Nontraditional life leads alumnus to start a tradition of giving
December 15, 2012
At 28 years old, Fredrick Hamilton stood apart from his peers at orientation. A husband, father and veteran of the railroad industry, he had seen first-hand what the real world was like and knew exactly what he needed to do to succeed in it.
“Like a lot of people from my generation, I thought I could make a good living without a college education, so why bother,” Hamilton confessed. “Then the worst possible thing happened, I was laid off. But in the end, that led to the best possible outcome, which was me enrolling at Mississippi State.”
He found what he needed in industrial engineering, which taught him to combine pure engineering with business. After years of commuting 90 miles from his home in Newton to MSU’s Starkville campus, he earned a bachelor’s degree and began his professional career.
Hamilton worked his way up the engineering ranks of several Mississippi manufacturing outfits, before opening his own business in 1993. The company, K & S Custom Warehousing Inc., facilitates the storage and delivery of raw materials, which allows Meridian-area manufacturers to avoid the costs of storing extra materials.
As he began to experience professional success, Hamilton said he was reminded of the basic mission of engineering—to provide service to mankind. Through his company, he was serving the industry of the state, but he wanted to do more. For him, this meant supporting the people who helped support him during his education.
“When I went back to school, we didn’t really have any money, but it was something I really needed to do,” Hamilton recalled. “At that time, there wasn’t a lot of financial aid available for nontraditional students. My family was pretty much living hand-to-mouth, which I don’t recommend. Once I graduated and started working, I knew that once I was able, I wanted to help other students who were in that same situation.”
He added, “The industrial engineering department at Mississippi State has always been very focused on people, so when I was in a position to give back, I felt good about supporting that unit.”
Throughout the years, Hamilton has supported various BCoE endeavors as well as scholarships at other institutions that are close to his family. Recently, he formally pledged his continued commitment to industrial engineering’s discretionary fund, giving the department the freedom to apply the donation to whatever needs it might be facing.
“I’m committed to the education and opportunities at MSU,” Hamilton said. “A lot of people only see the reflection of themselves when they look out a window, but when the alumni and friends of MSU look out the window, we see the possibilities of what can be, and we get involved in making it happen. When we’re gone, that legacy will continue, so it’s been a real honor to work with MSU.”