The National Cotton Council, in collaboration with The Cotton Foundation and Mississippi State University, is honored to announce the establishment of the Don Parker Memorial Cotton Foundation Endowed Scholarship.
Who is the scholarship named after?
Dr. Don Parker was vice president of Technical Services for the National Cotton Council (NCC). He joined the Council in 2007. He also served as manager of Integrated Pest Management where he worked closely with producers and researchers across the 17 cotton-producing states to address pest management issues facing cotton production.
He was the Council’s lead scientist in the area of pollinator protection, charged with ensuring that regulatory efforts involving pollinator protection seek coexistence of crop protection and pollinator protection based on field relevant sound science. Don served on multiple Council committees, including the Pink Bollworm Action Technical Advisory Committee, Joint Cotton Breeding Committee, Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee and Conservation Task Force. He was the Executive Director of The Cotton Foundation and a member of The Cotton Foundation’s Research Screening Committee. He also served on the National Cotton Ginners’ Air Quality Subcommittee.
Prior to joining the Council, Don served as an entomologist at Mississippi State University, where his duties included teaching, research and extension. He published more than 67 research papers and gave numerous presentations.
What is the purpose of the Don Parker Memorial Cotton Foundation Endowed Scholarship?
NCC, in partnership with The Cotton Foundation and Mississippi State University, has established this scholarship initiative as a tribute to Don, who dedicated his career to advancing agricultural education, promotion and inclusivity within the agriculture industry. As a visionary leader, he championed the cause of underrepresented minorities, recognizing their immense potential to shape the future of farming. This scholarship seeks to provide permanent financial support to deserving students who aspire to achieve degrees in agricultural-related programs.
What opportunities are available to honor Dr. Parker’s work through this scholarship?
Two tax deductible opportunities exist to honor Don’s work. Larger group or corporate donors may prefer to choose the permanent endowed scholarship, while individuals may wish to make an immediate impact in Fall 2025. You can support the Fall 2025 scholarship and/or the permanent endowed scholarship at Mississippi State University by visiting the MSU Foundation’s secure donation page at https://dda.msstate.edu/give-now?f=405034.