Contributing Writer

Lorena Gonzales, a wildlife sustainability and ecosystems science major, has always been drawn to wildlife and creation itself, making her choices at Tarleton State University feel like second nature.

“In the book of Genesis, God gives us a command to have dominion over all the animals,” Gonzales said. “Knowing that I can be a good steward of God’s creation, and being able to shepherd them in the way Jesus shepherds me.”

Gonzales said that her faith has impacted not only her career choices but also her everyday choices.

“I know that the Lord provides for his creation,” Gonzales said. “So being able to serve these animals, to go into rehabilitation and rewilding, it allows me to see a glimpse of how his creation worships Him better than we do sometimes.”

During Gonzales’ freshman year of college, she joined Tarleton's chapter of the Wildlife Society. 

Tarleton’s chapter is part of a larger national society, founded in 1965, that prioritizes research in wildlife management and conservation.

Through her experience in the Wildlife Society, she has participated in many events, including mentored deer hunts. 

But her love for wildlife didn't come to her during college; it’s been instilled in her since the beginning. Growing up in Hondo, Texas, just south of San Antonio, she was provided with numerous opportunities to get involved in the wildlife and agriculture industries. 

“[Hondo] had all of our sunflower, cotton and cabbage fields. As well as the 777 Ranch. Which is a big deal globally,” Gonzales said. 

Growing up around these industries provided her with opportunities to grow her interests before college. She also said how much her dad played a role in shaping her out who she is and what she is interested in today.

“I have a really great relationship with my dad,” Gonzales said. “Growing up, we were always hunting, fishing, making mud pies and being outside.”

Gonzales recalls hunting as the fondest memory with her father, instilling in her what it truly means to honor wildlife in a faithful way.

“Being able to pray over any kill that we got that would provide Christmas dinner was really cool,” Gonzales said.

When Gonzales hit the third grade, her eyes were opened to the conservation and preservation of wildlife.

“I did a Google Slides project on the Ocelot. It showed me what the word nocturnal meant," Gonzales said. “It was a very pivotal moment.”

Years later, Gonzales joined FFA and 4-H organizations. Both of those organizations also sparked another interest in agricultural mechanics. In her freshman year, she joined Tarleton's Ag Mech Club, initially being what she wanted to pursue in higher education during high school. 

Since then, a lot has changed for Gonzales. During her freshman year, she found Tarleton’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM).

The BSM is an on-campus student organization that serves as an extension of local churches, associations, individuals and Texas Baptists.

“Late September [2023], when I saw a post of BSM’s Freshman Journey, my dorm neighbor and I had nothing going on, so we went,” Gonzales said.

She got plugged into Marion Barrett’s, a fall 2023 Freshman Journey leader’s, Bible study.

“She ended up discipling me my first semester, and that was super influential,” Gonzales said.

Tarleton’s BSM had played a major role in Gonzales’ college freshman journey and identity in Christ. During that year, she got plugged into Timber Ridge Church as well, and has been attending for three years.

At the end of that year, she was asked to be on the Leadership Team at the BSM. The Leadership Team consists of becoming passionate followers of Jesus, sharing the love and truth of Christ with Tarleton students and connecting Tarleton students to local churches.

It is a very honorable position that Gonzales was quick to jump into. She was placed on the 402 Crew, which helps set up and take down the BSM’s weekly 402 gatherings.

402 is the BSM’s Thursday night worship service held for all Tarleton students and community members.

“I was welcomed as if I had been there the whole time,” Gonzales said.

Through her time at the BSM, Gonzales has had the opportunity to grow her faith through many things, like GoNow Missions and Beach Reach South Padre Island.

Gonzales’ faith and perspective on being a servant changed when she was sent to Athens, Greece, with Texas BSM through GoNow Missions. 

“We went to serve refugees, and we met so many people who were already followers of Christ, or they weren't,” Gonzales said. “But we also met people who were in different stages of life.”

Gonzales said she met a girl who was a digital media major from a university in her country. She said it was a hard transition for her, having to flee her country and get her bearings on her life. 

“Being compassionate and more servant-hearted, then coming back and being really grateful, changed my perspective on having no complaints,” Gonzales said. “I met people who had no idea where their family was.” 

She said even though she's four hours away from home and her family, at least she could call or FaceTime them. This changed the way she appreciated those opportunities that not everyone has.

She also said it changed how she sees overconsumption. She met people who were wearing the same clothes every day and had keepsakes. It showed her how they have to live life day by day, and they don't plan it. 

Arriving back in Texas, she reflected on a scripture in the Bible from the book of Psalms. 

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be,” (Psalm 139:16). 

Along with serving in Athens, she also served at Beach Reach SPI for the first time. 

“That opportunity really allowed me to plant really deep roots in some friendships I had and build new ones,” Gonzales said. “That was super life-changing.”

Gonzales said that at Beach Reach, she was able to serve people from various age groups who were on the island doing various activities, through offering free van rides, free pancakes and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

“I was one of those high school and college students who did [various activities]. And so being able to go with a different life, as a new creation in Christ, was really impactful for me,” Gonzales said, “as well as getting to see where God has taken me into a full circle moment.”

Gonzales said she was re-baptized that year during Beach Reach SPI, making the trip all the more impactful for her.

Since then, Gonzales has now switched roles on the BSM’s leadership team. She now leads a co-ed upperclassmen journey Bible study. Through that, she continues to share the love of Jesus Christ back at Tarleton. 

Gonzales is also the lead career coach at Career Services on campus. She supervises a team of three coaches. They assist with anything in the career and employment process for current and previous students.

“It is super beneficial,” Gonzales said.

Not only has Gonzales been impacted by her various involvements at Tarleton, but she has also made a massive impact on her peers around her.

Isaac Taylor, a campus missionary at the BSM and Tarleton alumnus, reflected on a time when he and Gonzales had to go pick flowers on the side of the highway for a class assignment. He reminisced about bailing out of the truck to pick Bluebonnets in “Lorena’s dope truck.”

“Picking up Bluebonnets is actually not illegal,” both Gonzales and Taylor said with a shared laugh.

Bonnie Reese, a Tarleton freshman and BSM member, said how much Gonzales had impacted her freshman year of college.

“Some of my favorite things about Lorena are how welcoming and kind she is,” Reese said. “I have always appreciated her being there for me at church and the BSM, as well as how she’s helped guide me through my freshman year.”

Brynnen Heep, another Tarleton freshman and BSM member, shared how special her first time meeting Gonzales was.

“She invited me to her Bible study for wildlife majors, and she was my first wildlife friend,” Heep said.

Even though Gonzales’ time with Tarleton BSM is over, and she may not have the opportunity to impact new students at Tarleton, she has huge plans to continue sharing the love of Jesus Christ elsewhere.

In August, Gonzales plans to pack her things and move across the country to Corvallis, Oregon. She will be a campus missionary at Oregon State University for 10 months. That includes doing outreach events, evangelism on campus and other events. 

In May of 2025, Gonzales served on a mission trip to Oregon with Tarleton BSM to help serve with Mosaic Ministry at Oregon State University.

“That’s when I considered going into full-time ministry,” Gonzales said. “I didn't know if that's where God was leading me. So, going there, my life kind of flashed before my eyes; God is moving over there.”

Fast forward to August of 2025, when Gonzales was offered an opportunity from the Mosaic Ministries assistant director to serve as a full-time campus missionary at Oregon State University.

After many days of back and forth between a career in wildlife or full-time ministry, Gonzales decided to go with the latter. In fact, she said it was one of the hardest things she has ever decided.

“I had to count the costs of uprooting my life in Stephenville, all while trying to stay connected to friends I have here and family I've made here, also staying connected with my family back home,” Gonzales said. 

She also reflected on the other costs of doing ministry.

“I thought about other opportunities to do ministry, but everything always led back to Oregon,” Gonzales said. “My parents and I are going to road trip up there as a last final journey until I see them for the holidays, so that will be fun.”

Ultimately, Gonzales is bittersweet to leave the place she has called home for the past three years, but she’s thankful for the people and the organizations who have positively influenced her.

