Highlighted by an individual national championship by senior Daniel del Moral D铆az, a dozen 糖心vlog官网 business students had the opportunity to put their skills to the test on a national stage this week at the National Collegiate Digital Marketing Championship, the National Collegiate Innovation Championship, and the National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship hosted by Baylor University in Nashville, Tenn.

D铆az, a business management major from Mexico City, took top honors in the Presentation Pro category of sports analytics, which included 74 fellow collegiate competitors from throughout the country. The topic was the statistical analysis of Minor League Baseball and D铆az’s presentation focused on how to increase fan base and audience through the use of social media. He used regression analysis with control variable to standardize metrics. Facebook usage was the major attractive media for this purpose due to its main user profile.

鈥淚t was an incredible honor and blessing to compete at the National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship against students from some of the most prestigious universities and top business programs in the nation,” D铆az said. “To come out on top as a national champion is something I am deeply grateful for. First and foremost, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for guiding me and giving me this opportunity. I am also extremely thankful for my mom back home for her unwavering support, and especially for Dr. [Juan-Carlos] Garcia鈥檚 support and guidance throughout this journey. I am deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, and my peers at 糖心vlog官网 who have believed in me and invested in my growth. It has been a true honor to represent 糖心vlog官网 and to return to my home away from home with a national championship.鈥�

“We had a great participation this year,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Garc铆a-Pi帽a Rossetti, assistant professor of management. “This time we had a great student who ended up winning the main event of the NCSAC and he’s the national champion of the sport analytics presentation, where he faced students from some great universities. We’re proud of Daniel, he has a great future ahead of him. I also want to congratulate Roberto Castro Monta帽o, who advanced to the second round in the same category. Congratulations also to Zaidd Castro who got ranked 37th and Jalissa Hollingsworth who got 28th in NCIC. I thank the Lord for this great blessing in our students and faculty.”

In addition, both Garc铆a-Pi帽a Rossetti and Dr. Christine McCain, associate professor of economics, were recognized as top judges in the competition. NaLisa Brown, assistant professor of marketing, also attended the event.

The U of O students who took part in the competition included, Daniel del Moral D铆az, Roberto Castro Monta帽o, Prudence Majoni, Kenia Yamileth L贸pez Portillo, Katie Robinson, Morgan Turnquest, Genevieve Miller, Takeia Ferlin, Zaidd Castro, Harper Branch, Valeria Mejia and Jalissa Hollingsworth.

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糖心vlog官网 alumna Ariel (Nichols) Merrell 鈥�14 has gone from being a first-generation college graduate to one of the most powerful women in Arkansas.

Originally from Clarksville, Merrell was one of 94 women from across the state named to the 2025聽Power Women聽list by聽Arkansas Money & Politics聽(AMP) in its December edition.

According to the publication, 鈥淲here there are women, their power is truly a force to be reckoned with. We at Arkansas Money & Politics are proud to highlight some of the most incredible women leaving their stamp on the state of Arkansas.鈥�

Merrell currently serves as corporate controller for CFS Technologies in North Little Rock, Ark., where she oversees accounting and financial operations for two manufacturing plants in Arkansas. She also serves as vice president of finance and operations for C&F Flooring and Rug Gallery in Little Rock and Springdale, Ark., overseeing all financial aspects of the company while ensuring operational efficiency across sales, warehouse, and administrative functions.

In these roles, Merrell oversees accounting teams, payroll, tax compliance, audits, contract negotiations, the design and implementation of standard operating procedures, KPI development, and financial planning.

The first in her family to graduate from college, Merrell earned a degree in accounting and business administration from 糖心vlog官网.

鈥淚 know my grandpa is incredibly proud of me, even though my education and career choices have taken me away from my hometown of Clarksville,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y dad was my biggest advocate in my education so that I could live a life outside of what we had. Having this education has opened doors that just aren鈥檛 possible in our small town. I鈥檝e seen some really cool places, provided a good life for my family, and I am always thankful for my start at 糖心vlog官网.鈥�

Merrell said her four years at Ozarks were special because of the relationships she formed with faculty in the business department.

鈥淚 had professors I admired who gave me not only the education needed to complete the coursework, but also mentored me on a personal level,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey helped me reach my goals outside of school and taught me how to manage my time with family, work, and education.鈥�

Her advisor also helped her secure a valuable internship that helped launch her career.

