Category Archives: Business

College Admissions Bribery Scandal

Posted on by
Reply

The recent college admissions bribery scandal continues in the news with the beginning phase of sentencing for the people who have plead guilty. The scandal, given the name Operation Varsity Blues, is the largest college admissions scheme ever prosecuted. In the center of the scandal is William Singer, a businessman who allegedly collected $25 million in bribes from wealthy parents who were trying to get their children into some of the top colleges in the country.

The indictment claims that Singer’s company called the Key was a front to allow briberies of college sports coaches and cheating on standardized tests. Parents would pay non-taxed donations to Singer’s non-profit organization which promoted itself as a college preparation and counseling program. Prosecutors say the scam ran from 2011 to 2019. Larry Davis, Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University-Texarkana said, “Some wealthy people think they can buy their way into things that other people cannot. If you have money to buy things, that is fine, but if you use money for illegal payoffs, that is wrong.”

Fifty people have been charged in this scheme including thirty-three parents, Mr. Singer, and coaches and professionals from multiple universities. Universities including USC, Yale University, Georgetown University, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Texas, and Wake Forest University. No institution has been charged in the case. Mr. Davis stated that, “Texas A&M University-Texarkana has criteria that students must meet to be admitted. High school students must have a certain GPA and if they do not, they can appeal it and then they might have some guidance on remedial courses they can take to be admitted.”  Twenty people have pleaded guilty in this case.

The three most well-known parents indicted in the scandal are Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer; Mossimo Guinnalli. Huffman plead guilty to charges that she paid $15,000 for someone to correct her daughter’s SAT answers. The maximum sentence for her act is 20 years but prosecutors have recommended only four months in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2019. Loughlin and her husband, on the other hand, have pleaded not guilty to paying $500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters admitted to University of Southern California as crew recruits. All the university coaches involved are either on leave or fired from their universities.  It is believed that many of the students involved were not aware of the illegal activities taking place to get them admitted. As of now, no students involved have been charged in the scandal.

NSLS Connects Campus to Houston

Posted on by
Reply

The National Society of Leadership & Success is coming back to campus bigger and stronger than ever before on campus. It is still the largest organization on campus and the chapter still plans to outgrow themselves each semester. The NSLS is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential. Candidacy is a nationally recognized achievement of honorable distinction.

In addition to honorable distinction, the NSLS provides a step-by-step program for members to build their leadership skills through participation at their campus or online. Upon completion of the program, members receive their leadership certificate and take their place among the top student leaders at their campus and across the country. Members are able to list their affiliation on all statements of personal accomplishment, including their resume.  

Membership is for life and provides access to benefits including scholarships and awards, exclusive on-campus events, employer recruitment through an online job bank, and discounts on computers, textbooks, grad school prep courses, insurance and much more. Once you have paid your registration fee, you are considered a member (also known as pre-inducted member) with access to certain benefits. In order to become an inducted member, one must complete the following steps: 

  1. Orientation: the first meeting that occurs each semester and will give you access to all the information you need about the program in order to successfully complete the steps for induction as a member.
  2. Leadership Training Day: an interactive video training session with a workbook designed to help you identify and overcome any obstacles that may interfere with obtaining your goals. This introspective seminar helps you to recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and lastly to shift your focus toward your real passions. 
  3. Three speaker broadcast events: you will watch some of the world’s most successful motivational speakers discussing topics related to leadership, identifying goals, facing challenges, personal growth, and successfully transitioning from college to career.
  4. Three Success Networking Team meetings: bring together groups of students that work together and provide peer coaching on achieving goals. You can discuss goals, desires and expectations, set timelines and hold each other accountable for achieving what you want. The Success Networking Team provides members with a support network of like-minded goal-oriented students on campus.

After completing these steps, applicants will be invited to an induction ceremony to receive a membership kit.

The NSLS Chapter at Texas A&M University-Texarkana currently has 324 members. However, the chapter expects a significant jump in that number over the next month. The chapter sent out 618 invitations on Friday, September 6th and received 11 joins in  3 days. Members who received an invitation have until October 3rd, 2019 to accept the invitations.

