Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency is happy to share about our scholarship program for Mississippi senior high school graduates. We will be awarding the Allie Carruth Memorial Scholarship for $5,000, the Walker Wilbanks Scholarship for $2265, the Chuck Stinson Memorial Scholarship for $1,000, the Annie Lucious Gift of Life Scholarship for $1,000, the Dr. Shirley Schlessinger Scholarship for $1,000 and two scholarships for $500 each to deserving students who apply for the scholarship and fulfill the requirements listed below.
You do not have to be a registered donor to apply for the scholarships. Scholarship winners will be notified in the spring of 2026.
2025-2026 Scholarship Guidelines
- The student must be a graduating senior from an accredited Mississippi high school.
- After graduation from high school, the student must be accepted by or have intentions of fall enrollment in either a junior college or university.
- To apply:
- Complete the scholarship application
- Write a 300- to 750-word essay on ONE of the following topics:
- Why you are a registered organ and tissue donor
- The importance of encouraging others to be an organ and tissue donor
- How have you or your family been affected by organ and tissue donation or by transplantation of organs and /or tissue
- Why you want to be an organ and tissue donor
- Provide TWO letters of recommendation—one from a school teacher and one from an adult (or another teacher) of your choice
Application Deadline
Postmarked no later than midnight Friday, October 24, 2025
Mail your scholarship application, essay, and letters of recommendation to MORA c/o Susan Bonds, P.O. Box 519, Tishomingo, MS 38873
Walker Wilbanks Scholarship
The Wilbanks Memorial Scholarship is awarded in memory of Walker Wilbanks, a student-athlete at Jackson Preparatory School who became an organ donor hero in 2014. The scholarship amount is $2,265 (reflective of Walker’s baseball and football numbers).
A high school administrator, faculty, or staff member may nominate high school seniors who plan to attend a college or university in the fall. You may nominate more than one senior.
To nominate a student-athlete, write a one-page letter nominating the student based on his or her character traits (i.e. courage, integrity, accountability, respect, responsibility, and concern for others). Once the nomination is received, MORA will mail the scholarship application to the student-athlete’s school guidance counselor for completion.
Email the letter of nomination to sbonds@msora.org, or mail to MORA c/o Susan Bonds, P.O. Box 519, Tishomingo, MS 38873