鈥淭he accounting program was incredibly beneficial as I worked my way from bookkeeper up to vice president of finance and operations, handling financial statement preparation, tax returns, mergers and acquisitions on a large scale, budgeting and forecasting, and various 鈥榗lean-up鈥� projects for companies,鈥� Merrell said. 鈥淭he business administration program helped me manage relationships with vendors and stakeholders, maintain the operational health of a company through processes and people, and lead teams with different goals and personalities. I鈥檝e been able to blend well within many industries and connect with everyone from production-floor employees to C-suite leaders and private equity groups.鈥�

Merrell said she might not have been able to attend college without the scholarships she received from Ozarks.

鈥淚 worked through high school and college to save money and received smaller scholarships locally and through the state, but Ozarks scholarships played a significant role in allowing me to gain a college education,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ecause I was an independent student who did not rely on family financial support, my advisors helped me maximize those awards by strategically planning for me to double major in accounting and business administration.鈥�

She still looks back fondly on her time at Ozarks.

鈥淭he connections with other students and professors are what I remember most,鈥� Merrell said. 鈥淚 made lifelong friends and learned so much from instructors who have continued to be a part of my life. I really hope they know how much I appreciate them and their role in helping me 鈥榤ake it.鈥� I worked a lot during college, so I didn鈥檛 participate in as many campus activities as others, but Ozarks worked hard to keep our community connected through some really great events.鈥�

Merrell resides in Maumelle, Ark., with her husband, Jason, and their children: Maddox, Benson, Elijah, and Lucy.

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(Photo: The E-Club executive team with Kristopher Adams of ARise and Maddy Stricklen with the Arkansas Governor’s Cup.)

Six teams made up of business-minded 糖心vlog官网 students will pitch their small business ideas to both a panel of judges and a live audience on Friday afternoon during the second annual Startup Challenge competition, presented by the University’s student organization, the Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club).

The competition will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, in the Walton Fine Arts Center鈥檚 Seay Theater. The event is free and open to the campus community as well as the general public.

The Startup Challenge is sponsored by ARise (Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs), which will award cash prizes to two teams 鈥� the judges鈥� choice and the audience鈥檚 pick.

Last year鈥檚 Startup Challenge winning team, Pet Buddy, went on to compete in the prestigious Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup last spring, earning third place in the Small Business Division and first place in the Elevator Pitch competition.

According to E-Club President Nataly Vindas, participating student teams follow a structured business plan format closely aligned with that used in the Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup.

鈥淭he Startup Challenge is our annual pitch competition where student teams get the chance to bring a business idea to life and present it in front of a panel of judges,鈥� Vindas said. 鈥淭hroughout the semester, we guide them with workshops, feedback, resources, and mentorship from industry professionals so that they can strengthen their concept and learn what it really takes to communicate a solid business plan. Our main goal is to create a supportive, practical, and exciting space where students can gain experience, test their ideas, and push themselves to think like entrepreneurs. Teams can use the Startup Challenge as a preparation stage for the next level, if they wish to try and apply to participate in the Governor鈥檚 Cup.鈥�

This year鈥檚 competing teams are Arbitrage Advantage (Jose Luis Jr. Salgado and Gianna Dowling); Nutri-Bloom (Hanna Laing, Robert Chery, and Tiana Cunningham); BeeKura (Jeremy V谩squez, Gerson Bola帽os, Brenda Navarro, and Vicky 脕lvarez); Wear Your Vision (Isabella P茅rez, Sheyla Zamora Esteban, Katherine Alonzo, and Fiorella Solano Ure帽a); U Drive (Jacquelinne Retana Teshe, Maria Fernanda Cabrera, and Roberto Castro); and BasKiss (Valeria Mej铆a Tabora, Abigail Reyes Ruiz, and Kenia L贸pez Portillo).

鈥淥ur competition will have two winning teams,鈥� Vindas said. 鈥淥ne will be the judge鈥檚 choice, which is the overall competition winner. The second one is the people鈥檚 favorite, which will be selected by the audience after listening to the team鈥檚 60-second elevator pitches. Voting will be done through Google Forms.鈥�

Judges for this year鈥檚 competition include 1988 Ozarks alumnus Tony Warren, vice president and commercial lender for Arvest Bank; Maddy Stricklen, program director for the ACC Capital Foundation and an official with the Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup; and Dr. Chatham Ewing, director of Robson Library.

For this year鈥檚 competition, students were paired with industry professionals who served as mentors. Those mentors include Kristopher Adams, program manager at ARise; Greg Foss, founder of Velocity Performers Advisors; and 2017 糖心vlog官网 alumna Claudia Scott, NWA Kiva Hub director at the Startup Junkie Foundation.

Vindas also praised the U of O business faculty for their support of the Startup Challenge. The E-Club advisors are Dr. Christine McCain and Dr. Juan Carlos Garc铆a Pi帽a-Rosette. Professor NaLisa Brown led a workshop for competing teams on completing the marketing section of the business plan, while Professor Pamela Cogan delivered a workshop focused on the financial section.

Other E-Club executive members this year are Caurthney Noel, vice president; William Guillen, engagement coordinator; Daniella Ugarte, secretary; Andr茅s Hern谩ndez, marketing manager; and Joel Charris, treasurer.

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The team of business students William Guillen, Daniella Ugarte, and Gabriel Mendoza will represent 糖心vlog官网 in the upcoming Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup after winning the inaugural StartUp Challenge Competition, presented by the University鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club) during the 2024 Fall Semester.

The Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup is an annual collegiate business-plan competition among students from the state鈥檚 colleges and universities. The winning team will be announced during the award鈥檚 competition on April 16 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

The E-Club announced the University鈥檚 StartUp Challenge winner on Dec. 6. The winning team, 鈥淧et Buddy,鈥� took top honors for its concept of taking used clothing items and turning them into pet items such as clothes, toys and beds.

鈥淭hey impressed the judges with their creativity, practicality, and strong potential for success,鈥� said E-Club President Gustavo Lugo.

The other participating teams were 鈥淚ncludify,鈥� with students Maria Cabrera Gonzalez and Jacquelinne Retana Teshe; and 鈥淟脠ONN,鈥� comprised of students Samuel Rockwell, Caleb Gutierrez, and Carol Samaniego. Those teams can also apply to enter the Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup competition if they so desire.

Lugo said the E-Club鈥檚 purpose for hosting the StartUp Challenge on campus went beyond the competitive aspect.

鈥淚t was also about preparation and growth,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hroughout the semester, the Entrepreneurship Club organized a series of workshops to equip the teams with the skills they needed to develop their ideas and perfect their presentations. These workshops covered topics such as market research, financial planning, pitch development, and more, and brought in industry experts to guide the students.鈥�

Lugo said one of the highlights for the club last semester was attending a specialized workshop on how to apply for and compete in the Arkansas Governor鈥檚 Cup.

鈥淭he teams had the opportunity to hear directly from competition organizers, past participants, and mentors about what it takes to succeed at the state level,鈥� Lugo said 鈥淭his invaluable experience provided our students with insights into refining their business models and preparing for what lies ahead.鈥�

The judges for the StartUp Challenge included alumna Claudia Porras Scott 鈥�17, director of Kiva NWA and a member of Startup Junkie; Matt Lundy, business consultant at Arkansas Tech University; and Kristopher Adams, program manager at Arise.

The E-Cub advisors are Businesss Professors NaLisa Brown and Dr. Christine McCain.

鈥淲e are very thankful for their guidance and support throughout the planning and execution of the event,鈥� Lugo said. 鈥淭heir mentorship was key to the event鈥檚 success and to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship on campus.鈥�

Nataly Vindas, vice president of the Entrepreneurship Club and program director for the club鈥檚 StartUp Challenge, said organizing the event was 鈥渂oth challenging and rewarding.鈥�

鈥淚 collaborated closely with judges, mentors, and our team to review business plans, coordinate schedules, and finalize event details,鈥� Vindas said. 鈥淚t was incredibly fulfilling to see our hard work come to fruition and watch students confidently present their ideas.鈥�

Lugo said he is proud of his club鈥檚 efforts to serve the Ozarks student body 鈥渁s a valuable resource for all students who are passionate about entrepreneurship.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to see the ideas and enthusiasm that students bring to the table,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he StartUp Challenge isn鈥檛 just a competition; it鈥檚 an opportunity for students to start thinking big, step outside their comfort zones, and start building something real. I couldn鈥檛 be prouder for what all competing teams did. The StartUp Challenge Competition was a celebration of innovation and collaboration, highlighting the immense potential that exist within our student body. It also marked another important step in building a thriving entrepreneurial community at 糖心vlog官网. Also, I couldn鈥檛 be prouder of all the E-Club executive members too, Nataly Vindas, Estefania Bautista, Eduardo Murillo, Caurthney Noel, and Andres Brown. From their different roles, they all contributed to make this event unique and one of the best ones of the Fall 2024 semester on campus.鈥�

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Jean-Pierre and Ternier, both 2020 Ozarks graduates from Haiti, were married in Northwest Arkansas on Dec. 7, and that’s just the start of a busy next few months for the couple.

