Tribute to Kenneth Scott
Purpose is not static; purpose is dynamic. By A.R. Bernard
Life’s purpose consists of dynamic events instead of static or motionless activities. Yet, oftentimes, we find ourselves constantly doing the same mundane activity leading to nowhere, like taking a Sunday afternoon drive with no purpose in mind. Yet, Kenneth Scott, a retiree from the Armed Forces, would often remind me that he was one of the youngest airmen to ever retire from the Air Force. Whether the veracity of that statement is valid, I never questioned him because Kenneth impacted my life and others around me.
Kenneth, a Veteran, decided to give back to his community, instead of asking for a handout. He chose to use education as his platform. I considered him a master student because he enrolled and graduated from more than one technical program at Wallace Community College. He planted himself as the center of gravity for students by serving as the President of the SGA, and later their advisor, listener, motivator, confidant, encourager, and informer. Everyone knew Kenneth Scott from staff to students. When a student missed class, just informed Kenneth, he would put that person on the right track. If someone needed tutoring, just asked Kenneth, and he would tutor them. If you needed a ride home, Kenneth provided the transportation. Kenneth became the Swiss Army Knife for all students at the College. He drove the bus as well as chaperoned students on trips to New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, and to all the four-year colleges in Alabama. Even when TRiO took students to President Barack Obama’s inauguration and a student became separated from the group, Kenneth was the one who found him.
Kenneth Scott leaves a legacy because his fingerprints were placed on the hearts of many when he came to the Sparks Campus of Wallace Community College in Eufaula. He defined his purpose through the many lives he touched. Because of this legacy, we will continue to remember him as the Veteran who chose to retire and become a dynamic event on the Sparks Campus instead of static activity.
Mr. Kenneth Scott