I have only lately begun to appreciate how generous my parents were in allowing me to freely choose where to attend college. With a twin sister and a brother only two years younger (plus two other much younger brothers) my mom and dad knew they would have three in college at the same time. Not once did they suggest that I consider the three well-regarded state institutions within commuting distance of our home in West Point.
I decided in 9th grade to apply to Millsaps and to major in political science. My sister also chose Millsaps and a major in English. We had had several cousins from the Delta who regaled us with wonderful stories about their experiences at Millsaps, and as Methodists, we were familiar with Millsaps' mission and stellar academic reputation.
Thanks to generous financial support from my parents, and a complex financial package that included scholarships, federal loans, and twenty hours per week of work study, I received a world-class education that prepared me for a totally unplanned future career in the military. Millsaps' reputation also paved the way for my acceptance, upon graduation, into the newly-created LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, for a fully-funded two year master's program.
The rigor of Millsaps' academic demands, combined with small classes and frequent personal interactions with faculty and other students, really made all the difference in transforming my thinking from a small-town provincial perspective to a more strategic, global perspective.
Who knew when I sparred with John Quincy Adams in constitutional law or endured the written comprehensive as a senior, that these tribulations would serve me well when preparing a briefing book for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or editing the Ft. Knox newspaper. When I compare Howard Bavender's steely gray eyes drilling into our small petrified group during an oral exam to briefing the three star general in charge of post-hurricane Katrina military assistance, the latter was easier by far. And when I over-confidently signed up for Mrs. Nellie Hederi's Spanish conversation class (with only four students, the other three Spanish majors!), who knew how often and gratefully I would think of her, many years later, as I participate in Methodist mission projects in Chile.
Because I attribute critical thinking skills and my interest in the wider world to my education at Millsaps, and because my parents supported my decision to attend Millsaps, I established the L.W. and Mary Mitchell Walker Scholarship. I also have provided for Millsaps in my estate plan. Even a few hundred dollars in scholarship aid made a huge difference for me. I want others to be able to experience what Millsaps will do to change their world.
