For over five decades, John and Gloria Correro have dedicated their lives to supporting students, alumni and the people of Mississippi. Through their dedication to service, the couple has positively changed the lives of Mississippi State University students and alumni.
To carry their legacy of service into the future and honor the memory of his late wife, John Correro has established a new endowment in the College of Education. By addressing the financial requirements of future educators, the endowment empowers them to pursue their ambitions.
The Correros’ deep connection to MSU stems from the university’s ability to equip individuals to pursue their dreams. Long before becoming alumni, John and Gloria were two high school sweethearts filled with dreams yet needing opportunities.
When they enrolled at MSU in the late 1950s, they discovered it was the ideal place to pursue their educational goals.
“I owe so much to MSU,” John said. “This great university helped me achieve everything I’ve ever wanted out of life, and I’m honored and very proud that I’ve gotten to serve MSU in some capacity for most of my life.”
Both John and Gloria made the most of their student experience. John became the Campus M-Club president and served as the secretary/treasurer of the MSU M-Club Alumni Association for 50 years. He was president of Kappa Delta Pi, named Mr. MSU and lettered in football for three years. He graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and physical education and later earned a master’s degree in educational administration with a minor in counseling. While working on his master’s, the Greenwood native served as a graduate assistant and assistant freshman football coach for the Bulldogs.
Gloria joined the Chi Omega sorority and MSU’s Famous Maroon Band, where she was head majorette. She was also a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honorary fraternity, an ROTC sponsor, a Reveille favorite and a Phi Kappa Phi honor society member. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education in 1962 and 1963, respectively.
The couple moved to Natchez in 1964, where they both accepted teaching positions. John was also an assistant football coach at Natchez-Adams County High School before his promotion to athletic director and head football coach.
Despite their growing careers elsewhere, neither could escape their love for their alma mater. John described the scene as they left for Natchez:
“Tears were rolling down our cheeks when we left because of our love for MSU and the relationships there,” he said. “We were maybe 10 miles outside Starkville when I hoped we’d one day be able to get back to MSU.”
Five years later, they returned to Starkville to reconnect with the university. John began working as a field secretary for the MSU Alumni Association. In 1975, he was promoted to associate director and later to executive director, a position he held from 1994 until his retirement in 2005. Under his leadership, the alumni association grew in active participation and launched many new programs, including the now-traditional Class Ring Ceremony, the online directory and the E-Bark online newsletter.
Gloria made significant strides in early childhood education. In 1979, she pioneered the MSU-Starkville Cooperative Demonstration Kindergarten and created the state’s first two public school kindergarten classrooms. Her work laid the foundation for Mississippi’s Education Reform Act of 1982, which implemented kindergarten in public schools statewide.
Her innovative work shaped the future of Mississippi’s early childhood education. MSU’s 2021 National Alumna of the Year Janice Nicholson, who has held numerous leadership positions at three colleges and universities, including Mississippi State University, is one of Gloria’s former students. She attests to Gloria’s passion and its impact. Janice used what she gained from her former teacher to follow her own passions and build an illustrious 50-year career of teaching and selfless giving to younger generations.
“Dr. Gloria Correro was an outstanding educator who influenced my life and career,” Nicholson said. “I sought her guidance when I needed expert advice on educational matters, and she was always willing to share her thoughts and point me in the right direction. I will be forever grateful that I had the privilege to work with and learn from her.”
In addition to their professional achievements, the Correros generously supported MSU financially. They created the John V. and Dr. Gloria C. Correro Annual Scholarship to help full-time juniors and seniors in the College of Education.
After Gloria passed away in December 2023, John honored her memory by creating the John V. and Dr. Gloria Correro Endowed Scholarship within the College of Education. Starting in the fall semester of 2025, the endowment will provide ongoing financial assistance to students in the College of Education.
“I didn’t want to miss the opportunity for students to receive the help they need. The endowment can keep growing and make a difference for a long time,” he said.
Candidates for the endowment must be full-time undergraduate students in the MSU College of Education majoring in elementary, secondary or special education, or teaching and coaching. They must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
John ensures aspiring teachers can always have the help they need to pursue their passions. This is nowhere more evident than with former MSU student and Starkville native Valencia Epps, a recipient of the John V. and Dr. Gloria C. Correro Annual Scholarship.
“This scholarship helped me pursue my passion for education by relieving financial stress,” Epps said. “These funds contributed to my continuous success as an academic scholar, and I will never forget it.”
Thanks to Correo’s timely aid, Valencia now works in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership at MSU as she prepares for her Fulbright scholar experience in South Korea. There, she will continue her passion for improving ESL and EFL education.
As John Correro reflects and remembers his late wife, he is thankful for a life well-lived and the opportunity to assist future Bulldogs in the same way.
By Shun Pounds (’14, ’18)
