A lifelong commitment to service inspired a gift that will help fellow veterans pursue their educational goals at the University of Mississippi.
David Borah of Lakeland, Tennessee, recently established the Corporal Kenneth L. Ford USMC Scholarship Fund with a $50,000 pledge. Created in honor of his friend, Cpl. Kenneth L. Ford, the scholarship will provide support for deserving student veterans at Ole Miss, with first preference given to those who are raising families while earning their degrees.
For Borah, a retired Navy officer whose military career spanned 38 years, the gift marks a personal milestone as a way to honor his friend’s legacy of service and an opportunity to help future generations of Ole Miss veterans write their own success stories.
“My retirement gave me the chance to reflect on the people and experiences that shaped my life,” Borah said. “I wanted to create something lasting that would support veterans who are working to build a better future for themselves and their families. Ole Miss was the perfect place to make that investment because of what this university has meant to Ken and so many veterans like him.”
Borah’s journey to establishing the scholarship coincided with another major accomplishment: completing a hike of the entire 2,197-mile Appalachian Trail. Along the way, he documented the experience through social media channels under the name “The Hiking Rebel,” using the platform to raise awareness and support for the scholarship fund.
Borah hopes the virtual followers of his adventure along with other UM alumni and friends will contribute to the scholarship fund, enabling a fully funded endowment.
Over the course of nearly four decades connected to the Navy, Borah witnessed firsthand the challenges many veterans face as they pursue higher education.
“I’ve served alongside countless talented young men and women whose military service became their pathway to a college degree,” he said. “The GI Bill provides tremendous opportunities, but it doesn’t cover every expense. For veterans who have spouses and young children, financial pressure can be significant.
“My hope is that this scholarship helps ease that burden so students can focus on earning their degrees and preparing for the next chapter of their lives.”
The scholarship also celebrates the life and legacy of Ford, a Marine Corps veteran whose connection to Ole Miss spans decades.
A native of Gloster, Mississippi, Ford enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school and served during the Vietnam era, including an assignment in England. After completing his military service, he used GI Bill benefits to attend Ole Miss, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1979.
Later, Ford and his wife, Christine, returned to campus and served as resident assistants in Deaton Hall while she completed her accounting degree.
Borah, who has known Ford for more than 30 years, said his friend’s devotion to the university made him an ideal namesake for the scholarship.
“Ken loves Ole Miss with all his heart,” Borah said. “He’s proud of the opportunities the university gave him, and he’s never stopped supporting the place that helped shape his life. Establishing this scholarship creates a lasting legacy that reflects both his service to our country and his deep connection to Ole Miss.”
Ford said he was surprised and deeply honored by the recognition.
“I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. I am humbled beyond words by David’s generosity and friendship. My only regret is that my wife couldn’t be there with me,” said Ford who, along with Christine, served as Deaton dorm directors for three years in the late ’80s. “Ole Miss opened doors for me after my military service and helped set the course for the rest of my life. Knowing that this scholarship will help other veterans pursue their education and provide for their families is an honor that means more to me than I can express.”
For Jeremee Alexander, director of Veteran & Military Services at the university, the gift represents a meaningful investment in student veterans and the values they bring to campus.
“This scholarship embodies the spirit of service, sacrifice and commitment that defines our veteran community,” Alexander said. “David Borah’s generosity will create opportunities for student veterans who are balancing academic responsibilities with family and career obligations simultaneously. We are grateful for his support and proud to honor Kenneth Ford’s enduring legacy through this scholarship.”
Ford said he’s proud to have this lasting bond with the UM Department of Veteran & Military Services.
For the Vietnam-era veterans in the late ’60s and ’70s, the support then was nothing like you have today. We just went to class and there was nobody to go talk to, like a counselor, and we could have really used that,” recalled Ford, adding that student-veterans today have a true home on campus and an instant community of friends and mentors.
“With the department right next to the library, it says a lot about where the university stands with regard to veterans,” Ford said. “Everybody is to be congratulated for what they’ve done for those young people who’ve followed in the footsteps of the veterans who’ve come before them.”
The Corporal Kenneth L. Ford USMC Scholarship Fund is open to receive gifts from individuals and organizations. To contribute, send a check with the fund noted to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655 or click here.
To make a gift in support of student-veterans at Ole Miss, contact Brett Barefoot, executive director for development, at bmbarefo@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2711.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation
