SAMUEL FERGUSON

Samuel Ferguson was raised along with his sister Hannah by his two parents, Heba and Paul Ferguson. He attended Trinity Academy in Wichita, Kansas, for high school.

Sam strives daily to be a disciplined, curious, and compassionate individual. From his accomplishments in athletics to his involvement in community service, he is always trying his best to embody these characteristics as well as be a witness for Christ. His favorite verse is 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

His willingness to serve has allowed him to volunteer in his church, co-lead a recycling initiative at his school to aid the janitors, and work alongside humanitarian organizations such as Clinic In A Can to help install medical clinics in third-world countries. He ultimately believes that service should be prioritized in one’s life.

Sam played varsity soccer and ran varsity cross country and track during his high school career.
He made the decision to focus his full athletic attention on running. This decision proved fruitful
as he won two individual state championships in the 3200m, qualified three consecutive times
for New Balance Nationals, and helped his cross country team to its third consecutive state title.
He holds the state record in the 2000m steeplechase and ended his senior year as the 4th fastest runner in the nation in that event. Sam committed to run for the University of Mississippi to further his academic and athletic endeavors, in which his freshman season went well. He was able to race all over the country and gained valuable experience racing the SEC Outdoor Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. He lives by the words of Eliud Kipchoge, who became the first man to break the sub-two-hour marathon barrier, in which Kipchoge says, “Only the disciplined ones in life are free. If you aren’t disciplined, you are a slave to your moods. You are a slave to your passions.”

In his free time, Sam enjoys producing music. He would say it is his outlet from the busyness of school and sports. Having played piano for 10+ years and having recently taught himself guitar, Sam loves using his knowledge of music theory to create his own compositions. He has produced 100+ songs to date, and has well over 5000 streams across all platforms. He recently started releasing his music on Spotify and Apple Music, where he goes by SΔM.

Additionally, Sam loves to read, his favorite books centering around, but not limited to, the science of running and sports psychology. His curiosity surrounding the human body and psyche has prompted him to pursue a major in biology, in which he envisions applying for medical school thereafter. Choosing a major was particularly challenging for Sam as numerous career paths intrigued him, but he knew that he wanted to choose something that not only related to running but would allow him to interact and help people in the future. Sam is particularly excited for this coming year, as he will get to conduct research in the Exercise and Memory Lab at Ole Miss, which examines the effects of exercise on cognitive function, primarily memory function. He agrees with the quote, “We do not stop exercising because we grow old; rather, we grow old because we stop exercising.” He believes that medicine needs to focus on prevention as much as treatment, in which exercise is a key factor. Overall, he plans to combine his interests in science, running, and healthcare to contribute meaningfully to the field.

Sam is beyond honored and grateful to have been afforded this incredible opportunity as a
Lifelong Learning Scholar and to uphold Timothy’s legacy. He eagerly anticipates broadening his
perspectives by experiencing what the world has to offer. Above all, his ultimate aspiration is
that his life’s pursuits and connections would reflect glory back to Go.