JTC 24: Trailblazer on the Main Stage

Born in Kansas and raised in Arkansas, Ben Oliver did not have the University of Mississippi on his college consideration list. The standout student at the Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts visited Oxford with his family out of curiosity.

After that visit, Ole Miss became a serious contender.

"I soon realized that I could have a full ride, thanks to my ACT score, a band scholarship, the Chancellor's Leadership class and the Ole Miss Women's Council scholarship," Oliver said.

Oliver understood that these scholarships also created pockets of community that would end up enriching his four years at the university. What he could not anticipate was that his family would join him by senior year.

A public policy leadership major with minors in political science and philosophy, Oliver's résumé is intellectually impressive and demonstrates servant leadership. During his time at Ole Miss, Oliver has served as an ambassador for both the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Women's Council, a Columns Society member, section leader of the baritones for the Pride of the South marching band and in various roles within the Associated Student Body.

Inducted into Who's Who, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, Oliver's work ethic is equal to his curiosity about the world. The way he processes information leads to a deep understanding of how to apply the knowledge to invoke meaningful action.

"As educators, we always hope our classes will leave their mark on students," said Kyle Fritz, associate professor of public policy leadership, "But every so often, a student will leave their mark on the class as well. Ben is that sort of student.

"In my leadership class a few years ago, he gave great examples to illustrate key concepts that I still use in my classes today because they do such a nice job of raising the sorts of rich questions we discuss. In a way, it's as if he's still there in class discussions with us."

My last year at Ole Miss has been really special. I've loved having my parents here. It's felt so natural and easy and good."

During his honors thesis defense examining issues behind the city of Jackson's water crisis, Oliver articulated ways to "adopt different argumentative frameworks for public policy." His motivation to spend more than a year on the study stemmed from concern he had for friends in the Jackson area and thinking of smart, yet practical, ways to address water security issues, he said.

Oliver's inclination to treat friends as family showed up in his band experiences, as well.

"Ben was truly my first college friend," said Brady Wood, who also graduates in the Honors College this month. "From the first day of band freshman year until now, Ben has always been a force of good for this community.

"His love and passion for others are expressed in everything he does. … Everyone deserves a Ben in their lives."

Another friend, bandmate and Honors College senior, Ben Jackson agrees.

"Ben is the kind of person you can rely on to lift your spirits on a tough day but also be there to bounce ideas off of and walk with you through challenging times," he said.

Oliver plays baritone and euphonium in the Pride of the South marching band, and many of his greatest memories come from those experiences, especially the Ole Miss vs. LSU game on Sept. 30, 2023.

The Rebels won 49-55, but LSU was driving down the field with under a minute to play, and Oliver thought, "Oh, man it's just like the Bama game all over again."

As everyone in the stands leaned in and held their breaths, Oliver looked over at the student section and wished, "Please let them storm the field. Please."

Finally, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels overthrew his receiver in the end zone as time expired. Ole Miss wins!

"Suddenly everyone is out on the field, and it couldn't have been more perfect," Oliver said. "We never played the fight song so many times in a row as we did that night."

The win, followed by the Peach Bowl win against Penn State, left Oliver with awesome memories. Those memories were even sweeter because he got to share them with his dad, Tim Oliver, who was hired as the university's band director last year.

When Oliver left his home in Jonesboro to attend his last two years of high school three hours away at ASMSA, he developed into an even more "fiercely independent" person. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced him back to his home, his family grew even closer.

"Being able to spend that much time with them before college ended up being a silver lining," Oliver said. "And, in a similar way, we feel close in that way again."

Soon after his dad accepted the band director position at UM, his mom, Rebecca Oliver, landed a position in the Honors College. Within months, his little sister, Gwen, accepted her offer of admission and will be an honors freshman at UM this fall.

"My last year at Ole Miss has been really special," Oliver said. "I've loved having my parents here. It's felt so natural and easy and good."

In life, just as in music, rehearsals improve the cohesion of instruments, and before long, Oliver will be on the main stage.

"I can't say enough great things about Ben," said Mel Morse, instructional assistant professor and assistant director of bands. "He enjoys each moment as it's happening, and I've watched how he made those around him better by simply being him – caring and considerate with a fun-loving attitude who wants the best for anyone he encounters."

For the past few summers, Oliver has stayed busy. From working at a local movie theater to studying at the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, he hasn't stopped.

This summer, however, will be a "gap summer," before moving to the D.C. area in the fall.

When Oliver thinks about where he'll be 10 years from now, many potential paths unfold before him.

"I could be on the other side of law school and clerking for a federal justice," he said. "Or maybe I could be a leader in a nonprofit for one of my passions, or maybe being part of the essential personnel that runs the Kennedy Center or the National Endowment for the Arts to keep that element of musicianship and expression in my life."

See more photos from Ben Oliver's Journey to Commencement