<p>Colby Collins, son of Joey and Patty Collins, both Southern Nuclear employees at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant in Dothan, Ala., was awarded the Merit Scholarship by Southern Company in a ceremony held Thursday, May 11, at Northview High School. </p>
<p>Collins, valedictorian of his graduating class, was awarded multiple scholarships that amount to full tuition and board at Mississippi State University. He plans on studying finance with a concentration in risk management and insurance. Plant Farley Site Vice President Dennis Madison had the pleasure of presenting the scholarship to Collins with his parents in attendance. </p>
<p>Southern Company has been a corporate sponsor of the awards in the National Merit Scholarship Program since 2009. The program is open to high school students who are the dependent sons and daughters of employees of Southern Company or its affiliates. This annual competition is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., an independent, not-for-profit organization, which handles all aspects regarding selection of winners and the administration of the awards.</p>