“Those conversations and people really helped push me; they were catalysts for me to now go into this place I never would have gone if it wasn't for God placing them in my life,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales walked the stage and received her degree in wildlife sustainability and ecosystem sciences on May 8, 2026, at 8 p.m. in Tarleton’s EECU Center.

Executive Producer

To tell you the truth, my graduation has come as somewhat of a shock to me. I always figured I would run away on some grand adventure and live the life of a nomad in some old beat-up van from the 90s that was hastily and cheaply converted into a camper. But to say I am part of the JTAC and Texan News Service (TNS) while graduating with a degree in journalism and broadcasting, along with a minor in film production, is almost more shocking. 

Journalism was not something that even crossed my mind, and for the majority of my life before college, I always assumed I would be in a STEM-related major. When I transferred to Tarleton State University, that was, in fact, exactly what I was doing.     

I was pursuing a degree in civil engineering because I thought it was a stable path that would make me a good amount of money, and I could find a job pretty easily.

In that major, I actually met our current editor-in-chief, the amazing Caroline Crain, who was also an engineering major, now converted to a journalist. We shared three of my five classes, and we would catch lunch every now and again.

At the time, I thought that was what I was supposed to be doing. However, it was not the path I was being called to go down, and truthfully, I did not last a full semester before I decided to change majors. 

I ended up talking to a communications advisor, who set me up with a random digital video production class taught by Mr. Kirk Wise, and the rest is history. 

That class really inspired me and was something I wanted to keep doing, so my advisor suggested the journalism program since it had a broadcast aspect to it, and the next semester I was in the famous news gathering and writing course with Mr. Austin Lewter. 

Caroline and I ended up sitting next to each other in this class, and we were promptly drafted into the TNS by Mr. Lewter. I was a little on the fence about it at first, but it was probably the best thing that could have happened. 

Once I was there, it felt like a second home where I could learn and develop my skills in broadcasting. It was also nice to be able to get involved in something and meet so many wonderful people. 

Shout out to Ashtyn Hansard, who taught me how to use the studio equipment and is just a genuinely awesome person. She was a lifesaver, and we got through some pretty crazy technical difficulties in our time.

The time I spent with the TNS was so rewarding and offered me so many amazing opportunities to strengthen my skills in journalism. It gave me a lot of practical experience that just can’t be taught in a classroom. 

We were able to go on a trip to the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, where I was able to get hands-on experience. While there, I was sent to a fake crime scene where I got to write a broadcast script based on the events that I saw and interviews I conducted.

Another event I was lucky enough to attend was the College Media Association in New York City, in March of this year. I was able to talk with so many journalists who all had amazing stories to tell. It was an amazing learning experience, even if it was a little bittersweet since it was the last big event I would share with the outstanding TNS crew.

I am not sure if I am prepared for the long nights spent cooped up in the post-production room, glued to Adobe Premiere Pro to fade into memory because, regardless of how tedious it was at times, it was always so rewarding to see our work finally come together and then see it published.

I am sad to be leaving the broadcast studio and production room, but I know they are in great hands with Drew Fleming and Micaela Sullivan, two very talented and quick-witted individuals. I would wish them good luck, but I know they don’t need it. 

Thank you, Mr. Lewter and Mr. Wise, for helping me along the way and believing in me. 

Truly, I would not be here if it weren't for the amazing people who supported me on this rocky and ever-changing journey. With a list too long to name, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dear Texans, to say I love Tarleton State University would be an understatement. As I sit here, I am filled with nothing but gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunities, memories and people all brought to me because of Tarleton State University. 

The last three years of my life turned out better than I could have ever imagined. While I only joined the Texan News Service (TNS) for my last semester, I was given new opportunities and met so many kind people. I still kind of kick myself for not joining sooner. 

When I came to Mr. Lewter asking if there was any possible way I could get experience to build my broadcast reel, without hesitation, he found ways to help me. When I joined, I was welcomed with open arms by all of the staff. To Mr. Lewter and all of the TNS staff, I thank you for being so kind and allowing me to be part of your team for my last semester. 

I was able to use this time with TNS to build my portfolio for my aspiring career in news and sports reporting. Because of this experience, I have now accepted a job as a multimedia journalist in Abilene, Texas. 

While I wasn't in TNS long, I also had the opportunity to be part of the Tarleton Sports Internship since my freshman year. This internship allowed me to gain experience working in sports production and meet many people in the industry. I got to be a sideline reporter for multiple Tarleton State basketball games on ESPN+ this season and travel to the Texans’ baseball game against TCU as a sideline reporter for the radio.

 I was able to not only strengthen my skills but also enforce my love for sports and news reporting. I believe that between my time at TNS and the Tarleton Sports Internship, Tarleton has given me the chance to be as prepared as I could be for this next chapter of my life, and for that, I will always be thankful. 

I also had the privilege to be a member of the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta. I could not speak more highly of this chapter and all of the blessings it brought to me in my time in college. I met women who speak encouragement into others' lives daily, show acts of service to the community without hesitation and will stop at nothing to ensure you are seen and known. One thing I do not think people outside of Greek Life know is how much of our time is spent in community service and advocating for our philanthropy. 

I was honored to serve as the Vice President of Chapter Wellness in 2025. This role allowed me to view things differently and reminded me how much showing grace to people matters. If you are questioning going through recruitment, I urge you to give it a chance. It can change your life. 

I would like to thank Mr. Kirk Wise for playing a major role in my time here at Tarleton State. I remember my first day as a freshman sitting in his class so eager to learn; little did I know I would find a way to take his classes for every semester of my college experience (except one). 

Eventually, all of my classes with him involved the same group of students who would later become my friends and soon enough turn into what Mr. Wise called us, “the gang.” He shares wise advice (fittingly), encourages you to take new chances and will help you make sure the registrar's office lets you graduate. As bittersweet as it can be, I just sat in one of my last classes with Mr. Wise. I pray that he continues to affect students at Tarleton just as he affected me. 

My parents' childhood homes were only ten miles apart growing up, but they didn't meet until they were here at Tarleton. They then got married, I was born in Stephenville and we moved to my hometown when I was four.

It was always fitting coming back to Stephenville, as it was so good to my parents. It always felt like home. I thank my parents for their hard work and sacrifices that allowed me to get my education here. While I close this chapter of my life, I am sincerely grateful for Tarleton and Stephenville for the lasting memories it has left on my family and in my life. 

Contributing Writer 

Tanner Wells — the man, the myth and definitely the legend. According to Merriam-Webster, a legend is a person or thing that inspires stories passed down over time. It’s a definition that many people have the opportunity to achieve, but rarely do. It takes a special person to have their story remembered.

For Wells, that story didn’t start at Tarleton. It started in the moments that shaped who he was going to be for the rest of his life: his childhood.

“Growing up, both my parents always made sure I was doing the right thing,” Wells said. “They told me to do something for someone or lead by example.”

Instilling a strong sense of giving allowed Wells to see the world in a way that most people do not, a world centered on serving others before himself. As a child, that influence did not always feel easy to understand.

“My dad influenced me the most,” Wells said. “While he could be, in my eyes, harsh, I realize now, as I’m becoming an adult, he was just making sure I was going to be a well-respected man.”

Coming to Tarleton was a big shift for Wells. The values he’d grown up with were things he chose to live by every day. A big part of that also came from his sister's encouragement.

“When my sister went here, she wasn't involved at all on campus, so when I was coming to Tarleton, she made it a point to let me know that I should get involved and try and do everything here,” Wells said. “She says it's one of the things she wishes she did while she was here.”

According to Wells, he was first introduced to Tarleton through his sister, from moving her in and out of her dorm.

“It wasn't until she invited me up for homecoming my senior year of high school that I fell in love with Tarleton,” Wells said. “When I came up, I got to experience the bonfire and then the parade and the football game the next day. This is when I knew Tarleton was my home.”

College can often make or break people. Students are away from their families and everything they’ve ever known, and whether they sink or swim depends on the choices they make. Wells chose to take advantage of the opportunities Tarleton gave him.

“Believe it or not, my freshman year, I was more introverted and reserved,” Wells said. “Through my time here, I have obviously pushed my limits and gotten outside of my comfort zone with getting more involved and more out there.”

What started as just showing up turned into something much more. Wells began to take on bigger roles in the organizations he joined, leading with compassion and just being himself. The more he stepped into these roles, the more he began to lean into the values from his childhood. What makes Wells really stand out is not just how much he has done, but the way he carries himself while doing it.

He is a member of the Shotgun Club and Ultimate Frisbee. He was a Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM) for two years, serving as a facilitator before transitioning to the Leadership Team (LT). He served as the FarmHouse assistant recruitment chair and chaplain of the Tarleton Men's Society. He has also been crowned Mr. TSU.

“Through being a TTM, I got to connect with students and families coming to Tarleton,” Wells said. “After my last year at Duck Camp, I joined the Texan Reps, which gave me the perfect opportunity to still serve and talk to future Tarleton families and connect.”

While Wells has made his rounds throughout the university, his ability to stay humble and want to serve others is more impressive.

Wyatt Towler, a member of FarmHouse and friend of Wells, praised the effort Wells puts in to make people feel seen and also “for small things that people overlook.”

When Towler was a first-year TTM, Wells wrote him an appreciation card, with print so small it was hard to read, but it took up the entire card. 

“It wasn't just a ‘Hey, I’m proud of you, good job,’ it was a full-on heartfelt note that made me tear up,” Towler said. “It was so meaningful to me, and I still have it to this day.”

Another friend of Wells, Sam Lima, had a similar experience with his level of care in a different way. According to Lima, Wells, along with another friend, took the time to help her move everything out of her apartment, into a storage unit and then back into her house.

“He helped with a lot of the heavy lifting but also just provided space in his truck so that we could move everything in at one time,” Lima said. “I was in so much distress because I was thinking I had no time to do so before, but Tanner laid down all of his time just to help.”

Times like these go to show just how far Wells will go for his friends. 

“He truly cares about his friends and always will make sure to put up a fight even if he ‘might lose to the first punch,’ which is a joke he always makes,” Lima said.

These actions may seem small to others, but they are what make Wells memorable. It isn't about getting a thank you back or expecting someone to do something in return for him. The quiet but intentional acts speak louder than anything else, and they leave lasting impacts on the people around him.

“I'm most proud of all the connections and impacts I've made with the people I've met here,” Wells said. “I also think the mentor and leadership opportunities that I've been able to be a part of is what I'm most proud of.”

Wells said he believes leadership is not about power, but about setting a good example. He makes it a point to lead in a way that helps the people around him grow. He has found the most fulfillment in serving those around him in this way.

As he looks ahead toward his future, Wells plans on carrying those same values into his next chapter of life. After graduation, he intends to spend the summer serving as a church counselor before taking his next steps.

“Tarleton has grown me in ways that I didn't know were possible and has equipped me with life skills that I know will transfer into my next chapter,” Wells said.

If a legend is characterized by personality and the values they live by, Wells has already made his place, long before his story has been completed.

Assistant Producer 

“Comfort is the enemy of progress” has been the mantra Dimi Poulos has lived by since leaving her hometown of Liling, Texas, four years ago. Poulos left her hometown wanting something different; she wanted to be in a place full of opportunities that would push her out of her comfort zone, which is what led her to Tarleton State University. 

“I wanted to figure out who I was outside of my town. I wanted to figure out what that looked like for me and what opportunities could have come from that. It's so easy to stay in what you're comfortable in,” Poulos said. “I wanted something new. I want to get out of my comfort zone, I want to meet new people, I want to experience new things.”

Poulos has taken advantage of every opportunity she could at Tarleton, starting with being a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, in which she has held numerous positions during her four years. She was vice president of public relations for Panhellenic. She served the incoming freshman classes as both a Tarleton Transition Mentor and a part of the leadership team. 

Poulos has showcased her love for service as the assistant director of development for Tarleton Round Up, as well as being a part of the Tarleton Serves service committee. During her time at Tarleton, she was also president of the Tarleton Ambassadors Club. 

Most of all, she has had the opportunity to shape young minds and find her true passion within the classroom. 

Being the middle child with four sisters and a first-generation college student, she has known from a young age that teaching was a part of her story. Within the Tarleton education program, she started student teaching as a junior and has now started her full-time residency at Granbury ISD. 

“Education is something that no one can take away from you. I think there's something so rewarding in teaching, and you always remember your teachers,” Poulos said. “I think that it's something that has truly shaped me into who I am. I have never felt more passionate about something and doing something, just so content.” 

Citlaly Rodriguez is a junior and a three-year member of Delta Phi Epsilon. Poulos and Rodriguez have been a big-little pair within their sorority for three years. The two met when Rodriguez was a freshman at Duck Camp and have been friends ever since. 

“Dimi has one of the biggest hearts I've ever met,” Rodriguez said. “It’s so inspiring to see how she loves her classroom. It's so heartwarming to see how much she cares for her students and how she loves them.” 

One of the biggest things that drives Poulus to be a teacher is reflected by her favorite quote: "Love them today, so they can learn tomorrow.” This quote has shaped her teaching philosophy and given her the drive to continue her journey as an elementary education major. 

“For these kids, school is their safe space, and it is absolutely astounding to me that we get to create that atmosphere for them. We have the opportunity to provide something for them that is so magical and makes their life worthwhile; it is so special,” Poulos said. “This is my calling. This is what I'm put here to do. I'm put here to I'm here on this Earth to feed these children and let them know that they are the creators of their own destiny, and they can do hard things. We support them when they're at their best and bring them up when they're at their lowest.” 

Yareni Davila Cabrera is a senior elementary education major and has been friends with Poulos for more than two years. The two met while both were volunteering through Tarleton’s Alternative Spring Break. 

“Dimi has been a part of countless organizations at Tarleton. I admire how she's been able to manage her time and give 110% to each of those, and she shows up and shows out whenever she's a part of something,” Davila Cabrera said. “Her dedication to the community here in Stephenville and to serving others is amazing; she is so selfless.
She is so involved but still serves others and puts others first before herself.” 

Anyone around her attests that Poulos is an outstanding example of what it means to be a Tarleton Texan and member of the Stephenville community. Throughout her four years at Tarleton she has not only been crowned Mrs. TSU, but has been a member of many organizations, and most of all, has become Miss Poulos to her students. 

“Her energy, how she delivers it, carries through into the classroom, and I know her students are so lucky to have her,” Davila Cabrera said. “I know she will do amazing things at Granbury, and I know she's destined for big, big things, so I'm super excited to see where life takes her and how she's able to make a positive impact wherever she goes.” 

Poulos starts her job this August as a kindergarten teacher in Granbury ISD. She plans to continue her education and go on to get her master's degree, and to continue to step out of her comfort zone while making an impact on the kids in her classroom, just as she has at Tarleton. 

Digital Media Director

When I first came to Tarleton State University as a digital media studies major, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do with it. I just knew I loved the arts and always had an appreciation for storytelling, so what better than to focus on video production?

Turns out, that was just the first step to get me onto my truth path of writing.

Now, as an English major with a focus in creative writing, I can confidently say that I wouldn’t have found the right place for me at Tarleton if it weren’t for the J-TAC/Texan News Service (TNS) building that bridge for me to find out how much I love writing.

When I first joined TNS in the spring of 2024, I was very worried that I wouldn’t have the skills to stick with it. I’ll admit that I originally joined for extra pocket money and for another opportunity to annoy my brother, Jaxon Hansard, who was a multimedia journalist for TNS at the time.

However, after writing my first article, a review over the movie adaptation of the Broadway version of “Mean Girls,” I realized that this was something I actually enjoyed. Analyzing films and character performances and getting to share them with others as a film review became one of my favorite topics for newswriting. That same semester, I switched my major to communications.

While I still wrote features and other sorts of articles for TNS and eventually the J-TAC, I always kept my eye on articles I could write that focused on books or films. At first, I chalked it up to just loving these forms of media, which I still do. However, I realized it was something more.

In the fall of 2024, I decided to take a risk and switch to an English major with a focus in creative writing. This was the best decision of my life.

Now, I’m not including this to knock down the communications majors, but to show how joining the TNS helped me understand that I didn’t just love the process of video production, but I love the story it portrays; and what better stories are there than the people around you?

Working at the J-TAC has taught me so much about what it means to be a writer: the effort needed for a good story, the importance of a picture and the impact you can have on a group or community just by sharing their story.

After working with this paper and with our advisor, Austin Lewter, for two and a half years, I can safely say that I’ve seen a lot of writers come and go, but have also made some friendships that will last a lifetime.

To my fellow graduating seniors, I’m so glad to be taking this step with you.

To Caroline, you have made such a great editor-in-chief this semester. Even when I got so stressed that I didn’t know what day it was, you never discouraged me, but instead found a solution to our problems with me. Thank you for being so patient, and I can’t wait to see what you do when you graduate.

To Brenna, you have become one of my favorite people here at the J-TAC. Our walks from our poetry class to walking into SMAC meetings 50 minutes late helped me keep my head on for the last bit of our time at Tarleton, and there’s no one else I’d rather talk about different forms of media with. You’re gonna kill it in life.

To the rest of the J-TAC, I’m so excited to see what you do with this lovely paper.

To Brooklyn, you’re going to continue to thrive at the J-TAC. I love your energy and passion for this paper, and I know you’re going to push this paper even further than what it’s already become. Keep on smiling like you always do, and keep writing great articles.

To Lindsey, I have so much respect for you as our art director. Watching you design the layout on paper nights with Chick-fil-A trips has always been a favorite part of the J-TAC for me, although I don’t know if you’d agree. You’ve changed this paper so much, and I can’t wait to see what you do with it next.

To Helena, I’m so happy that I have a hometown friend with me in that newsroom. Whether it’s a joke about something from high school or a question about someone back home, I’ve loved getting to see you every week and watch you flourish. Keep suggesting your wild article ideas and don’t change yourself one bit.

Of course, none of this could have happened if it weren’t for Lewter taking a chance on me.

To Lewter, thank you for having faith in my writing skills and being lenient with me as I did trial and error to find what I wanted to do with my life. I know you were hoping I’d stick with majoring in communications, but you also taught me to go for what I love. Know that if I ever publish a book, you’ll be getting a signed edition mailed directly to you, free of charge.

My college journey may not have been the smoothest, but I’m glad for the bumps along the way. I love the humanities and the J-TAC. Everyone I’ve ever worked with has been just as passionate as me about keeping this art form alive, and for that I can only be grateful.

Before I end this letter, I want to include two quotes from the movie that helped me realize why I write people’s stories, real or fictional.

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world…You must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all,” said John Keating in “Dead Poets Society.”

Although I don’t graduate until August, my chapter at the J-TAC is closing, and I wouldn’t have wanted it with anyone else.

I encourage everyone reading this, whether you think you’re a writer or not, to find your passion and commit to it 100%. Have strength and trust in yourself. It may be a hard journey, but don’t wait until the last chapter ends to find out you wish you could rewrite your story. 

As my favorite book and movie series, “The Hunger Games,” says, “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” Don’t be afraid to take a risk and have hope in your future.

Multimedia Journalist

When Gracie Jones first pulled into Stephenville with just a plan to tour Tarleton State University “just for fun,” she didn't expect to fall head over heels with the campus, culture and lifestyle. In fact, she was already fully committed to another university on a near-full scholarship.

Within days of touring, she had flipped her entire plan, turned down her other offers and committed to Tarleton and the Honors Program.

In high school, Gracie was the definition of involved. She served as class president, Beta Club president, an FFA officer and a student body representative every year. Between leading meetings for her class and managing the softball team, she found time to play varsity golf.

 She was a natural born leader, yet she admits that, back then, much of her drive came from the pressure of fitting in like many others. Coming to Tarleton as a first-gen college student, she had very mixed expectations of college life. 

“Something that surprised me was the duality of it,” Jones said. “I’m allowed to be fully involved in my academics, maintaining internships and serving as a teaching assistant, while also still being fully engaged in the campus life and social engagement areas.”

Jones has noticed much personal growth, realized she has come to not worry much about fitting in and is simply comfortable being her full self.

Jones is first to say that she never saw herself as a “sorority girl.” She didn't go through formal recruitment and hadn't even given it a second thought during her first semester. After a few months of watching the sense of community among campus and Greek life, she decided to go through the recruitment process in the spring of her first year. 

She walked into Phi Mu and immediately fell in love with it. It wasn’t just the sisterhood displayed in the room and on social media, it was the personal connection to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals that sealed the deal. 

After a year in the chapter, Gracie’s passion for the sisterhood led her to run for the position of vice president of new member experience.

In this role, she was responsible for guiding and mentoring 95 individual new members. One of her favorite memories to “bottle up” happened in the fall of 2025. After months of planning her sororities Bid Day, she watched the buses pull up and saw 75 new girls spring to their new home. 

“I just felt so happy to be a part of a day that was going to be so special to them,” Jones said. 

Phi Mu became the place where she learned that leadership isn't about the title; it's about making sure the person behind you feels like they found where they belong.

If Phi Mu was her home, New Student Programs was her passion project. For two years, Jones served as a Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM) and a Duck Camp leader, even spending a summer on the orientation staff (O-Staff).

Her first Duck Camp in the summer of 2025 stood out as a turning point. It was the moment she realized how much she loved the idea of “guiding others home.” 

“All of my favorite memories at Tarleton are centralized around wanting to help other students fall in love with this university the way I have,” Jones said.

That spirit of mentorship bled into every other part of her life. Whether she was working as a residential leader (RL) at the Honors Hall or laughing through long shifts on O-Staff, Gracie was always building community.

 She even found a “Baby Duck,” Cadee Springs, who started as a mentee and turned into one of her best friends. Finding someone so similar to herself and watching them grow into the Tarleton culture was an experience Gracie says she will cherish forever.

The true measure of Jones’ time at Tarleton was found in the words of those who walked beside her. Her peers describe her not just as a leader, but as a steady presence who makes everyone around her feel seen.

Henry Jonason, who served alongside Gracie on the RL staff at Honors Hall for two years, has an immense amount of care for Jones. 

“Grace and I have been RLs together for the past two years, and she’s probably the best person I have ever met,” Jonason said. “She is a leader with integrity who values honesty and respect amongst her peers and fellow men. She lives joyfully and with optimism, never losing an opportunity to have a good conversation with someone to make them feel welcomed and cared for.”

He continued, attesting to her warm personality.

“She laughs easily and is curious about the people and the world around her. She is also just a quality friend,” Jonason said. “There have been times where I need to count on someone, and without a second thought, she is there to support me in any myriad of situations. Grace exemplifies the Texan spirit living out our core values. I am proud to call her my friend.”

Eeva Linna, a fellow TTM and O-Staff member, shares a similar glimpse into the heart of their friendship.

“She is the kind of person who loves and serves others with her whole heart, fully investing herself in every relationship,” Linna said. “Before each orientation, we’d grab McDonald’s breakfast and 7 Brew, and we’d end our days with Cici’s Pizza. Even in a short time, we clicked immediately… Gracie is incredibly easy to get along with and always makes everyone feel welcome. She never fails to make me laugh or show me a good time. I’m so grateful to call her a friend.”

Jones’ academic journey has been just as transformative as her social one. She started out thinking she wanted to go into a research field, but she eventually realized that data and lab reports were not where her passion lay. 

“I realized how much I don’t find fulfillment in research,” Jones said. “I want to be able to talk to people face-to-face and help them improve their quality of life.” 

This realization shifted her career goals toward the psychological field, specifically focusing on cognitive-behavioral aspects. 

After graduation and completing her graduate school requirements, her goal is to become a cognitive behavioral therapist. Until then, she hopes to work in a psychiatric rehabilitation center, applying the leadership and empathy she honed at Tarleton to a clinical setting.

As graduation approaches, Jones looked back at her time in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and her various leadership roles with deep gratitude. 

Tarleton wasn't just a place to get a degree; it was a place where she was allowed to grow, make mistakes and eventually find out who she actually was.

“I don’t even recognize the girl that first committed to Tarleton,” Jones said. “I have been able to feel so much more confident in who I am, what I’m capable of and how much of an impact I can have. I can’t imagine how I would have managed all the personal growth I've done over the past few years if it weren’t for Tarleton.”

She’s moving into the “real world” with a healthy mix of confidence and curiosity. While she feels certain of her passions, she remains open to any changes that might come. 

