Sanderson Farms was recognized by Blake Wilson, former Mississippi Economic Council President and Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Higher Education Appreciation Day, for the company’s support of higher education in the state of Mississippi. Robin Robinson, Director of Organization Development and Corporate Communication, received the plaque of appreciation on behalf of Sanderson Farms.

Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence, was established by the Mississippi Legislature in 1988 to honor academically talented students and faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to promoting academic excellence. This year marked the 30^th anniversary of the HEADWAE program. HEADWAE was established by legislative resolution to honor individual academic achievement and the overall contribution of the state’s public and private institutions of higher learning.

Honorees began the day with a visit to the State Capitol, where they were welcomed by Governor Phil Bryant, recognized by the Senate and House of Representatives, and given a tour of the Capitol. The awards luncheon was held at the Marriott Hotel in Jackson, where Dr. Rod Paige, Interim President of Jackson State University, delivered the keynote address.

Outstanding students and faculty members from 34 Mississippi public and private universities and colleges received special recognition from the Mississippi Legislature during this annual event. The goal of Higher Education Appreciation Day is to encourage excellence among those involved in higher education as a way to further leadership, increase knowledge across the broad spectrum of education, and promote good citizens capable of thriving in today’s society because they are prepared to meet future challenges. To this end, one student and faculty honoree are annually selected from each of the 34 public and private member institutions of the Mississippi Association of Colleges to participate in the Higher Education Appreciation Day activities.

For many years, Sanderson Farms has been a corporate sponsor of the HEADWAE program. Other corporate sponsors for this year’s event included Atmos Energy, Jackson; AT&T, Jackson; BancorpSouth, Tupelo; Chevron Products, Pascagoula; ERGON, Flowood; Georgia-Pacific (KOCH Companies), Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula; Mississippi Power Company, Gulfport; Trustmark Bank, Jackson; and Valley Services, Inc., Flowood.