Additionally, he has a passion for politics. Yelverton has been active in student government at Mississippi State since his freshman year. He is currently the Director of Student Policy and the president of the College Republicans.

"I try to remain involved on campus outside of the school of engineering, and I've gotten to meet so many diverse walks of life, and that's what's made Mississippi State so special," he said. "I feel like it's very welcoming, and you don't have to stay in a bubble here. It's a big school, a big SEC school, and you get the diversity and the opportunities that come with that, but it also has a homey feel to it where you can kinda branch out and be yourself and excel that way.

"That's the dream, to be able to run for public office one day."

Yelverton credits his summer work with the MSU CAVS Extension in Canton for fostering his political aspirations. The CAVS Extension provides several services to manufacturers, including technical expertise, professional development training, and on-site project support for product and process improvements.

"I got to work a lot with manufacturers around the state," he said. "I sorta discovered my passion is in the policy world when it comes to business and small business in Mississippi, supporting the economy in Mississippi."

His work at the CAVS Extension left a good impression on its Executive Director, Tonya McCall.

"As one of our DoD AiM UP program interns, Hunter was a valuable contributor. As a junior in industrial engineering, he used his skills to optimize manufacturing processes and support supply chain assessments with our clients, showcasing his strong work ethic, problem-solving abilities, and resourceful, driven approach as a member of our team," McCall said. "It is wonderful to see Hunter recognized for his achievements, and we are excited to see the great things he will achieve in the future."

Ah, the future. For everyone who's ever been on the cusp of graduating, it never goes exactly the way we think it will, and Yelverton admits that could very likely be the case for him. For example, he said his planned gap year could lead him to pursue a career in engineering.

But, future decisions aside, Yelverton said he appreciates the MMA Endowed Scholarship and how it's helping him explore all his options while at MSU.

"The money allotted to me by the MMA scholarship has allowed me to spend more time focusing on enriching my education," Yelverton said. "Not having the added stress of paying for my education gives me more time to focus on my studies as well as enhancing my degree by getting more active with organizations on campus, university research, and giving back to the local community. The MMA scholarship is helping me do the things that will prepare me for a successful career."

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In celebration of its 60th anniversary in 2011, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) established the Mississippi Manufacturers Association Endowed Scholarship fund at the following universities:

• Jackson State University
• Mississippi State University
• The University of Mississippi
• The University of Southern Mississippi

Checks of $60,000 were presented to each university in December 2011 and January 2012 to fund the endowments. The endowment funds will provide annually two $1,000 academic scholarships to students with at least a 3.0 grade point average and have declared majors as follows:

• Jackson State University – manufacturing & design technology
• Mississippi State University – industrial and systems engineering in the Bagley College of Engineering
• University of Mississippi – degrees in areas of study within the Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Ole Miss
• University of Southern Mississippi – degrees in areas of study within the School of Polymers and High-Performance Materials or in the Industrial Technology Engineering program