Peyton Scholarship broadens horizons for McGee

John McGee is focused on making the most of every opportunity. That’s why the junior agrees when asked if he is making up for lost time. From McGee’s perspective, his past experiences have shown him the importance of doing what he needs to do in the classroom to succeed on the field and abroad.

McGee’s prowess in the classroom has helped him take advantage of the opportunities afforded to him through the Peyton Scholarship. Earlier this year, McGee studied in Spain after receiving the Peyton Scholarship. The funding allowed him to take part in The W’s bilateral exchange program with the University of Alicante. From January to May, McGee, who has a double major of political science and history and a minor in Spanish, took classes focused on Spanish and political science to help him master the language and to experience different political perspective. He took classes about the history of Spain and the European Union and NATO, and the Politics of the Contemporary Arab World, which aren’t offered at The W.

“I always say MUW has given me all I could want and more,” said McGee, who also is a member of the university’s men’s soccer and baseball teams. “Being at The W has broadened my horizons.”

In addition to his studies in Spain, McGee interacted with a student body that has a strong international presence and included individuals from all across the world, including England, Chile, South Korea, Australia and Canada.

After finishing his exams, McGee said he spent three weeks in June traveling to throughout Europe and North Africa. He said he went to Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Belgium, Hungary, Croatia, the United Kingdom and Morocco. McGee said the trip also enabled him to visit The W men’s soccer teammates who are from Croatia and Germany.

McGee’s travels weren’t finished. In August, McGee was part of a group of 30 College Democrats and College Republicans that went to Israel for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Bipartisan Allies Mission, a summit on U.S.-Israel relations and foreign policy. The trip gave the students a better understanding of U.S. relations with Israel and Israel’s position in regard to the Middle East. McGee said the participants attended conferences and lectures and they traveled and talked to people to sample the point of view of Israelis.

McGee said he had never heard of The W prior being contacted by former men’s soccer coach Tim Gould. He pledged to keep an open mind about the school and discovered on his visit that The W was “incredible.” He was part of history as a member of the inaugural men’s soccer team and baseball team, which finished fifth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Small College World Series in 2018.

McGee has been as successful in the classroom. He said he used a political science class at The W to network to start an internship with congressman Cheikh Taylor, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing District 38, from September to February 2017-18.

He also has traveled to Cuba and has a radio show “Whoever, Whatever and Whenever” that is broadcast on the school’s radio station on 88.5 FM. He did 10-12 episodes for the first semester of his sophomore year and that he plans to do a second season this semester.

Chanley Rainey, assistant professor of political science, said McGee’s eagerness to understand all sides of an issue makes him an excellent student and will make him a good citizen and leader.

“John has thoroughly embraced the history, political science and geography department’s philosophy of applied academics and service learning,” Rainey said. “He volunteered for a Mississippi House campaign in his first semester of college and has not slowed down, moving into leadership positions with the state College Democrats and even launching a political radio show on The W’s The Edge.

“We are extremely proud of John, and so pleased to see him thrive in the political science and history programs. The opportunities for growth and leadership he has seized — not to mention the resume he’ll graduate with — are exactly what we envisioned when we began increasing the programs’ focus on active learning and community engagement.”

The W baseball coach Matt Wolfenbarger said he will be glad to have McGee, an outfielder, back for fall workouts and for the 2020 spring season. He and his players noticed McGee’s absence during the 2019 season that saw the Owls advance to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Small College World Series. Wolfenbarger said he and the players could tell McGee’s presence was missing, which is a testament to McGee’s abilities as a teammate, player and student.

Wolfenbarger said, “He is the type of guy who can always make your mood better. I have never seen the kid in a bad mood. He is always cheerful and upbeat, and he is going to go out of his way to make others feel pretty good about themselves.”

McGee said his plan is to go to law school after he completes his undergraduate degree in May 2021. From there, he envisions working on the legal or the policy side of things, but he also said he is open to all areas and destinations because he isn’t sure what opportunities might come along. Whether it as goalkeeper for the soccer team, as a utility player for the baseball team, as a radio broadcaster, or as a standout student with a double major, McGee relishes the chance to succeed at everything.

“Dr. Rainey and the history department have provided me with every resource I needed to do my things study abroad internship and the radio show,” McGee said. “It takes presence or peace of mind or planning for me to get these opportunities, and to have a support group of Dr. Rainey and Dr. (Erin) Kempker, I couldn’t do the things I do without support on the athletic and academic side.

“The W and the people in it definitely want you to succeed and give you the resources and things you do need to succeed. It is a place you can be whatever you want to be, and with help from people I have been able to live up to my full potential in many ways.”