My Baylor Legacy 

More than 180 Baylor undergrads and high-school seniors applied this year for Legacy Scholarships. After much deliberation, we decided to increase the amount of the scholarships to $2,000 each (from $1,000 in past years), which meant this year’s awards will have a bigger individual impact but fewer students would receive them. As in past years, we were impressed by the applicants, and we found their essays about growing up as members of the Baylor Family inspiring, funny, and in some cases heart-breaking. We wished we didn’t have to say no to any of them. We will continue to share these essays, which were written at various stages of the application process last spring, throughout the coming year. We hope their stories will remind you why you love Baylor AND give you some ideas on how you might influence your children or grandchildren to choose Baylor. We also hope you’ll consider donating to this program. All you need to do is go to our website, click on the Legacy Scholarship button on the right-hand slide of the page, and make a secure credit-card payment or send us a check. Thanks!

Brooke Reid 

Hometown: Waxahachie, Texas

Anticipated Graduation: 2019

Major: Social Work

Coming from a family of almost 30 Baylor legacies, traditions and pride run rampant in our family gatherings. Before I could walk, I could give a Sic ‘Em as I was being pushed in a stroller at Homecoming. During our family gatherings at the holidays, we always wear Baylor apparel, and this past Christmas, all 10 cousins wore matching sweaters. Events at Baylor have drawn our family together, coming from far and wide to attend football games, Homecoming, SING, and the basketball games. Baylor has played such an important and special role in our family lives that when my grandfather, Bryce Zint Reid, died, we all sang “That Good Old Baylor Line” and did a proper “Sie ‘Em Bears” at his funeral to honor his memory and his love for the university. Baylor has been such an ingrained part of my life that I never even considered going anyplace else, and I hope that my children will one day follow in my footsteps and continue the Reid family Baylor legacy. 

Baylor University has been a part of my life for as long as I am able to recall. My grandpa attended Baylor as an offensive lineman for the football team, and it was then and is now a privilege to cheer for the team to which we all share a common bond. Because my parents are both Baylor Alumni, my sisters and I grew up attending all kinds of Bear sporting events and experienced the extraordinary traditions of Baylor athletics as wide-eyed youngsters. We represented the school through our clothing before we even knew it was represented in our hearts. As a toddler, I literally strolled the campus before I could walk, and now am able to walk the halls and buildings that so many family members walked before me. These walks represent not just the beginning of an education, but the strengthening of our most important Baylor tradition, which is a strong walk with Jesus Christ. My parents, grandparents, multiple aunts, uncles, and cousins attended Baylor many years ago, and it is an honor to continue in their footsteps. I realize now that “growing up Baylor” is more than just traditions, it is a way of life. 

To say that I am a Baylor Legacy would be a bit of an understatement. Coming from a family that boasts a proud tradition of sending its members to Baylor University, my life is filled with Baylor memories: attending the final game at Floyd Casey Stadium, walking across the bridge for the inaugural game at McLane Stadium, pitching at Baylor Ballpark with my travel baseball team, breaking bread with my grandfather and his former teammates and coaches in the Letterwinners Lounge, watching my grandfather ride the homecoming float commemorating the Bluebonnet Bowl win of 1963, attending the Baylor Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and attending my grandmother’s memorial service at Miller Chapel. 

From a young age, my path has led me to Baylor University; as 17 of my family members have attended Baylor ahead of me, I began to don the green and gold before I entered elementary school and these experiences have established Baylor as my home. Following the receipt of my official acceptance letter for Fall 2017, my excitement at finally becoming a student at Baylor is truly immeasurable.

