Students awarded UM Graduate Recruiting Fellowship and Scholarship in the Excellence in Inclusivity

Nine students who will be attending graduate school at the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media have been awarded a UM Graduate Recruiting Fellowship and Scholarship in the Excellence in Inclusivity category.

They include Jasmine Meredith, Avery Hilliard, Erin Pennington, Sabyius Boggan, Anne Boehringer, Antoinette Collins, Jordyn Rodriguez, Caylen Johnson and Abigail Nichols.

Erin Pennington, of Fulton, will be studying for her Master of Science in integrated marketing communications degree. Pennington previously received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast. Her plans after graduate school include working in the entertainment/beauty industry in television or branding.

Abigail Nichols, of Madison, Mississippi, is a Marietta, Georgia native who became a Mississippi resident in 2016. Nichols graduated in May 2020 from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in integrated marketing communications with a minor in business administration and a specialization in visual design. As an undergraduate, she served on the starting board for the school’s fashion specialization.

“I hope that while I am pursuing my master’s degree, I am able to serve as a driving force for the future of the specialization,” she said. “I feel that up until now, I have accumulated classroom knowledge and internship experiences. However, with a Master of Science in integrated marketing communications, I will have the opportunity to communicate, market, and design in ways that others can’t.

“My goal has always been to present a story unlike any other that resonates with my audience/user, and I feel strongly that by continuing my education at Ole Miss I will be able to achieve this goal.”

Jasmine Meredith graduated from the University of North Texas in the Fall of 2017 and will be moving to Mississippi to attend graduate school at the University of Mississippi, where she will enroll in the graduate integrated marketing communications program.

Meredith received her bachelor’s degree from the nationally accredited Mayborn School of Journalism in Public Relations. She graduated magna cum laude. Her ultimate career goal is to be a sports and entertainment publicist.

Jordyn Rodriguez, from Fullerton, California, is a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University, where she earned a degree in agriculture. She plans to pursue a career as a multimedia communications coordinator for an agricultural corporation.

Annie Boehringer is a first-year graduate student from New York. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing and corporate relations and a minor in Spanish. After graduation, she worked for an architect and interior design firm in New York City. She is excited to start working on her master’s degree and become a part of the integrated communications program.

Avery Hilliard is a Memphis native who graduated from Ridgeway High School and Tennessee Wesleyan University. During high school and college, she was a leader on the women’s volleyball team.

“My love of sports has inspired me to dream of becoming a sports broadcaster,” she said. “Before graduating TWU, I knew I wanted to pursue my master’s degree at Ole Miss. “The opportunity to further my education is truly amazing. I am blessed to have been offered a graduate assistantship and to be selected for the (scholarship.) I am excited for my next steps with Ole Miss.”

Sabyius Boggan is a Philadelphia, Mississippi native, who completed a Bachelor of Science degree in integrated marketing communications at the University of Mississippi. He will be a first year graduate student in the IMC master’s program this fall.

“I am a member of the Ole Miss Men’s Club Volleyball team, where I serve as the founder and president of the the club,” he said. “I am excited for this semester and what the future has to hold.”