Story by Kayla VonBurg-King
Choosing to stay close to home, Bray Hill, a Smithville High School alum, entered the University of Mississippi’s biomedical engineering program without having visited the campus. His leap of faith was cushioned by the university’s Grove Scholars program. Grove Scholars supports Mississippi resident students eligible for The Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarship in STEM or health fields, from before freshman year through graduation, using a cohort model, incentives, and a summer bridge program. The summer bridge program, also known as JumpStart, was key to helping Hill transition into his first year of college.
Hill participated in the JumpStart program during the summer before his freshman year. Since its inception in Summer 2006 at the University of Mississippi, the JumpStart program has provided students the opportunity to earn six credit hours, develop essential academic skills, explore Ole Miss and Oxford, and form new relationships before starting their freshman year. “It helped me transition from high school to college; I felt like I got to know the campus before freshman year began,” Hill remarked.
(Photo by Kayla VonBurg-King)
During this early exposure to college-level engineering, Hill experienced self-doubt about his capabilities, a common hurdle for many freshmen. It was then that he had a transformative conversation with SOE Academic Mentor Parker Flowers during a field trip to the National Center for Physical Acoustics.
“He turned and looked at me and said, ‘How do I change my major? I don’t think I belong here. I’m not smart enough for this,'” Flowers remembered. She immediately reassured him, emphasizing the normalcy of doubt and the importance of perseverance. From then on, Flowers and Hill met every two weeks. This mentorship was crucial in helping Hill realize his potential.
Fast forwarding to the end of his freshman year, Hill had not only achieved a near-perfect GPA but also wanted to broaden his horizons and explore study abroad options. While researching options, he found the Office of National Scholarship Advisement (ONSA). “For me, for our office, Bray embodies the ethos of applying for globally competitive awards,” Dr. Vivian Ibrahim, Director of ONSA remarked. “He put his all into the application. He didn’t care about the prestige. He applied because he wanted a unique experience that aligned with his career goals.”
In Hill’s case, the Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute on Technology, Innovation, and Creativity seemed tailor-made for him. To his surprise, he was named a semi-finalist in the highly competitive selection process.
“The process was lengthy; there were a lot of drafts and revisions,” Hill remarked. “When I was named a semi-finalist, I didn’t think it was a big deal until Dr. Ibrahim literally printed out facts and showed me what it meant.”
“Bray demonstrated exceptional academics, leadership and a strong commitment to his community which made him an incredibly strong candidate,” Ibrahim said.
Now, as Hill looks to the future, his optimism is palpable. He remains deeply involved in his studies and extracurricular activities, and he even snagged a spot in the Center for Manufacturing Excellence during the highly selective sophomore entry process. With a near-perfect GPA already under his belt, Hill is setting his sights on medical school, driven by his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.
When asked what advice he would offer to an incoming freshman facing the same uncertainties he once did, Hill shared some heartfelt wisdom. “I would say you’re human. It’s okay to make mistakes; life is full of ups and downs. College is nothing like high school—it’s a different ball game. You go from being the smartest one in your high school to a place where everyone is just as smart as you, which is a great opportunity to learn from others and grow together.”
Article edited on 5/29/2024 to correct Hill’s program.