When Amy Valentine needed a birthday gift for her husband, Dennis, she turned to the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration to establish a scholarship in his name.
When she went to her husband with the birthday gift — the Valentine Business Scholarship Endowment — he jumped right in and helped with support and funds.
“What an amazing birthday gift, one that strengthens the university my family and I love and one that hopefully provides a financial incentive for outstanding young people from southwest Mississippi to head to Oxford and obtain that valuable UM education — the key to future success for them,” Dennis Valentine said. “And in the process, just maybe they will grow to love Ole Miss as we have.
“Ole Miss has the visionary leaders in place to take it to unquestionably new heights. Our leaders, promoters, faculty and staff, athletic leaders, student-athletes and the entire student body are excelling in ways we never thought possible. It gives us multiple avenues of gratitude for all that the Ole Miss experience has given us,” he said.
To encourage students from the Brookhaven, Mississippi, area to attend Ole Miss, the Valentines’ major gift created the scholarship endowment, with first preference going to students from Copiah, Franklin, Lawrence or Lincoln counties. Second preference is designated for transfer students from Copiah-Lincoln Community College majoring in business.
Dennis Valentine decided to attend Ole Miss when he was 8 years old and Charlie Flowers played fullback on the football team. Amy Valentine traveled to Ole Miss games with a childhood friend whose brother played football, and neither of the Valentines ever considered attending any other university.
“In thinking back, we probably made our decisions based on low-priority issues!” said Amy Valentine. “However, we both had memorable times in Oxford. We met lifelong friends, experienced new situations and found time to earn our degrees. The friends, contacts, networking and superior education we received have been invaluable and ever ongoing.”
The Valentines, both natives of Meridian, Mississippi, attended the university at different times but were introduced by mutual Ole Miss friends. Dennis Valentine graduated in 1973 with a degree in production management, and Amy Valentine earned a degree in secondary education-library science in 1975. The university became a family affair when their three children all earned degrees on the Oxford campus.
“Our children grew up playing in the trees in front of Farley Hall and in the ‘drive-in Grove,’” said Amy Valentine. “Because we lived a three-and-a-half-hour drive away, we didn’t get to be in Oxford as much as we liked, but we tried our best to make Oxford and campus very comfortable for them when we were there.
“We hoped the surroundings would be a type of second home for our children and an attractive incentive for them eventually to choose to be students there. They all chose correctly, and we’re quite proud of their tenures and accomplishments at Ole Miss.
“All five of our shared Ole Miss experiences bring our family a lot of memories and much laughter,” Amy Valentine shared. “Now we not only share our friends from the 1970s but also all of our children’s friends and their families, not to mention the traditions we have adopted as part of our Ole Miss familiarity.”
Ken Cyree, dean of the School of Business Administration, expressed gratitude for the scholarship endowment.
“Amy and Dennis Valentine and their family love this university and place great value on providing opportunities for other individuals to benefit from similar educational experiences. We truly appreciate their generous gift that will have a far-reaching impact on our business students.
“In addition, since the Valentines established an endowment for their scholarship, the funds will be held in perpetuity with only the annual income directed to the scholarships. This type of investment is vital to the long-term financial stability of our university. We sincerely thank the Valentines.”
Amy Valentine said, “One really never graduates from Ole Miss — that saying is real. Our alma mater has woven herself into the tapestry of our lives and for that we are grateful.”
After working many years in manufacturing, Dennis Valentine is self-employed with Valentine Insurance Solutions of Brookhaven. He specializes in employee benefits and life insurance. Amy Valentine is a retired librarian with Brookhaven Elementary School.
Their children are the late Will Wilson Valentine, Kathleen V. Calcote (Colby) of Brookhaven, Eleanor V. Hartzog (Trent) of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and Patrick Valentine (Mary Grace) of Ocean Springs. Mary Grace Valentine is also an Ole Miss alumna. Grandchildren are Wilson and Camille Calcote, Sullivan and Charlotte Hartzog and Mac and Toler Valentine.
To make a gift to the Valentine Business Scholarship Endowment, send a check with the fund’s name written on the memo line to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; or online here. For more information on supporting the Ole Miss School of Business Administration, contact Jackson Ansley-Kurtz, development associate, at jgansley@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2293.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development