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Austin Gray has lived around the University of Mississippi all his life. A native of Oxford, Gray almost left the area for good until fate the Ole Miss Women’s Council stepped in. “Without this scholarship, I can say without reservation that I would not have attended Ole Miss,” says Gray. “As I have been told several times throughout my life, Mississippi's most valuable export has long been its people. Because of this scholarship I, along with the other scholars, did not fall victim to the trend.” Gray is glad he stayed. A political science major with plans of attending law school, Gray is very involved on campus. He is Vice-President of Delta Kappa Epsilon and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha honor fraternity. He also enjoys coaching sports teams, particularly basketball. Throughout his tenure at the University, Gray is thankful for the support of the Women’s Council, his fellow scholars, and his mentor. “[My mentor] has been a constant throughout my college experience, which was vital in an ever-changing landscape,” Gray says. “From difficult semesters to difficulties with room mates and beyond, she has been there for advice or to simply listen. From the Council and college in general I have come to appreciate the significance of relationships. My favorite thing about OMWC is having somebody to depend on while being taught to be that somebody for others.” Gray is also enjoying the benefits of exclusive leadership training through the Leadership-Mentorship Program. “Learning leadership skills is absolutely vital to higher education. College simply gives one the tools for success in the form of knowledge, but leadership programs teach one how to use such tools and perhaps more importantly inspires them to do so.” After graduation Gray hopes to spend a year teaching in a high school before continuing on to law school and pursuing a legal career.
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