AN INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

Ka’Lon Duncanson: Takes Flight in 2023

It was sheer kindness and a little Southern hospitality that landed international student Ka’Lon Duncanson in the small town of Waveland, Miss.

Born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas, Ka’Lon was an outgoing child who was quick to help others and yearned to explore. When he was 19, he became certified by the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organization, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), as an open-water scuba diving instructor. In this role, his friendly personality made it easy to interact with tourists from around the world while creating many long-lasting connections. One such connection was with the Mahner family. Ka’Lon and the Mississippians hit it off during their vacation in the Bahamas, and when they returned to the island 10 months later, they reconnected with Ka’Lon.

Discussing his future, the Mahners invited him to visit their home in Waveland. They felt sure he would thoroughly enjoy himself on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and find opportunities in the United States that might not be available in the Caribbean.

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall on Grand Bahama as a Category 5 storm, devastating the island. Ka’Lon rode out the storm at his mother’s home at the center of the island. The home soon flooded, and he and his family were forced to leave and take shelter at a local church.

The tourism industry came to a halt due to the destruction, and Ka’Lon was temporarily relieved of his employment. The following month, he decided to take the Mahners up on their invitation and visit coastal Mississippi. During his trip, Ka’Lon fell in love with the area and culture. He discovered an opportunity to pursue a higher education at USM’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, just a short drive from the Mahners’ home.

As an international student, Ka’Lon credits his host family as the catalyst for his decision to choose Southern Miss. “I like to call Cynthia my Mississippi mom. One of her daughters went to USM, and she was so proud of the University that she gave me a tour herself.” the Honors Keystone Award. The GenCorp Aerojet Endowment assisted Ka’Lon with funding for class materials for the 2022-23 academic year.

He shares, “The Honors Keystone Scholarship allowed me more time to focus on my undergraduate research and develop my thesis. Because of this assistance, I completed my research almost a year in advance and even submitted it to the Southwest Academy of Management Conference (SWAM). Without this scholarship, I would have spent much of my time worrying about how I would fund my tuition.”

By easing the financial burdens of college expenses, Ka’Lon’s scholarship donors aid him in becoming the best version of himself. He expresses that the scholarships allow him to be more present on and off campus. “I do a little bit of everything on campus. Because I do not have to work to pay for school, my scholarships allow me to lead different student organizations, while also assisting students and focusing on my schoolwork.”

Ka’Lon wasted no time submitting his application for admission to Southern Miss. Once accepted, he returned to the Bahamas, applied for a VISA, packed his bags and returned to Mississippi to begin his new journey.

Keen on entrepreneurship and making a local impact, he decided to pursue a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Always eager to meet others and lend a helping hand, campus involvement and community service became a significant part of his endeavors. He currently serves as president of the Gulf Park Student Government Association, as well as vice president and treasurer of the Spanish Society and treasurer for the Biology Club. Ka’Lon is the founding president for Fins and Flippers, a campus organization for students interested in aquatics, emergency first response and community service. In addition to his campus involvement, he is a student worker in the Office of Student Affairs, all while devotedly working on his undergraduate thesis as an Honors College Scholar. Ka’Lon’s research focuses on what Mississippi Gulf Coast divers value in their diving experiences.

As a student leader and honors student, Ka’Lon was awarded three scholarships. He is the recipient of the GenCorp Aerojet Endowment, an SGA Scholarship and

Apart from university life, Ka’Lon spends his time volunteering for the community. Ka’Lon provides technical support and is the “music man” for the Raw Oyster Club, an all-female dance group that participates in local festivals and parades. He enjoys parading alongside Cynthia, who is a member.

Ka’Lon also helps senior citizens in the Bay St. Louis area when they are in need of help moving furniture and other physical activities. He continues to make friends through his services and enjoys keeping in touch even after the work is done.

Ka’Lon is pondering his post-graduation plans with an open mind. Expected to graduate in fall 2023, he is applying for internships through the Fund for American Studies Internship Program in Washington, D.C., as well as considering graduate school at USM with an interest in working in higher education administration.

“The challenges I overcame to get to Southern Miss have equipped me to cope with future uncertainties. While at Southern Miss, my personal and professional skills have grown. I am not the same person I was when I first arrived. Thank you to the scholarship donors who made this journey possible and the Mahners for showing me another coast to fall in love with.”