Madison senior Harvard bound

MADISON — Madison Central’s Christian Gines is one of 15 students nationwide to receive a full scholarship to Harvard University.

“I’d like to introduce you to one of our students who has gone through the public school system here in Madison and excelled,” Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler said in presenting a recognition from the city to Gines during the Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday evening. “We are so excited for you to announce that you have received a four-year scholarship to Harvard University.”

Hawkins-Butler said the recognition award commending Gines for his achievement was from the City of Madison and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

“We are proud of you, and it is my understanding that there are only 15 in the nation that have received a full scholarship,” Hawkins-Butler said. “You are a Madison Central product, a Madison product and I want to say to you, keep the faith. Never stop believing you can do anything you want to do. This is just the beginning. Don’t leave our state. Come back here and make Mississippi even a better place. God bless you!”

Gines, son of Tommy and Renee Gines of Madison, said he plans to study a concentration in either government or sociology with a joint concentration in African-American studies.

“Then I plan on attending, probably Harvard Law School and getting my Ph.D. in African American studies as well and then after that to practice law in Mississippi,” Gines said.

Gines said graduating on Saturday will be bittersweet.

“I am really going to miss my Madison Central family and especially my parents as well, but also I am excited about this new journey that I will be going on,” Gines said.