Vicki Kinser Honors Family With Scholarship
May 25, 2022
From left are Dr. Jack Campbell, president emeritus at Walters State; Chris Cates,
assistant vice president of college advancement; Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters
State; Jessie VanderLaan-Delaney, assistant dean of humanities and assistant professor
of art; Kinser and John Jarnigan.
An endowed scholarship at Walters State Community College will honor a beloved family
while assisting future artists.
Vicki S. Kinser has established the scholarship in honor of her parents, the late
Dr. and Mrs. John H. (Betty Kinser) and her brother, the late John H. Kinser Jr. The
scholarship will be given to students pursing an art degree with preference given
to students working in metal art and sculpting.
“The Walters State family is grateful that Ms. Kinser chose to honor her family in
this way,” said Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters State. “This gift will provide
financial assistance to artists for generations to come.”
The donor has been a metal artist for many years doing business as Visions by Vicki.
She first developed a love of the medium when she and her brother built a two-seat
bicycle from separate bicycles many years ago.
“We had asked our parents for a bicycle built for two, but we did not receive one,”
Kinser said. “One day, we took out our father’s Forney welding machine and his skill
saw, put separate bikes together and it worked.”
Kinser turned to those same skills in 1987 when the family’s barn and three sheds
burned. She saved all the metal she could find and created each family member a sculpture
memento.
“My parents have blessed me and many others with numerous skills, knowledge, opportunities,
a love of life and God,” Kinser said. “Now it is my turn to acknowledge them while
giving back.”
Her first commissioned piece was a 6-foot crane with a 4-foot wingspan and a 2-foot
German crystal eye. The piece was created for a local hairdresser as a gift to his
wife. Kinser created the sculpture while enrolled in the welding program at what is
now the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Morristown, where she completed
the combination welding degree.
“I am very appreciative and thankful for the assistance and training provided by my
welding instructor, Frank Roberts, and the staff of TCAT. Building a basic knowledge
of anything is very important and I feel the school is first class. I really treasured
my time there,” said Kinser. TCAT and Walters State are both governed by the Tennessee
Board of Regents.
“Art is very important to the nature and growth of each individual. Art not only shows
beauty, but also shows different perspectives. I want to encourage future artists
with this scholarship while also honoring my parents and my brother,” Kinser said.
She said her parents were avid believers in education and thought highly of Walters
State. Her father was friends with the college’s namesake, the late Sen. Herbert Walters.
“I am very impressed by Walters State’s art program and I am honored to have this
opportunity,” Kinser said.
The Dr. John H., Betty and John H. Kinser Jr. Scholarship Endowment will be awarded
annually from the earnings of the endowment, enabling the award to go on in perpetuity.
The endowment is open for additional contributions. Those can be made by contacting
Chris Cates, assistant vice president for college advancement, at 423-585-2618.
In the photo: Vicki Kinser has established an endowed scholarship to honor her late
parents and her late brother. From left are Dr. Jack Campbell, president emeritus
at Walters State; Chris Cates, assistant vice president of college advancement; Dr.
Tony Miksa, president of Walters State; Jessie VanderLaan-Delaney, assistant dean
of humanities and assistant professor of art; Kinser and John Jarnigan.