As a legacy to Baylor, I have already had the opportunity to check off many “bucket-list” items associated with the school, and while there are many great traditions, it is the people that make this university truly special. Growing up in a family of Bears has taught me that the Baylor experience reaches beyond that of a traditional university; the Baylor experience is one of family. This has become evident through witnessing my grandfather as he visits with his former football teammates and coaches, many of whom he has remained friends with since his playing days in the 1960s. It is evident through my parents as they return to Baylor and catch up with former professors with whom they have maintained personal friendships. It was evident through my cousin’s arrival as a student, as I witnessed the hospitality and friendliness extended to her as she arrived on campus this past year. And it is evident through my experience attending the Invitation to Excellence event this past winter, where I had the opportunity to meet several professors and be embraced by the community.

Being a Baylor legacy has enabled me to experience the school’s rich heritage before I even matriculate in the fall. While I always dreamed of one day attending Baylor, my college decision was not an easy one; I had the unique opportunity to explore many college campuses across the nation through my summers playing travel baseball, and I came to realize that I wanted to attend a private, Christian university committed to excellence academically, athletically, and spiritually. Now that I have decided to make Baylor my home, I am eager to participate as a student in the traditions that surrounded me as a child.

My Baylor experience practically began at birth. I’ve been to every Baylor Homecoming for the past 19 years. My family was always present on campus for this traditional event as well as for many others. What made all of those events especially meaningful and fun was the large number of friends and other family members who were present also. In addition to my parents and grandparents, over 20 of my aunts, uncles, and cousins have attended Baylor. Even if I don’t get to see my extended family at other times of the year, I know I can count on seeing them for games, Homecoming or other events. 

Growing up going to Baylor home games, I watched the Baylor Line and couldn’t wait until I could run across the field like they did. And this year, that dream finally came true – and it was everything I thought it would be! I developed a love for the university long before I realized the important role it would play later in my future. As I matured, it became clear that Baylor offered far more than the fun of athletic events and Homecoming parades. I saw my parents, their friends, and my extended family who were alumni enjoy special relationships that exist to this day as a result of their time at Baylor. I have witnessed their faith that has continued to grow from their time in Waco. I have seen the careers they have, the opportunities they have, the relationships they have. That’s what I want. I have come to understand that Baylor is a place dedicated to the training of young minds and souls, equipping those who attend to live in the world as effective Christians ready to lead and serve.

When it was time for me to apply to colleges, of course Baylor was among my choices. My high school counselors encouraged me to apply to at least five institutions. Although I was accepted to all to which I applied, my loyalty to Baylor never wavered. I had a strong sense that it was where I belonged. Now that I am about to finish my freshman year, I am more convinced than ever that I am where God wants me. The year has at times been difficult as I continue to adjust to more rigorous academics and living independently. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes when I was nine years old. Dealing with that without the daily support of family has been an added dynamic. This year has definitely been a time of immense growth and responsibility. Additionally, I have enjoyed meeting new friends and participating in campus activities, such as Line Camp, the Baylor Line, the Freshman Leadership Organization, a weekly student-led Bible study, and attending Highland Baptist Church. I have learned that keeping the college pace is all about time management and setting priorities. As I have pursued campus life to the fullest, I believe that Baylor and its rich traditions are providing challenges and opportunities that will prepare me well for the years ahead. I am extremely grateful for Baylor University and that I have been given the gift of being a student here.

Christina and Anna Wicker

Hometown: Plano, Texas 

Anticipated Graduation: Christina 2019, Anna 2021

Major: Christina: Biology (Pre-Med), Anna: Engineering 

Christina: Growing up in a Baylor Bear household meant that half of my closet was green and gold, I was extremely invested in the Baylor sports teams, and that my parents constantly pushed me to do my best so that I could one day live up to the expectations that Baylor would have for me. It was always nice automatically having something in common with the rest of my family when we have large family gatherings, because not everyone can say that. I’ll have aunts and uncles telling me stories of their time here at Baylor and their favorite memories they experienced here. I remember games at the old Baylot football stadium, standing in the student section with my oldest sister, just imagining what it would be like to actually attend Baylor University for myself. Every single year growing up, my parents would bring us all to Waco for Baylor Homecoming, and we would always sit on 5th Street right outside the bear pit, and now that I’m experiencing all of these things for myself as a student here, it brings me even more joy that I ever have imagined.

