Walter T. Holmes '06
Walter is extremely grateful for the education he received at Kean University. He attended Kean as an adult student and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics while also working two full time jobs. Walter has worked hard for everything in his life and firmly believes in helping those who help themselves.
When asked what Walter's guiding philosophy is in life, he stated, "A goal is achieved during each day of learning. Let your faith and dreams be larger than your fear. It is not who we are that defines us; it is what we do that defines us. Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your own vision and persistence, instead of the expectations and opinions of others. You are stronger than you think. Stay focused and do not ever give up."
Walter grew up in Brick, New Jersey. Upon graduating from high school in 1976, he joined the United States Army Reserve. After six months in the Reserve, he served in active duty in the Army Corps of Engineers for two years. Following his service in the army, Walter earned an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration from Ocean County College. He then worked for many years before pursuing a bachelor's degree at Kean University. Walter is grateful to Kean for his long and successful career, which has included several roles in the healthcare industry, as well as various other fields of business. In addition to his service in the army, Walter also worked for the Veterans Administration for a decade before retiring in 2020.
Walter recognizes that many older students do not qualify for financial aid and most scholarships are designated for recent high school graduates. Therefore, he wanted to find a way to give back to Kean University so that students like him can have access to scholarships.
In order to achieve his philanthropic goals, Walter has made a provision in his trust to establish an endowed scholarship at Kean University for adult students who are pursuing their undergraduate degrees while also working and providing for a family. This scholarship will support adult students who have similar challenges and career goals as he did when he attended Kean.