Tim Walz's Education Background Is Unique for a Vice Presidential Candidate
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is following in the footsteps of former president Jimmy Carter.
When Kamala Harris first selected Tim Walz as her running mate, the Financial Times noted, "Tim Walz is the first person on either the top or bottom half of a Democratic presidential ticket since 1980 who did not attend law school. That is 20 individuals across 10 elections over 40 years who pursued a JD or LLB." The last person on a ticket who didn't attend law school? That would be Jimmy Carter himself. (In between Carter and Walz, there was one other candidate who didn't have a law degree: Al Gore. However, Gore did go to law school, only dropping out to run for Congress.)
When Joe Biden and Harris were elected, their ticket was notable when they became the first President and Vice President combo in 36 years with no Ivy League credentials on their resumes. (The last duo before them: Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale.) If Harris and Walz are elected this November, that would be the first time there would be back-to-back presidents and vice presidents without any Ivy League credentials.
Here, take a look at Tim Walz's education history:
Butte High School (1982)
Walz was born and raised in Nebraska. He graduated from Butte High School in 1982, his yearbook (above) hangs in the Butte Library.
Chadron State College (1989)
After high school, Walz enlisted in the National Guard. He then went to college, graduating with a social science degree from Chadron State College (CSC) in 1989. As the school noted when he was elected governor, "Walz became the first Chadron State College graduate ever elected governor of one of the 50 states." In 2014, he returned to Chadron State to give the commencement address.
"The professors at this college wanted us to succeed. The door was always open for us to learn and to grow. We got a great base for future success," he said. "A healthy and educated populace creates economic and national security. We have the right of self-governance which was paid for with blood. We need more critical thinkers like the students who graduated from CSC today." Two of Walz's siblings, Jeffy and Sandy, also went to Chadron State.
Walz is, of course, the first Vice Presidential candidate to have attended CSC. "Gov. Walz is an inspiring individual who demonstrates to all former, current, and future Chadron State College graduates that you can make a difference in the world, even if you start at a small college in the corner of northwest Nebraska," CSC President Ron K. Patterson said after he was selected as Harris's running mate. "Chadron State provides opportunities for leadership, scholarship, and service, and we are proud of Gov. Walz for personifying those values. Chadron State College congratulates Gov. Walz on his selection as the vice presidential nominee for the Democratic party."
Minnesota State University, Mankato (2001)
While teaching at Mankato West High School, he studied at Minnesota State Mankato. There, he graduated with a Master of Science in educational leadership; he focused on Holocaust and genocide education. Walz's thesis was titled "Improving Human Rights and Genocide Studies in the American High School Classroom."
He also studied at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, according to his entry in the biographical directory of the U.S. Congress.
You Might Also Like