Anna: Growing up surrounded by Baylor gear and traditions made attending college an easy decision to make. As the youngest of four children, I always wanted to stand out and be different from my siblings. Since all of them attended Baylor, it would make sense for me to go somewhere else in order to stand out. Instead, I couldn’t wait to attend Baylor. I cannot count the number of times that I have visited the campus for numerous football games at Floyd Casey Stadium (and the new stadium too), homecoming celebrations, Sing performances and sibling visits. The campus is beautiful and by now, I can almost perfectly navigate the Waco area. Attending Baylor was always a joke that church friends, family members and teachers used to tease me about because of my family history, but it has become something that I am proud to be known for. My teachers refer to Baylor as “Anna’s school” and my friends don’t even bother asking where I’m going to school. Growing up a Baylor Bear has been a rewarding experience because I have always been known for loving a school that is strong in its beliefs and traditions.

Meagan Wittner

Hometown: Hurst, Texas

Anticipated Graduation: 2020

Major: Social Work

Have you ever heard the phrase, “My blood runs green and gold?” Well, I grew up hearing that from my many family members who attended and graduated from Baylor University. Not till I arrived as a student did I really understand that phrase. Now, I know that my blood runs green and Gold. I grew up attending every single Baylor home football game. In fact, I was just a mere 4 months old when I went to my first game at Floyd Casey Stadium.

I have seen our football team rise from the ashes and become one of the top football programs in the nation. Being able to say I was there to see all of that happen gives me a strong sense of pride. It made me fall in love with Baylor even more. I have many family members from both sides who graduated Baylor and even more who attended Baylor but may have not graduated from there, like my mom. In fact, I might not have even been here, had it not been for Baylor. Both sets of my grandparents met at Baylor University and were married soon after they graduated. The fact that I grew up around so many Baylor Bears has added something special to my time at Baylor that I think many students don’t get to experience. I felt like Baylor was my home and part of my family long before I even applied. There were no other colleges, even in question, that I thought of going to other than Baylor. I only applied to Baylor and applied as soon as it opened up. Even though my parents wouldn’t appreciate me saying this, I would say that if I, for some reason, did not get accepted into Baylor, God did not plan for me to go to college at all.

Luckily that was not the case, and what a better way to find out that you’ve been accepted to your dream school, than being at a game in McLane Stadium and seeing an email from the admissions office. I cried actual tears of joy that day, feeling that I finally was completely a part of the Baylor family. 

Attending Baylor sporting events while I was growing up, spending lots of family time in Waco, and hearing many different stories and memories shared by family members about being a student helped me anticipate my time here. When I moved in last fall, I did not feel alone. So many members of my family had already gone through the process and understood the different emotions I was feeling. The fact that I was a legacy helped me feel assurance and comfort knowing that, though this big move was scary and slightly overwhelming, I was where needed to be, and I was going to thrive here at my new home. One of the ways I felt at home before school even started, was when I arrived at summer band as a freshman. I was made to feel welcome because of the legacy my brother had left. Many of the BUGWB members knew my brother and knew that I was coming, so they welcomed me with open arms!

I can already attest to that just in my second semester as a Baylor Bear, I look forward to sharing my experiences and memories with the new generation in my family and encourage them to come here as well. 

Continuing the deep legacy of my family at Baylor is an honor to me! Not only can I carry on the Baylor tradition that means so much to us, but I am persevering with loyalty to a University that I believe in!

Parker Roberson 

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas 

Anticipated Graduation: 2019

Major: Social Work 

Baylor University has forever been a significant part of my life. Most of my family has graduated from Baylor. It is where my parents met, and where my grandfather worked for the first thirteen years of my life until he retired. It is a place where I spent many Christmas and Thanksgiving breaks, where I learned how to play basketball at a summer camp, where I encountered God during middle school through a Student Life camp, and where I am gaining an education to help others in need. This university has been the most influential and transformational place in my life. The impact this school has had in changing my life is what it truly means to be a part of a Baylor legacy.

