Luckyday Scholars
Scholarship Sponsored by University of Southern Mississippi
Overview
The Luckyday Scholars Program supports student engagement through shared residential living, leadership development, and service to the community.
Eligibility
- Must be a Mississippi resident.
- Must have been admitted to The University of Southern Mississippi as a freshman.
- Must hold a minimum 3.5 cumulative high school GPA and a superscored ACT of at least 20.
What reviewers look for
Applicants who succeed typically demonstrate sustained community involvement, academic challenge, and the ability to balance multiple responsibilities. Selection emphasizes financial need, records of community service, leadership experience, strength of recommendations, and overall alignment with the Luckyday community. Ideal candidates exhibit a strong work ethic, a sense of social responsibility, persistence in academics, a clear intent to pursue an undergraduate degree, and enthusiasm for participating in a close-knit, engaged student community.
Required application components
Begin by completing the general application in the GO Application System; once that is submitted, any competitive applications for which you qualify will become available in your account. A full Luckyday application must include:
- High school counselor report (completed by your counselor)
- Recommendation from an academic reference
- Recommendation from a service supervisor or organization advisor
- FAFSA
- Thoughtful, well-written responses to the essay prompt
- Completion of online interviews via the Big Interview platform
How to apply
Use the GO Application system to apply for Freshman and Transfer Designation-Based scholarships, the Luckyday Scholars Program, USM Foundation scholarships, and Honors College Admission and Achievement Awards. The application portal is at www.usmfoundation.com/go. You must first be admitted to The University of Southern Mississippi and then sign in to the GO Application system using your student ID and your SOAR password.
Important dates (for students entering fall 2026)
- Application portal opens: October 1, 2025
- Final submission deadline: January 15, 2026
If you have questions about requirements or the application process, contact the scholarship office or the GO Application support for assistance.