Jackson, Miss.—Student athletes from Mississippi's public, private, two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions are honored for their achievements in the classroom. The program recognizes colleges and universities that achieve and maintain high academic standards for student athletes, thus encouraging high graduation rates. The award was endowed by former Mississippi Representative David Halbrook Sr., and his brothers in honor of their parents.
The awards were announced during the annual Ascent to 55% Convening, which brings together colleges, universities, businesses and industries from across the state.
Dr. Casey Prestwood, Associate Commissioner for Academic and Student Affairs, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) announced the awards for the 2025-2026 academic school year.
The David M. Halbrook (traveling) Trophy awards are presented to the colleges and universities with the highest percentage of academic achievement for the women’s division and the men’s division. This year's recipients include:
- Community College Men’s Division:
- Jones College
- Community College Women’s Division:
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
- Independent College and University Men’s Division:
- Mississippi Christian University
- Independent College and University Women’s Division:
- Mississippi Christian University
- Public University Men’s Division:
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Public University Women’s Division:
- University of Southern Mississippi
The John C. and Ernestine McCall Halbrook Improvement Award is a cash award presented to the single college or university that has shown the greatest increase over the previous year in the percentage of athletes graduating. This year's recipient is Coahoma Community College.
The David M. Halbrook Certificate for Academic Achievement Among Athletes recognizes the efforts of individual student athletes who excel in academics, leadership, and service. Each college or university selected a male and female student athlete to receive this recognition.
| DAVID M. HALBROOK CERTIFICATE AWARD FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG ATHLETES Public University Division | ||
| Institution | Male Recipient | Female Recipient |
| Delta State University | Jesse Cole Kirk | Dakiya Toney |
| Jackson State University | Davieon Center | Ivana Setka |
| Mississippi State University | Petar Jovanovic | Allison Perry |
| Mississippi University for Women | Matthew Windham | Kaitlyn Bearly |
| Mississippi Valley State University | Ellis McKneely | Nina Schiks |
| University of Mississippi | Gabe Scales | Cammy Niesen |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Landry Lyddy | Sylvia Whie |
| Independent College and University Division | ||
| Institution | Male Recipient | Female Recipient |
| Belhaven University | Ronald Neal Terry | Ellie Williamson |
| Millsaps College | Kenneth Heard | Zoe Elder |
| Mississippi Christian University | Gage Sorey | Emily Buchanan |
| William Carey University | Taylor Walters | Anna Cate Clark |
| Community College Division | ||
| Institution | Male Recipient | Female Recipient |
| Coahoma Community College | John Wyatt Massey | Ta’moria Shannon |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Nash Sturdivant | Brelie Phillips |
| East Mississippi Community College | William Kade Morrow | Ivana DeGregorio |
| Hinds Community College | Benjamin Kennedy | Macie Curtis |
| Holmes Community College | Alejandro Robles | Emma Korhonen |
| Itawamba Community College | Madden Butler | Taylar Shands |
| Jones College | Roderick Alexander | Larissa Hubbard |
| Meridian Community College | John Paul Mattina | Reine Akombo |
| Mississippi Delta Community College | Carson Allen | X’Zayla Yarbor |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Mason Beverly | Laurel Conley |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College | Ben Marchetta | Emma Jennings |
| Pearl River Community College | AJ Hansen | Chloe Ezell |
| Southwest Mississippi Community College | Cohen Bonner | Allie Ladnier |
The Halbrook Award for Academic Achievement Among Athletes was established in 1984 through the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 88. The awards program is made possible through endowments from former Representative David M. Halbrook of Belzoni and his brothers, John C. and James G. Halbrook of Belzoni and J. A. Halbrook of Beaumont, Texas, in honor of their parents, John C. and Ernestine McCall Halbrook.
