UM-Tupelo Student Profile
Albine & JAYME Bennett
Ole Miss-Tupelo Grad Works to Help Others Succeed.
Bennett finds purpose investing in Northeast Mississippi community
TUPELO, Miss.— Albine Bennett of Saltillo was born in Riga, Lativia and moved to Belmont, Miss. at the age of nine. She says that throughout her years living in Northeast Mississippi, the acceptance and encouragement from teachers, neighbors, and community members taught her that life is about giving back.
“Giving back to others feeds the soul, and it makes life so much richer,” Bennett said.
After graduating from Belmont High School, Bennett attended Itawamba Community College in Fulton and then transferred to the University of Mississippi-Tupelo campus.
“At the time, Ole Miss-Tupelo made sense for me. I had two jobs, but still wanted to pursue my education and earn my bachelor’s degree. Attending the Ole Miss-Tupelo campus was flexible and convenient.”
Bennett got involved on campus through student organizations and volunteer opportunities.
“The number of doors that receiving my education at Ole Miss-Tupelo has opened for me is unbelievable,” Bennett said.
After graduation, Albine’s husband Jayme also made the decision to return to college to complete his degree at Ole Miss-Tupelo.
“We were both working and raising our daughter, Laura. We were able to receive financial aid and funding that paid for our classes while we continued working. We are very grateful that this allowed us to complete our bachelor’s degrees debt-free.”
After serving for several years as the communications coordinator for the CREATE Foundation in Tupelo, Bennett recently stepped into a new role with Cadence Bank as the vice president in charge of environmental, social, and governance operations.
Bennett said that she admires the philosophy George McLean and his wife Anna, the founders of the CREATE Foundation, had when they started the organization. They wanted to leave a legacy behind and have an organization that stands past an individual and serves the community for decades to come.
“I want to leave behind my own legacy and footprint on my community,” Bennett said. “I hope to one day lead an organization and make an even bigger impact not only for Tupelo or Lee County but for Northeast Mississippi and maybe even the state. The people of this region have given so much and invested in me, and I want to return their kindness.”