Delta Council President, Tripp Hayes of Clarksdale, is pleased to announce that Keith Carter, the Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Mississippi and Zac Selmon, the Director of Athletics for Mississippi State University, will serve as the Keynote Speakers for the organization’s 90th Annual Meeting to be held Friday, June 13, 2025, at Delta State University’s Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) in Cleveland, Mississippi.
“The State of Mississippi has a deep love for college athletics, and we know this will be an informative and entertaining day for our audience no matter your team colors,” stated Tripp Hayes, the Coahoma County producer who serves as President of the organization.
A native of Perryville, Arkansas, Keith was a four-year starter at Ole Miss. The Rebels won the Southeastern Conference Western Division Titles in 1997 and 1998 during those years and Carter earned All-American honors after his senior season in 1999. Keith also won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team at the 1998 Goodwill Games. He played professional basketball in Italy from 2001-2008.
Keith Carter joined the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation in 2009 and has served as the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation executive director, the Ole Miss Deputy Athletic Director for Development and Resource Acquisition, the Chief Revenue Officer for the athletics department, and the sport administrator for baseball and men’s basketball.
Keith and his wife, Jill, have three children and reside in Oxford.
Zac Selmon became the Athletic Director at Mississippi State University in January of 2023. Zac began his career at the University of Oklahoma and the University of North Carolina. He is the son of Dewey Selmon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and the nephew of Lucious and Lee Roy Selmon, known as the “Selmon Brothers” from the University of Oklahoma.
Zac was recently inducted into the Norman Public School Foundation’s Hall of Honor after his high school career as an All-State football player. He also was a four-year tight end starter for Wake Forest University.
Zac is well known for his philanthropic endeavors such as the Shine Foundation he co-founded with his sister. The Shine Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving those in need, especially children. Zac and his wife, Rachel, have two daughters.
The 2025 Delta Council Day will commence with the 24th Annual Salute to Delta Honor Graduates event at 9:00 a.m., held outside of the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the lawn. We will welcome the high school graduates, their families, and school officials and present the graduates with awards. The event is designed to bestow special honor upon two exemplary students from each of the high schools throughout the Mississippi Delta Region, including public, parochial, and private schools. In addition, a $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the top Delta Honor Graduate selected by higher education officials in the Delta. The Top Delta Honor Graduate will be recognized on stage at the Delta Council Annual Meeting during the Business Session.
At 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium of the BPAC, after the inaugural presentation of the colors and God and Country, the Business Session will proceed with the recognition of the 2025 Delta Council Community Service Award and the tradition of the Wear Cotton contest. Among other features of the Business Session, including a recap of the year’s challenges and opportunities, will be the introduction of the 2025-2026 Delta Council Officers.
The tradition of a fried catfish luncheon will wrap up Delta Council Day on the grounds of the Quadrangle on the Delta State University campus. Delta Council invites and encourages members and guests to attend and participate in this 90-year-old Delta “red-letter” day.
Sponsors for the meeting are BankPlus, Catfish Farmers of Mississippi, Cotton Incorporated, Delta State University, Mississippi Corn Promotion Board, Mississippi Land Bank, Mississippi Rice Promotion Board, Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board, Simplot Grower Solutions, and Southern AgCredit.
