Walton Scholars bring to campus A ;6iverJe V1'~rtAview Three years ago, Rita Toledo was planning to stay at home in Guatemala City, Guatemala. But when her father urged her to fill out a Walton International Scholarship Program application, she reluctantly complied. "I wasn't looking for a scholarship to Harding," Toledo said. "But, my dad was like, 'Yes, you should go.' 1 didn't even know where Arkansas was." Today, Toledo is a junior human resources major and is truly glad she made the decision to come to Harding. Shesaid that friends, faculty and campus lifehaveall been partofwhat makes her experience at Harding enjoyable. But for Toledo, the best aspects of Harding are the Christian values evident in so many students. She plans to return to Guatemala upongraduationandworkinconsulting ortraining . Mostimportantly, she hopes to have a Christian influence on those she comes in contact with. The goal of the Walton International Scholarship Program is to promote democracy and free enterprise in eight Ll.tinAmericancountries.Theprogram's promoters hope that Walton Scholars, like Toledo, will return to their home countries and have a positive influence. Theprogramwasstarted bythelateSan Walton, founder of the Wal-Mar Corporation. ThreeuniversitiesinArkansa: have Walton programs - Harding, Johr Brown and University of the Ozarks Harding has been a participant since 1985 "What he (Walton) really liked aboUi Harding was our emphasis on democrac) "and free enterprise," Dr. Nicky Boyd. directorofHarding's Walton program, said Each year Harding accept' approximately 15 new Walton Scholan who receive tuition, room and board, fre and travel as'well as a personal spending allowance. The program is a blessing to it! student participants, and Boyd believesiti.< anevengreater blessingtOHarding. Hesaid the presenceofthe Walton Scholars "help, our worldwide vision" and that the University now sponsors campaigns to EI Salvador and Guatemala asa direct result of interaction with students from those countries. "The program has broughtaboutalotof cultural diversity on campus." Boyd said. "Many of our students become friends with Walton Scholars and even visit them in their homes." Junior BJ Bi listens closely to a lecture in Scott Ragsdale's operating systems class. Bi is a computer science major from China. Photo by Daniel Dubois. - Casey Neese International Students 31 Student Life
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