OXFORD, Miss. – Before Army 1st Lt. Andrew Higgins leaves Fort Bliss
in El Paso, Texas, tomorrow to begin a yearlong deployment in Iraq, he
let his feelings be known about the University of Mississippi. He
planned a $20,000 bequest to benefit the Division of Students Affairs.
“Education has always been very important to our family,” said
Higgins, 27. “My dad, Jack, is superintendent of schools in a district
outside Cleveland, Ohio, and my mom, Karen, retired after a 35-year
teaching career. When I was making my will – as is customary for those
being deployed – my dad told me he thought it was extremely important
to provide support for schools and universities.”
Higgins
said he came to love Ole Miss and Oxford when he came to the university
in 2005 to pursue a master’s degree in higher education.
“Ole Miss is one of the best educational values around,” Higgins
said. “I was very impressed with the university, and now I miss it so
much. The university has become a large school, but there are so many
opportunities for students. I am always so amazed that the emphasis
continues to be on each individual student. There’s a lot of personal
attention given.”
Larry Ridgeway, vice chancellor for student affairs, expressed his appreciation for Higgins.
“We are deeply honored by Andrew’s thoughtfulness and
generosity,” Ridgeway said. “At a time when he is preparing to deploy
to Iraq, he has remembered Ole Miss and the Division of Student
Affairs. We thank him for his gift but also for his willingness to
serve our country. We pray for his safe return.”
Higgins is to travel to Kuwait, where he will be stationed for
one month before traveling on to Iraq. On the eve of his first
deployment, Higgins said he had known since the Sept. 11, 2001
terrorist attacks that he wanted to serve his country.
“I felt that I wanted to give this service in a combat tour,” he
said. “I am definitely ready to go. There is a lot of anticipation
surrounding the deployment, and I feel that we have been well-trained
for this mission.”
Josh Whelan, the University Development officer who assisted
Higgins in planning the gift, said he is impressed with Higgins’
thoughtful tribute to the university and its students at this critical
time in his life.
“We are extremely grateful for alumni like Andrew who invest in
future generations of Ole Miss students,” Whelan said. “His willingness
to make this gift while serving on active duty speaks to his remarkable
character.”
Higgins, a native of Mansfield, Ohio, was first drawn to the
university by its academic curriculum, ROTC program and the general
campus. He served as coordinator of the Student Tour and Recruitment
for Student Housing while at Ole Miss.
Before seeking a graduate degree, he earned an undergraduate degree in
political science and communications studies at Baldwin-Wallace College
in Berea, Ohio. He has continued his graduate studies online, earning a
second master’s degree, as well as completing international education
at Ewha University in South Korea. He said he plans to work on a
doctorate after another two to three years in the Army and may pursue
another type of federal service.