Coming Full Circle

Recent graduate Brendan Davis ’21 will be the first one to tell you that life has a funny way of working itself out. After coming to “the Hill” as a first-generation college student whose plans were to play Wildcat football and have a “typical” college experience, life happened, as they say, and Brendan redirected his path. Now, as he concludes his education at C-SC, Brendan reflects on his journey to finding a career he was passionate about while becoming an essential part of the local community.

As a young boy, Brendan remembers walking through the ambulance bays and meeting countless emergency responders; the community that surrounded him was made up of individuals who sacrificed their lives daily for the betterment of strangers. His dad served as the Director for the Adams County Ambulance Service and, drawing inspiration from their lifetimes of service to others, his parents encouraged Brendan to pursue a degree in athletic training. Brendan’s decision to attend Culver-Stockton College was influenced, in part, by his high school athletic trainer, who was a C-SC alumnus. Brendan’s arrival on “the Hill” was rocked by significant change- though he grew up in Camp Point, Illinois, his parents relocated a few short weeks before classes began freshman year, which meant his family was no longer close in proximity to him to provide support and counsel. Luckily for Brendan, the connections he made on “the Hill” allowed him to define a new, extended family in Canton.

Since his sophomore year at C-SC, Brendan has taken it upon himself to become part of the local community as a member of the volunteer fire department. “Emergency Services is in my blood,” Brendan said, “I remember getting called in the middle of class and my instructors were really supportive.” Brendan often thinks back and reconsiders if it was the best choice to leave class abruptly to respond to a fire call, and reminds himself “there was a job to be done and I was being called upon to do it.” He was reassured by the actions and affirmations of many professors that he was doing the right thing. Brendan recalled many sleepless nights of working a 24-hour shift to be greeted by a faculty member and provided additional notes or resources that would assist him with coursework. “My professors made it possible for me to serve and go to school at the same time,” a practice Brendan wishes that more C-SC students would use to their advantage.

The choice to become a volunteer firefighter was made easy because Brendan had received the Stone Scholarship, an endowed gift, created by Donna and the late Bob Stone ’71. To Brendan, being named the first Stone Scholar solidified for Brendan that he was backed by alumni who believed in his success. “Having the scholarship allowed me to design my education,” Brendan said. “Had I been on my own, I would have had to rely on loans, but knowing that Bob & Donna believed in me to support my education, meant that I had a safety net.” His connection to the couple provided Brendan an additional contact on “the Hill,” which brought with it a special relationship. “It made my experience at C-SC even better,” Brendan said smiling. “They are really instrumental in everything I do,” and although he doesn’t get to visit Donna regularly, Brendan said that she has become “like a third grandparent.” This cherished relationship came full circle for Brendan when he visited AMS Environmental Inc., the company previously owned by the Stones. “The company is directly related to my work as a HAZMAT tech,” Brendan stated, which is why the connection between him and the Stone family is unique. For Brendan, the financial assistance permitted him to volunteer more and work less. The time spent serving as a volunteer fireman redirected his path, influencing him toward his recently earned degree in Health Sciences and Child Psych Trauma- a degree he is already utilizing in his first job post graduation.

The faculty, staff and alumni who rallied around Brendan during his undergraduate years have become his family. In addition to professionals on campus, he found brotherhood with TKE and became an honorary member of the Stone family. “They really just wanted to know me and that was comforting. They made an investment in me and I need to make a good return. They aren’t just donors for the college, they have become my family.” Brendan’s unique position of being a Culver-Stockton student while serving the Canton community put him in a rare position, providing alternative vantage points that some will never experience. Brendan shared that it is interesting to be part of both groups because there is separation, yet unity at the same time. “Without one another, we don’t have anything,” Brendan stated and is thankful for the alumni who have chosen to call Canton home because they bridge the gap between the College and the town. Thanks to Brendan’s unique path, he is now fully employed as a firefighter with Hannibal Fire Department, part time with the Lewis County EMTs, and he proudly serves as a volunteer for the Canton Fire Department, the town he is honored to call home.