Next month, Emily Page, Bethany Melton, Darrylynn Dean, and Philip Derouen (the writer of this article) plan to attend a conference in Houston, Texas to bring back more ideas from chapters nationwide right back to Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Emily Page and Bethany Melton were two of the first inducted members on campus since the chapter started in 2018 and they both moved up to serve on its Executive Board. Fall 2019 is Emily’s first semester to serve on the Executive Board and she says she could not be more excited. “I’m so happy I said yes and I don’t regret the decision at all. I’m beyond happy and thankful to work alongside both of y’all,” Emily said.

Wal-Mart Supercenter Has a New Look

Posted on by
Reply

Exciting changes occurred earlier this year at the Wal-Mart Supercenter. The Wal-Mart Corporation specified that every store is to be remodeled every five to seven years, so the store on New Boston Road in Texarkana, TX began remodeling during the last week of May. The store underwent changes in the design and placement of several departments. The remodeling lasted fourteen weeks with a grand reopening on August 30th. The changes made were for the convenience of the customers.

An announcement was made at the beginning of May to hire extra employees to help during the remodeling process. An estimated fifty-five personnel were hired for various jobs, from building and restocking shelves, moving departments, and helping customers find things. Assistant store manager Jeff Epps said, “We hired local people from our community. Some people quit after the first week due to the demand for the work required. Those that stayed until the end were given a job at the store.” He estimated twenty-five people stayed.

There were a lot of changes made. Some departments were expanded, while some were combined with others, making them smaller. Some departments were moved while others stayed in the same place. The biggest change occurred in Sporting Goods, Hardware, and the Tire and Lube Center. The departments were combined with a shared counter in the middle. Housewares and Domestics have combined as well. Another big change occurred in the Pet Department. The live fish tanks have been removed and replaced with tack and feed for livestock. The Pet Department has also been combined with the Chemicals Department. The Electronic Department has expanded with a wider counter. 

Other changes have occurred in the store. New floors have been laid, new lights in the Produce Department have been installed. The Money Order Center has moved to the middle of the registers. The area where the Money Order Center was is now up for rent for businesses to come to the store. The most noticeable change is the huge tower located on the grocery side. This tower is for customers to pick up their online general merchandise orders conveniently using their phones.

Mr. Epps explained how the changes and remodeling affected the department managers the most. Departments being moved and aisles being relocated frustrated the department managers, as they felt lost while trying to help their customers. The overall morale was good among the department managers as they focused on customer service above all else. This helped to ease the frustration among the customers shopping in the newly rearranged departments.

The overall changes appear to be satisfying to both the customers and the employees. The floors and bright lights are especially the favorites among the changes. Less frustration and complaints occurred as customers started to find their way around the newly designed store with help from the employees. Customers will be happy to know a new change in the online grocery pickup is in the future. Customers will be able to extend their orders instead of being limited to how much goods they are allowed to purchase. 

As with any business, there are other future plans in the works for the Texarkana Wal-Mart Supercenter. Customers can be assured their needs will be top priority whatever changes occur in the future.

MeOmyO! Ville Platte Platters

Posted on by
Reply

A new family owned restaurant has opened in Texarkana, Texas. If you are down for some good Cajun food, this is the happening place for you. MeOmyO’s is now open on State Line Avenue for you to come check out!

Trevor Aslin and his brothers have been in East Texas for quite some time, but were raised in Ville Platte, Louisiana. This interested him in to opening a restaurant to show off his works of art in certain dishes that are dear to him and his family. “Having the whole variety of Cajun food in one place is difficult, so we just like to keep it Ville Platte style,” Aslin said. He went on to explain his step mom Cyn who was also Cajun, showed them to use the ‘trinity’ which (is a combination of onion, bell pepper and celery.

I’ve known this family my whole life and can tell you the flavor and richness in their food makes it Cajun. Many people think of the spiciness, but if it doesn’t have the flavor of the ‘trinity’ it is not as flavorful. Cyn will be visiting often to cook for the restaurant and also share new recipes with her boys. MeOmyO’s is named after an alligator that lives on their bayou property, and the logo has a secret joke, if a customer looks long enough.

Many great things are coming to the menu of this restaurant as they build from the baby steps of this new business. “We will be expanding our hours and adding menu items as time goes on, but we want to make sure we are ready for each step,” Aslin said.  As of February 12th, they posted on their MeOmyO’s Facebook page they are open till 9pm. So, if you haven’t already, try out some crawfish etouffee, Cajun shrimp ravioli, or a Po Boy sandwich. It is located on 2122 N. State Line Ave.

Marshall Health Nuts

Posted on by
Reply

Healthy restaurants are hard to come by in Marshall, Texas. Just recently a new restaurant opened up called the Health Nut, bringing new varieties of healthy foods that most places in Marshall cannot offer. Health Nut offers foods such as vegan wraps, sandwiches, and tasty smoothies. For snacks, they offer acai bowls and fruit. While this place is quite small, it has a lot to offer the small town of Marshall.

During the grand opening, I was able to talk to the owner, Jane Hollifield. Mrs. Hollifield said her idea behind Health Nut was more of a lifestyle she and her husband developed years ago. It was not money motivated, she simply just wanted to share her healthy lifestyle with others.

Hollifield did not think it would have as large an impact on her community as it did. When asked how she and her husband managed to open up such a trendy restaurant Hollifield said it took them at least three years of consistently saving money and only buying things that they absolutely needed. On Health Nut’s first day open they sold out of everything in just four hours. In the first week open, business did now slow down, but became even busier.

Many patrons interviewed said they really enjoy their food and were glad that something so good came to such a small town. Some even said that Health Nut makes them want to change their lifestyle into a healthy one. Others said they were so motivated that when they got home they threw away all of the fatty foods out of their pantry. This new restaurant is already having a big impact on the small city of Marshall.

23 & Me, the Best DNA Company

Posted on by
Reply

The definition of genealogy is a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. I believe every human once in their time has thought of their origins. DNA companies such as 23&Me, MyHeritage, FamilyTree and so many others have gained a lot of popularity over the years. According to Forbes, Ancestry.com DNA database alone tops about 3 million, sales rise to about $850 million back in 2017. It seems like many people want to know about their past. I’ve gained a profound interest in understanding the genesis of my paternal and maternal ancestors, as well as the ancestors of my ethnic group and of course fellow human race. Hopefully this will be some use to people who are considering buying a DNA kit.

One of the main reasons that I’m well versed in DNA test is because I took four DNA tests: 23&Me, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA. I don’t want anyone to overpay or buy a DNA kit and end up confused about the results or not liking the company. So, I’ll rate from the best company out of those four from 0 to 10 and focus on the best throughout but let’s start with the best.

I would say 23&Me was the best by far, followed by Ancestry.com, then MyHeritage, and finally FamilyTree. The reason why I like 23&Me out of the others is because it has more to choose from than the others, it’s less expensive, only costing around $40 or $50 dollars if there’s a holiday or random sale.

Now, when I say 23&Me has more to choose from, it’s due to their many different selections such as: Ancestry, Health, Research, Family & Friends. When you choose one they then break into various subcategories. Here’s an example: let’s say you want to know more about your father’s side. All you have to do is click “Paternal Haplogroup” under the Ancestry/Summary tap. It tells you, who you descend from on your male side going back over 5,000 years it’s quite extraordinary. But let’s say you want to know about your mother’s side? At that point you click “Maternal Haplogroup” under the same tab Ancestry/Summary. Theirs tons of other selections on 23&Me whether you want to learn about your “DNA Relatives,” “Ancestry Composition,” “Your DNA Family,” so much to see and learn about according to your genetics.

Some came close in features such as Ancestry.com. However, if you want to learn more about the history of your family in America, you had to pay extra for birth and death certificates as well as for any military information or newspapers/slave records. This additional information such as documents would be great to have, spanning back for decades but you have to pay extra for it or monthly. I imagine most people don’t have the extra money to do this, but if you do, you may love Ancestry.com.

The company does have a wide database that can provide governmental information on just about anyone’s family in the past. They’re the best company if you’re into documents on your family but over-all very basic when it comes to their DNA Story. They only provide broad regions of the world that your ancestor came from such as: Mali or England but it doesn’t breakdown into specific ethnic groups like: Igbo or Anglo-Saxon. The DNA story is to broad in that sense, however, they’re always updating so it may get better. Nevertheless, Ancestry.com is good the only downside is broad regions and monthly expense which is why I have it second on the list. If you get Ancestry.com at least get it along with MyHeritage.

The reason why MyHeritage is third is because it’s similar to Ancestry.com but unfortunately has less information when it comes to documents i.e. certificates. The only reason I’ll get MyHeritage along with Ancestry is to see if the results come back the same or at least similar. This is why I recommend taking at least two DNA test from different companies to make sure that the results are close or the same. Also, it’s wise to check on your family to see what you should or might have so you can get a basic idea of what to look for. Needless to say, MyHeritage gives a general regional location of where your ancestors came from in the last few centuries but it doesn’t get into specific people groups, however, if that’s what you looking for (geographical regions) then MyHeritage is for you.

My least favorite is FamilyTree, simply because I refuse to pay $400+ for a full Y-DNA search test. For the male lineage it’s more expense than the female. That alone should be a good enough reason to not buy it, but it doesn’t end there. FamilyTree is a less known company thus their database is small. The reason why these DNA companies have so much information about your past is because they have millions of people genetic history in their system. The smaller the company the less they can work with according to DNA, which is why they may be so expensive. This company also in my opinion tends to be for experienced geneticists, because of their slightly confusing layout and terminology.

If anyone is interested in learning about their heritage, I recommend you buy 23&Me first then Ancestry.com if 23&Me wasn’t good enough for you. I also recommend you buy these DNA Kits during a sale, but the main reason why you should choose 23&Me first is because it has more options for you to choose from according to: genetics, lineage, regional ancestry, and it provides deep ancestral roots than any other DNA company. Breaking down your father or mother side when it comes to DNA Haplogroups and gives you a specific point of origin for your ancestors. And I will always recommend that you further your studies particularly on Haplogroups to get the full scope of your lineage.

The Robots are Walking!

Posted on by
Reply

Technology is constantly changing, and soon, even how we write will not be the same. But change can be a good thing if it is gradual. And it will not be like certain robot takeover movies. That’s right, robots! This is a great thing if our crazy imaginations do not intervene.

Robotics is one of the greatest innovations in science and technology. There are current observations on robots where scientists study their logistics to better aid them when performing aggressive tasks. Unfortunately, robots might be better than us, yet they need our supervision to function properly.

Boston Dynamics is one of the leading companies in the robotics industry. The developers there have created many robots with impressive functions. One is called Spot which is built similar to a dog. A video has two Spots thinking to each about how to open a door. One of them eventually opens the door so the other Spot goes out along with the other.

Another robot is called Atlas. It’s designed to have motor functions like a human. Another incredible video shows him jumping onto and over every obstacle. He falls over in the end but for comedic attribute. Atlas is still operational to this day. Dynamics have also made another version where he can go outside through any type of environment.

In recent times, an achievement of Boston Dynamics happened to be 10 spots pull a large truck. This has become very shocking to the people due to the success of these robotic dogs performing a miraculous task.

Who knows what will happen next?!

All the world is changing, for better and worse. Old technology may soon be gone, but the new technology can make impossible dreams a reality, especially robots.

Fun Boston Dynamics YouTube Links:

For information on Boston Dynamics click here:

Yoga in TXK

Posted on by
Reply

Yoga is a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation. It is a system of breathing techniques, physical postures, and often practiced independently to promote physical and emotional well-being. Yoga is a great exercise that helps you relieve stress, burns fat, allows you to gain flexibility and mobility, detoxify the body, aids in organ function, improves your posture, helps with concentration and build your confidence. Citizens across the ArkLaTex practice exercise with yoga every day. 

Image Courtesy of Texarkana Yoga

Texarkana, Texas offers the citizens TXK Yoga. Texarkana Yoga is located off I-30 on Mall Drive. The studio is a clean, modern and simply decorated to create a welcoming, peaceful and focused practiced.