Jean-Pierre is expected to complete his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University in May 2025. Ternier is expected to complete her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Arkansas in August 2025. The couple will move to Montreal following their wedding where Jean-Pierre has an academic research position secured at the Universit茅 de Montr茅al.

鈥淭here鈥檚 certainly a lot going on for us right now, but we wouldn鈥檛 want it any other way,鈥� Jean-Pierre said. “It鈥檚 an exciting time.”

Jean-Pierre earned a major in business administration with minors in sustainable agriculture, creative writing & thought and economics from Ozarks. He said he decided to pursue a Ph.D. in agricultural economics because of an incident that had a major impact on him and his family while growing up in Haiti.   

His family members were agricultural producers in Saint-Louis du Sud, a rural town in the southern department of Haiti. They raised livestock, including swine. In the early 1980s, an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Haiti forced many rural families, including his own, to leave their livelihoods behind.

鈥淔ollowing the ASF outbreak, the government implemented a nationwide swine depopulation campaign to limit the disease’s spread and many farmers received no compensation for their losses,鈥� Jean-Pierre said. 鈥淭his campaign led to disruptions, a large-scale rural exodus, and increased emigration to neighboring countries. This experience ignited my interest in understanding the economic impacts of animal diseases and inspired me to pursue a career dedicated to identifying solutions that protect communities from similar challenges.鈥�

Jean-Pierre said his career goals are 鈥渢o contribute to impactful research in animal health economics, with a focus on education, innovation, and cost-effective solutions for disease management, particularly in rural areas and developing countries where this intersection of livestock health and economic stability is often the most consequential to both producer and consumer well-being.鈥�

Since his time at OSU, Jean-Pierre has been awarded the International Livestock Research Institute Ph.D. Research Fellow (2023-2024), the Williams Distinguished Graduate Fellow (2023), the Stoecker Family International Agricultural Economics Fellow (2023) and the Leonard F. Miller Distinguished Graduate Fellow in International Rural Development (2021-2022). The title of his Ph.D. dissertation is 鈥淔oot-and-Mouth Disease Management and Consequences on Rwanda鈥檚 Cattle Sector: A Multi-Model Approach Integrating Livestock Dynamics, Epidemiology and Economics Analysis.鈥�

At the Universit茅 de Montr茅al, he will join the Plateforme AI-Agrosant茅 (PIAAS) where his research focus will be on 鈥淓conomic and Health Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Livestock Disease Management and Incentives for Farmer Adoption.鈥�

鈥淭he main goals of this research will be to understand the potential opportunity losses associated with on-farm AI non-adoption to prevent or control a potential disease spread; analyze the costs, benefits, and market impacts of AI adoption; and disseminate research findings through workshops and trainings to reduce the gap between scientific research and practical implementation within Quebec鈥檚 agri-food sector,鈥� he said.

Jean-Pierre said the LENS curriculum at Ozarks helped guide him on his career course.

鈥淥zarks encouraged me to explore my strengths outside of my comfort zone, and the LENS program played an important role in shaping my career as an agricultural economist,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I arrived at Ozarks, I was set on majoring in business administration, with an economics concentration, but the LENS program required me to select a minor in the natural sciences. On the advice of my advisor, Christine McCain, I chose sustainable agriculture. This decision helped me discover my passion for applying economic principles to the agricultural sector.鈥�

Ternier, who earned majors in chemistry and biology at Ozarks, said her research centers around the metabolic and structural characterization of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) proteins. Her Ph.D. dissertation is titled, 鈥淐haracterization of the Structure and Function of Recombinant FGF19.鈥�

鈥淢y interest in biochemistry is sourced from the importance that plant-based remedies have in the Haitian society as compared to conventional methods,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 became particularly intrigued by how plants, often considered poisonous, can also serve as effective treatments for diseases. I first wanted a career in pharmacy, but my journey shifted upon attending my first college biochemistry class. My first week in this class was the moment I realized my desire for knowledge extended far beyond drug interactions; I wanted to understand the molecular mechanisms orchestrating our physiological responses.鈥�

Ternier said her career goal is to make a 鈥渕eaningful contribution to patient health within a clinical or pharmaceutical setting. I want to collaborate with medical professionals and conduct research that has a direct, positive impact on both patient care and clinical practices.鈥�

She credited her Ozarks education for sparking her interest in research.

