Category Archives: A&M

Students Crossed Paths with Local Businesses

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Students network with local Texarkana employers during Crossing Paths connection event. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown

TAMUT students networked with local employers through the Career Development Center networking event, Cross Paths. Employees guided and made connections with student attendees on the University Center’s third floor Thursday afternoon, November 1.

“Today we have a networking event. This is for our students to mix with employers, meet them, ask them questions about their career fields or just about their profession in general. Our theme this year is, ‘The World Awaits You’ to promote travel”, said Coordinator of Career Development, Samantha Armstrong.

Coordinator of Career Development, Samantha Armstrong describes the Crossing Path networking event a few minutes before it begins. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown

“When we talked to the students, they always say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know in the career professional world. This allows students to create the professional connections with employers to talk with them a little bit about their professional journey and get some advice”, said Armstrong.

Local employers such as State Farm, Arkansas Dept of Human Services, and Encompass Health, connected various majors, classifications, and goals within their career aspirations.

Arkansas Dept. of Human Service representative, Martin Vernon connects with a student during the Cross Paths event. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown

“We pretty much have opportunities that you are looking for from facilities, maintenance all the way to lawyers, so we like to provide information, a positive life, and other opportunities to the students”, said Martin Vernon of Arkansas Department of Human Resources.

“We are looking to get to know the A&M students that are in the business world for the next few years. Let them practice their interview skills, and hopefully someone who could join our team, whenever they’re ready. For the most part we sell and service insurance”, said Mckenzie Skinner of Kelly Ashbrook State Farm.

Students connect with various organizations, such as State Farm, Encompass Health, and Arkansas Dept. of Human Service. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown

Other local employers networked with different student attendees. “We have the Dept. of Human Resources, DPS Officers, crime labs, published author John Bunch who works here at A&M-Texarkana. He is a published photographer on the cover for People magazine. We have a big array of people on our Facebook and we sent it out in e-mails as well”, said Armstrong.

The employers described their expectations and qualifications with the students. “Someone who’s committed to helping customers. A self-starter that cares and will spend the time in getting to know and getting the right products to their customers”, said Skinner.

“Because we are Human Services-based, we’re looking for someone more personable, don’t mind working with people, have a good heart, and different things of that nature”, said Vernon.

“We look for enthusiasm and compassion. If you have the time and you want the hours, we are here. Volunteers work in the office with me, answering the phones. If you’re in the medical field, how do you feel about working with patients? We work with patients and their information is confidentiality. We work with a various of people. We want to know can you give that and do you care? Are you able to give to others? “, said Tonya Pace of Encompass Health.

The students also shared their goal aspirations regarding the campus networking event.
“I want to go to med-school and become a cardiologists”, said biology major, Neha Amberkr.

The biology major wants to attend a medical school in Ohio and connect with local Texarkana health-care professions.

“I’m looking forward to talking with the medical people around here and seeing if they have a part-time job or volunteering opportunities I can do. I have a background in EKG technician and have been certified. I was trying to find something around that”, said Amberkr.

Junior and Criminal Justice major, Mason Ladd checks out the Arkansas Dept. of Human Resources’ table. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown

“I want to network with other employers and to check out the vibe”, said criminal justice major, Mason Ladd.

Interesting in criminal justice and health, criminal justice major describes his qualifications during the Cross Paths networking event.

“What I add to the table is hard work. Pretty good IQ and the willingness to learn”, said Ladd.

“I want to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics to teach at a high school, but around that time I want to pursue a masters and eventually a PhD, so I will be able to teach at a university”, said Mathematics major, Cashaun Harris.

The future Trigonometry or Calculus student also described his qualifications regarding teaching Mathematics.

“I feel like when it comes to Mathematics, it’s taught in a different way that it should be. That’s the problem I see alot of kids trying to understand”, said Harris.

2016 TAMUT Alumni, Life Share Blood Center’s Account Manager, Kyndra Davis and Jake Hamilton State Farm Insurance Self-Agent Percy Davis connects with Mathematics Junior major, Cashaun Harris. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown

Alumni graduates, Life Share Blood Center’s Account Manager, Kyndra Davis and Jake Hamilton State Farm Insurance Self-Agent Percy Davis connected with student, yet gave them valuable advice.

