Milam Elementary School (Tupelo Public School District) with State Farm. The Fall Food Drive, which emerged from our recognition program, provides an opportunity for students to serve with a host of businesses and other volunteers from Milam’s partnership with Shawn King State Farm.

Each year to over 500 students, Milam emphasizes the importance of serving the community and being the best version of themselves academically, socially, and emotionally all while exhibiting good character. Fifty percent of Milam students are recognized quarterly for their academic achievement. Being that all students do not excel in the area of academics, we believe students should be rewarded for excelling in other areas as well, so we wanted to recognize those students. One of our most supportive and influential community
partners is Shawn King State Farm. This partnership affords our students the opportunity to be recognized for improving in areas other than academics. These areas can include but are not limited to attendance, effort, and mannerism. Furthermore, Shawn King State Farm and Milam partner to recognize the whole child while fostering a developed sense of citizenship and service.

Therefore, under the direction of our school counselor, Tamekia White, and our teachers, our student population is recognized each month for improvements in various attributes. Shawn King State Farm provides certificates and restaurant gift cards for each honoree. In addition, students complete a note of gratitude to a teacher of their choice. These notes are distributed to the designated teacher by the students.

The Fall Food Drive, which emerged from our recognition program, provides an opportunity for students to serve with a host of businesses and other volunteers from Milam’s partnership with Shawn King State Farm. The Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi (formerly Tupelo Lee County Hunger Coalition) reports 1 in 5 Lee county residents are food insecure. Seventy percent of Milam’s students qualify for free/reduced lunches.