Ultimately, her goal for the next few years is simple: to keep evolving and to be a person who would make her younger self proud. 

For Gracie Jones, the purple and white isn't just a school color; it's the backdrop of the years she became herself. 

News Editor/Podcast Producer

Blanco, Texas, is a 3.5 square-mile town about halfway between San Antonio and Austin. It’s home to just 2,200 people and is known as one of the “hubs of the Hill Country.”

About 25 minutes outside Blanco is where Lizzy Wheat grew up. 

A 10-mile trail of winding road takes you to her family’s 10-acre property, with their house surrounded by animals, a fishing pond and wooded trails. Those trails take you right up to a spectacular view of the Texas Hill Country and a clear panorama of every star in the sky. 

“I’m a little country mouse, born and raised,” Lizzy said.

She and her siblings were each homeschooled up to their senior year. Starting in sixth grade, she started attending HAAC (Homeschool Arts & Academic Class) days. This co-op allowed her to start getting involved in sports and extracurricular activities, which would eventually lead her to finding her career passion and college major. 

Lizzy did ballet for 10 years, starting at six years old. She had also been in theater classes and plays her whole life, capping off her senior year by playing the Queen of Hearts in “Alice in Wonderland.” 

She decided to join her co-op’s student council, which is where she started to see her career path form. 

“My sophomore year I joined the student council, and they ended up electing me president. I did that for my junior and senior year again, and all four years of high school, I was on the winter formal committee,” she said. “I came to school (Tarleton)  because I love events, but I discovered that love from that committee.” 

Lizzy was in charge of the winter formal planning, and this school dance is what sparked her passion for events. 

“While I was working on the winter formal, the venue (The Gardens of Cranesbury View in New Braunfels, Texas) ended up offering me a job because of how well I did as the head coordinator,” she said. “So I worked there for about two years, my junior and senior year of high school, and coordinated a couple weddings, and I even was on the staff whenever they started offering Airbnb as an amenity at the venue, so that was how I dipped my toe into the hospitality industry as well.” 

This job meant by the time Lizzy started college, she not only had leadership experience from high school, but actual wedding and event planning experience. 

She knew about Tarleton through family friends who attended, and it only took one look at the campus to sell her. 

“I did one campus preview day, and I was like, ‘sign me up, I'm here. There's nowhere else I want to be,’” she said. 

Lizzy came to Tarleton originally as a communications major with a concentration in public relations and social engagement, but after speaking to Austin Lewter, the Texan News Service advisor and journalism professor, she ultimately switched the concentration to travel event and activity management (TEAM). 

Her love for event planning, merged with her love for travel, resulted in a passion for ecotourism. She took a travel and tourism class her sophomore year and was hanging on every word from the professor. 

“It was the most impactful class I've taken, hands down,” she said. “I just learned so much. I took [travel and tourism] hand in hand with event coordination, and those are both classes taught by Dr. Goen, so there's a lot of overlap. I learned so much, and it really opened my eyes to a lot of different avenues.” 

The ecotourism interest that this class created for Lizzy is all with the goal of making a positive impact and leaving a community better than when you found it. 

She learned about how, in addition to tourists, travel writers and bloggers can make an impact on communities by highlighting them. Exposure to struggling areas can bring tourists, which brings money, which can put food on tables, plant trees and help animals. 

In addition to all of her academics, Lizzy got involved right off the bat with extracurriculars. 

She joined Delta Zeta in 2022 and has overseen risk management, served as their formal coordinator, sisterhood chairman and executive officer, and in 2024, was a sweetheart for Kappa Sigma. 

She says her sorority sisters made a profound impact on her right from the start. 

“My sisters are the reason I came out of my shell and left the insecure homeschooler persona behind,” she said. “They welcomed me with open arms…I was a little quirky, and they loved and encouraged me for it.”

Lizzy was also a recruitment counselor for a year, a Panhellenic congresswoman and attended two challenge groups through the Paradigm college ministry. 

In addition to all of this, she has served as a Residential Leader for three years. This is where she says her self-assurance grew. 

“It's the position that grew me to find my voice and be confident in who I am,” she said. 

She started out in Heritage Hall and now, as a third year, is an RL at Integrity Hall overseeing freshmen. 

The Integrity Residence Hall Director, Madison Horner, said Lizzy is a joy to have on the staff. 

“She brings so much energy and liveliness. She's always willing to participate in anything that we're doing,” Horner said. “If she has any questions, she asks them, her residents really praise her and her communication is really good.”

Horner said she has seen Lizzy grow, even just in the one year she’s known her. 

“The biggest thing that I've noticed from Lizzy is her confidence has grown so much this semester,” Horner said. “She doesn't feel that she needs validation for everything that she's doing and has confidence in the way that she's talking to her residents and interacting with the other RLs on the staff.” 

Horner also said despite having so much on her plate, Lizzy manages all of her responsibilities well.

“I know she has her sorority, and she also does an internship off campus, and she still puts in the effort to show up for her residents and her coworkers,” she said. “I think that says a lot about what she sees as a priority in her life. I really think that this job has helped her grow into herself as a person, and especially with her bubbly personality, I think her residents and her coworkers really appreciate what she brings to the staff and to the building.” 

Lizzy herself said that growth has been a large part of her college experience. Right off the bat, she said a lot of her identity (for better and worse) was tied up in being a homeschool student. 

“I was quickly labeled by people as being weird for being homeschooled. I would get comments made to me like, ‘Oh wow, you talk really well for a homeschooler,’ or, ‘You're really nice for a homeschooler,’” she said. “So it's really hard to detach myself from that. I came in very insecure and just looking to fit in, and I didn't fit in like I did in high school.”

Lizzy said this changed about halfway through her freshman year. 

“I realized that not fitting in was actually what people actually liked about me. It wasn't that I was just like everyone else, but that I actually stood out,” she said. “That got me a good group of friends, and so I think that my biggest growth curve has just been using my originality to my advantage and letting it be the thing that helps me instead of hurts me.”

Lizzy’s advice to new college students stems from this growth, as she tells them to start getting uncomfortable sooner — to constantly push yourself to try new things, take new opportunities and use this time in college to chase hard after your goals. 

“I think that I started really pushing myself to do really uncomfortable things during my junior year, and that's when life got good,” she said. “Now, I need to keep doing things that are just gonna make me uncomfortable.”

She also encourages students to have fun, but also use this time in college as a massive networking opportunity. Lizzy took advantage of that during her time at Tarleton, and has a job lined up right after graduation. 

She'll be working in Yellowstone National Park as a front office assistant, which she said is her favorite place to be. 

She credits this job to her mindset of “Do it.” 

“Do it scared, do it lonely, just do it,” she said. “I've seen so many people cripple under the pressure of, ‘What if I do this thing?’ ‘What if I take this chance and I’m the only person who does it?’ I'm the only person who raises my hand. I'm the only person who volunteers. I'm the only person that does it…my life drastically changed when I started doing things alone, so I'm excited to go and try something new.”

This job in Yellowstone is seasonal, so after this summer wraps up, Lizzy plans to look for jobs in the San Antonio area. 

“I'm starting my job search already for my full-time job,” she said. “I'm looking in the San Antonio area, but I'm open to see what the Lord does. He says ‘send me,’ and I'll go.”

Her message to the world centers around one word: resilience. 

“I have had many, many, many run-ins with a shut door, a very hard, ‘no,’ or a very difficult situation to come back from,” she said. “A lot of the places I landed were a result of tough situations coming as a shock to me. A door slammed in my face, and it was a shock to me. Someone betrayed me, and it completely threw me off.”

Lizzy says that no matter what trials you face, it’s important to always get back up and keep trying, which her friends and family say she does every time, with a smile on her face. 

“I hope that anyone who hears my story understands that there's so much beauty after shut doors,” she said. “The resilience pays off.” 

Contributing Writer

After years of long nights, early mornings and unexpected obstacles, Danae McNamara-Phillips will soon walk the stage at Tarleton State University, earning a degree she could only once imagine. 

She started a little ahead, taking college courses at only sixteen years old. She began college as a sophomore, finished her associate’s degree, then moved to Texas to pursue her career at Tarleton. 

