MS Scholarship Winner Eyes a Career in Engineering

Feb 4, 2026

By Griffin Fletcher, Analyst

High school was easy for Caleb Cockrell of Tupelo, MS. In ninth grade, he was named Freshman Student of the Year at Tupelo High School. A year later, he was recognized as Sophomore Student of the Year. As a junior, he was – you guessed it – Junior Student of the Year, and finally, on graduation night in 2024, he addressed his class of 440 students as valedictorian.

While a student at Tupelo High, Caleb was a member of too many clubs to list on top of doing volunteer work and playing on the varsity football and soccer teams. His AP chemistry teacher commended his “genuine intellectual curiosity” and the “maturity and quiet leadership” that he brought to the classroom. It’s no surprise that Caleb’s excellent high school achievements earned him admission to Mississippi State University. This impressive resume, in addition to a stellar freshman year during which he maintained a 4.0 GPA and made the President’s List, also earned him a PBF Division Scholarship to help him on his collegiate journey.

Caleb Cockrell with an elephant on a mission trip in Bangkok, Thailand

Caleb credits much of his success to the support he has received from his family. Caleb’s stepfather is PBA member Chief Joel Spellins of the Sherman Police Department, and Caleb noted that Chief Spellins “provides [him] with an example of putting others before yourself on a daily basis and leading those around you to do the same.” Caleb’s mother, Suzanne Spellins, is a second-grade teacher who has provided Caleb a foundation of love throughout his life. “She prioritizes the happiness of her children,” said Caleb, “and always seeks out ways to spend time with us.” Caleb also has three siblings – brother JP and sisters Hayden and Ally Grace – and the four have always been able to depend on one another for encouragement and support.

Caleb also credits his father, Scott, for shaping much of the man that he has become. Scott works as a sales manager and a Baptist pastor, and Caleb emphasized that he remembers his father, throughout his childhood, “leading a Godly life and providing a great Christ-like example for myself and my siblings.” Caleb added that his father taught him and his siblings good values and the importance of hard work “while also keeping things fun and light-hearted.”

Caleb with family on vacation in Florida

Guided by his father’s leadership, Caleb’s faith became the central pillar of his life. He quoted 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight” – and explained that his faith has allowed him to remain confident and assured amid uncertainty and difficulty. “Placing my faith in Jesus Christ,” Caleb said, “has shaped me into someone confident in their identity and allowed me to actively live a purposeful life.”

Though he’s only in his sophomore year at Mississippi State, Caleb is blessed to already know the direction he wants to take his career in. “I am majoring in chemical engineering. I enjoy problem-solving, and chemical engineering allows me to explore that. Ideally, I will be able to co-op while still in college to gain some work experience in my field and possibly work full-time with the same company when I graduate.” He appreciates the versatility of a chemical engineering degree, as he could see himself enjoying work in manufacturing, oil and gas, the energy sector, or environmental engineering.

Caleb with his brother Payne and father Scott at a University of Florida football game

When he’s not in class or studying, Caleb enjoys athletic activity – especially pickleball with his roommates – and watching movies. He cited Russell Crowe’s performance as Maximus in Gladiator (2000) as a personal favorite, noting his appreciation for the character’s “determination and drive” amid terrible circumstances. Despite the grind of an engineering student, Caleb also makes sure to attend bible studies and worship services at his church.

Caleb expressed his appreciation for the scholarship that the PBF awarded him: “I feel I am very blessed to receive this scholarship. Without it, I would have needed to take out student loans this semester, so it has truly been an amazing gift for me.” We at the Foundation have no doubt that, supported by his family and grounded in his faith, Caleb will put that gift to good use.

Chief Spellins put it best: “Caleb is very driven and will go far in life.”