08/25/2026
Desmond Walker is preparing to lead a classroom of his own, and scholarships are helping him get there with a little less weight on his shoulders. 💛
Titans Day of Giving is coming up Sept. 15! It’s a day for our Titan community to come together and create more opportunities for students like Desmond to focus on what’s ahead.
Learn more: uwo.sh/givingday
Meet Desmond Walker, a soon-to-be first-year teacher whose final year at UW-Oshkosh looks a lot different thanks to Titans Day of Giving.
Desmond is a recipient of both the Robert McCoy and Albee, Jane Ives Scholarships, support that's lifted a real financial weight off his shoulders as he finishes his degree.
"Students already have enough to worry about," he says. "Knowing your campus and community are behind you when you're willing to work hard is incredibly encouraging."
His path to the classroom started back in high school, watching teachers and coaches shape the people around him in ways that stuck. That's when he knew: education was where he wanted to do the same for others. Through the UWO School of Education, he's had the space to grow, stumble, and come out the other side ready — genuinely excited — to lead his own classroom.
"Great teachers aren't defined by flawless lesson plans, but by their ability to touch their students' hearts and point them toward a love greater than themselves." — Desmond Walker.
Give Support UWO and help make a difference for our students — every gift matters. Give now: https://www.uwosh.edu/foundation/give-to-uwo/giving-day/