“I would suggest to start looking now. It’s okay to apply for jobs and say you are graduating this date. My brother actually did that and he got a job within his degree field. Be confident in yourself, because people like confidence. They put their trust in people that know what they’re talking about”, said Kyndra Davis, a recent A&M graduate.

“Never give up, keep being active, staying in the community, doing different things, because you never know who you may meet. Always keep it professional, because you maybe holding the door for someone that maybe a CEO and stay hungry. Don’t let rejection discourage you. You are probably going to get rejection, while applying for jobs. That made meant the job was not for me. Keep your resume tight and updated. Don’t give up”, said Percy Davis, a Mass Communication alumnus.

“They can take away some connections. People to talk to about their career field. Somebody to give them professional advice. They can take away inner personal skills and talking with the employers that you will need as a professional”, said Armstrong.

Bravo’s Top Chef, Carla Hall Leads TAMUT With Love

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Photo Credit, Tiffany Brown. Members of the National Society of Leadership and Success sign in before famous Top Chef, Carla Hall’s “Leading With Love” live-stream in Eagle Hall 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

Bravo’s Top Chef, Carla Hall leads the National Society Leadership and Success (NSLS) organization with love through a live-stream leadership conference yesterday evening October 23 at 6 p.m. in Eagle Hall.  Hall’s tough, tedious experiences taught the united NSLS members the importance of following their passions, learning from failures and resilience, and leading with values and integrity within Eagle Hall’s conference room 6pm Tuesday night, October 23rd.

“If you feel frustration about something that happens to you, that frustration is about the teacher coming to you to teach you that thing. When all of those things happened to me at The Chew, it wasn’t about them, it was about getting me frustrated enough, so I could move from that”, said Hall.

Photo Credit, Tiffany Brown. National Society of Leadership and Success’ Founding President Philip Deuroen takes notes during famous chef Carla Hall’s live-stream.

The students took notes regarding accountability and self-diagnosis. “All this blame and not taking responsibility, you can play that game, but you’re going to delay your gifts and delay your lessons. If you are frustrated, then that’s your lesson. If you’re indifferent about what’s happening with someone else, you can just look and support them, while they’re going through it, but it’s not your lesson, it’s their lesson”, said Hall.
Upon learning Hall’s method of leadership, attending member Matthew Edwards and staff member Phillip Barnes discussed their definition of a leader. “To be a leader, be willing to listen to other ideas and not force your own ideas, be cooperative. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, said Edwards. “Communication and empathy. It’s one of the coessential roles a leader should have. It shouldn’t be just working with different people of all shapes and sizes, you should understand where people are from. At one point, you will be always that’s under someone person and a leader. It takes a person that has round-about thinking pairing to understand everyone and working together to similar goal. Empathy is the goal”, said Barnes.

Photo Credit, Tiffany Brown. A Carla Hall poster lies on the National Society of Leadership and Success’s sign-in table.

The famous chef coincided her personal experiences with Barnes’ statement. “When I hired people at the restaurant, I wanted to teach young people work ethic, which is why I hired older people. I want this older woman to yank this kid up and be like look dude okay. Sometimes, it’s leading by example. Other people just don’t see it. You can not be a lesser than you. Nobody wants a lesser than you. Nobody wants an earnest, overly-righteous, pointing the finger, because what you don’t realize is by doing what you do other people are watching. They will flow with you or leave you”, said Hall.

Photo Credit, Tiffany Brown. Members of the National Society of Leadership and Success communicate briefly before Carla Hall’s live-stream leadership conference.

She also described the importance of teamwork during her hard-core, Top Chef competitive days. “When you’re in a competition, and it seems cut-throat and everybody’s trying to win, for me it was about doing me, and being true to myself and others, and helping others. If I am running away to get er done and I see somebody fall, I’m going to go back and get that person, because you don’t win by yourself. Top Chef was that thing, it was hard and it was a little bit of bullying. I learned you just have to say no.”

