Christopher Scroggins, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, became the first member of his family to be ranked as a military officer. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant medical services officer with the U.S. Army during the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) 170th commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 14, 2024.
“God has definitely been blessing me this whole year, and it’s been great to see,” said Scroggins, who will receive a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
“I am the third generation. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, and now me are all graduates of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (formerly AM&N),” he said proudly.
After graduation, Scroggins will assist with recruiting for UAPB’s ROTC Program, a program that prepares college students for a career as a military officer, before heading to Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Recruiting will be a way for him to give back to his alma mater.
Scroggins said that UAPB faculty and staff, including his academic advisor and his fraternity advisor, played a vital role in shaping him into who he is today. “You can’t beat the people you meet who help mold you into what you become when you graduate from UAPB,” Scroggins said. He shouted out Oscar Fuller, Fiscal Manager for Foundation Matters in Institutional Advancement; Lakiesha McAfee, Academic Advisor in the Student Success Center; and Ray Walker, Advisor for Gamma Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. as being individuals who guided him.
The military legacy of Scroggins’ family continues as several members of his family enlisted after the draft, including his grandfather and five great-uncles. Through his military career, Scroggins met his wife, Shakirah, who is also pursuing a career in the armed services. The couple is expecting their first child.
Scroggins graduated from Parkview Magnet High School in Little Rock. He started with UAPB’s LIONS Program, a summer residential academic enrichment experience that assists new first-year college students successfully transition from high school and home to college life.
“I came a semester early to kind of get a feel for how the college experience would be. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left high school,” Scroggins said.
During high school, the subject of going to college was continuously mentioned. Mary Parker, Scroggins’ grandmother who teaches in UAPB’s English Department, pushed her grandson to succeed. He laughed as he said that having her on campus made him feel like he had “another mom” even though he was a college student. “My grandma actually made sure that I did what I was supposed to do. It actually turned out to be a good thing,” Scroggins said. Parker participated in Saturday’s UAPB Commencement Ceremony and assisted in pinning her grandson during the Commissioning portion of the program.
Scroggins began his educational journey at UAPB as a mass communications major. As a former high school athlete who suffered many injuries, he desired to be close to sports. He initially worked in the Athletic Department, taking pictures and interviewing women’s soccer team members. Situations developed at home, resulting in his leaving UAPB after the fall 2019 semester. What began as a short-term leave turned into a one-year hiatus.
“Before I left, I kind of had made a commitment to myself to do something, so I looked into joining the Air Force,” Scroggins said.
He added that his grandfather, Ron Scroggins, a retired airman, encouraged him to consider the Air Force. His brother told him that he felt he would do well in the armed forces, but Scroggins did not believe him. “If you would have told me before I graduated that I would be a soldier, I would have told you that you’re lying,” Scroggins said.
Desiring to be a positive example to his brothers, Cameron Parker and Messiah Farid, he decided to see a recruiter. He discovered paths other than joining the Air Force. He felt more of a connection with the U.S. Army and met Sgt. Shantay Rayford, a recruiter he describes as a “great person.”
“She took the time to plan what would be best for me and the career that I wanted,” Scroggins said.
He chose to become a chaplain assistant, which turned into a religious affairs specialist position.
He then went through basic training, graduated as one of the top five in his class, and got promoted early. He said basic training was difficult, and his drill sergeant was challenging. “I got a chance to be athletic again and show those skills that I got throughout high school playing football. I got to do it. I got to lead, and I learned that I could lead. Everything that I didn’t know that I had showed when I was in basic training. As time went on, I became more outspoken,” Scroggins said.
His next step was to complete Advanced Individual Training, a program for new soldiers in the U.S. Army to learn specific skills needed for their jobs. As a religious affairs specialist, he began learning about counseling and ways to help enlisted soldiers.
Scroggins also credited Sgt. Rayford with encouraging him to return to UAPB, complete his degree plan and become commissioned. He realized that he liked helping people, which birthed the idea of changing his major to Psychology. “I’ve met a lot of women who are very strong and very prideful about knowing that they are few in numbers when it comes to serving this country. But I never met one who didn’t try to surpass their limits and be great,” Scroggins said.
He added that his wife, Shakirah, is a constant source of inspiration, always pushing herself to be great, a testament to the strength and resilience of their relationship. His parents, Christopher Parker and Gloria Scroggins, also supported him immensely. He especially praised his mother, who never criticized him during his season of searching for direction.
“No matter what was going on, she was always there to support me. She never frowned on me for taking the year off. She never frowned on me for working for a while. She was always proud,” Scroggins said.
He also said that his friends played a critical role in his accomplishing his goals. They include Scott Aschittino, a registered nurse; Melvin Cole, a first lieutenant; Jalen Buck, a fireman; and Larry Childress, a truck driver.
“I was blessed to have friends that always rose that bar that made you want to reach and compete with them…they were always supportive of me,” Scroggins said.
