Painting the Town Maroon - McMurry University

fit my personality. The faculty was a close-knit group of
professionals with experience in the field in which they
taught. With a low faculty/student ratio, I was able to
have access to the professors before and/or after class for
extra help, if needed. Most importantly, the professors
knew my name and knew my study ethics. I am honored
to be a graduate of McMurry and proudly recommend to
any senior to give McMurry a try.” Based
on the many relationships the university
has developed over the years, with
countless alumni sharing similar stories,
we feel certain that we’ve underestimated
their role in influencing generations of
students after them to attend McMurry.
I would be remissed if I didn’t also
give credence to the importance of peer
pressure in college decision-making.
High school graduates look up to older
siblings and hometown heroes, and that
was certainly the case with Matt Qualls,
senior all-level P.E. major and younger
brother of Michael Qualls. “It was a
source of pride. We looked up to my
brother and his friends,” he shared. “Their example made
other kids want to go to McMurry.”
Pride in one’s roots…Merkel and McMurry…a
common denominator that will continue to connect
the two in the future. A recent phone call was made
to a supporter and friend of McMurry to express
appreciation to her for donating a scholarship to a
McMurry student. She mentioned in the conversation
that, even though she currently resides in Abilene,
she grew up in Merkel. She shared her rationale for
providing financial assistance: “I was very impressed
with the woman [applying for the scholarship]. Then I
Most importantly,
the professors knew
my name and knew
my study ethics.
I am honored to
be a graduate of
McMurry and proudly
recommend to
any senior to give
McMurry a try.
found out she was from Merkel, so it gave me pleasure to
support McMurry and my hometown.”
We submit that the Merkel High School-
McMurry Connection is proof of the importance of
relationships when selecting a college home. Besides
the obvious influence of friends and family members,
there are also the 30 proud McMurry alumni who are
employed at Merkel ISD. Comments
like “I entered McMurry and felt right
at home,” “I enjoyed the small class size,
the accessibility and interaction with
professors,” and “I loved my college years
and feel like I got a first-rate education”
resonate from these alumni and reveal
the attachment they still feel to their alma
mater. We are proud of the many Merkel
Badgers who are current students and
alumni of this university, and we salute
our neighbors just west of us on Interstate
20. Maroon Pride runs in their veins, and
relationships are the connector—and then
again, it might just be something in the
water. •
Note: A special word of thanks is extended to the
following McMurry graduates who are employed by, and/
or who graduated from the Merkel Independent School
District: Ashlei Adams ’03, Heather Guthrie ’85, Renee
Waggoner ’02, Maggie Gonzales ’03, Mary Ann Duke
Abbott ’90, Cindy Fitzhugh ’77, Pam Welborn ’79, Dayna
Henderson ’77, Gayle Maxey ’81, Angie Bloodworth ’99,
Kaye Lynne Dearing ’73, Michael Qualls ’05, and Matt
Qualls ’10. Your testimonials and background information
were invaluable in the writing of this article.
16 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y