Northpoint student a University of Mississippi Newman Scholar

Photo: From left, Sarah Jane Yerger, University of Mississippi Admissions Counselor, Epps Dye, and Megan Thomas, Assistant Director of Admissions for the University of Mississippi.(Courtesy photo)

University of Mississippi representatives were on the Northpoint Christian School campus to notify student Epps Dye that the university has named him a Newman Scholar and awarded him the W.R. Newman Scholarship. 

The W.R. Newman Scholarship is one of the largest undergraduate scholarships awarded at Ole Miss. The $40,000 scholarship ($10,000 per year) is awarded to an incoming freshman who is a Mississippi resident with an exceptional academic and leadership record. 

“It was a surprise, I didn’t even apply for it,” Dye said. “It means a lot because it will free me up to pursue other things in college, like get involved in church and giving back, so I don’t have to focus so much on finances.”

The scholarship was created in 1983 by the family of W.R. “Buck” Newman to help recruit Mississippi’s most outstanding young men and women to the University of Mississippi. One scholar is selected each year by a University of Mississippi committee, solely based on merit.

Epps will study biomedical engineering on the Oxford campus, with his eyes on a possible medical career. 

“My end goal is becoming a cardiac surgeon,” Dry said. “I’m going into biomedical engineering first and then plan on going to medical school”  

A well-rounded student involved in academics, athletics, music, and theatre, Dye has an ACT score of 36 and is a National Merit Finalist. 

He is the Northpoint Christian School Star Student and Valedictorian. He is President of the Student Body and serves as Vice President of the National Honor Society. 

He is the pianist for the Praise Team, a leader in FCA, a member of Mu Alpha Theta, a four-year member of the NCS Track Team, and a member of the NCS Theatre Department. 

“I wouldn’t have gotten the scholarship without Northpoint,” Dye said. “They’ve given me countless opportunities to display my leadership skills and be a leader, whether it be through student government, FCA, or a lot of other opportunities.”