Olson Earns Scholarships From Ole Miss

WATER VALLEY – Water Valley High School senior Anika Olson signed a letter of intent on March 2 to attend the University of Mississippi. Olson earned a band scholarship after auditioning last month at the university

Olson has been a member of the band in the Water Valley School District since sixth grade.

“The band members, they are my family,” she said about the close-knit group. “Getting together to play a beautiful piece of music, or an exciting piece, whatever emotion you feel, you get to have your family and friends beside you when you play.”

Water Valley High School Band Director Wes Brown said that Olson’s selection for the Ole Miss band, known as the “Pride of the South, is very deserving.

“It shows that she is the kind of person that universities are looking for with their band programs,” Brown said. “She has the technical ability and work ethic.”
The second-year band director also said Olson’s selection is a strong sign for the band program.

“When it comes to band, having students selected to perform at the next level is a sign of stability, it shows the band program is going in the right direction,” Brown added.
Olson had her sights set on attending Ole Miss, even if she didn’t earn a scholarship.

“I pursued the scholarship because I really love band, and I really love not being in debt.”
She also noted that her entire family are Mississippi State fans.
“That makes it extra special, I always love to spite them – because they are my parents,” she joked.

Olson plans to major in secondary education with an emphasis in Chemistry. She was also accepted into the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program at Ole Miss. This is a collaboration between the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Mississippi State University (MSU) to attract top-performing students into the education profession with valuable full financial support and invaluable professional incentives. A maximum of 30 students are accepted into the program each year.