Miller Makes the Most of Her Time at Mount Olive College

Since the age of six Brittany Miller of Holly Springs, North Carolina has loved the game of basketball.  As a youngster she played on recreation teams, AAU teams, and school teams.  She dreamed of playing college ball.  In 2007 that dream became a reality when she accepted a partial athletic and partial academic scholarship to attend University of Mount Olive.

“These scholarships really helped decrease the financial burden on my parents and helped make it possible for me to attend school here. I was really blessed to receive this money, and I am so appreciative of the donors who generously support this school.  They are making a big difference in the lives of many students who dream of going to college but are discouraged because of their financial situations. These scholarships, and the donors who make them possible, are changing lives.”

Miller has taken advantage of the opportunity she’s been given and has made the most of her college experience.  She has served as team captain for the women’s basketball team for three years; co-founded and co-edited the Trojan Times online student newspaper; interned with the Sports Information office; served as media assistant at 2010 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals; and been a College Marshal and a member of the Honors Program – all while pursuing her bachelor of arts degree in English communications.  It should be added that she has consistently maintained a GPA of 3.951 or higher during all four years at University of Mount Olive.

When asked how she juggles it all, Miller said, “Having a busy schedule has forced me to prioritize my time and focus on the things that are most important—school and basketball. Athletics and good grades have also opened up opportunities for me like attending the 2009 NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, traveling to the Bahamas, Greece and Turkey, and being named the January 2011 University of Mount Olive Scholar Athlete of the Month.”

These involvements have also given Miller a competitive edge that she might not have received at a larger institution.

“By doing an internship with the SID Director and being Co-editor of the Trojan Times, I feel like I have gained valuable real-world experiences I would not have gained at a larger institution,” she observed. “I have been given the opportunity to further develop my writing skills and add published works to my professional portfolio. I feel like these experiences give me an edge when going into the competitive working world.”

Miller is not sure what career path she will take after graduating in May, but she feels prepared for whatever lies ahead.

“My degree in English communications will give me the opportunity to pursue a variety of careers,” she said. “I do not feel limited in career choice.  I have been transformed by University of Mount Olive. I am more aware of the variety of cultures in the world, and I have gained a valuable, unique education that goes beyond the classroom and learned a lot of things about life after education that I did not know before.”

University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville.  For more information, visit www.moc.edu.