Mission Accomplished for Soldier Turned Campus Leader

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2016) — U.S. Army Veteran. Musician. Leader. Wife. Christina Walker wears many hats, and she wears them well. On Sunday, May 8, she’ll be donning one she never imagined wearing — a graduation cap.

Walker, from San Bernardino, California, turned to the Army a decade ago for a better life, for an opportunity. She saw her peers dropping out of high school and getting into things she wanted no part of. 

"I needed to make a change in my life and it seemed like the best option," she said. "I needed a way to make a better future for myself."

She served from 2007-2010 as a supply specialist and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from 2008-2009 in the role of staff sergeant. Coordinating logistics, transporting food, equipment and weapons, Walker supported more than 5,000 deployed soldiers during that time. She received several honors for her performance, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with the Campaign Star, the Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Her military experience taught her to be a leader, and it also led to one of the most significant milestones of Walker’s life — meeting her husband Daniel, who served as a human resources generalist. The two married in 2010 and returned to Daniel’s hometown, Lexington, and eventually started school together at UK in the College of Communication and Information.

Christina said her transition from the military to college was difficult at first, but the military made her more focused and open-minded, often giving her the leg up in her courses.

Daniel will also be awarded his bachelor’s degree this week, but will save the commencement walk for 2017, when he graduates with his master’s degree in communication. He began the graduate program in the fall of 2015 as a University Scholar, a program that allows particularly gifted and highly motivated students to integrate their undergraduate and graduate courses of study in a single continuous program culminating in both a bachelor's and a master's degree.

"Daniel has pushed me through everything; he’s made me see my potential," Christina said. 

And at UK, Christina is known for her potential.

"Christina is one of the most talented people I have ever had the opportunity to work with," said John Herbst, UK Student Center director and Christina’s mentor. "She is a creative and positive thinker, whose skill set for accomplishing goals is incredibly refined."

Herbst and Christina met through the UK chapter of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), a national leadership honor society; Herbst serving as advisor and Christina as the new president. Christina has also served as vice president of the UK chapter of the national honor society Phi Kappa Phi. Experience in the esteemed honor societies has given her the ability to "walk into a room and network with community leaders of all kinds comfortably."

When she wasn’t planning meetings and hosting leadership seminars, Christina was often spending her time as a reading volunteer at the High Street Neighborhood Center, a mentor for high school students, a volunteer at local retirement homes and a Veteran Advocate Committee member for the UK Veterans Resource Center.

She was also called on for her musical talent — performing in UK Opera Theatre’s annual "It's a Grand Night for Singing!" and singing the National Anthem at community events, including a UK men's basketball game. Her studies in communication never wavered though; she will graduate with a 3.975 GPA.

"I don’t feel like I’ve been able to maintain a great GPA because I’m the smartest student, but because the military taught me to open my mind and focus," she said. "It’s not out of luck, but by my merit alone. And it’s not just a degree, but a stepping stone to get me through other doors."

Those other doors include Columbia University, Dartmouth College and the UK College of Law. Daniel suggested that she apply to the schools, otherwise “I never would have imagined I’d be applying to Ivy Leagues.” Now, she’s not only celebrating graduation — a far off dream when she was younger — but also the acceptance to all three schools, and a commitment to keep seeing blue at the UK College of Law.

"I chose to stay at UK mostly because I was fortunate enough to receive funding to cover the cost of my law school education," Christina said. "In addition, although this is not my original hometown, living here in Lexington and attending UK has allowed me to develop a deep connection with this city and I now view it as my home, which I am very reluctant to leave."

"I was so proud when she was announced as a recipient of a Wethington Fellowship to attend law school here at the University of Kentucky," Herbst added.

And as the Walkers often tackle many of the same missions together, the next chapter in their life is no different. Daniel also plans to pursue a career in law, but will wait until Christina has completed her degree.  

"He is sacrificing everything for me to accomplish this," she said.

Eventually, Christina wants to return to the Army as part of the U.S. Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, using her education for a career she’s passionate about and serving her country at the same time.

"In my mind what sets Christina's talents at a stellar level is her 'heart,'" Herbst said. "She accomplishes project tasks with incredible grace, humility and a true principled servant-leadership attitude. I see only brilliant horizons and remarkable accomplishments ahead for her."

This week, UKNow is featuring stories about our May and August 2016 graduates who will participate in the May 2016 Commencement Ceremonies this Sunday, May 8, at Rupp Arena. Undergraduate ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the Graduate and Professional ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. More than 2,400 undergraduates and approximately 500 graduate and professional students are expected to participate, marking the largest Commencement in UK's history. Overall, more than 3,200 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate and professional degree candidates had their degrees approved by the UK Board of Trustees. For more information, visit www.uky.edu/commencement.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, visit uky.edu/uk4ky. #uky4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu