Identical twins, Darion and Varion Walton, were the youngest of four children raised by their loving mother in the small town of Jewett, Texas. As high school graduation was approaching, the pair was faced with a huge decision. Should they jump directly into the workforce like the vast majority of others in their class? Or, should they apply to attend college? While this is a standard predicament for graduating seniors, the decision was a bit more complex for Darion and Varion because no one in their family had ever attended college. After some time of prayer and reflection, a practice their mother and grandmother emphasized should take place before finalizing any major decision, they felt confident that higher education was the path for them.
Soon, they were off to attend Navarro College, a two-year community college. Once they completed their education there, they went on to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville where they each collected a bachelor's as well as Doctorate degrees. Darion obtained a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership while Varion obtained a Doctorate in Executive Nurse Leadership and Practice. Since then, Darion went on to become a Professor at Dallas College and a Middle School Principal while Varion also obtained his Nursing Home Administrator License and Registered Nurse, now working at Creekside as the Director of Nursing.
While they would each agree their college experience was transformative, there was a specific moment in their journey that stirred up a vision to help others. “As first-generation college students, we didn’t know how to navigate the application process, much less, know where to find grants or scholarships. Or, how to find programs that matched our interests,” explained Varion. Darion jumped in, “Our mom always told us to be who you needed when you were younger. We recognized how many gaps there were for the average student, and we knew we could make a difference.”
Walton Inspires, a 501(c)3, was launched to leverage the power of mentorship, tutoring, and resourcing to help students reach their full potential. The organization offers practical tools like assistance with finding grants, scholarships, and help filling out applications, even extending their own scholarship to qualifying seniors attending Navarro College.
Participants in the program have a network of mentors who guide them towards success, while coaching them on professionalism. For example, the group recently hosted a 10-week program called, “The 1st Impression”, aiming to develop professional skills for the next generation of leaders. Participants are taught how to “work the room,” dress for success, and articulate ideas. Along the way, the twins say they have seen participants in their program who have gone on to have highly productive careers, many of whom were first generation college students as well.
In addition to the Navarro College connections, you’ll find the non-profit active in the Dallas area with a variety of events like school supply drives, financial planning training, healthy eating seminars, as well as annual holiday events offering free meals to approximately 500 attendees. Varion shared, “We hope to extend our efforts in Walker County soon.” Darion summarized the overarching goals of the organization perfectly saying, “Walton Inspires is about changing perspectives and changing lives.”
Go to their website to learn more about Walton Inspires: www.waltoninspires.com
