Many donors establish gifts to honor a loved one or special mentor, professor or friend. These unique gifts not only provide essential support for our University, but also ensure the honorees’ legacy will endure forever at Southern Miss. Scholarships, faculty chairs and professorships, campus facilities and other gift options may be named after these special individuals.

Donors can honor a loved one through a one-time gift for a celebration or holiday, or through a lasting endowment. Gifts may be made by a donor or by a group of people the honored individual inspired. Honorary and Memorial Gifts may be directed by the donor to an existing fund or, if appropriate, our staff can discuss with you the process of establishing a new named fund.

Honorary Gifts
Honorary gifts celebrate an individual’s connection to Southern Miss. Many alumni groups and former students choose to create a scholarship or professorship in honor of a respected mentor or teacher, often in celebration of their retirement. Family members and friends may establish a gift in honor of a loved one’s education, career or association with Southern Miss.

Memorial Gifts
Memorial gifts ensure a person’s legacy will endure at Southern Miss. The USM Foundation is honored to help families establish opportunities to pay tribute to their loved one. The individual’s family often chooses to establish a memorial scholarship or faculty position to celebrate his or her life and love of Southern Miss. Doing so guarantees that future generations of Golden Eagles will hear this individual’s story and be inspired by their passion for Southern Miss.

To make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one, click here.

Contact Us
If you have questions about making a gift in memory or in honor of someone, please contact the USM Foundation by calling 601.266.5602 or 1.888.GIVE.USM or by emailing us at foundation@usm.edu.