Talley Translates Military Success to College

Taylor Talley paid for Walters State with Tennessee Reconnect, reserving his veteran educational benefits to pay for the remainder of his bachelor's degree and his master's degree.

Where do you go after you've been to the top of the world?

For Taylor Talley, the answer was Walters State.

Talley traveled to the North Police while serving as an electrician on the USS Providence during his service in the Navy. After his service was over, he knew where he was going.

“I took a physics class from Dr. Condry in Kids College back in middle school,” Talley said. “After that, I knew I wanted to study physics, and I wanted to attend Walters State.”

Dr. Sean Condry is a professor of physics at the college. In addition to his college classrooms, Condry teaches classes targeted to middle school students in the college’s popular Talented and Gifted (TAG) and Kids College programs. Those classes culminate with the launch of rockets built by students. 

“For veterans, Walters State is a great transition,” Talley said. “I was able to get the first two years of college paid for by Tennessee Reconnect. My veteran’s benefits will pay for my time at U.T. and probably my master’s degree. I loved the small class sizes, and I’ll keep in touch with several of my professors in the future. A few of my professors are more like mentors.”

Tennessee Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship for students over the age of 23 who do not have a college degree.

While at Walters State, Talley himself became a mentor to other veterans and younger students. He became a student leader on the Morristown Campus while studying at Walters State.

“It was really nice to be able to offer some advice,” Talley said. “The classes are great because you have students of all ages. You get to know each other.”

Talley helped organize the first Student Veterans Association at Walters State and was chosen to be the chapter’s first president. He graduated magna cum laude and was named the outstanding student on the Morristown Campus. Talley also received the TBR Chancellor’s Commendation Award, an award created by Chancellor Flora Tydings to recognize outstanding veterans among students, faculty and staff at TBR institutions. He was also a gold member of SALUTE, an honor society for veterans in higher education.

Talley will attend the University of Tennessee in the fall as a junior. He plans to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and work in education or research.

One of the reasons Talley joined the military was his family’s legacy of service. He is the great-great-nephew of Edward Talley, a Hamblen County native who received the nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions in World War I.

For more information on using veterans’ educational benefits at Walters State, contact Terry Harris, coordinator of veterans services, at 423-585-6896 or Terry.HarrisFREEWS. You can also visit https://go.ws.edu/4vlJLz6.