鈥淥zarks culture as a smaller community facilitates students and faculty interactions, which benefited my decision-making in terms of graduate program selections and preparations for success,鈥� Ternier said. 鈥淕raduating from Ozarks with a double major in biology and chemistry gave me a diverse perspective. My background in biology gave me a better understanding of cellular processes and physiological systems, which is essential for my research on FGF19.鈥�

Jean-Pierre and Ternier have known each other since their high school years in Haiti and began dating shortly before enrolling at Ozarks. They were married on Dec. 7 at Saint Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Rogers, Ark., before embarking on a honeymoon to the Florida keys.

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糖心vlog官网 senior Gustavo Lugo will be one of two student speakers at the EDGE (Education to Develop and Grow Entrepreneurs) Summit 2024 in North Little Rock on Oct. 30.

The University鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Club, the E-Club, will send several members to the conference. The E-Club鈥檚 leadership team will attend the summit, according to advisor Dr. Christine McCain, associate professor of business.

Lugo, a business administration and political science major from Diriamba, Nicaragua, will be one of two Arkansas college students who will speak at the conference鈥檚 9 a.m. session titled, 鈥淭ransforming Futures: The Power of Entrepreneurship in Student Lives.鈥�

He will discuss how his involvement in entrepreneurship activities has transformed his life and future career, highlighting the programs he鈥檚 engaged in and the support from faculty. He will offer recommendations for fostering entrepreneurial talent in other institutions.

The theme for the 2024 Summit is 鈥淪trengthening Your Institution’s Innovation Ecosystem.鈥�

The EDGE Summit convenes university faculty to exchange best practices, expand professional networks, and share insights to foster entrepreneurial development among students. The event is being held at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in NLR.

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Solena Martinez Aleman was named the recipient of the prestigious Wiley Lin Hurie Memorial Award on Wednesday at the 糖心vlog官网鈥� 67th annual Honors Day ceremony.

The Hurie Award is presented to the outstanding senior in the graduating class as voted on by the faculty. It is named in honor of the long-time president of the University and is the highest honor given to an Ozarks student. (Aleman is pictured receiving the award from University President Richard Dunsworth).

Aleman, a health science and business administration major from Leon, Nicaragua, was also named the Outstanding Student in Health Science. She will graduate on May 11 with the highest of honors, Summa Cum Laude (3.85 grade point average or higher).

Aleman, a Walton International Scholar, said she remembers arriving at Ozarks in the fall of 2020.

鈥淚 came two weeks late to school because there were no flights available due to Covid-19,鈥� Aleman said. 鈥淚 was afraid, but also excited to start this new chapter in my life. I did not know what to expect, and I did not know anyone. However, soon I got to meet my friends and new family for the next four years at Ozarks.鈥�

Aleman, who earned minors in economics and political science, said she chose her areas of study for various reasons.

鈥淪ince I was in ninth grade, I knew I wanted to study business administration because it includes numbers,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ater on, I figured business administration was not only about that, but it is the foundation to expand to other areas such as economics, management, finance, or data analytics. As a result, to complement my business degree I opted for a minor in economics. Furthermore, I believe in social justice and decided to learn more about society through political science. Health science is a different story. I grew up listening to my mother鈥檚 stories about helping people through medicine. I have always been curious about how the body functions, adapts and recovers. Yet, it was not until I came to the U.S. to pursue my business degree that I got immersed in the world of health sciences, specifically exercise science, and fell in love with it. Both degrees complement each other. Health Science is a broad area of study, and thus, I can implement some of the knowledge gained in business. I want to further my education in exercise physiology, and in the future, I want to use research to improve the quality of life in my community.鈥�

Aleman said working with her health science professor and advisor, Dr. Piroska Boros, helped her hone in on her career ambitions.

鈥淩esearch with Dr. Boros gave me a new perspective on what path I want to follow, a career in academia,鈥� Aleman said. 鈥淗er classes and the research experience with her helped me to find my passion and purpose. Thanks to her, I have grown a lot as a student and a person. She helped me to transform dreams into reality. She has been so supportive during my four years at Ozarks. In the future, I would love to conduct my own research.鈥�

While at Ozarks, Aleman decided to get outside of her comfort zone and join the women鈥檚 cross country and track teams, where she was a four-time academic all-conference selection.

鈥淚 had never run before coming to college,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a new experience for me, but I am grateful to the sport, my coaches, and my teammates who helped me be a better athlete and person. Moreover, by being exposed to sports, I was able to relate to what I was learning in the classroom for my health science major.鈥�

Aleman said being awarded the Walton Scholarship is one of the best things that has happened to her.

鈥淚t reminds me that dreams can become a reality with dedication,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always knew I wanted to study in the U.S. and when I found out about the Walton Scholarship, I was determined to get it. I applied and did not get it the first time. I was frustrated, but I prayed, trusted God, and did not give up. I applied a second time and got it. The Walton Scholarship and the 糖心vlog官网 helped me to find my passion and purpose. I hope I use my passion to contribute to the development of my country.鈥�

She hardly recognizes the frightened young lady that first arrived at Ozarks in the fall of 2020.

鈥淚 have become so much more independent and confident,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I first came, I was afraid to participate in the classroom, but as time passed by it became natural for me to talk to my professors. My friends have shown me the meaning of true friendship. Sports and intramurals have been part of my every day and have taught me a lot that I can apply to my life 鈥� patience, perseverance, and gratitude. My coaches and professors always encourage me to follow my aspirations and not give up.  I will miss my friends, who have become my family away from home, and my professors, who helped me to grow during these four years.鈥�

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When the total solar eclipse passes through Arkansas on Monday, April 8, tens of thousands of Arkansans will be viewing the rare phenomenon with eclipse glasses designed by 糖心vlog官网 alumna Odalis Garcia.

Garcia, a 2023 business administration major from Clarksville, was one of two winners of a state-wide contest last summer that was sponsored by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) to design the viewing glasses. Garcia鈥檚 design is on 250,000 viewing glasses that the consortium distributed to schools and universities throughout the state.

Garcia, who currently serves as director of marketing and communications for the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce, said she heard about the ASGC graphic design competition from a friend during her junior year. The competition was open to all college students in the state.

鈥淢y friend knew I was working as a part-time graphic designer at the time and encouraged me to enter,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淚 remember getting excited about the idea of possibly winning the contest, but because I only had a year of experience in graphic design, I continued to doubt myself. I would create a design then delete it thinking it was not good enough to submit. I knew I was going up against plenty of college students in Arkansas, and the thought of that was a little overwhelming. Then one day I told my sister, Daicza Garcia (2020 Ozarks alumna), about the competition and she told me, 鈥榊ou should just submit one. You will never know unless you try. What if you do win?鈥� She motivated me, and I really began to put thought into it. I honestly do not think I would have even entered if it wasn’t for her.鈥�

Garcia said her plan was to not get too complicated with her design.

鈥淚 wanted to create something original but simple,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started off by using the logo colors of ASGC and went on to create a minimal graphic design using a small color palette. I am also a photographer, so my initial thought was 鈥榩eople are going to take tons of pictures looking up at the eclipse.鈥� That is when I added in the astronaut and the text on the sides of the glasses, but I always kept in mind that less is more 鈥� keeping it simple.鈥�

Laura Holland, assistant director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, which is funded by NASA, said the design contest received 16 entrants, with Garcia and Faith Wray of Henderson State University chosen as co-winners by the selection committee. Garcia鈥檚 and Wray鈥檚 designs were each used on a half of the 500,000 glasses that were distributed by the consortium and the Arkansas STEM Coalition.

鈥淭he committee really liked the great color combinations of Odalis鈥� design and they thought the astronaut on the side of the glasses would appeal to younger kids,鈥� Holland said.

Garcia learned that her design was one of the two winning entrants in June while she was in Barcelona, Spain, on a study-abroad trip.

鈥淚 saw the email from Laura Holland and I remember sitting in the apartment living room not knowing what to do because everyone I knew back home was asleep because of the time change,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I still sent a text to my family and celebrated with my roommates.鈥�

Garcia said winning the contest made her realize the importance of supportive friends and family.

鈥淭his contest was not only rewarding, but it definitely made me realize that being surrounded by people who support you and believe in you is just as important as believing in yourself,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 could have never done this without my supportive friends from Ozarks and my family.鈥�

Garcia secured her position with the Russellville Chamber a week before graduating from Ozarks. In her job, she manages the Chamber鈥檚 website and social media platforms, creates and distributes the Chamber鈥檚 weekly email, and creates visual content and marketing campaigns that engage local members. She also serves as the liaison to the Downtown Russellville Streetscape Project Committee and is participating in the Russellville Regional Leadership Class 38.

When the eclipse occurs on April 8, Garcia said she will take a bit of pride in seeing her design take center stage.

鈥淚t feels very rewarding,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s a self-taught graphic designer, this has been one of my biggest accomplishments yet.鈥�

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When Robert Wofford, professor of economics and business, thinks back on his 41-year teaching career at 糖心vlog官网, it鈥檚 his students that come to mind first and foremost.

鈥淜nowing that I played a small role in their career success or in their life makes me happy,鈥� said Wofford, who is retiring from Ozarks this month. 鈥淭he interaction with students is something I鈥檝e always enjoyed and that鈥檚 one thing I鈥檓 going to miss.鈥�

Wofford, who was given professor emeritus status by the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees in the spring, has been associated with his alma mater for more than 50 years. As a teenager, his family moved to nearby Hartman from Tulsa, Okla., and he learned about the University from one of his high school teachers, Leonard Reynolds, whose wife, Dr. Ruby Reynolds, taught biology at Ozarks.

At Ozarks, Wofford would end up with multiple majors and minors in history, education, public administration and business on his way to graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. After a stint working for the U.S. Department of Justice in human resources for a prison in Texas, he returned to Arkansas to earn an MBA from the University of Central Arkansas. As he was completing his degree, one of his former Ozarks business professors, Dr. James Perrett, invited him to return to Ozarks as a professor. He began teaching at Ozarks in the fall of 1982.

鈥淚 remember one of my first classes had over 100 students in it, so that was somewhat overwhelming,鈥� Wofford said. 鈥淚 also remember it took some time to figure out how to take what I learned in graduate school and teach it to undergraduates. It was a bit of an adjustment.鈥�  

Wofford quickly discovered that the classroom was his calling.

鈥淚 had initially planned to teach maybe four or five years and then enter the business field, but I found that I really enjoyed teaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 loved the interaction with my collegaues across campus. It was one large family and there was a lot of cohesiveness. I also enjoyed getting to know the students and watching them grow and develop during their times here. It was very satisfying to watch them start as freshmen and then go on to graduate school or great jobs.鈥�

While Wofford taught a variety of business classes during his time at Ozarks, he specifically enjoyed teaching economics and statistics.

鈥淚 tell my classes each year that nearly every major decision you make in your life involves economics,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to understand the basics of economics because it plays such a large role in our lives. As far as statistics, it also plays an important role because the world is made up of numbers and the more you can understand and work with numbers, the better off you will be. I鈥檝e had so many former students come back and say to me how much they appreciated my statistics classes and how it made a monumental difference in their careers.鈥�

Another lesson Wofford tried to instill in his students was the importance of punctuality. Often arriving to campus by 6:30 a.m. each day, Wofford was known for his many early-morning classes and for locking the classroom doors once class began.  

鈥淚 tried to teach life skills in my classrooms and one of the most important life stills is being on time and showing up ready to go,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen these students graduate, they will need to show up to work on time and do their best, and those are the types of life skills I tried to emphasize. A lot of students probably didn鈥檛 appreciate it at the time, but they would often come back later and thank me for holding them accountable.鈥�

Dr. Angela Spencer Wheeler, a 1998 Ozarks graduate and an associate professor of accounting at Oklahoma State University, said Wofford remains one of the best professors she has had.

鈥淚 was a student of Professor Wofford over 25 years ago; however, in my 23rd year as an educator, I still regard him as a pivotal influence and mentor,鈥� said Spencer, who is the interim head of the School of Accounting at OSU. 鈥淲hile he was initially intimidating, at least to me, his teaching balanced rigor with a fierce passion for learning. He pushed us to our limits, yet always aimed for our success. His approach was not just about challenging us, but also igniting our curiosity. Wofford’s contributions have greatly enriched Ozarks, and his retirement leaves a significant void that will be hard to fill. I am profoundly grateful for the knowledge and guidance he has imparted to me and so many others over the years.鈥�

Lee Whitaker, a 1993 Ozarks graduate who has had a successful career in business and management, is still close to the former professor he calls 鈥淧ops.鈥�

鈥淥ne of the things that I and others love about him is his sense of humor,鈥� Whitaker said. 鈥淗e could tell a joke, captivate you, and make you laugh all at the same time.  The most amazing thing about Pops is his genuine and caring nature.  It doesn’t matter what background you come from, what part of the world you come from, or anything, he cares about you as a person.  That is why so many of us know and love him.鈥�

Wofford, who received the University鈥檚 Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Award in 1988, said that despite the accolades from his students, it was him who often benefitted from being around students.

鈥淚n a lot of ways I probably learned as much or more from my students as they learned from me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e taught me about how the world has changed and continues to change, about different cultures and countries and about life.鈥�

Shane Werling, vice president of sales for D6 Inc., and a 1993 Ozarks graduate, said he appreciated how Wofford approached his classroom lessons.