Photo Credit, Tiffany Brown. Founding NSLS chapter President Philip Deureon speaks positive messages toward the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Founding NSLS chapter President Philip Derouen and Phillip Barnes believe Hall’s advice will equip the organization to become future better leaders in their organizations. “She will give our members a live-stream about leadership, women’s foundation, and teach our members leadership and how they can use that in the real world”, said Founding President, Philip Derouen. “It will be another series of various speakers that exemplifies leadership and will intern inspire the ones in the room to grow and build upon those aforementioned leadership traits they carry”, said Phillip Barnes.

Besides being active, having boundaries, and achieving your goals, Deroeun states a necessity every leader should have. “For me your mindset effects everything, so if you have a positive mindset, you can accomplish anything that you want. That’s what I want to give all my members apart of this society.

During the live-streamed, Q/A session, Hall touched similar topics regarding the right attitude. “God goes before me making smooth, easy and clears my way. No person, place or thing or outside condition can affect me. I am powerful, worthy, free, creative, unique, confident, and so it is. I say that every morning”, said Hall.

Tearing Down the Line

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Do you have an uncontrollable desire to live next door to your biggest football rival and eventually make amends through governmental practices? If you do, I have the perfect place for you. Texarkana is widely known for its dividing state line between Arkansans and Texans. The rivalry goes so deep that patron lines for tickets to the annual Arkansas and Texas High football game begin two weeks in advance. This divide goes much deeper than just a friendly rivalry. The physical divider, State Line Boulevard, is our largest indicator of economic separation between the two states. Most people in town will tell you that the Arkansas side is the poor side of town; the bad side of town.

The United States Census Bureau says that there are 67,592 people living in Texarkana, with 37, 333 residents within the Texas side and about 30,259 in Arkansas. Could this be the reason for such a wide-spread difference in financial situations? There are more housing availabilities on the Texas side than that of Arkansas’. However, the median household income is higher on the Arkansas side, while per capita income is lower. In addition to stark variation in housing conditions, the United States Census Bureau statistics show that there is a variation in education levels across the state line. The Texas side has higher rates of high school graduation and degree attainment. Health professionals are one of the highest employed in Texarkana, for example. Most of these positions need some type of degree. Could this be due to the stark financial differences between patrons? Maybe Texarkana needs a wider variety of job opportunities. Many college programs across at least three colleges and universities in Texarkana offer expertise in a whole slew of categories. Progressiveness, by the city of Texarkana, in introducing those job opportunities for college students and graduates is essential. The answer is not definitive.

Complements of the Ar-TX Redi Website

The good news is that there are people interested in breaking this trend. Recently, a group of investors came together to create AR-TX Regional Economic Development, Inc. (AR-TX REDI). The group will pull resources from both sides of the town to try to create a more stable economic situation for all! The goal is to bring more business into this area, creating more jobs and financial progression. This is partly because of Texarkana’s rich, career-building educational community, including schools such as Texas A&M University – Texarkana, Texarkana College, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. In fact, TAMUT will be providing assistance to this organization by offering its facilities as a sort of headquarters. You, as a student and community member, can easily be involved in something that has potential to change your town tremendously.

To display this master plan, both governors met in the downtown area for a symbolic tearing down of state borders. Ledwell and Son Enterprises, a local truck and trailer manufacturing company, built a hydraulic system into the famous Texas and Arkansas state line sign. When the cue came, the sign was ‘knocked down,’ eliminating the divide. There was a huge turnout and Texarkana citizens are very happily engaged with the program. Facebook was a hub for communal inspiration in regards to this
event. It was a cool idea and visual for something that sounds historically complicated.

For more information, visit the AR-TX REDI website, or their Facebook page. For more information about Texarkana’s current economic status, please click here.

Natural Hair 101

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Photo Credit: AyeCiara

Natural hair is a beautiful thing. Without the right tools, it can be a frustrating, yet beautiful thing. Regardless of the frustration, natural hair does not require much for healthier lengths. With minimal work, it is quite simple. Minimal work does not mean neglecting your hair. It means the right strategies that work for your hair. Your hair needs your cooperation, not your help for healthier lengths.The following steps will help you personalize a successful hair care routine and surpass the stumbling blocks for healthier long locks.

