Mercer University has named Mary Lathem of Covington one of nine Stamps Leadership Scholars.

The prestigious Stamps Scholars program is funded by the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation Inc.

"Students selected to be part of the Stamps program are of excellent character and demonstrate the desire to combine research and service learning and to use their gifts and talents to solve many of the world’s problems," said Dr. Penny Elkins, senior vice president for enrollment management.

"Mercer’s mission is to produce graduates who are well-rounded individuals and who will utilize their Mercer education to make substantial and lasting change within their fields of study. We are excited to see what the future holds for these exceptional students."

The nine recipients were chosen from among 300 applicants based on leadership, scholarship, service and innovation. Lathem plans to pursue an English degree at Mercer.

She is a graduate of Eastside High School, where she volunteered with local youths and was the River of the Words State Poetry winner in 2007 and 2011.

The scholarship covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room, board and books. In addition, Stamps Leadership Scholars each receive an iPad and a $4,000 enrichment stipend to support activities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, unpaid internships and conference fees.

With the addition of the second class of Stamps Scholars, 14 scholars will be on Mercer’s campus next fall.

Mercer is one of 35 universities nationwide that participate in the program. Others include the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of California – Los Angeles, University of Notre Dame, Wake Forest University and the University of Michigan.

E. Roe Stamps IV, who was raised in Macon and is a graduate of Stratford Academy, and his wife Penny, established the foundation in part to help exceptional students obtain a college education.

Among alumni of the program are a Rhodes Scholar; graduate students at Emory, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Kansas, the Manhattan School of Music, Michigan, MIT, Oxford, UC-Berkeley and Vanderbilt; and employees at several top consulting firms, BP, Deutsche Bank, GE, Teach For America and the Department of Homeland Security.