WALKER CUP
Since 1927, the Walker Cup has been presented to the DePauw University student who has contributed the most to the community in their time here.
Selected by their peers, the candidates this year are Ashton Johnson, Courtney Cosby and Cody Watson.
“In seven cycles, every year is three, two years it was four, but they’re always people who make their mark,” said President Brian Casey.
While academic department chairs have a big say in the final decision, it is ultimate the president’s choice.
“I know all three of them very well, and think they’re very strong,” Casey added.
The Walker Cup will be awarded during the Academic Awards Convocation on Monday, April 27.
Ashton Johnson
The DePauw (TDP): How did it feel to be nominated by your peers for this award?
Ashton Johnson (AJ): I was definitely shocked. Just because it was so unexpected, especially because the student body does nominate the finalists, and then just think about who’s in the senior class. There’s a bunch of people who I instantly thought of, but honestly the first two people I thought of are the other two finalists, so that’s cool.
TDP: If you could brag about yourself for a little bit, what contributions have you made to DePauw's campus that you think make you deserving of this honor?
AJ: Honestly I feel like I haven’t done much, but that’s just me. I guess what I’m known for is the activism that I’ve done on campus. Two years ago now I wrote an article that was in The DePauw, and that article sparked a bunch of different conversations amongst students, amongst faculty, amongst the administration, which was a pretty cool thing. I wrote that article not to cause chaos; I just wanted to bring about awareness to some of the things that students on this campus face on a daily basis and to get the conversation going.
TDP: With your activism on campus and the surrounding the community, how do you plan to take that and continue it in whatever you decide to do after graduation?
AJ: I came into my senior year already having a job, which was awesome. I got hired at the Uncommon Schools network which is like a charter school in New York City, so I’ll be working at Excellence Boy’s charter school, the elementary academy. So I’ll be a fulltime teacher, and I also got Teach For America in New York City, and I can combine those two into one. And just because I’ll be working at an all boys school, mostly black and brown, in downtown Brooklyn I’ll definitely get to continue my activism work there. That’s also something that the school in and of itself pushes a curriculum and a narrative of educating the scholars in such a way that they are able to take the knowledge in the classroom and engage in what’s happening in their own neighborhood.
TDP: So a big part of what you’ve done here is to bring awareness and maybe make some change where it needs to be made. In what ways has DePauw made you aware or changed you in some way?
AJ: DePauw has definitely made me more aware of the violence towards women. Where I grew up sexual assault and rape and things of that nature wasn’t really a topic that I grew up hearing about or talking about. Then coming to DePauw’s campus that was something that has been discussed. They do acknowledge that it’s something that happens on this campus, but at the same time they give you ways to prevent that. I’ve been made more aware of women’s issues, and that’s something that I appreciate. On a happier note, DePauw has made me realize that I can identify with people who might not look like me or have the same background as me. I’m able to see that I can talk so someone who was born in raised in China, and I’m from Maryland, yet we can still have a conversation and sit down and go to Starbucks and have a good time.
TDP: Anything to add?
AJ: For me personally, at the end of the day whoever gets the Walker Cup I will be just as happy, just as ecstatic. I’ve known the other two since my freshman year, they were two of the first people I met and I’m still close to them to this day.
Courtney Cosby
TDP: How did you react when you learned you’d been nominated and then later when you learned that you were actually a finalist?
Courtney Cosby (CC): I was in complete disbelief. I was ecstatic, it was just so many emotions in one. I’m super excited. Especially after hearing who else was there with me.
TDP: What do you think about you stood out to your peers and made them think you’re someone they’d like to see win this award and represent them?
CC: Honestly I just love to get to know people and talking to people and building personal connections with people, so the fact that that was able to shine through in having my peers’ support was absolutely amazing to me.
TDP: What accomplishments on campus are you most proud of?
CC: The first one would have to be the Non-Food Pantry. As a freshman myself and two others brought the Non-Food Pantry to the DePauw Community Service Program, and we served as the first coordinators of the program. I was a coordinator for three years, I had to give it up this year, but it was really great getting to see how much it grew, and how many families within Putnam County we were able to serve.
TDP: Within the DePauw community, your peers obviously think you’re deserving of this award, but what have they done for you?
CC: I think that DePauw has given me fire, to say the least. I’ve always been willing to push for those students who are with me and those students who will come after me. I’m really passionate about making the necessary changes that need to be made here in order to ensure that when new students come into DePauw that they have a true DePauw experience, the wonderful experience that so many people talk about. When people say they feel uncomfortable here, I think that’s all the more reason to push forward.
TDP: What’s something that you’ve had the most fun with here at DePauw? Academically, philanthropically, whatever it may be.
CC: Academically, the history department—absolutely love the history department. The professors are just amazing and they’ve been a really good support system for me. I would say outside of the classroom, Union Board. Union Board is my home, I’ve made some friends through Union Board and I’ve had the opportunity to really grow as a leader and a person. Plus it helped to get to meet Gavin DeGraw and MKTO.
TDP: Any last thoughts?
CC: I’d just like to say thank you to all of my classmates of 2015 for believing in me, and good luck to whoever wins, because whoever wins will definitely be deserving of it.
Cody Watson
TDP: How did you feel when you found out?
Cody Watson (CW): I felt ecstatic when I found out I was a finalist for the Walker Cup. It’s something that I really didn’t know a lot about over the last couple years, but this year as people started talking about it I looked into it and thought it was a great honor to be nominated for it, and I was very pleased when my classmates put me as one of the top three.
TDP: As a first generation college student, is this particularly special to you and your family?
CW: It is. College is always something I was going to, but nothing my parents had any experience with, so being a first generation college student, I didn’t know these kinds of awards existed. It’s so great to have worked hard and have it recognized. My family is ecstatic for me because they recognize now why I’ve done all the things I’ve done over the past few years.
TDP: You are president of Order of Omega, Student Body President and were President of Sigma Nu last semester. That’s a lot of leadership roles—how was that?
CW: Leadership is something that I’ve always had a knack for. I really like that atmosphere of applying things and bringing the best out of people. Being president in three different ways at the same time, I found a lot of things overlapped, but a lot of things didn’t overlap, so it caused lots of late nights and lots of extra effort. But it was one of those things where every organization benefitted in some way so I was really pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of them.
TDP: If you had to pick something that you’ve done in any of your various positions that you’re most proud of, what would you say?
CW: It has to be Diversity Day. I played a great part in the logistics of the Day of Dialogue and working with the administrations. It was one of those moments where all of my skill sets had to be used.
TDP: You’ve been a leader for a lot of people on this campus. Is there’s someone who’s been a leader for you or a mentor for you?
CW: Mentors, I’ve always looked up to the upperclassmen for advice. This year’s been a little rough being the senior and not having someone to go to. As a history major its been a lot of study historical leaders, anybody before the 1800s. A lot of the founders of the United States, I look at their leadership.
TDP: Academically, what’s one of your favorite memories?
CW: My honor scholar classes. I just completed my 75 page thesis, I’m so glad it’s done. Really going back to freshman year, studying with my mentor group, my HoScho mentor group, we studied in East College for all of our tests. Just being in East College with the tradition of it and studying science fiction.
TDP: Any last thoughts?
CW: I really think the faculty have a tough decision, because I love Ashton and Courtney a lot, and so I’m happy just to be one of the top three, and happy however it goes.