McNamara-Phillips spent years being homeschooled in Stevensville, Montana. Once starting her college career, she chose the degree plan to become a hydrogeologist. Now, she is on her way to graduate and join a master’s program at Baylor University at 28 years old.

“I actually chose my major by listening to a podcast while I was working my second job that day, and they were interviewing this guy that was actually a software engineer. He was talking about some sort of system that was made to monitor groundwater wells,” McNamara-Phillips said. “They made the system work in a way where they could monitor the water quality and production constantly instead of waiting till it breaks and people don’t have water again. So then I thought that was super cool and started researching groundwater in Texas and saw what an issue it was here and around the world.”

Like most college students, her road to graduation was not always a walk in the park. It entailed long nights and endless jobs, but each challenge she faced became a part of her story. 

Before college, McNamara-Phillips took some time off from school and worked as many jobs as she could in order to save as much money as possible. 

She worked so much that she ended up being able to graduate with no debt, a huge accomplishment for McNamara-Phillips. 

While in college, she had the opportunity to teach a couple of lab classes and learned to be more appreciative of professors in general.  

She was able to teach a physical geology lab for students at Tarleton, teaching them about things like minerals, rivers, groundwater, faults, and metamorphic and igneous rocks. 

Being in the geology department had a positive impact on McNamara-Phillips. She explained how everyone in the geology department is close and has little to no drama. She thinks that being close with these people has shaped her into the person she has become today. 

In order to stay motivated through her college career, McNamara-Phillips leaned on her husband, family and friends. 

Jentri Olson, a junior at Tarleton and dear friend of McNamara-Phillips, studies civil engineering. She recalls the moment their friendship started. 

“I actually first met her at the first internship that we shared. It was at Corsair Consulting. She started about a year after I had started there. We worked together a good bit of the time.” Olson said. “She was on the hydrogeology side, and I was on the civil engineering side, but we worked pretty closely together and formed a friendship while doing so.”

As they got back to Tarleton, their friendship only grew closer by talking every day and studying together. They both took on great challenges within their internships and learned a lot doing so. 

Olson has seen her go through many challenges and describes her as a person who always “puts her feet to the fire,” not only at work, but in school as well. 

Despite all the challenges she has gone through, including coming back to physics and calculus after years of no math courses, Olson says that McNamara-Phillips has “done amazing” and “is going to be getting very high grades in both courses.”

“One thing that I really appreciate about her is that no matter how tired or stressed out she gets, she shows up to class, she puts her head down, she does extremely well on that test, she submits that assignment, she will give you a call and is a friend and will hear a vent session,” Olson said. “No matter what, she excels in every aspect,” 

One challenge that stood out to McNamara-Phillips was completing her undergraduate research, which was a high-level feasibility report. After finding out her professors had left Tarleton, she did not know whether she would be able to finish the research she needed before her presentation date. But with focus and confidence, she did. 

As she goes on, she has learned great advice that has given her the confidence she needed to finish out her college career. 

“Don’t do anything halfway, there are a lot of things you can get away with by doing it halfway, but give everything you do 110%, no matter how hard it may seem. Whatever your best is for that day, that’s what you need to give,” McNamara-Phillips said. 

As she goes on to graduate, McNamara-Phillips hopes to make a great impact on the world. With all the issues that the world has regarding water wells, she hopes to be able to make a change with the knowledge that she has learned at Tarleton and beyond.

She will be attending Baylor University to earn her master’s in hydrogeology and hopes to start her career with as much knowledge as she can. She plans to stick to her standards. As she likes to say, “Did you double-check that?”

Feature Editor

Marian Barrett from New Braunfels, Texas, walked into Tarleton State University orientation with Texas A&M on her mind. She had only intended to enroll at Tarleton for a year, keeping her GPA high enough for her to transfer to A&M with her sister.

But once she set foot on campus, she knew that she was here to stay.

“The only school I was interested in at all was Tarleton, because of the school spirit and everyone’s happy to be there. Being proud of your school is really important to me,” Barrett said. “I felt like none of the schools in the [A&M] system really had that like Tarleton does. I went to orientation, and I dropped the PSA program on the way back in the car, because I was like, ‘I’m going to Tarleton.’”

Barrett even stumbled across her first on-campus job that day at an involvement fair, working for Momma T with Campus Life and Family Engagement.

“They said, ‘What’s your major?’ I was like, ‘digital media,’ and they’re like, ‘Do you want a job?’ And I’m like, ‘Sure,’” she said.

Although she hadn’t taken a single art class in high school, Barrett had always been creative. 

She enjoyed making collages and posters for school, dedicated an entire summer to learning calligraphy and eventually took some photography classes that would spark her interest.

“I picked digital media because although I want to do marketing, I also want to create the art, and I want to create the designs and not have to hire people to do that for me,” Barrett said.

Not only does she love designing the graphics for T-shirts and posters across campus, but also meeting new people. As a part of her job with Campus Life and Family Engagement, she has had opportunities to talk to many of the musicians who come for Founders Week and homecoming, and even former U.S. astronaut Charlie Duke, the youngest man to walk on the moon.

“I love meeting people. I love hearing their stories, I love making people laugh, that’s my thing. That’s what I live for,” Barrett said.

But her first job wasn’t enough to keep her on her toes. She is always in pursuit of a new way to pour into people and the community around her.

Early on, she found her church community in Stephenville.

“The BSM [Baptist Student Ministries] had a prayer walk, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m here. I might as well just go,’. And they didn’t expect the freshmen to show up. It was kind of awkward because they said, ‘Oh, we’re praying for you. Why are you here?’ And I was like, ‘Because I love Jesus,’” Barrett said. 

Unknowingly, she would meet one of her closest friends that day. At the last BSM worship night of the year, everything came full circle for Marian and her support system while she got up on stage for a student interview.

“Freshmen don’t usually come to this because they don’t even know BSM’s a thing yet, really,” Marissa Wolfe said. “So, she just showed up and started walking around with us, and she thought my shirt was cool. So, I was like, ‘Oh, she’s cool, she likes my shirt.’ And from there, we kind of just slowly developed that friendship.”

With tears in her eyes, Barrett reflected on asking God for a Christlike community of friends to do life with in college, and how He had overdelivered.

“I can remember one time we were hanging out together, and our other friend, Megan, just making a ton of mac and cheese for a church potluck, and she was grating the cheese and grated her fingernails into the cheese,” Wolfe said. “She was so funny and crazy about it, and it was such a good time. So anytime I’m feeling down, I know that if I hang out with Marian, she’ll help me. She’ll lift me up.”

Barrett met her fiancée, Caleb Olmstead, while leading a freshman Bible study together. She said that he loves her the way that Christ loves the church. They make a great team and said they can’t wait to stand by each other’s side for the rest of their lives.

“She sees people who don’t often get seen. She sees the person in the room that might feel like they don’t belong, and she goes and makes them feel welcome and loved,” Olmstead said. “She’s a great example of what it looks like to lead with humility and kindness, and she’s a fantastic listener. She always listens to me, to strangers who just want to talk to her. She’s just a super kind, beautiful-hearted person.”

As a freshman at Tarleton State University who once fell away from faith and had stopped attending Sunday services with my family, I was that person. After I had met her at BSM with a friend, she would always greet me with a warm smile and make time to drive me to Valley Grove Baptist Church when I didn’t want to go alone.

I will always remember her kindness, and I’m sure she has touched the lives of countless others.

As well as welcoming people with open arms into BSM as a member of their lead team, she also does marketing and runs the social media page for Tarleton’s American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, @tsuaiaa. Barrett is even a Senior Residential Leader for Honors Hall, a student ambassador and still carves out time to attend services at Valley Grove Church on Sundays.

“Being able to do that, it definitely adds something else on my plate, but it gives me purpose with all that I do to glorify God and make Him known,” Barrett said. “And so, it makes me really passionate about meeting new people and doing things on campus and representing the University well, because it’s not about me and it’s not always about Tarleton, but it’s about the Lord.”

Not only had she signed up to be a TTM at Duck camp, but she has also interned as a communications intern at Texas Baptists, one of the largest and most influential state religious conventions in the United States.

Rarely is there ever a time that she isn’t busy.

