Capt. Max Miller worked at Ole Miss for nearly 20 years, but his legacy will live on through scholarship.
Miller died last April after being in a car crash while en route to a university event in southern Mississippi. Miller’s family and colleagues came together recently to start “The Captain’s Fund.”
“The legacy he left behind is one of service and compassion to and for Ole Miss students from all walks of life, and we wanted this legacy to continue for generations to come,” Ryan Miller, Miller’s son and the associate director of external operations for the university’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence, said.
Miller said that after his father’s death, the family wanted to honor him in a meaningful way, but they were not sure exactly how.
“Donations were initially made to the University Foundation in lieu of flowers for his memorial service,” Miller said. “However, after a few months, plans began to come together more specifically surrounding the generous gifts already made in his honor, as well as future donations.”
Scott Kilpatrick, associate director of internal operations for the CME, Jason McCormick of the University Foundation, brothers Ryan and Patrick Miller and their mother began contemplating ways Capt. Max could continue to help students in perpetuity through a scholarship program in his name.
“I was fortunate enough to work with Capt. Max and helped support the efforts of the campaign to honor such a wonderful man,” Kilpatrick said.
The scholarship called “The Captain’s Fund” was created on Ignite Ole Miss, the university’s crowdfunding platform for community fundraising last year, shortly before the holiday season. So far, the campaign surpassed its $25,000 goal. The new $30,000 goal was raised with two days left to donate.
“We will not know how many students will benefit from this program until we see how much money we are able to raise,” Miller said. “To be honest, we are still exploring multiple goals for this scholarship fund, as we hope to positively impact as many students as possible.”
Miller said he hopes the scholarship will continue his father’s legacy at the University of Mississippi.
“My father loved to serve others, and he loved this university,” Miller said. “Though not a graduate, he was and continues to be what makes this university special. He believed in helping people every day. I believe this scholarship will do just that.”
