Walker Athletics Hosts College Coaches |The Walker School

 The Walker Athletics Department hosted a College Recruiting Workshop, where Walker athletes and their parents heard valuable insights from a panel of NCAA coaches, administrators and former Georgia Tech football player Willard Scissum (Walker Class of 2019). 

The workshop offered Walker families practical advice on navigating college recruiting, evaluating fit and maintaining perspective in an evolving NIL landscape, reinforcing the school’s mission to prepare students for success on and off the field.

Panelists included Zack Gale (Georgia State University Compliance), Keith Schunzel (Kennesaw State University Volleyball), Dylan Gaither (Oglethorpe University Men’s Soccer), Wezley Barnard (Kennesaw State University Women’s Soccer), and Douglas Elly (Berry College Women’s Tennis), along with Walker Athletics Director Andrew Tulowitzky, who moderated the evening’s discussion. 

During a Q&A with Tulowitzky, Scissum, an engineer with AtkinsRéalis, spoke powerfully about the role academics and time management played in his journey. “Walker had already pushed me and given me an edge among a lot of my teammates,” he said, noting that his experiences balancing athletics, academics and leadership at Walker prepared him for the rigor of Georgia Tech. “If I wasn’t playing football, college would have been a breeze. I was fully prepared for what Georgia Tech had to offer.”

Scissum shared that despite facing multiple knee surgeries and being an undersized, “zero-star recruit,” his strong academic record helped open doors. He had already been accepted to Georgia Tech based on his academic merit before the football program recruited him. “Coaches loved my transcript — they could see I was committed to excellence beyond the field,” he explained.

He also encouraged students to choose a college where they would thrive even if athletics were no longer part of their life and emphasized the importance of toughness and time management — skills he credits Walker with developing.

A consistent theme from the coaches panel, particularly from Schunzel, KSU’s Volleyball Coach, was the importance of a personal touch in recruiting. Coaches said they appreciate when communication comes directly from the student-athlete rather than their parents, as it allows them to build an authentic connection. They also noted that initial outreach via email or social media is far more effective when it demonstrates genuine interest and knowledge about the school and program.