鈥淩ather than just teaching out of textbook, Mr. Wofford had the ability to apply the lessons to real life business situations to make the lesson come to life,鈥� Werling said. 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 realize it at the time, but once you entered the business world the lessons made the transition from student to work a much easier transition because how he delivered it came from true experiences.  He was one of the best professors that I had throughout my college tenure.鈥�

Wofford鈥檚 wife, Debbie, along with several of his former students, surprised him with a retirement party during Homecoming in September. The party was attended by more than 50 former and current colleagues and students.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 get surprised easily, but they got me good on that one,鈥� Wofford said. 鈥淚t was very special to see so many former students and friends there. That鈥檚 a night I won鈥檛 forget.鈥�

Wofford, who served as director of the University鈥檚 Small Business Institute for numerous years, has used his skills and knowledge to service as a business consultant for several small and large companies, including Fortune 500 companies. He has also volunteered his time to conduct economic impact studies for various communities. In the last few years, he has helped out area electric cooperatives with economic studies.  In addition, he鈥檚 been one of the longest-serving marshal of ceremonies in the college鈥檚 history 鈥� from 1986 to 2023.

He has served under five different University presidents and a dozen different provosts, vice presidents and deans. He has seen the campus grow from around 400 students to nearly 900 and evolve from numerous World War II-era pre-fabricated buildings to modern facilities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely been exciting to watch how the campus has grown and expanded into what it is today,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a front-row view of some great changes on campus.鈥�

Wofford said his plans for retirement include a long list of home improvement projects, working on his family鈥檚 cattle farm, lots of fishing and golf and 鈥渟till getting up early, but doing things on my schedule.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss a lot of things about Ozarks, especially the students,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned to go by the old saying, 鈥楴ever say never,鈥� because I鈥檝e seen freshmen who you might think at the time will never make it through college, go on to run their own businesses, become vice presidents of leading companies or go on and earn their Ph.D. To me, there鈥檚 nothing better than seeing them become successful.鈥�

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Jon Langlois will join 糖心vlog官网 this summer as an instructor of business and coordinator of auxiliary housing. He will begin on July 1, 2023.

Langlois is currently a business faculty member at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana. He also served as associate dean of student success at Dawson.

鈥淢y family and I are looking forward to the next step in our journey at 糖心vlog官网,鈥� Langlois said. 鈥淭his honestly feels like my dream job; getting to work for an organization whose goals and values align so well with my own and being able to decompartmentalize work, family, and faith. We are excited about living and interacting with the incredible campus community that I got to know during my interview process. One of the things that really stood out to me about 糖心vlog官网 is the value placed on faculty and student interaction outside of the classroom. I look forward to being able to live life with students as they see my daily family life and my children grow up around the cultural diversity present on campus. We are also looking forward to enjoying the warmer climate and closer proximity to our families. We are truly excited to be joining the 鈥楴est.鈥� Go Eagles.鈥�

Langlois said he enjoys teaching the business discipline because, 鈥淚 enjoy the practicality as each person will work for a business, run their own business, or can apply what is learned to their personal lives.鈥�

鈥淪eeing the moments where a student’s eyes light up as understanding and meaning click is one of the most rewarding experiences when teaching business,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s a manager, I trained employees to do the job they were in and then continued to train and develop them to progress to the next job that they would advance to in the future. I try to apply the same principle where I can when teaching. I teach the learning outcomes and the grade to pass the class is important, but I try to show students how they can apply the knowledge now and in the future to benefit their lives. I have a personal goal that a student’s grade will not be in the list of top 5 most important/impactful aspects of the course when they look back on it years from now.鈥�

Langlois served on the residence life team Northeast Community College in Nebraska and has extensive experience in youth ministry. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in youth ministry from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and a master鈥檚 degree in business administration from Wayne State College in Nebraska.

With his father serving in the United States Coast Guard, Langlois grew up living in various areas of the country, including California, Florida, Alaska, Virginia, South Dakota and Iowa.

鈥淚 went to college in Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska and also worked in Nebraska for a decade,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have lived in Montana the past four years and starting this summer will live in my 10th state, Arkansas. My wife was born and raised in Nebraska. We met in the 5th grade at a camp in Nebraska, so I married into the Husker nation.  I have lived in a variety of locations, from major cities with millions of people, to a farm with town miles away. Home for me is not a place but people.鈥�

Langlois鈥� wife, Karina, is a classically trained vocalist who sings Opera and has worked as a college librarian. They have two children, Gareth (4) and Ondine, who is 22 months old. They have a third child on the way, with a due date later this summer.

Outside of work, he enjoys Husker football, basketball, volleyball, reading Sci-Fi and fantasy books, disc golf, playing basketball, hiking, modern board games, family activities, trying new foods and experiencing different cultures.

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