Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Director of Choral Activities Jennifer Davis has been tapped to receive one of five prestigious national awards given to professional association educators by the National Federation of High School Associations.

The NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics and fine arts/performing arts programs and is designed to honor individuals who have made contributions to NFHS, state high school associations, athletic director and coaching professions, the officiating avocation and arts education.

“Mrs. Davis has continually represented the (SOCSD) with excellence at the state and regional level, and this national award comes as no surprise,” Superintendent Tony McGee said. “Her outstanding leadership not only for the Starkville High School choral program, but for our district-wide general music programs has resulted in unprecedented opportunities for students at every age to learn about music, embrace new experiences in the arts, and spread their wings in performing. We are very proud of her in receiving this well-deserved national honor.”

Davis has an award-winning, 26-year career in music education, and during her time at SHS, she has produced an impressive track record of excellence with choral groups and student performers earning numerous MHSAA superior ratings and sweepstakes awards. SHS Singers have performed in a variety of local, regional and national venues, and in 2025, a record-breaking 61 singers earned invitations to the competitive All-State Honor Choir.

In addition, Davis has spearheaded the implementation of piano labs at Partnership Middle School and SHS, providing students at all levels of skill with the opportunity to learn to play the piano. She has also introduced guitar instruction as well as Advanced Placement music theory and other dual credit/dual enrollment classes as course offerings at SHS. Each year, the SHS choral program produces scholarship recipients and “signees” for participation in choral groups at the collegiate level.

Jordan Young, a 2024 graduate of SHS and starting member of the varsity football team, participated in the SHS Singers and other ensemble choral groups during his time at SHS – an opportunity that prepared him to earn a scholarship from Mississippi State University to continue his choral studies. He credits Davis with inspiring and encouraging him to consider singing at the collegiate level.

“Mrs. Davis’ impact on me has been nothing short of amazing,” Young said. “When I decided not to play football in college, she encouraged me to continue choir at the next level. Now, I’m getting paid to sing at MSU. This doesn’t happen without her. I always joked with her that she made choir my first love.”

Outside the classroom, Davis has been instrumental in creating opportunities for younger students through the SPARK ART Intersession Camp and the annual Starkville MSU Symphony Programs for Children. She mentors students majoring in music education at MSU each year, and she has also been a leader in the advancement of music education at the state and regional level through her volunteer roles in professional organizations.

“Earning the Music Citation Award from NFHS has been an incredible surprise and has kind of forced me to reflect on my years and my teaching,” Davis said.

This reflection brought to the forefront the importance of giving back and pouring experience and mentorship into younger teachers as well as affirming the value of providing every student the opportunity to experience music education.

“It’s been fun to go back and think about the kids I’ve been able to work with and the colleagues,” Davis shared as she recalls students like Young.

She describes individual encounters when she was able to encourage students to step outside their comfort zone and build confidence and lifelong skills – whether those skills carry them from the football field to the choir room, to a college scholarship, like Young, or from the graduation podium to the job interview.