Just a few of the new Buffs welcomed at Connections with Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Heather Vaccaro. Photo provided by Milligan College Business Programs Facebook page.
Saturday, April 13 in overcast conditions, new students gathered in Milligan’s SUB 7 to meet other incoming freshman and peer mentors during Connections.
One such student was current University High senior Stuart Perdue.
A declared economics and english major, Perdue has high ambitions to either become a lawyer or a banker. Though he has big goals, they are not outrageous because Perdue already holds a generously filled transcript from his time at Milligan as part of the dual enrollment program.
“I first became aware of Milligan after going on a trip to Ireland with Milligan’s and University’s choirs joint performance,” Perdue said.
Though he will be a traditional undergraduate student in the fall, Perdue has been a part of Milligan’s community for the past two semesters by singing in the choir and taking a total of 24 credit hours.
Taking classes like Principles of Management and both introductory Economics courses, the University High senior is well versed in the college course load and is still more than happy with his choice.
“You just can’t get the same experience at a big school,” Perdue said. “My Principles of Economics classes with Dr. Campbell have 40 or 50 students in there, and yet, he knows every student’s name by the third week of class. You just wouldn’t get that at a big school.”
Local to the Kingsport and Johnson City areas for the past twelve years, Perdue was not planning on coming to Milligan for more than the first half of his senior year at University High School.
“Some things happened with my dad’s job that were unexpected, and so I had only applied to one school as of February,” he said. “I had to rush apply to Milligan, but thankfully, I already had connections here so I was able to try out for the choir and get things worked out.”
Through the unexpected hurry of getting everything in order, Perdue was still able to get accepted and snag a spot in the choir for the Fall semester.
“I already have kind of a foot in the door through taking classes here, but I’m still really excited to get to know my suitemates and roommates. I’m a people person.”
Perdue will join many others in the Fall as the Milligan’s class of 2023.