Alumni | GivingAugust 31, 2024

Why I Give: The Story of UAFS Alum Jon Walker

Written By: Ian Silvester

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Growing up just across the river in Van Buren, Jonathon 'Jon' Walker, '17, was ready to spread his wings when it was time to go to college. As the first to go in his family, it was an opportunity he didn’t want to miss out on.

“I was really interested in chemistry and pharmacy – I wanted to be in labs and make new things and help people as part of it,” Walker said. “I was heavily looking at the U of A (Arkansas), the University of the Ozarks, and a few out-of-state universities as well.

“But when I went and toured UAFS — Den Day was a big part of it — I met the engineering chair at the time, Dr. Michael Reynolds, and he talked to me about what the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith was from an engineering program compared to other universities, and he encouraged me to tour the others.”

Walker took his advice and found that other programs concluded with projects submitted for competitions, while UAFS ended with a project working with a company like ABB or Rheem. As Walker put it, “people in the real world, making connections, and having hands-on experience.”

“All radar turned off (and) it became all about UAFS for engineering. … It was a clear choice for me,” he said.

With his decision to attend UAFS sealed, Walker went about securing the necessary funds to attend. Because Walker came from a single-parent home, a scholarship meant the stress of the financial barrier would be erased.

Walker, however, was lucky enough to secure two scholarships – eliminating all costs to attend.

He was awarded an engineering scholarship, which covered almost all the costs and provided Walker with a laptop. In hindsight, the simple Dell laptop significantly improved the quality of his education. It brought the world to his fingertips, but “more importantly, it gave me confidence that I could go and be successful.”

“What really sealed the deal was the CLC (Chancellor’s Leadership Council) Scholarship,” Walker said. “I remember that call on a Sunday, and it was just a really emotional time for myself and my mom because not only did they offer the scholarship, but they offered to pair it with the engineering scholarship, which meant there were no blockers.

“There were no financial blockers to attend; no financial blockers for books or to live on campus to be part of that experience. … Having both of those scholarships come in and remove the largest barrier to entry, that financial piece, was huge. I certainly wouldn’t be sitting in this room wearing this shirt today if I hadn’t had those opportunities.”

Now, a handful of years after graduation, Walker serves as the director of product management and global sourcing for Walmart at the company’s international office on the Walmart Home Office campus in Bentonville, Arkansas. He can trace his path to this position directly to his time at UAFS.

As a student, Walker participated in on-campus activities and organizations. He became a brother of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and was a university ambassador, which allowed him to give campus tours and learn more about UAFS. Walker even met the woman who would become his wife and mother of their two future Lions.

During his studies, Walker jumped at the opportunity to travel abroad for a Maymester course in Japan.

Before telling the story of the trip that almost never was, Walker pointed out the word “International” on his Walmart-branded polo and said, “I’ve worked in Walmart International for a few years now, and I love it. But it was a big focus of mine to get into an international business space even before Walmart, and I can trace it back to that trip.”

It was 2011. A catastrophic 9.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Japan, triggering a tsunami. The disaster resulted in the death of nearly 20,000 people and caused the Fukushima nuclear accident.

“We weren’t sure we’d ever get to go,” he said as he somberly recalled the year-long delay. “There was one impact after another, and I was beginning to think it wouldn’t happen.”

By 2012, the trip was a go. But Walker no longer had the money to go. “Where I had it previously, education continued on, and I didn’t have the financing.”

As Walker began to accept his disappointment of not attending the Japan Maymester course, he received news that would change his life.

“It was a scholarship donor who said we’ll sponsor this student to go,” Walker recalled. “In hindsight, it wasn’t that much money to sponsor, but what was key was that they were willing to do it. … They were so ingrained and supportive of the idea of growth, education, and these experiences for their community that they funded the trip, and I spent two wonderful weeks in Japan.

“To me, that was an indirect impact of where I am today in my career — the advances that I’ve had, which have driven me, can all be traced back to one small act of giving. … I wouldn’t be where I am today without that small act of kindness that seems insignificant to some but was hugely impactful for me.”

UAFS was more than just a place for Walker to go to school. It’s evident in the opportunities UAFS afforded him in the classroom, abroad, socially, and now in his career. As UAFS evolved into the community he cherished, Walker made it a point to give back to students who are now part of the pride that is UAFS.

With each paycheck, Walker gives a little money back to UAFS. A proponent of a little going a long way, he committed to sharing what he could, knowing that even a dollar could be the difference a student needs to succeed.

“I like to say that when it comes to giving back, it gives you that sense of – well, it’s kind of hard to put words to it, but you can probably feel it. It gives you that sense of connection, that sense of drive,” he said.

Walker’s story isn’t unique, but it is one that can be related to the stories of many past, present, and future UAFS students. It’s a story of triumph and having faith in the face of adversity. It’s a story of ripples that uncovered a path toward a career. It’s a story of humility. And it’s a challenge for others to do what they can to help create a better future.

“You have an opportunity to give just a little, and that comes together to be a lot, and that lot can have a profound impact. When you couple a little growing into a lot with the small butterfly effect of a simple act of giving, shaping someone’s life ahead of them, nothing is insignificant.”

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