Football led Thomas Wilks to Walsh University but, once here, he found so much more. At the suggestion of his high school football coach, Wilks added Walsh to his list of colleges to visit, and the rest was history. “To be honest, I believe I was destined to attend Walsh University. During my recruitment visit, Coach Fankhauser pulled me aside to let me know how much I was wanted at Walsh University as a football player but, more importantly, as a student,” Wilks recalled. “Walsh is a perfect fit for me as an athlete and a student of Christian faith.”
An aspiring entrepreneur, Wilks chose a marketing major with plans to pursue a master’s degree. Ultimately, he wants to begin his own business specializing in youth enrichment, helping young people realize their full potential. In addition to his role as a running back on the football team, Wilks is active as President of the Black Student Union (BSU), Vice President of the Business Club and a member of the international organization Omega Psi Phi Fraternity INC.
“Each of these activities have given me the opportunity to be a part of something dear to my heart and take an active leadership role,” Wilks said. “More importantly, they provide a sense of being a part of a family and giving back to the university and our neighboring community.”
For Wilks, a desire to join an organization that culturally supports his African-American heritage and an opportunity to have his voice heard are what led him to join BSU. “As President of the Black Student Union, my goals on campus are to address concerns of racism BSU members may face, to develop appropriate tools to address racism through open dialogue with the BSU membership and University administration, to present those tools to the campus as a whole, and to continue to have the Black Student Union seen as a beacon of social change and as a valuable resource on the Walsh University campus.”
Wilks said he has been impressed with how the University works on behalf of its students, helping them in times of need and taking a lead to address issues such as racism head on. “However, most impactful has been how Walsh University implemented a pandemic strategic plan, adjusted as needed based on state guidelines, so its students’ education would not be disrupted during this pandemic,” he said. “Their plan has always emphasized the needs of the student academically as well as spiritually.”
