Scholarship Established in Honor of Former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson
Posted on May 21, 2026
The University of South Alabama has established the Mayor Sandy Stimpson Leadership Scholarship in Business and Engineering in honor of former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, who served as the city’s 108th mayor from 2013 until 2025.
A total of $243,784 was raised by the Mobile Chamber Foundation and friends of the Stimpsons to support the initiative. Of that amount, $238,384 is designated for the creation of the scholarship endowment, while $5,400 will provide two immediate $2,700 awards for junior students in business and engineering.
The check was presented to the University on Monday, May 11, by Stimpson and his wife, Jean, alongside Bradley Byrne, president and CEO of the Mobile Chamber.
“It was a true honor to serve as Mayor of Mobile,” Stimpson said. “I am deeply grateful to the business leaders and friends who made this scholarship possible because they believe, as I do, in the transformative power of higher education. My hope is that this scholarship will inspire and support University of South Alabama students who are committed to shaping a bright future for our community.”
A Mobile native and graduate of UMS-Wright, Stimpson is credited with helping guide Mobile through a period of economic growth. Under his leadership, the city strengthened its financial reserves, reduced municipal debt and supported several major economic development projects — including the expansion of Airbus and Austal USA.
Stimpson’s administration also prioritized infrastructure improvements and strategic growth initiatives that expanded Mobile’s geographic footprint, making it again the second-largest city in Alabama.
“Sandy Stimpson is one of the finest public servants Alabama has ever known, and there is no better way to honor him than by investing in the future of this community he loves so deeply,” Byrne said. “For 12 years, he led Mobile with vision, determination and an unwavering commitment to the people of this city and this state. The Mayor Sandy Stimpson Leadership Scholarship is exactly the kind of lasting legacy he deserves.”
The Mayor Sandy Stimpson Leadership Scholarship in Business and Engineering will support students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership and service. Eligibility requirements include:
- Full-time junior or senior undergraduate status
- A minimum 3.0 GPA
- Alabama residency
- Demonstrated leadership through athletics, student organizations, or other campus involvement, as reflected in a student essay
