Northwest Student, Addison Pilant, is a Semifinalist for Prestigious Cooke Foundation Scholarship
Senatobia, MS (04/04/2023) — Northwest Mississippi Community College sophomore Addison Pilant of Southaven is a semi-finalist for the prestigious Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. She is one of 11 Mississippi students who have made it to the semi-finalist rounds.
Pilant described getting this scholarship as it would be her "lifeblood." This scholarship is for financial assistance up to $55,000 on an individual basis. Pilant mentioned this would be important to her because she has been supporting herself through college and hopes to continue to do so.
Just as Pilant has paid her way through college, she also has in life. As a junior in high school at DeSoto Central, her father unexpectedly passed away. Then her mother who was a teacher would be put on disability as Pilant powered through all the struggles she's faced.
"I was mad, and I used it," Pilant said, describing that as her motivation.
As an artist and community member, Pilant is insightful and hopes to help others. She talked about her involvement in Phi Theta Kappa as an extremely positive experience where she got the chance to help with a canned food drive in DeSoto County, and she explained that it's important to her because she knows what struggling for food is like and said she doesn't think any child should have to endure that.
Lucia Nelson, Northwest art instructor, taught Pilant Art Appreciation. Nelson spoke highly of Pilant's dedication and motivation to learn and succeed in all that she does.
"Addison's personal story is one of overcoming tremendous obstacles and hardships to get where she is now," Nelson said. "She has persevered through it all and is an inspiration."
Pilant described her early life as chaotic, and art served as a sort of therapy. Pilant said she thought, "I could do this." Working with children going through tough times is a cause close to her heart because not too long ago, she was a child who needed that support too.
"I had a therapist who drew with me, and that really stuck with me," Pilant said.
Yet despite all the struggles, she made it through high school with flying colors and is now in college. During her time at Northwest, she's been actively involved in artistic and academic pursuits varying from Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) to service projects to working in the ceramics room. She's also a member of the All-Mississippi Academic Team for PTK.
After Northwest, she is going to continue her education at Ole Miss where she will get a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Afterwards, she's hoping to get a master's degree in fine arts or psychology. Pliant's goal is to work in a children's therapy office doing art therapy with children.
At Northwest, she's also made many meaningful connections and found support that she might've otherwise not had, such as her deepening relationship with her fiance and fellow Northwest student, Hayden Coleman, and her new relationships with instructors such as Nelson and English instructor Greg Massey.
Both of her instructors described Pilant as a strong person who faced adversity with grace. Nelson said she's made it her mission in life to gain students' interest and make art relevant in their lives. She said it's a privilege to have students like Pilant, who is not only a fantastic student, but also an insightful person who is deeply aware of other's needs.
Despite the difficulties she's faced, she'd found a way to not only maintain her schooling, but also excel despite those challenges.
"She did not cower down when adversity reared its ugly head," Massey said. "Addison met adversity head-on, and she did so with grace and elegance."
In addition to that, he mentioned that something that helps him reach students like Pilant is listening, which he notes is not always through oral communication.
"I also listen to what their eyes are telling me," Massey said. "Once I have listened to what these students have shared with me, I let them know that they have my attention, even if it is by allowing them to write an essay or journal entry over what they've shared with me."
This style of communication not only allowed Pilant to be seen, but also to help her success by feeling supported by the campus she is on. Massey said his teaching methods are geared toward success of students in the real world by teaching them better communication with writing.
"Northwest exists to serve students like Addison," Nelson said. "She is an example of fulfilling our mission to transform students' lives, and that is something to truly be proud of and feel good about."
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Addison Pilant holding her design piece that she won third place for in the RC Pugh Library Horror Art Show. Photo provided by Addison Pilant.
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Andrew Dale, Associate Vice President of Community Relations, adale@northwestms.eduShare this Story
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