Back to News 
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Sept. 10, 2014) — A Milligan College scholarship program that prepares students to become servant leaders has been renamed the Beamer Leadership Scholars Program in memory Todd Beamer, the 9/11 plane passenger whose now-famous “Let’s roll” became a symbol of the heroism displayed in many ways on that fateful day in American history.
“We are grateful for the life and legacy of Todd Beamer, a man who epitomized the qualities for which this scholarship program stands,” said Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer. “The Beamer family often attended the School of Ministry on Milligan’s campus when Todd was growing up, and they share Milligan’s commitment to preparing the next generation to become servant leaders in their communities.”
Beamer was aboard the United Flight 93 aircraft that was hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001. He was one of the passengers who tried to reclaim the plane from the hijackers and divert it from their intended target, believed to be the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
When Beamer realized the plane had been hijacked, he tried to place a call on an air phone and was transferred to a phone company supervisor who listened to Beamer describe the circumstances on board the plane. Beamer’s last audible words on the telephone were “Are you ready? Let’s roll.”
The plane eventually crashed into a Pennsylvania field, leaving no survivors. However, Beamer’s final words became one of the many examples of courage and heroism demonstrated on 9/11.
“From what I know about Todd Beamer, even before he served others by leading them on that airplane, he was a servant in his life, helping others become better and a true reflection of the servant Jesus wanted us to be,” said Beth Anderson, director of Milligan’s Beamer Leadership Scholars Program. “That is a leadership trait we want all of our students to learn and develop during their time at Milligan.”
The Beamer Leadership Scholars Program was formerly called the Institute for Servant Leadership Scholarship (ISL) program.
“The new name paints a powerful picture of what servant leadership can look like,” Anderson said. “The criteria for Milligan’s Beamer Leadership Scholars Program is formed around the core of servant leadership, which is an interest in helping others without regard to what one might receive in return.”
Throughout their time at Milligan, the Beamer Leadership Scholars must fulfill several requirements, including 15 hours of community service each semester and participation in a variety of leadership activities and coursework.
The priority deadline for the Beamer Leadership Scholars Program is March 1, 2015. To learn more about eligibility requirements and to download an application, visit www.milligan.edu/isl/scholarship.html.