51³Ô¹ÏÍø

By Nancy George
51³Ô¹ÏÍøNews

DALLAS (SMU) – When 51³Ô¹ÏÍøjunior Austin Michelsen attended his senior ring ceremony in December, he was quick to credit 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalumna Eva Parks for that special day.

Austin Michelsen and Eva Parks

“I don’t think I’d be at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøif it weren’t for Eva,” he said.

Their story starts on Oct. 1, 2011: Michelsen and Parks were among a throng of fans celebrating the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøvictory after the SMU-TCU football game in Fort Worth. As they walked to the parking lot, the community college student and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalumna struck up a conversation – by the time Michelsen reached his car, he had Parks’ business card in hand, and her Mustang encouragement in his heart.

Michelsen was looking forward to transferring to a four-year university, but was discouraged following a recent string of tough events, including being robbed at gunpoint outside an Arlington restaurant.

“I told him if he was interested in 51³Ô¹ÏÍøto call me,” said Parks, a 2003 51³Ô¹ÏÍøjournalism graduate and investigator/producer for KXAS-TV. “I transferred to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøwhen I was a junior. It changed my life.”

Within a week Michelsen called Parks, scheduled an 51³Ô¹ÏÍøtour, met with SMU’s director of transfer admissions and services and submitted his application. He was accepted, and on Christmas Eve learned that he was awarded a scholarship. In January 2012 he arrived for class at SMU.

“I was very impressed with his follow-up,” says Parks. And Michelsen followed up again in inviting Parks to attend his ring ceremony.

Michelsen plans to graduate in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in sport management from the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Eva Parks, his fellow Mustang, will be there.

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