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Pamela Milling Day Honors Mississippi College Aquatics Director


Pam Milling

Displaying the energy of people half her age, Pamela Milling always works hard to make Mississippi College’s water fitness program among the best in America.

For her achievements as aquatics director, her role as a mentor to students and inspiration to many members of the Christian university’s family, Mississippi College will honor her at Pamela Milling Day during the 2012 Homecoming.

MC students, faculty, staff and friends say the October 27 tribute at the Alumni Pool is well-deserved. The reception that Saturday runs from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Working for Mrs. Pam at Alumni Pool for more than three years has been a blessing, says lifeguard Jessica Entrekin of Birmingham, who calls her the “best boss on campus. She always makes a point to share her knowledge with others, whether it’s about water fitness, general health or the Scriptures.”

Whether Pam Milling is helping athletes get in better shape with rigorous water exercises or yelling the score as students play water volleyball, she sounds like a drill sergeant. Born at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, the Clinton resident is really just passionate about her occupation.

“Pam puts them through the mill in the water,” says assistant track coach Mike McMillan of the marathon of Choctaws athletes receiving training or undergoing rehabilitation in the water. Since the 1980s, Pam has achieved big-time results at Mississippi College. “She’s won so many honors for the aquatics center. It is unbelievable.”

In 1995, the Florida-based U.S. Water Fitness Association first recognized MC for having the finest aquatics program among colleges and universities across the nation. The honors kept coming from the national organization every year from 1998 through 2007. In 2011, student leaders with the Mississippi College Civitan Club named her the MC faculty member of the year.

Growing up in Hattiesburg, Milling was also recognized for her athletic skills no matter what the sport. “Pam Milling was nothing but athlete – she could play tackle football with the boys,” McMillan says. She started a girls team in baseball.

Her deep water aerobics and liquid abs classes have been popular for decades with athletes who were getting injured in sports like football, soccer, basketball, cross country and track, to name a few. Former Choctaws star quarterback Adam Shaffer, ex-Choctaws running back Steven Knight, and former All-American receiver Jake Allen, who briefly made it to the NFL, all received benefits from Milling’s water exercises.

“When Water Moves, Miracles Happen” is one of the visible signs on the wall at Alumni Pool.

Believers in her methods of preaching water fitness along with the benefits of exercises on land include Mississippi College School of Education Dean Don Locke.

“She goes 24/7 to meet her responsibilities as aquatic director for the Alumni Pool and does everything from teaching to cleaning the pool,” Locke said. “To say that she cares is not enough. She goes above and beyond to insure that MC has the best aquatic pool possible.”

Pam Milling Day, said the Alumni Pool regular, “will be a big thank you from all of us who appreciate all she does.” Milling spent the past 32 years working at Mississippi College.

Overjoyed to be receiving the special salute, Milling says family members from Texas are flying in for the occasion.

Driving from their home in Clinton will be her husband, Jerry, a military retiree who works for the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Their two adult children, Houston and Michael Smith, are both Mississippi College graduates, who took deep water running classes at Alumni Gym. Pam Milling Day events include games of water volleyball and some delicious finger foods.

Asked what she hopes students take away from her classes, Pam Milling said, “My lectures, stories and especially the fact that this is a lifetime exercise.”