ITTA BENA, Miss. — A Mississippi Valley State University alumnus recently teamed up with his employer to present the institution with a $5,000 grant.
Itta Bena native Kortney Haymore, a 2017 graduate of MVSU’s Environmental Health program, currently serves as an industrial hygienist with Gobbell Hays Partners (GHP), Inc. in San Antonio.
The company recently awarded its inaugural $5,000 community grant to MVSU by way of a nomination made by Haymore.
“When GHP first announced the contest, I knew I wanted to nominate MVSU—particularly the Environmental Science program. Valley is the only school in the Mississippi Delta with an Environmental Health program and that makes it unique,” said Haymore.
In a post announcing MVSU as the recipient of the award, GHP stated, “Thank you, MVSU, for equipping bright minds like Kortney to improve environmental health in Mississippi and across the world.”
Dameon Shaw, MVSU’s interim vice president for university advancement, said that the grant will help equip more students with skills to make a difference in a global society.
"We are thankful to GHP for being visionaries in giving back. We are also excited that one of our alums, Mr. Kortney Haymore, has found a place in this amazing company,” said Shaw. “Kortney’s love for the University motivated him to nominate MVSU for the company’s first-ever community grant, which will enable us to touch the lives of more students and improve our capacity to serve our community.”
For Haymore, Valley has been a beacon of light and having the chance to give back means a great deal to him.
“Giving back not only means monetary donations, although it is needed. But giving back to me means reflecting on the opportunities that were made available for me,” Haymore said.
“The professors poured so much knowledge into me and countless others assisted me throughout my matriculation at MVSU, so now to be able to reach out and help another student means everything to me,” he added.
GHP specializes in the fields of Architecture, Forensic Architecture, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), LEED/Sustainability and Project Management in Healthcare, Hospitality, Historic Renovation, Multi-Family, Government, Laboratories, Commercial and Education. This firm is one of the first to successfully integrate architectural design with environmental and industrial hygiene consultation.
To learn more about GHP visit, www.ghp1.com
To learn more about MVSU’s Environmental Health program, call (662) 254-3377 or visit www.mvsu.edu.