‘We need more Hollys’: ��Ŵ��¼� celebrates alumna’s selfless, lifesaving act for her student

people stand together in front of a home stage — Mississippi State alumna Holly Allgood, center right, poses with, from left, Bowen Dorr, Jamie Dorr and television host and singer Jennifer Hudson after the "Jennifer Hudson Show" featured Allgood as part of its National Teacher Appreciation Week. Allgood, a special education teacher from Tupelo and 2005 ��Ŵ��¼� College of Education graduate, donated part of her liver to her student Bowen, saving his life. (Courtesy photo)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Holly Allgood was in her classroom at Tupelo’s Early Childhood Education Center with her student, Bowen Dorr, when the phone call came—she was a match.

Allgood, a ��Ŵ��¼� alumna and Tupelo Public School District special education teacher, donated 30% of her liver to Bowen, a young student battling carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I deficiency, or CPS1, a rare and life-threatening metabolic condition.

“��Ŵ��¼� alumna Holly Allgood’s selfless act of love and concern for one of her students reflects what I believe is a core value of our university, which is service,” said ��Ŵ��¼� President Mark E. Keenum. “We try to instill in our College of Education graduates the sense that they are stewards of the future in teaching and impacting the lives of their students. Certainly, Holly has taken that to an entirely new level, and all of us in the Mississippi State family admire and applaud her sacrifice and devotion to her student.”

Little boy stands with his teacher — Bowen Dorr, left, stands with his teacher, ��Ŵ��¼� alumna Holly Allgood. Allgood, a special education teacher in Tupelo, donated part of her liver to Bowen, saving his life. Before the transplant, Bowen was diagnosed with a life-threatening metabolic condition, phosphate synthetase I deficiency, or CPS1. (Courtesy photo)

Both Allgood and Bowen are recovering well after the August transplant and have gained national attention for their story. Recently, Jamie Dorr, Bowen’s mother, and Allgood were featured on the “” during this week’s national Teacher Appreciation Week. The duo shared Bowen’s story, and Allgood received a $10,000 gift from PaperMate.

“He’s a completely different kid now,” Jamie said in the interview. “…To have someone so close to home that was willing to lay down her life for [my child] when I couldn’t—it’s a gift I can’t put words to. We need more Hollys.”

Allgood, a Tupelo native and 2005 ��Ŵ��¼� College of Education graduate, has spent nearly two decades teaching special education.

“I knew I would be a match,” Allgood said in the interview. “…If you see a need, act on it. There is so much kindness and goodness, and we don’t hear enough about it.”

��Ŵ��¼�’s teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which sets rigorous national standards for teacher preparation. As part of ��Ŵ��¼�’s programs, 100% of teacher education students are placed in a student-teaching internship prior to graduation, and they gain hands-on experience through intensive field placements in elementary and secondary schools before their internship. During field placements, students now can observe and teach at the Partnership Middle School on the ��Ŵ��¼� campus, one of the nation’s only public middle schools housed at a university.

“Holly Allgood exemplifies the heart of what we strive to instill in every future educator—compassion, courage and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of students,” College of Education Dean Teresa Jayroe said. “Her extraordinary act of generosity and kindness reflects not only the spirit of service we value at ��Ŵ��¼�, but the profound impact a dedicated teacher can have on a child’s life. We are incredibly proud to call Holly one of our own.”

��Ŵ��¼� is taking care of what matters. Learn more at

��Ŵ��¼