Northeast Jones High School and the surrounding community celebrated an important and unique day Tuesday – Shad White Day. The day honored the accomplished NEJ graduate with a proclamation reading and congratulatory remarks by many community leaders.

Shadrack “Shad” Tucker White, a graduate of NEJ, recently received the honor of being named a 2009 Rhodes Scholar. Only 32 college students are chosen for the distinguished award each year. White is the first student in the history of the University of Mississippi to be named a Rhodes Scholar in addition to also being a Truman Scholar. He is the college’s 25th Rhodes scholar. The scholarship is the most prestigious academic award for undergraduates.

After numerous interviews, White was chosen as a recipient of the scholarship, which provides a two-year all-expense paid opportunity to study at the Oxford University in England.

White graduated summa cum laude in May from UM and has since been in Washington, D.C. where he is working to improve early childhood education in his home state as well as across the country. His senior honors thesis opened many doors for him. He worked as an analyst with the U.S. Department of Education and a fellowship with a non-profit research and advocacy group, Pre-K Now.

During his time at UM, White volunteered in San Salvador, El Salvador, at an impoverished orphanage. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. He also participated in the student senate, College Republicans, as well as organized many voter-registration drives in north Mississippi. On Monday, friends and faculty at UM recognized White for his accomplishments.

White was honored at the NEJ Performing Arts Center and spoke to junior and senior high school students.

Supervising Principal of NEJ Middle School and High School, Cooper Pope, gave the welcome, invocation and NEJ Gold Horizons sang the National Anthem.

“As we go through this program, I want you to understand what a Rhodes Scholar is,” Pope told students. “Those of you who are connected to football, I guess we could call this the Heisman Trophy of academics. This is absolutely an honor, or it wouldn’t be Shad White Day.”

“Shad is an example of coming from a small city, community, taking God’s gifts, and using them to their very purpose. We want our juniors and seniors to hear the basis of his success, the sacrifices, hand work and dedication it took for him to achieve this. The pinnacle of academics is worthy of recognition,” Pope added.

“It’s not many times you have a Rhodes Scholar who can come and share their experiences with you,” said Steve Thrash, Jones County Superintendent of Education. “Students, this just goes to show you that hard work, dedication, getting your focus where it needs to be and your direction, God will put you in places where you need to be.”

“I think Shad is going to do great things in this country and Jones County,” added Thrash. “I appreciate him coming back to the school that helped him on his way.”

The Board of Supervisors signed a proclamation declaring March 24, 2009 as Shad White Day in Jones County. Beat Three Supervisor Barry Saul read and presented the proclamation to White.

Mississippi State Auditor, Stacey Pickering, a long time friend of White, spoke of White’s support throughout his campaigns for the State Senate and the State Auditor’s office. Beginning in high school when White was a member of the Teenage Republicans, he was a strong supporter and diligent volunteer for Pickerings campaigns. White has also interned with the Republican Party.

“By talking about Shad, I want to challenge you to realize the impact you have as a student here in Jones County because that’s how Shad started,” said Pickering. “Everything we do is part of who we are as Mississippians, who we are as Jones Countians. Today you have an example of the value of hand work.”

He commended Shads’ parents Bob and Emily White for instilling strong values in him.

Pickering challenged students to establish role models in their life of what they want to become.

White told two stories of events during high school. In the first story an adult who White respected told White along with a group of students that students from this area don’t succeed and go to Harvard, or run for President, but that rich kids are groomed to become successful. White said the adult believed that to be the truth.

White never believed that statement and took it as a challenge. In fact, he remembered something his aunt had told him a few years earlier. White had questioned how a student from Sandersville could afford to go to a good college and become a Rhodes scholar. His aunt responded “If you work hard enough, every school in this entire country will look you in the eye and say you can come here and you won’t have to pay a dime .” White said the comment “struck a chord” and he realized his potential was only limited to how far he wanted to push himself. His aunt believed that to be the truth.

White said he remembered sitting and listening to speakers talk about the possibilities and success that goes along with hand work. He isn’t sure why he never believed it before, but at the time it was the way she said it and phrased it that it really struck a chord with him.

“Each infinite decision you make you choose to believe the first adult or the second adult,” White said.

“If you are willing to work hard and make tough choices, all the opportunities in this world are open to you, but it will be extraordinarily difficult.”

White’s favorite quote is from Percy Cerutty, an athletic trainer from Australia. “Think deeply and separate what you wish from what you are prepared to do.”

“My hope for everyone here is that you realize that all the things you need to succeed are right here at Northeast Jones. Everything I have accomplished is due to people sitting in this room. You have the opportunity to do whatever you want to do but you are going to have to make touch choices,” White said.