Allen Bowen  '66

It was 1958, I graduated from Riverside High School, and I was excited about entering the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. My goal was to be a high school teacher. It was a difficult road for me there, large classes of 600 students, the professors were always so busy, and I could not see them. So after two years I decided to leave - disappointed. I began to realize that my college dream of graduating was a broken dream. I went to the Milwaukee Area Technical College for two years. I wanted to stay in the academic field and I wanted to gain credits that could transfer if I found a college to meet my needs.

One Sunday at the Baptist church a Miss Ruth Thomas asked me how my college goals were going. I told her what difficulties I was having and then she said "my nephew graduated with a degree in business from Milton College". I had never heard of that school.

A month later, relatives drove me to Milton - my first impression of the community of Milton - I loved it. What a lovely and quiet place to enjoy. This was the summer of 1963. I was so impressed when I saw the motto of the college on the front lawn "Large enough to serve you, small enough to know you". I met Mr. Perry O'Brien and Professor Skaggs. They were so nice and so supportive I decided right at that moment to start my registration process.

It was tremendous, all was rewarding for me. I did well academically and gained friendships that are carried on today. After two years at Milton I graduated in June of 1966.

What a blessing that I discovered Milton College. If it was not for Milton being there at that moment in time, as I traveled down life's highway, I don't think I would have graduated.

Since my Milton College days, I received my Master's Degree in teaching from the UW-Whitewater, my Master of Theology from American Theological Seminary in Florida and my Doctor of Theology form the International Seminary, also in Florida.

Milton College, a big thank you for making my dream possible. I became a high school teacher in Social Science, an adult education teacher in GED preparation, English as a second language teacher, college professor and an ordained Baptist Minister.

All of this came forth from my graduation from Milton College. "Large enough to serve you, small enough to know you" was the motto in my life to continue the call that was set before me to serve, to educate and to minister.