday Leadership Council representatives, and Luckyday Ambassadors. Engaging speakers, book clubs, and opportunities to connect with other students are a big part of the Sophomore experience.
Junior Year
As Junior Luckyday Scholars, emphasis is placed on clarifying career and educational goals as deeper commitments to leadership and service roles become priorities. Junior scholars continue their commitment to servant leadership, and complete their 10 hours of service each semester. Leadership roles as Peer Mentors, Academic Coaches, Luckyday Ambassadors, or serving on the Luckyday Leadership Council are also available to all upperclass students, and Juniors are encouraged to invest in younger students and the program as a whole.
Senior Year
Luckyday Seniors participate in workshops designed to help you transition from college to graduate/professional school or to their chosen profession. Our Senior Scholars are honored at a graduation reception recognizing their achievements, leadership, and service. This celebration is a special time for all Luckyday Scholars!
The Lasting Impact: Beyond Graduation
The connection to the Luckyday Community doesn’t end at graduation. A robust network of Luckyday Scholars across all three Mississippi Universities helps connect Scholars across generations and majors. The Luckyday Scholars Program creates a great sense of community, and the staff does a wonderful job of welcoming new scholars. This amazing scholarship program helped me realize that I always had someone to lean on and that I should never feel alone. As a Luckyday Scholar, students are engaged in four areas: scholarship, community, service and leadership. During their time as students at Ole Miss, Luckyday Scholars continue to receive support if they meet minimum requirements, which include maintaining a minimum GPA, participating in Luckyday programming and living their first year in the Luckyday Residential College.
How to Apply
Ready to apply to be a Luckyday Scholar? Application for 2026-2027 is coming soon! Transferring to the university? Application for 2026-2027 is coming soon!
tags: #ole #miss #luckyday #scholarship #requirements
