Cameron Ketchum’s connection to Millsaps College runs in the family.
Ketchum’s uncle, Monty Hamilton, graduated with honors from Millsaps in 1984. He remains connected to the college today through his work as a new member of the Board of Trustees, having joined in October 2020.
The legacy angle wasn’t Ketchum’s only reason for coming to Millsaps from the small north Mississippi town of Ripley.
“I was also attracted to the small student to teacher ratio,” she said.
A biology major with plans to graduate in May, Ketchum has benefited from that small ratio.
“I have enjoyed doing research with (assistant professor of biology) Dr. Yvette Langdon because it taught me new lab techniques and has given me a better understanding on interpreting scientific articles,” said Ketchum. “And I loved microbiology with (associate professor of biology) Dr. Elizabeth Hussa because we were able to perform multiple experiments to determine a bacterium we collected on campus.”
Ketchum has also broadened her horizons with her selection of American Sign Language as a language class. “It’s a class I never would have thought of taking before I came to Millsaps,” she said.
Her focus on academics has also earned Ketchum memberships in Pi Mu Epsilon, a national mathematics honor society, and Beta Beta Beta, an honor society for biology students. Ketchum commented that her courses “have helped me develop better communications skills and recognize the advantage of teamwork.”
As Ketchum nears the end of her time at Millsaps and looks ahead to a career as a clinical pharmacist, she also reflects on her most impactful Millsaps moments.
“Making the Presidents Scholar List two semesters in a row,” she said, “and developing friendships that will last a lifetime!”