Walker Herring Taylor Scholarship

A conversation with Lisa Herring Mende.

Why did you choose to create a scholarship at Auburn University?
My son, Walker, was a senior at Auburn University when he experienced a fatal kayaking accident on the Tallapoosa River. This scholarship, which was created by our family and Walker’s classmates, is a memorial in Walker’s honor.

What would you want the recipients of this scholarship to know about the person for whom it is named?
Walker’s favorite past-times were spending time in the great outdoors, hunting at our family hunting preserve, and rooting for the Auburn Tigers. It is only fitting we honor his memory with a scholarship from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn.

Tell us about your Auburn story, favorite tradition, a “War Eagle!” moment, or what Auburn has meant to you.
Our family loves everything about Auburn. We love to gather during the Thanksgiving holidays to watch the Iron Bowl. Auburn means everything to us. A part of our family will forever be in Auburn.

What do you hope your recipients gain through this scholarship?
I hope that the recipient of Walker’s scholarship will appreciate the opportunity of being a student at one of the finest universities in the country. It is our hope that we can help provide a small amount of help with their education. In doing so, we feel that the memory of Walker lives on through their involvement.