At the 2022 Toast to Our Towns Gala, we had the opportunity to meet Grant Watkins Davis, a former THCF scholarship recipient. He was awarded 13 THCF scholarships in total over his 5-year college education and a life of community service.

Young man in a suit, smiling
Grant Watkins Davis

At the 2022 Toast to Our Towns Gala, we had the opportunity to meet Grant Watkins Davis, a former THCF scholarship recipient. He was attending the event with his mother, Judge Susan Watkins, to honor the work and memory of their friend Karen DeLuccie, who was awarded Citizen of the Year for Independence.

You never know what path life will take. We may start on one journey only to change directions to navigate the detours. But when you have the support you need, any path is traversable. When students begin their college journey, they will encounter plenty of bumps in the road. However, with financial assistance from scholarships, the road to higher education can be managed. Thank you to all those donors who support their communities through their Scholarship Funds.

THCF - What were your college goals when you were in High School?

Grant – I thought I had it all figured out pretty early. I knew I wanted to have a career in public service, so I planned to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. I thought I was all set. Everything would be paid for, and I had no real need for additional financial aid. I filled out scholarship applications as a backup before I knew I had been accepted, and I’m glad I did.

THCF – Why? Did you go to the Academy?

Grant – I did, but I got an ankle injury and was medically discharged—all of a sudden, I had to switch gears and devise a new plan. I was Valedictorian of my class at Fort Osage, so I knew I had other options. I had always been interested in engineering, so I did my first three years at Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri. Knowing I had qualified for scholarships was a lifesaver that first semester, and the Foundation staff helped me get everything in place quickly.

THCF – Did you graduate from Missouri S&T?

Grant – No. After three years of engineering coursework, I realized it was sapping my energy. I didn’t really enjoy it anymore. I transferred to UMKC and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Economics. I worked throughout college. And thanks to the additional support I received through the Betty McMillin, Edward L. and Linda L. Newlin, Forrest and Marjorie Martin, and the Association for Industrial Development scholarships, I was able to graduate debt-free.

THCF – What did you do after graduation?

Grant – I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with my degree when I graduated, except that I wanted to work in public service. My first job was as an intern in the Community Development Department for the City of Independence. From there, I found a job doing contracting, acquisitions, and procurement for the Federal Government: first for the Army Corps of Engineers environmental division, then the US Property and Fiscal Office of California, and since 2021 as a member of a Construction Acquisition Team for the Bureau of Reclamation. Reclamation is best known for managing water supplies in the Western United States, such as the Hoover Dam and California's Central Valley Project.