My name is Dakota Walker, and I am from Vega, Texas. I am a Pre-Med Biology major at the University of Saint Mary and plan to enter medical school. I am a member of the women’s basketball team, the Honors program, the Honor’s Club, and the Healthcare Careers Club. I also enjoy creating artwork, whether with murals or commissioned pieces.
At Vega High School, I became valedictorian of the class of 2022, State Champion in UIL Computer Applications, drum captain for the school band, member of the Student Council, and NHS President. Through these programs, I have learned the importance of giving back to my community and preserving its history, tradition, and beauty.
During the summer of 2020, Greg Conn from the Milburn Price Culture Museum in Vega contacted me about creating a mural with Billy the Kid as the subject, as he is a part of local history. This event jump started my own freelance and commissioned art business. Since then, I have participated in art shows, completed and sold many canvas artworks, finished two public murals, and beautified my hometown and college community.
Now, I am an intern for the Milburn Price Culture Museum. As an intern, I clean and upkeep the museum and its property, assist in greeting guests from all over the world, walk guests through the museum as needed, organize museum spaces to increase their functionality, and create/renovate art projects throughout the museum’s property.
I typically arrive as the museum opens at nine in the morning and leave as I help close the museum at five in the afternoon. Upon completing my internship, I aim to increase my communication skills by interacting with guests and community members and working under the instruction of my supervisor. I plan to increase my leadership skills by working with fellow interns and opening the museum by ourselves on weekends. Through this internship, I aim to expand my professional network by working with and for the community and forming relationships with Route 66 travelers.