Moisturize your hair daily

Photo Credit: Naptural85

Just as your body needs moisture, your hair needs moisture. Water is the moisturizing agent for natural hair. Without moisture, the hair dries, brittles, and results in breakage, single-stranded knots, or split-ends. Spritz your hair with a water bottle regularly. Lock in the moisture with water-based products (creams, leave-in conditioners, oils) for daily use. Water-based products should list water as the first ingredient. Based on your hair’s porosity, use the LCO (liquid, cream, oil) or LOC (liquid, oil, cream) method. Use the LCO method if you are low-porosity. Use the LOC method if you are high-porosity. If you do not know your hair porosity take a porosity test. Porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. To determine your hair’s porosity, you will need a hair strand and a cup of water. Find a loose hair strand and place it in a cup of water. If the hair soaks, it is high-porosity. If it floats, it is low-porosity. High porosity hair quickly absorbs moisture. Low porosity hair slowly absorbs moisture. The moisturizing process becomes easier after your hair porosity results.

Deep condition your hair weekly

Photo Credit: ivycharlaine

Deep conditioners add extra moisture than regular moisturizers. You will need a hooded dryer, steamer, heating cap, plastic cap, or a plastic grocery bag with a warm towel. Heat is not the enemy. It is an essential tool for a successful deep conditioning routine. Heat opens your hair’s cuticle layers to receive the moisture your hair needs. Without heat, your hair cannot get the proper moisture you need, especially if you are low-porosity. Regular moisture will not retain moisture if you do not properly deep condition with heat. Depending how dry your hair is, deep condition for 20 minutes to an hour.  Your hair becomes softer and more manageable.

Wash your hair on a regular basis

Photo Credit: Jewellianna Palencia

Remove product build-up with a sulfate-free shampoo. It will not dry or strip the hair as rumored. Shampoos clarify and cleanse the scalp, but do not condition it. Co-wash cleansers do not equal a shampoo. They do not remove product build-up as a shampoo. After a few days, your scalp becomes itchy and dirty, resulting in hair loss. Of course, your hair is moisturized, but is still dirty from product build-up. Product build-up keeps the hair from retaining moisture. Regular shampooing keeps the hair moisturized, yet clean. Clarifying shampoos are available at Sallys, Target, Wal-Mart, and beauty supply stores. If a clarifying shampoo becomes too drying, use a moisturizing shampoo for a clean scalp instead. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp.

Trim your ends regularly

Photo Credit: Craving Curly Kinks

Length does not mean healthy hair. Do not be afraid to trim your ends. Health should be the primary focus of your hair. Your hair will still grow over time. Split-ends, see through ends, or single-strand knots should be cut immediately. Avoiding them will split the hair strand towards the top. Straighten the hair after a shampoo wash, deep conditioner, and a blow dry. Cut your ends evenly with a sharp pair of scissors. Even cuts prevents unevened layers unless you desire the layered look. A regular trim should be every three months.

Wear protective styles

Photo Credit:
Ambrosia Malbrough

According to CurlCentric, hair grows half an inch monthly. This means your hair grows six inches per year. Protective styles retains length throughout the year. They should be worn every 5-7 days. Braids, twists, wigs, or weaves should not surpass 4 weeks. Protective styles also prevent constant touching or styling the hair. Constant combing, styling, brushing causes breakage, hairloss, and split-ends. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair and require the most attention. Tuck them away and leave your hair alone. During protective styles, you are still accountable for your hair. Braids will not give you longer hair if you neglect it. Your hair will be more prone to dryness and breakage.

Find holy grain products

Photo Credit: PowerInYourCurl

Holy grain products are stable products that work best for your hair. They provide the best results and cater to your hair’s needs. Once you’ve found them, stick with them. Do not change them, unless they stop working. Holy grain products are called that for a reason. Your hair responds extremely well without issues. Do not switch products based on millions of YouTube product reviews. Through trial and error, you will find the right product. It takes time, but not forever. Products are reviewed through daily YouTube videos. Read the comment sections and remember similar pro’s and con’s. Google and read product reviews before purchasing it. Once you purchase the product, focus on your hair’s reaction. If the hair responds well, keep it. If the hair responds bad, return it.

