By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Cedrick Owens, Jr., was named the 2025 International Undergraduate Scholar of the Year and 7th District Scholar of the Year at the 2025 Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr., International Leadership Conference held by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
The Jackson State University (JSU) senior was awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarship funds to support his collegiate journey and career aspirations. The awards held a value of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.
“I was trying to contain my joy. I was thinking ‘This is life-changing money that is going to set me up for success’,” said Owens, recalling the thunderous applause and standing ovation as he accepted his award. “It was so surreal and a great experience.”
Owens was named the district scholar in March 2025 and was set to be honored alongside other district winners in July 2025 during the conference’s Dr. Ronald E. McNair Luncheon in Detroit. District winners are placed in the running for the international scholar award and officially announced during the luncheon.
District scholars were required to submit an application including an essay and were selected based on community service and involvement, extracurriculars, grade-point average (GPA), occupational aspirations and more. Owens held a 3.9 GPA when awarded the scholarships.
“Academics have always been my number one priority in school,” he said.
Owens is a recipient of JSU’s presidential academic scholarship, one of the highest academic honors offered to incoming freshmen with an exceptional GPA and college preparatory scores, and has maintained it yearly. He is also a Spring 2024 initiate of the Upsilon Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., at Jackson State University, and a member of the W.E.B. Du Bois Honors College.
The computer engineering student was recently offered a full-time position at Northrop Grumman, a space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace company, after serving two impressive years as an intern. Owens says that as an intern he developed an original app for the company and was invited to present it to senior-level executives.
He thanks his fraternity and chapter brothers, Pamala Heard, Ph.D., director of Honors Student Services and Activities at JSU and his parents for their support and motivation.
“I just want to do good and make my parents proud, make Dr. Heard proud and everybody proud.”
Media Contact: William H. Kelly III, william.h.kelly@jsums.edu