Impact is the unifying theme among all Bears. Places are changed for the better when a member of the Baylor family is involved. I feel so honored to continue my family’s legacy in attending such a special place that molds leaders. As a sophomore social work major, I already know Baylor has changed me for the better. It has been challenging and some days I have been stretched thin. In those tough times I have learned and grown. The lessons I have been taught in and outside of the classroom will be lasting for years to come. I hope the legacy I leave with my future children is that I impacted the people around me for the better.

Baylor will forever be part of my story. As a social work major I want to give hope and life to people that are desperate for help. Being a Bear has given me an opportunity to follow that passion. The university is a light in the midst of darkness and that legacy is what I want to carry on.

Editor’s Note: Parker is the nephew of Melissa Purdy Mines ’90, who was elected this past spring by Baylor alumni to a three-year term on the Board of Regents.

Hannah Luce

Hometown: Evergreen, Colorado

Anticipated Graduation: December 2017 

Major: Accounting and Supply Chain Management 

Being part of the Baylor Legacy means that I hold on to the rich history of Baylor and will forever be a part of its traditions and share in making great contributions to the world, contributions which are expected from Baylor students past and present. I have come to understand that being part of a Baylor legacy family is an honor, but also means I have the great responsibility of living the legacy myself.

I realized this after my dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2015. He was an alumnus and graduated with a BBA in accounting in 1980. Among the skills he and I shared was a natural talent for accounting and business. I since have pursued this talent and interest in school. I am currently a junior, and since his death I have made progress in my major at Baylor and completed my third internship this summer. I like to think he would be proud of me living his legacy.

Since his passing, it hasn’t been easy to carry on in his footsteps. A big reason I continued to study at Baylor and take steps towards future success is to live up to my father’s legacy. My dad was able to make contributions to the world because of Baylor. If he had not gone to Baylor he would not have had the knowledge to work in the accounting and the field of business as a CPA; helping clients in his community better keep track of and manage their finances.

Since my dad died he is not able to make any more contributions himself, but what he leaves is his legacy that I now hold as a student at Baylor. To honor his memory and meet the example that he has left me with, I felt compelled to keep going to school after his death and to put my best effort towards continuing my dad’s legacy as well as that of the other alumni who have made contributions to Baylor and the world.

I’ve been incredibly blessed by the Baylor legacy of strong Christian values that I have grown up around. There are so many examples in my family of kind, caring, Christian people who live and work in the world. The values of the university – academics, service to others, and deep spirituality – have been brought to life by my Baylor family members. Of course, part of our tradition is cheering on the Bears on the field and the court. In 2007, when I was nine years old, my grandfather took me to my first Baylor football game. Traveling to Floyd Casey Stadium and touring the bear pits, drinking Dr. Pepper, and purchasing some green and gold gear at the Bookstore made quite an impression on me. Seeing the Baylor Line take the field for the first time was awe-inspiring. In October of 2009 at the disastrous Homecoming game against Oklahoma State, I remember walking under the stands at Floyd Casey with my dad and coming face to face with Robert Griffin III walking on crutches; he looked at me and said “Hey.” I’ll never forget that moment. In March of 2013, there was the last minute trip with my dad to Waco for Men’s basketball senior night against Kansas; the Ferrell Center roared that day as the Bears defeated the Jayhawks. I’ve been to so many other memorable traditions, like the Homecoming bonfire, the parade, and Sing. When I finally took my campus tour last spring, I knew I was home. Even if none of my family had ever attended Baylor, it would still be the right place for me, but when I look at the long list of relatives who attended Baylor, when I think about all the people I know who attended Baylor, from teachers, to my pastor, to my Young Life leader, and especially when I look at my mom and my grandfather and grandmother, I see the best kind of people – genuine, strong, compassionate, friendly people. To me, that’s the Baylor legacy, and I’m excited and proud to take my place in that line.