Harmon lands exciting internship through Peyton program

The Peyton Scholarship has given Lauren Harmon confidence and unimaginable opportunities. Harmon had no idea how her father’s penchant for documentaries would affect her.

Growing up, Lauren didn’t think about the significance of watching programs on the History Channel or the Science Channel with her father, Dennis. Instead, she learned to cherish any time together they shared because Dennis was so busy with work. In the process, the programs and the comments her father made about the programs they watched helped forge Lauren’s love for history.

“I never struggled with history,” said Harmon, a senior at the Mississippi University for Women. “History always was one of the subjects I knew I could do. I knew I had to try harder with math and science. English was the same level as history, but I found history way more interesting.”

Harmon’s love for history has blossomed at The W. Coming off a strong academic performance at Northwest Rankin High School in Flowood, Harmon received the Peyton Scholarship to attend The W. The financial assistance from the scholarship and the Peyton Scholarship internship have enabled Harmon to work through college without taking on debt, which has made it easier for her to focus on her studies.

The Peyton Scholarship also has allowed Harmon to gain valuable work experience to bolster her resume.

Dr. Erin Kempker, a professor of history at The W and the chair of the Department of History, Political Science & Geography, said financial assistance and work experience are two ways students can benefit from the Peyton Scholarship.

“With the help of Peyton funding, Lauren completed an internship with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in summer 2018, and in 2019, and found summer employment there,” Kempker said. “It is her goal to continue her work at MDAH and pursue an advanced degree in public history. In this way, the Peyton Scholarship program helped her find a career path that she loves and plans to pursue in Mississippi.”

Harmon’s love for history started with her father, who enjoys watching World War II documentaries. While her father didn’t serve in the military, her grandfather, William Lynn Harmon, served in the Navy. These days, Lauren said she gravitates to history relating to the 20th century, global politics or international relations. She also credits Miss Amber Armstrong, her 11th-grade history teacher, for helping to get her excited about the subject.

“I love history,” Harmon said. “I would always like to teach others about it.”

Harmon hopes to use her passion for history in a professional capacity. For the past two summers, Harmon has worked with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). Last summer, she served as an intern in the summer in the communications department. Earlier this year, Harmon worked as a contract employee in the programs and communications department. Harmon handled a variety of duties, including work with the Mississippi Historical Society. She said this work shows you don’t strictly have to work in archives or as a teacher/professor to show people the benefits of learning about history.

Harmon works in that capacity on The W campus, too, as president of The W History Society. She also works in the Beulah Culbertson Archives and Special Collections at the Fant Memorial Library and in The W’s Writing Center, where she assists students with papers. Harmon also interned in The W’s Office of Undergraduate Research.

Harmon, who also earned the Presidential Scholarship, said the Peyton Scholarship has made it all easier. She credits Kempker for helping her apply for the scholarship and for all of her help through the years. Kempker and the other professors in the history department have pushed her to realize her potential.

“If I didn’t have a Peyton Scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to do all these internships because I would have to be working a full-time job,” Harmon said, “and I wouldn’t be able to get involved on campus. The Peyton Scholarship has allowed me not to have massive student loans that were going to stress me out. I want to thank Mary Lou Peyton. It’s really great to be associated with the scholarship of someone who’s so important to the founding of this university, so I appreciate the history of the scholarship coming from such an important university.”

“The Peyton Scholarship has grown my appreciation because I’ve gotten to do more things and work in more fields. The scholarships have allowed me to explore all the possibilities in history.”

Harmon said she didn’t think she was going to get the scholarship. Part of her pessimism may stem from how she looks back now as a senior on the scholarship paper she did that explored the effects of communism on Taiwan.

“If I could re-write it, it would be a really great paper,” Harmon said.

Harmon always had that confidence in her abilities as a student. Earning the Peyton Scholarship added to her belief that she could be even more than she realized. The myriad experiences at The W have helped her realize so much more.

“I feel like the professors in this department have cared so much about me and have opened me up so much,” Harmon said. “Dr. (Kim) Whitehead (in the Honors College) and Dr. Kempker (in history) told me they were going to make me try the hardest I could and that they were going to push me and make me better. They have ultimately done that, and I’m very thankful for both of them, and all the other professors in the history department.

“I’ve done things that an 18-year-old me would have never thought a 21-year-old me would be doing. The people I’ve met, the things I’ve done, the papers I have written, the conversations I have had, I never thought that I would get to do those things. I never thought I’d be here doing what I am doing. But this year is going to be my biggest hurdle yet because I am being very ambitious with my final projects.

“I can tell anyone who wants to apply for this scholarship to take the risk. If you’re interested in history, and you think you’re not going to get it because you’re not smart enough, apply because there’s a lot of funding available, and we want history majors because we need to preserve our history and we need to be able to use the past to have a better future.”