Mississippi STAR Student Duncan Wallis Chooses Ministry

Matthew "Duncan" Wallis knows exactly what he wants to do with his life, and it has nothing to do with chasing the highest salary.

The Adams County Christian School senior maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average and scored 30 out of 36 on his ACT exam. But instead of pursuing medicine, law, or engineering, Wallis is answering what he calls a personal calling to ministry.

"Not everybody is equipped to be a pastor, but God equips the people that He does call," Wallis said. "I'm just trying to let Him equip me."

Wallis was named his school's STAR student through the Mississippi Business Alliance's Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition program. The honor celebrates top academic performers across Mississippi high schools.

He selected English teacher Juliet Wesberry as his STAR Teacher, crediting her with preparing him for college-level writing and reading. Wesberry brings over 30 years of teaching experience to Adams County Christian School.

"She has equipped me very much for college in the future," Wallis said. His highest ACT scores came in reading and English, subjects she helped him master.

Beyond academics, Wallis stays active in his community. He plays wide receiver on the football team, competes in archery, and serves in the Beta Club and National Honor Society.

Why This Inspires

Wallis is already living his future calling. He serves on the praise team at Community Chapel Church in Natchez and works as a camp counselor at Camp Dixon.

His parents, Robert and April Wallis, lead youth ministry at Community Chapel, where his father also serves as associate pastor. But Duncan insists his career choice isn't about following in his dad's footsteps.

"My dad does it but that's not really why," he explained. "God called me to do it so that's why."

He acknowledges the challenges ahead. Living a faith-centered life "is kind of hard" in today's world, he admits, but adds that "Jesus never said it would be easy."

His father remains his biggest role model, someone who "loves the Lord, loves his family and is willing to help anyone, no matter what it costs him."

This fall, Wallis will head to Mississippi College in Clinton to study ministry. He's already praying and thinking carefully about the road ahead, approaching his future with the same intentionality that earned him academic honors.

In a world that often measures success by income and status, one young man is choosing a different metric entirely.