Dunaway named Young Bankers Leadership Scholar

Christina Nollie | September 21, 2014

Blake Dunaway, member of USM's chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon, is the recipient of the Mississippi Young Bankers Leadership scholarship presented by the Mississippi Bankers Association.- Michael Kavitz — Blake Dunaway, member of USM’s chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon, is the recipient of the Mississippi Young Bankers Leadership scholarship presented by the Mississippi Bankers Association.- Michael Kavitz

Blake Dunaway, a junior finance major, was awarded a $2,000 2014 Mississippi Young Bankers (MYB) Leadership Scholarship. Dunaway was nominated for this award by his advisor Wayne Kelly, chair of the Department of Finance, Real Estate and Business Law.

According to the MYB website, The MYB Leadership Scholarship is an award presented to a junior banking and finance major at a state-supported university. This award is presented each year at the annual MYB Leadership Conference in the fall.

When asked what effect his advisor had on his academic success, Dunaway said, “Ever since I became a student in the College of Business, Dr. Kelly has been extremely helpful. He has, without a doubt, been someone who has made a positive impact on my academic success here at Southern Miss.”

Dunaway said receiving the scholarship will enable him to finish paying off this semester of school. Not only did the scholarship help monetarily, but it also allowed him to meet some incredible people in Jackson during the conference. Dunaway believes the connections he made during that time will be extremely beneficial in the near future.

“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but never knew exactly what kind until I got in college and started working with the organization YouthWorks the past two summers,” he said. “As far as finance, it’s what I’m good at. I know having a background in finance will be extremely beneficial for whatever career path I decide to take.”

The Columbia, Mississippi native offered a few words of advice for other finance students.

“Never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something and never let anyone stand in your way of reaching your utmost potential,” he said. “College is a vital time in everyone’s life and it can be easy to follow the crowd instead of leaving your own mark. My challenge for each of you, not just finance students but students as a whole, is to be your own person and live this life you were blessed to have to the fullest.”

Dunaway said he would like to achieve his lifetime goal of opening his own pediatric clinic specifically for children with disabilities following his summer experiences and finding a strong passion and love for working with disabled children and individuals.

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