Walker Green spends part of his day behind the wheel of a CATbus, navigating campus routes and student schedules. Outside his shifts, the mechanical engineering senior is preparing for a very different road ahead—law school.
Green came to Clemson with that goal in mind. Engineering wasn’t the obvious choice, but it was the one that made the most sense to him.
“I knew I’d have time to focus on law later,” Green said. “College felt like the opportunity to learn something completely different.”
That mindset was shaped in part by growing up in Pendleton, which is just minutes from Clemson’s main campus. His father worked as a reactor operator at the nearby Oconee Nuclear Station. While Green naturally gravitated toward reading and writing, engineering offered a way to better understand the technical world he had grown up around.
He paired his engineering coursework with studies in political and legal theory, giving him the chance to move between technical problem-solving and discussion-based classes.
Green also took smaller, interdisciplinary courses that complemented his major as both an Honors student and Lyceum Scholar, which encourage students to blend disciplines and look at the world in different ways.
According to Eric Daniels, assistant director at the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism, Green was an exceptional student among a very talented cohort of Lyceum Scholars.
“Since his first year on campus, his wide-ranging interests in politics, engineering and law have taken him far,” said Daniels. “His commitment to learning broadly and his curiosity inspire others in the Lyceum program and can be an example for all of us.”
Green’s curiosity extends beyond the classroom. With support from the Honors College, Green received funding to pursue an internship on Capitol Hill, an opportunity he said may not have otherwise been financially feasible.
A single summer in Washington, D.C. turned into three consecutive internships, broadening his understanding of policymaking and public service.
“The biggest benefit was being able to focus on the work,” he said. “Not having to worry about finances made it possible to get more out of the experience.”
During his time on the Hill, Green worked on a range of projects, from constituent communications to research on national security and energy policy.
The experience also reinforced the day-to-day realities of public service.
“You learn very quickly that it’s about helping people,” Green said.
After his third summer in Washington, Melissa Hawkins, assistant director of experiential learning in the Clemson University Honors College, saw that growth firsthand, and was impressed by his maturity, focus and self-assurance.
“Walker embodies what we hope for our Honors students,” Hawkins said. “He took advantage of unique experiential education and academic opportunities, charted a course based on what he learned through them and then focused on giving back.”
Green’s role as a CATbus driver offers a different perspective. After earning his commercial driver’s license through the job, he now drives regular routes while balancing a full academic schedule.
“It’s one of the best jobs for a college student,” Green said. “And it’s one I’ve really enjoyed.”
Green’s experiences have taken him in several directions, but they’ve all pointed him toward work rooted in responsibility and service. He plans to continue taking a nontraditional path after graduation, working as a George Mason University Police Officer before attending law school and pursuing a career in criminal law.
“I’ve tried to do as much as I can while I’m here,” Green said. “Even the things that don’t work out, you learn something from them.”