Research

Photo Credit: NaturallyTemi

You will not know everything about natural hair. With daily research, you will learn certain methods regarding your hair type, curl pattern, texture, and porosity. YouTube and blogs are the perfect places for learning natural hair care. They provide specific instructions for each individual’s natural hair care needs. Each individual will also learn beyond the basics. YouTuber, GreenBeauty teaches natural hair visual learners scientific facts through 3D cartoons videos and regular photos. Viewers understand better concepts behind split-ends, natural hair myths, protective styles, and proper hair care.

Choose a successful hair twin

Photo Credit: Glamtwinz

A hair twin matches your hair type, texture, and curl pattern. You can easily spot them through YouTube and social media. If you have a 4a/4b hair curl pattern, follow someone with a 4a/4b hair curl pattern. It makes your hair journey easier to understand based on their experiences. Do not take advice from someone above a 4a hair type. Their hair journey will not be relatable as the 4a/4b hair guru. Millions of natural, curly-haired gurus post YouTube videos social media hashtags. This gives you plenty of choices to follow. Keep in mind, you cannot follow everyone with the same 4a/4b hair. You might have the same 4a/4b hair curl pattern, however, you might not have the same texture, or porosity level. Plus, you will not learn proper natural hair care with too many options. It becomes frustrating and confusing. Narrow down your choices and follow your top favorite. This person should be well-experienced, especially if they have successful healthy hair. Focus more on their health, than length. Their hair did not grow healthy overnight. They experienced set backs and failures like everyone else.  Keep in mind, your hair twin are not hair gods. No need to follow everything she says. She will change routines or products often. You do not have to purchase an item every time they review a product. Stick with what you know and apply what you have learned.

Listen to your hair

Photo Credit: NickyBNatural

No one knows your hair better than you. If something goes wrong, your hair will let you know first. For example, if your hair does not respond to a product your favorite YouTube guru raved about, do not force yourself to love it. Immediately, stop using it and return it. Do not compromise your hair based on another person’s opinion. It causes unhealthy, destructible results. Another example, if your hair seems drier than usual, re-moisturize your hair. Do not stress about a scheduled routine. It’s better to respond to your hair’s needs, than a set of rules. Never ignore what your hair tells you and consider better solutions to your problems.

Eye On Eagles

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Have you noticed all the smiling faces around campus? Students and faculty shared what they think are the most attractive qualities about our university.

Professor of History, Dr. Tom Wagy with fifty years of teaching experience, thirty-four of which have been in the Texarkana area, imparts that he likes the freedom to teach how he chooses and appreciated his obligation to serve students in the hopes that they positively can change their lives. Dr. Wagy believes students with a frontier spirit will find a home at TAMUT, and those who want to complain about the lack of some resources should rejoice in the fact that the universities long-term success rests in all of our hands, “TAMUT is being built before their eyes, and students have a chance to make a real difference.” Dr. Wagy admits that he is not an expert on the current pricing of universities, but believes that TAMUT is a great value for the local community compared to the price of “going off” to seek a higher education.

Eighteen-year-old freshmen Jordann Schuler considered other colleges, but after considering the cost decided to attend TAMUT and is happy with her choice. “I like the friendly environment. It’s like a big family.” Jordann would recommend TAMUT to anyone graduating high school.

Forty-two-year-old graduate student of history Melinda Zwirn appreciates “small classes in which passionate teachers teach.” She would recommend TAMUT to younger students, as there is not an abundance of online or night courses that older students need to help juggle a forty-hour work week. Melinda would like to see more attention paid to the various scholastic competitions that TAMUT students take part in.

Associate Professor of Mass Communication Dr. Drew Morton compares his teaching experience at UCLA and Cal State to TAMUT. He likes the small class sizes, diversity of content he is allowed to teach, and says that he has the opportunity to have relationships and discussions with students as well as Intimacy of classrooms.