“I feel like whenever you’re busy, you realize how much time you have, because it’s just full of stuff. It’s like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know my day could be this crammed. I didn’t know I had enough time to run around campus so many times,’” Barrett said.

Getting to know people and taking on opportunities that will challenge her is very important to Barrett. In fact, one of her favorite classes at Tarleton was narrative illustration with Yanina Blanco.

“She’s just really encouraging and well structured, and she has high expectations, and that’s what I’ve always wanted,” Barrett said. “I want someone to push me to be my best and critique my work and tell me what I did wrong and what I can do better.”

As much as she loves meeting new people and perfecting her craft in graphic design, she also loves a good snow day. One of Barrett’s favorite memories at Tarleton was going sledding and having snowball fights with her friends during her freshman year.

“We had a blooper reel, every time we crashed or whatever, I was recording. And so, we put it in, it’s just like everyone falling. It was really a good bonding day for a lot of my friendships and a lot of my really close friends,” Barrett said.

If she’s not working, you can probably find her at Stephenville’s mini golf course or taking pictures at the Historical Stephenville Museum.

“It’s my favorite place to take pictures on campus. It’s just beautiful, and it’s so serene,” Barrett said.

She also loves shooting photos of cars on her Canon Rebel T7. Her photography and graphic design portfolio can be found in her Instagram bio @marian_rose814.

Barrett knows how to capture a moment and is always up for a challenge. She is driven and passionate about bringing the warmth of God’s presence with her in everything she does across campus, holding Tarleton and the Stephenville community close to her heart.

“She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever met, she works almost too much,” Olmstead said. “She really cares about jobs being done well, and doing all that she does 100%,. She doesn’t do anything halfway.”

Features Editor

Kora Clark knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since she was five years old when her teachers asked her about her interests on career day.

“Naturally, I was five, so they’re like... ‘Do you like puppies and kitties?’ I said, ‘Oh my gosh, yes.’ So they’re like, ‘Okay, you’re going to be a veterinarian for a day,’ and I was like, ‘Okay.”

Young Kora loved Lisa Frank, the Warriors book series and had “a weird fascination with death.”

“I think I was always so extroverted that I never noticed whenever other people would kind of be put off by things I would say and do, because I was just like, ‘I’m just me and my mommy says if I am myself, then I will make friends, and I am awesome,’” Clark said.

She enjoyed competing on Azle High School’s FFA CTE (Career and Technical Education) team and learning about all the different dog and cat breeds.

In high school, she would eventually discover that she had a love for not only animals, but also all things science, before her chemistry teacher, Mr. Tucker, recommended that she pursue a biomedical science degree while applying to pre-veterinarian school.

Clark became open to the possibility that the worlds of biomedical sciences and veterinarians can often intersect.

“Most doctors do have their background in being a scientist and doing lab work, and a lot of farmers do stuff like that too, and you don’t even think about it,” Clark said.

What seems to be special about Clark isn’t just her smarts when it comes to experimentation, but also her emotional intelligence and ability to have chemistry with just about anyone.

As soon as she came to Tarleton State University as a freshman, she was already well-loved by Purrs and Spurs, Tarleton’s Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) group. After putting together a slideshow that has produced many laughs to this day, she officially became their secretary.

Now, as the president of Purrs and Spurs, Clark and Vice President Jade Stalker have become not only friends, but also a dream team of executive officers.

“I think our current style is a combination of me and Kora’s favorite things. A lot of it was Kora’s design, and then I threw in a bunch of animated cat GIFS and memes and little joke slides because that’s the part I enjoy,” Stalker said. “I hate dull meetings. I’ve never been a fan of clubs that make their meetings feel like a lecture.”

According to Stalker, Clark is a vibrant personality who adds color to their lives.

“To have someone so excited and lively and bright, it definitely helped the room and kind of led into a really fun environment that kept me there,” Stalker said.

Her very introverted boyfriend of three years would probably say the same.

“Other people, especially his parents and his friends, will see how he interacts with me, and they’re like, ‘He’s never done that before in his life,’” Clark said.

As the “grumpy to her sunshine,” some have said that they make an unlikely pair.

“I think it’s so funny, because they’ll meet me and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, that girl is gay,’ and I’m like, ‘This is my boyfriend,” Clark said. “He looks like a lumberjack from the forest. Isn’t he wonderful?’”

With plans to become a vet tech and move in with him in Weatherford after graduation, she has not only been searching for cats to adopt into their family but also reflecting on how far she’s come in her college journey.

It doesn’t matter if Clark is five or a woman in her twenties; she has always dreamed big. After her kennel technician internship in an Austin veterinary clinic, her presence was missed so much that she was asked to return the following summer.

“When I was in Austin last year, I got another job as a shadow, so I went to the clinic every day, saw what they did, and just kind of hung out, helped with stuff, and was able to go into rooms and experience that a lot more,” Clark said. “And that was really fun too, because they were just so sweet.”

Carrying this energy into college, along with her love for all things animal science-related, has gotten her far.

“She is easily one of the most go-getter type people I’ve ever met, very much like boots on the ground running, constantly going.”

This past year, she excelled as she took on the role of Purrs and Spurs president, not only increasing club retention rates with the power of cat memes, but also teaming up with the Erath County Humane Society to hold a campus thrift store event, getting rid of their leftover warehouse donations. In the first semester alone, they had already raised more than $1,000.

“Having Kora as a leader has genuinely been a blessing. And a lot of moments I think this has been on the outside, one of our most successful years as long as I’ve been here,” Stalker said.

Before, they had been losing money after every TNR, and members were walking away from left to right, but Clark persevered.

“I think being able to deal with that and then continue pushing was really admirable, and I think one of the main reasons I stayed is because of the amount of effort Kora put into everything. It made me want to put more effort into it,” Stalker said.

While she may not have gotten into veterinarian school the first time she applied, Clark has never found a reason to quit smiling.

“It’s hard, and you just kind of have to mourn the person that you could have been,” Clark said. “I could have been a first-year vet student by August, and now I have to wait.”

Debbie Conner, her friend and former roommate, has enjoyed watching Clark’s confidence grow over the years.

“It was important for her to understand that there isn’t a linear pathway in life, because she felt like she had to do so many things by the book, and a lot of times it doesn’t work out that way,” Conner said, “because a lot of it is just trial and error.”

As a married pre-veterinarian student with a baby on the way, college classes being thrown into the mix can easily become stressful, but Conner has always found escape in the comedic relief of Clark’s chaos.

“One time she was coming back to the dorm, and I guess I don’t know if she fell up or down the stairs outside, but her knees were all scraped up,” Conner said. “Every time I see her, something happened to her, something weird.”

In addition to navigating freak accidents and handling the responsibilities of president for Purrs and Spurs, she has been preparing to kick the dust from under her feet and apply to pre-veterinarian school once again.

“College isn’t fun if it’s strictly about the studies. It’s fun because of the people you meet, the lifelong friendships you create, the people you’re going to talk to after you graduate,” Clark said. “That’s the important part and you can’t do any of that without kind of making mistakes and doing things that you might not do whenever you’re older.”

She has certainly made the most of her time here at Tarleton as a former Duck Camp TTM, Resident Leader and chemistry TA (teaching assistant). She often invites her peers to do the same.

“I love chemistry, I like the experimental aspect. I was definitely a very interesting lab student, because I wasn’t very like, ‘Everything has to be perfect,’” Clark said. “So I think that made it a lot easier for them to understand that you’re going to mess up, you’re going to make mistakes.”

When she’s not leading Purrs and Spurs meetings, planning events, teaching chemistry or giving underclassmen living on campus a shoulder to cry on, she’s probably hanging out with her friends.

While Clark had a very rich academic and social life, this has not prevented her from maintaining interesting hobbies in her spare time.

For example, she is a horror fanatic who loves reading scary books and movies. In fact, Clark enjoyed “The Silence of the Lambs” so much that she has a “death hand moth” tattoo from the film.

She also loves thrifting, whether she’s in solitude or with her brother and his girlfriend. This hobby quickly evolved into creative expression through her fashion choices.

“I started pinning my stuffed animals all over my clothes. And then everyone started noticing and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so crazy.’ And so it became a thrill of the hunt,” Clark said. “I was like, ‘Oh yes, now I have to go thrifting even more so I can find more little trinkets to wear around my clothes.’”

