Picayune Memorial High School graduate Brooke Watkins recently outshined more than 100 students across the state to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents. Picayune School District Superintendent Dean Shaw said Watkins is the second Maroon Tide recipient of this scholarship.
“When I looked at my phone and saw the superintendent was calling me during the summer, I thought Brooke did something wrong,” Watkins’ mother Amy Watkins said. “But after hearing the great news, I couldn’t have felt any happier. We are so proud of Brooke.”
Like most loving families, Brooke Watkins’ family used the news as an opportunity to tease their daughter, initially making her believe she actually was in trouble. But they followed up the joke with the news of her being one of the 10 recipients of the scholarship out of the 110 students who applied for it.
“I was shocked. I never thought they would even consider me, but I am so thankful for MASS for awarding me this scholarship. It is going to be a tremendous help as I head into college,” Brooke Watkins said.
Brooke Watkins graduated from PMHS with an grade point average of 99.4 percent and will attend Pearl River Community College in a couple of months.
She said she is going to use the scholarship to help fund college expenses such as textbooks and other supplies.
Although it is common for college freshman to be unsure of the field of study they wish to pursue, Brooke Watkins already has a plan, which she decided upon at a young age.
“In elementary school, I was always the most excited person in the room when we opened our science books to learn about the weather. That passion and excitement never left me and for that reason, I want to pursue meteorology,” she said.
After two years at PRCC, Brooke Watkins plans to attend Mississippi State University to earn her bachelor’s.
“We appreciate MASS for awarding one of our students with this outstanding scholarship,” Shaw said. “Brooke is a terrific student.”