Texarkana Yoga has ten instructors each offering a diverse teaching style and are very passionate about their yoga craft. TXK Yoga instructors have each been trained under a 200-HR Yoga Alliance teacher trainer program. Current yoga instructors list as: Brittany Carder, Venus Lillis, Leslie Looney, Denise Means, Lauren Correll, Sandra Mullins, Lynnell Westerman, and Jim Booker.

Image Courtesy of Texarkana Yoga

The owner Jen Dickerson has spent half of her life in yoga and has over 23 years of experience. Jen mostly teaches the power yoga sessions heavily influenced Bryan Kest’s teachings and inspirations. Jen said “Her mission in life is to bring yoga to everyone who has a pulse. No mater your background, shape, size or physical condition, there is a form of yoga for everyone”.

Classes are offered every week on time schedule from Sunday- Saturday and often taught by different instructors on different days, along with fun and creative yoga workshops during the holidays, wellness, and nutrition classes. The different yoga classes to be offered is Sunrise yoga (Hot), Hot yoga, Cool yoga, Warm yoga, and Mornings for men.

Texarkana Yoga offers a special membership option for students at the rate of $55 a month with unlimited sessions or $10 drop in per session. For more information on TXK Yoga log on to https://www.texarkanayoga.com/ , visit 2011 Mall Drive #5 Texarkana, Texas 75503 or call 903-293-1626.

Download the Texarkana Yoga app today via Android or IOS to sign up for classes.

The Hustle of Broadcast Journalism

Posted on by
Reply

“Networking, networking and networking!!!”

Photo courtesy 95.3 Jamz

For many people, success in the broadcast journalism career field happens at a rare chance, but for people like Brittanni Strambler, her hustle and networking takes her to the next level.

Brittanni Strambler is a Houston, Texas native who takes her hustle to heart. She is a TV host and radio personality heard on 95.3 Jamz. According to Brittanni, her job in the industry has allowed her to influence the lives of others around the local community. “The impact I have on a community and the responsibilities I hold through storytelling. Staying relevant can be stressful at times, especially when trying to engage millions of people”, she said “working in the industry has many pros that outweigh the cons.”

Broadcast media involves more than sitting behind a microphone and speaking. To get involved in this line of work, “You can never go wrong with a YouTube channel,” Strambler said. Finding mentors and reading about other success stories can also be a great way to gain knowledge on the industry.

“My mentor has definitely played a huge role in my success. He is the CEO of the station I currently work for and he listens in to every show and gives me negative/positive feedback,” Strambler said.

Photo courtesy 95.3 Jamz

Just recently Brittani and NFL player DeAndre Washington of the Oakland Raiders teamed up on D.Wash Foundation first annual Youth Football Camp at the Thurgood Marshall high school in Missouri,Texas. The event allowed for enhancement of young boys and girls lives to enable them to make a positive impact on the football field and in their community.

Experience and preparation for broadcast journalism comes by taking advantage of internships and mentors, networking, and getting involved with one’s campus radio and television station. Strambler believes the best way to get started with an entry-level position is by applying for positions within a media company and working one’s way up. Strambler said one’s schedule may vary because news, sports, politics, and entertainment change daily.

As a six-year veteran in the broadcast field, Strambler’s best advice for any newcomer is to “Build your network, stay relevant and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

For more about Brittani, follow her on instagram @bri_media.

All Aboard for Prague!

Posted on by
Reply

The Career Development Office has been given an opportunity to host a course, and guess what, it’s a study abroad leadership course to Prague, Czech Republic! It’s going to be focused on career development, your own career choices, and how those fit in the global workplace. Everyone who will take part in this amazing opportunity will travel to five industrial sites in Prague where everyone involved will talk with the leadership and human resources teams. Students will also be connecting with Prague college students who will be sharing how they get jobs there. Similarly, A&M students will share how they can get jobs in America. “I am hoping the students that go with us will return back for an internship or a study abroad course over there,” says Tina Boitnott, Director of Career Development. She also “hopes it opens up the world a little bit more to students and lets them see how they fit into that global workplace with everything they’re learning right here at A&M-Texarkana.” So if you’re curious and interested in traveling to Prague, Czech Republic make sure to stop by our Career Development Office with any questions you may have.