Finding her niche
Despite her love of her home state of Maine, which leads many people to believe that Millard spent her whole life there, she actually lived in Mount Selinda, Zimbabwe, until age four. But when she moved back to Maine with her family after preschool, she blended in quickly with Mainers her age.
Millard attended a small, regional public high school in the center of the state. The diverse student body sparked an interest in sociology that would flourish in her college years. "Class differences were very obvious and it bothered me how differently groups of students were treated," Millard recalled.
While at Cornell as a first-year, Millard took a class on social deviance in pursuit of her newfound academic interests. But her college did not offer the subject as a major; Millard would have to either transfer colleges within Cornell or to a new college or university. Intrigued by the opportunity to explore a new place and to take a proactive role in her education in a way that would have been impossible at Cornell, Millard transferred to Amherst.
At the College, Millard was happy to find that there was little competition between students. "During my first semester at Amherst, I took a human rights activism course with Morti [Laura Mortimer]," said Millard. "Studying with her and other friends in the class was the first time that I remember collaborating with students in school work outside of class." She holds that one of the most significant things that the College has taught her is the importance of learning from people rather than just from books.
Millard's interest in sociology developed into a desire to teach when she took English 6 with Professor of English Judith Frank. "Until then I [had] thought that I might want to be a lawyer or a politician," said Millard.
Millard brought together her interests of sociology and education in a special topics class with Professor of Sociology Jan Dizard. After doing much research, Millard wrote a detailed proposal for a charter school. "Maria is a clear and forceful writer, and an infallible researcher," said Dizard, who is also Millard's academic advisor and longtime friend.
In her senior thesis, Millard further pursued her interest in sociology and education in researching socioeconomic diversity on college campuses. Surveying and interviewing students at the University of Maine, Millard looked at the experiences of first-generation college students and examined their resources for getting into and succeeding at college. "[Millard's thesis] has garnered quite a bit of attention both in Maine and at Amherst," commented Millard's thesis advisor, Professor of Sociology Jerome Himmelstein.
Next year, Millard will continue to pursue her interest in sociology and love of education. Millard will attend Stanford University's School of Education as a student in their highly selective one-year masters program, Policy, Organization and Leadership Studies (POLS).
Born to run
Running was not always on Millard's list of hobbies, which, when she was growing up, was packed with other activities such as gymnastics, diving and soccer. In fact, she only joined the track and field team during her first year of high school as an excuse to socialize with friends. However, genetics and dedication led Millard to instant success on the track, and after winning the state title in both the high jump and the 300-meter hurdles as a first-year in high school, Millard was hooked.
Millard is the fourth member of her family to run at the College. Her father, Peter, graduated from Amherst in 1976 and ran in the Olympic trials for the marathon in 1984. Millard's aunt, Julie, and older brother, Cameron, also participated in track and field while at the College.
"I have always tried to deny that running has impacted my life," said Millard, who originally considered running more of a hobby than an athletic pursuit. However, she admitted that "running has added intense physical aspect to my life that I think is very important, and it has given me a wonderful group of people to hang out with and suffer with, really."
After a year of intense, time consuming Div. I track and field at Cornell, Millard found the well-roundedness of the Amherst track and field team to be very refreshing. "Track at Amherst allows people to pursue other passions," said Millard, who has certainly taken advantage of the opportunity, participating in the Amherst College Outing Club and living in the Zu, a vegetarian food co-operative. "Mia's great!" said housemate Sarah Harper '07. "She's been an incredible presence in the Zu."
Despite her many interests, Millard has remained focused on her running. Coming in as a sophomore after taking a year off, Millard took the year to regain "her competitive spirit," said Assistant Coach John Adamson. As a junior, Millard's talent began to shine as she set the school record for the pentathlon.
After her successful junior year, Millard was ready to take her running to the next level. "When the school year ended, Maria said to me that she would return in the fall in the best shape of her life," recalled Adamson. "I knew that she meant it."
Millard has excelled as a hurdler and a sprinter and has proven herself a solid competitor in every flat race that she has run this season. "She won the 55-meter high hurdles in a regular season indoor meet and also ran the fastest time in the 800[-meter] of any [female] athlete in Div. III New England during the indoor season," said Adamson. "That is a very rare combination of speed, endurance, power and agility."
Millard's hard work and dedication have paid dividends this year, but she has also shown that team victories taste much sweeter than individual success. In the indoor season, she qualified for Nationals individually in the 800, but opted out of the race to remain fresh for her teammates in the distance medley relay (DMR). The DMR race garnered Millard her first All-American award, and the team finished third at nationals.
Millard also won the 400-meter hurdles at both the Little Three and NESCAC Championships in the outdoor season. She has qualified for Nationals in the 800 meters and 400-meter hurdles, and has set new school records in each of the events. "I think perhaps the keys to Maria's success have been both her hard work and determination but also her patience," said Head Coach Erik Nedeau.
The success that Millard has had on the track is only a small part of her contribution to the team. In addition to her breakthrough year on the track, as a tri-captain, Millard has carried the team on her shoulders with dedication, enthusiasm and remarkable grace. "She has been a great leader and motivator for the [sprint] group, as well as the team," said Nedeau. "No doubt, Maria has made everyone on the team more aware of the right way to approach practice, meet days and the time in between," added Adamson, who has turned to Millard at different times throughout the year to boost team spirit.
With Millard's leadership, the women's track and field team has truly come together to form a cohesive whole. Early in the season, Millard organized a trip to Northampton so that the new runners on the sprinting and distance teams could get to know each other. She has worked very hard to unify the team, and has done an exceptional job of bringing the team together.
Millard has adorned the College with her exceptional character. "Maria has a generous and uplifting spirit," said tri-captain Hanna Campbell '07. "She is the kind of friend you want to introduce to your parents and siblings, because she already feels like family."
Millard served as a role model for the younger members of the track and field team, taking them under her wing at the first practice and carrying them through a trying first year of college running. "As a freshman on the track team, it was great to have Maria as a captain, a role model and a friend," said first-year teammate Caroline Darmody.
Millard has remained dedicated to the team as a whole while maintaining close relationships with each of the female sprinters. "If I need her advice, she's around to offer it," said Campbell, "and if I have good news, she's around to celebrate with me."
Leading by example, Millard has inspired many members of the track and field team with her hard work and dedication. "Maria has truly been an inspiration to so many of us," said Kate Silverman '09. "From her positive attitude, focus and hard work, to her great success on and off the track, she has been a great person to look up to."
Boundless energy
Perhaps the most defining characteristic of Millard's personality is her positive energy. The amount of enthusiasm she brings to everything she does inspires others to pursue their goals with the same zeal. Millard's accomplishments in both academic and athletics are highlighted by that same remarkable energy. "I admire the intelligence, creativity, and sheer energy and enthusiasm she brings to her work," said Himmelstein, who added, with regard to Millard's thesis, that Millard undertook and accomplished an ambitious and important project which was "excellent in all respects."
Millard's energy and enthusiasm influence not only her personal pursuits, but also the lives of everyone she meets. The energy that drives her optimistic personality instills happiness in others. "Maria is one of those rare people who can walk into a room and immediately raise the energy level of everyone there," said Adamson.
The spirit that Millard has brought to many on the Amherst campus will certainly be missed next year. She has inspired many members of the community and has had much success as both a student and athlete at the College. Her hard work has certainly paid off, and in moving on, Millard has much to be thankful for and even more to look forward to. "It makes me so happy," said Campbell, "to know that really good things still happen to really good people."