“I think Texarkana-A&M is a great value because students are able to have accesses to PhDs as professors whereas at most major universities you would have teaching assistant in a certain area and you might have a PhD for an upper division class that you would actually get contact hours with. Career teachers are here and they are expected to teach well first and foremost.”

Twenty-year-old sophomore Sage Altenbaumer appreciates TMAUT’s quality professors and likes the small class sizes. He would recommend TAMUT to anyone looking to further their education. Sage would like to hear more success stories about recent graduates.

Students and professors agree TAMUT is a great place to learn due to the small classes, the availability of passionate professors that are well-qualified, and the reasonable tuition. How will TAMUT continue grow and gain the prominence that other larger universities have attained? Our university’s long term success lies in the hands of every student that graduates and goes forth into the world to reveal the inner light that was kindled within these halls.

Best Week Ever at TAMUT

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The Office of Student Life, along with other organizations on campus, will host its annual Best Week Ever the week of August 27, 2018.

The assistant director of Student Life, Celeste McNeil, is already beginning the planning process. This week is a time for new and returning students to immerse themselves back into the college lifestyle before classes are in full swing.

The Best Week Ever will involve many of the organizations on campus. During this week, the students will have a plethora of events to choose to attend. In the past, there have been events such as trivia night, bingo, music, and entertainment.

As usual, the week will consist of the Spotlight on Texarkana. This event gives the 50+ organizations on campus an opportunity to market themselves to students. This event also hosts local businesses, such as banks, insurance companies, and restaurants to let everyone know about things to do in Texarkana.

Co-sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, the week promises to be exciting and engaging for students coming on campus. The Office of Student Life, with the help of the TAMUT family, will put on a lovely week of fun-filled experiences for new and returning students.

For more information about the Best Week Ever and how to get involved, contact Celeste McNeil at (903)-223-1351.

 

 

Equality Texarkana’s Day of PRIDE

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On June 9th, 2018, you’re invited to join Equality Texarkana in celebrating PRIDE in historic downtown Texarkana. This year Equality Texarkana combined its Pride Picnic and Pride March into one event.

We have special guest Stephanie Rice serving as the Grand Marshal of the Parade!

If you’re interested in volunteering, click here.

If you’re interested in being a part of the parade, click here.

If you’re interested in setting up a vendor booth at the event, click here.

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Tamut Drama presents Molly Sweeny

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Three characters, three stories, and three ideas lead to the fall of a woman: Molly Sweeny. Sweeny, blind since birth, is convinced by her husband to undergo an operation to restore her sight but is ultimately used by the doctor for his own benefits and betrayed by her husband.

This is the TAMUT Drama Department’s latest undertaking. Molly Sweeny is being played by Nathalie Gounaud, her husband, Frank, by Hollis Thompson and the doctor, Mr. Rice, by David Zwirn. The chorus consists of Chandler Moree, Daniel Jones, Hanna McClain, and Allyson Couture.

The show will run April 26th, 27th, and 28th in Talon Theatre, located in the University Center, room 326. All shows will start at 7:30 pm. General admission will be $8; all students and A&M employees will be charged $5. For more information, contact Brian Billings at bbillings@tamut.edu.

Iota Beta Nacho!

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The ladies of the Iota Beta chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha are exited to sponsor a Nacho Typical Sorority Party here at A&M-Texarkana. This party is open to all women on campus who would be interested in rushing next semester, would like to get to know us, or those who would want some free nachos! This event will be held on April 26th at 7pm in the TEXAR Room of the University Center. 

The sisters of Alpha Sigma Alpha are looking forward to meeting any women who would like to join the organization, or just hang out and eat free nachos.

Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority is dedicated to developing women of poise and purpose. Since its founding in 1901 at Longwood University in Farmville, VA, the sorority has grown into a strong organization consisting of more than 160 collegiate and alumnae chapters nationwide.  For more information on Alpha Sigma Alpha, please visit www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org.

RRILH Event: SPSS Tutorial!

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As one of the last official events of the semester, Dr. Sikorski will be holding an event tutorial of the data analysis program SPSS. Stop by and learn something new!

When: April 17th at 12PM

Where: UC 217

The event itself should only last about 30 minutes!