MRA alum receives Taylor Medal

A Madison-Ridgeland Academy graduate has received a prestigious award from the University of Mississippi chosen from less than one percent of the student population.

In addition to graduating a year early, Sloane Vinson is finishing her senior year with the Taylor Medal. The award is issued to between 70 and 80 students in each graduating class.

Vinson said those who were issued the Taylor Medal had a dinner in their honor last week.

“I was very honored to be there,” Vinson said.

The biology major said she was not aware of the award until she got the nomination letter in January. 

“I did not know this was a thing,” she said. “I was just trying to keep my grades up for medical school.”

A statement from MRA says the Taylor Medal is the “highest academic honor at Ole Miss.” It notes the award is given to less than one percent of the student body.

“She’s in that top tier,” the statement said. “No surprises there.”

Vinson said she was prepared for college by her experience at MRA. She is a 2022 graduate of MRA.

“I loved it so much,” Vinson said.

She said she came in with enough credits to start her college career as a sophomore.

Moving forward Vinson has elected to attend the accelerated nursing program in Oxford.

“I wanted to get some experience in the medical field,” She said.

Experience asa nurse will inform what decisions she makes in the future.

“I have going on to be a nurse practitioner or medical school in the back of my mind,” Vinson said. “I have always liked to make decisions that give me more decisions.”

Vinson is the daughter of  David and Angie Vinson of Madison.