NW Mississippi News

The Northwest Foundation Announces the Marty Stuart Scholarship Endowment

The Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation is proud to announce its newest endowment funded by Grammy awarding-winning artist and Mississippian, Marty Stuart. The Marty Stuart Scholarship Endowment will provide scholarships for students studying music education, music performance, and/or entertainment industry studies. Other requirements for this scholarship are that students maintain a 2.0 GPA. 

"I'm proud to be able to help students in Mississippi further their education and develop their musical talents," Stuart said. "This state has shaped who I am as an artist and performer. It is my home, and it is an honor to give back to the community."

John Marty Stuart was born September 30, 1958, in Philadelphia, Mississippi. A child prodigy on guitar and mandolin, Stuart made his first professional appearance at the age of 12, where he performed with country legends, Carl and Pearl Butler. A few months later, he joined the bluegrass group, the Sullivan Family Gospel Singers. A year later, he was touring with Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass, and made his Grand Ole Opry debut at just 13. 

By the age of 21, he was a member of Johnny Cash's band. Since leaving his mentor's band, Stuart has become one of the most respected country music artists of our time, winning five Grammy Awards during his career. He is now regarded as a rogue statesman, ace musician, distinctive vocalist, skilled songwriter, poet, inspired bandleader, photographer, knowledgeable historian, and exciting entertainer. 

Stuart will be attending the inaugural Northwest Soiree on March 25 as a performer and to receive a plaque commemorating the establishment of the endowment.

Tickets for the event may be purchased online at heindlcenter.org. Premium tickets, which include the social hour, awards presentation, and musical performance, are $100 per person. Standard tickets, which includes only the musical performance by Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, are $50 per person.

For more information about the Marty Stuart Scholarship Endowment, please contact Patti Gordon, Northwest executive director of Institutional Advancement, at pgordon@northwestms.edu.

Original source can be found here.