Kora’s witty sense of humor and chaotic positivity make her a lively fixture of the Tarleton campus. While she will be missed, this future veterinary tech is ready to step into the unknown and test the waters after graduation.

Sports Editor

On the afternoon of March 7, Tarleton State Baseball was in the middle of a four-game road series with the University of New Mexico. Logyn Rountree was in her second month as the team’s sports information director (SID).

The game was out of state, so she stayed back in Stephenville, clipping highlights from the broadcast for social media. She was stressed to the maximum. Rountree had always been terrified of the unknown, and she was still navigating through uncharted waters. She had no idea how good a job she was doing.

Until someone else did.

The second inning came around, and the lone announcer for Mountain West Network was studying the game notes Rountree had prepared for the game — live on the air. He said exactly what he was thinking.

“Logyn Rountree is just a graduate assistant over there?” he asked, rhetorically.

The game was still 0-0, and she finally had something to clip.

“I have a sneaking suspicion that when Logyn Rountree’s graduate assistantship is over, some school, very smartly, will see the quality work that she is doing with Tarleton State and snag her and put [her] in their office,” the announcer went on.

“That would be probably the smartest move a group could do.”

One of Rountree’s roommates, Ella Klein, was sitting next to her when the shoutout happened.

“Whenever he said Logyn Rountree, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ and then she started recording it, and we were just giggling and laughing at the compliment,” Klein said. “It kind of turns out how not just her personal friends notice how good of a job she does. ... It doesn't go unnoticed from [the] outside, too.”

If there’s one thing the announcer could correct himself on, ironically, it’s that Rountree isn’t even a graduate, yet.

When Rountree was offered the role of Baseball sports information director (SID) in December 2025, she didn’t know what to think of it. The role is typically reserved for a university graduate, one with multiple years of experience covering collegiate athletics. But this time around, no graduate was in line ready to fill the position.

So, in came Rountree, who had only been in Tarleton’s sports internship program for one semester.

“I was working at a bank in Hico, and I was in the middle of my shift, and I got a text from Grant [Cohen] (her mentor in the sports internship), and he was like, ‘Hey, how much do you know about baseball?’” Rountree said.

To that point, not a lot.

Rountree was a basketball player from third grade up until the end of high school. She watched baseball growing up in Goldthwaite, Texas, but never too seriously. Her dad is a huge Texas Rangers fan, and her mom a huge Houston Astros fan. She at least knew what an RBI was.

After Tarleton’s senior athletic director for communications, Jake Withee, talked Rountree into taking the job, it was like she had caught a fly ball that’d been hanging in the air forever, waiting to fall into her grasp.

That is to say, there was a lot of learning on the fly ahead.

“I feel like from January to now has felt like two weeks. It’s just flown by,” Rountree said. “As I go, I pick up stuff. ... I scroll back sometimes to last year and see what the last people had posted before me. And the guys (players) give me a lot of ideas.”

Rountree said her favorite part of the job is creating content for social media. It’s what she wants to do after graduation. But she still had all the baseball stats to learn.

That’s when a fellow SID — Andrew Loewe, who played college baseball — swooped in to help.

“Probably the week before our first game in February, Andrew actually pulled me in his office [and said], ‘We're gonna watch baseball games, and we're gonna figure out these stats,’” Rountree said.

Loewe has been a source of wisdom for Rountree throughout the baseball season. He wasn’t going to leave a colleague guessing about their job.

“She knows basketball really well, so I was trying to kind of explain it in basketball terms to show her the similarities and differences between the two so that she had an understanding,” Loewe said, “because she needed to understand a little bit to be able to take pictures and videos and write about it.”

Soon enough, Rountree learned all the stats and terminology, and the inexperience she had coming into the season was reduced to irrelevance. Even her little bit of experience from high school taking pictures for her men’s basketball team helped smooth the transition, she said.

That’s not to say she isn’t still finicky, though.

“My first Instagram post, I think it took me 20 minutes to hit the post button, because I was so nervous to post on social media,” Rountree laughed.

In times when she gets overwhelmed by her fear of the unknown, Rountree turns to her faith.

“I think trusting in Him [God] has gotten me through literally everything,” Rountree said.

“I always joke, I'm like, ‘I need God to send me a schedule so I know when things are gonna happen,’” she laughed.

But sometimes, the unexpected can be a good thing — like Rountree’s announcer shoutout on March 7. It came out of nowhere.

Rountree said that moment meant so much to her, and it will forever be in the back of her mind in times of self-doubt and uncertainty.

“That week had probably been one of the hardest weeks for baseball and what I was doing,” Rountree said. “And so, when I heard that, I think God was reassuring me, like, ‘Hey, you're fine. I've got you. It's not as bad as you think it is.’ It was definitely a breath of fresh air.”

Another way Rountree remembers her faith, and pays it forward, is through her work at First Baptist Church in Stephenville.

Since August, Rountree has served as a Paradigm challenge leader for a group of freshmen girls, alongside Clara Sims, another senior at Tarleton. They meet on Wednesdays to go over a lesson from the Bible before attending the Paradigm College Ministry service on Thursday nights.

“You get to watch these freshmen grow in their faith, and it’s just like, ‘Wow, they have no idea what's ahead of them,’” Rountree said. “... That's definitely one of the biggest blessings of my life right now.”

Rountree’s influence has been felt on multiple fronts. Since she took over Tarleton Baseball’s Instagram page, its following has grown by nearly 30% — up from 12,500 at the start of the season to 16,000 today.

The team’s success has certainly been a factor, but so has the nature of her content.

“She's been great,” Loewe said. “[Coach] Fuller is very big on social media coverage. That's kind of how he brings in recruits, by showing different kinds of videos and graphics and that kind of stuff throughout the year. She's been really good at getting those posted and making them.”

No bigger showcase came than when the baseball team knocked off No. 2-ranked Texas in Austin on March 17, with a score of 6-1. The win was a significant upset that garnered national attention, and Rountree was the only person Tarleton sent to cover the game.

Loewe praised Rountree for being able to promote the win as well as she did.

“That made the coaches and the athletes really happy that she was able to cover that and show their story to the world,” Loewe said. “Her pictures were everywhere, her videos were everywhere, everything that she was posting was getting picked up by other news outlets. Without her, none of that would have happened.”

The lack of experience hasn’t shown much for Rountree. She’s only matured. The one thing that does show, though, is her personality on the baseball social accounts.

“Sometimes I definitely know you can tell a 21-year-old girl runs that social media,” she laughed. “But I have fun with it.”

Part of Rountree’s charm is the same personality her roommates see every day.

“When you first meet her, she's definitely just the happiest person ever,” Klein said. “She is filled with joy, and she kind of radiates that.”

Klein also sees firsthand the amount of work Rountree puts into her job with the baseball team, especially on game days.

“Her work starts three hours before the game and it doesn't end until three hours after the game,” Klein said. “... She works so hard at it. She'll be up at, like, 11 o'clock at night when the guys are off celebrating; she's still working for them.”

The long hours, Rountree said, are far from her favorite part about her job. She even admitted that she hates when her friends have to plan things around her busy schedule. But to Klein, her friend is always worth the wait.

“She's a good support system, definitely, for advice or just having a good friend,” Klein said. “It means a lot to me having her in my life.”

As for Rountree’s future endeavors, she will pursue her master’s in marketing at Tarleton State upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sports communication and a minor in kinesiology.

She hasn’t decided if she’ll come back as Baseball SID, but the door is wide open for her return.

“You don't want to force her to do something that she doesn't want to do,” Loewe said. “But if she wants to be a part of it — and I'm sure she does — we'd love to see her back.”

Rountree is being diligent in the job market as well and wants to keep her options open for now. She’d love a future in the Stephenville area. But with options also comes uncertainty. 

Rountree said she has to remind herself to stay faithful through the closing of her undergraduate chapter, as her fear of the unknown begins to set in again. She said she’s seen doors shut in her face and offsets them with constant prayers.

But through great struggles and great successes, Rountree has found perspective — and peace of mind.

“I know it's cringy, but — get back up and try again,” Rountree said, laughing again. “You're gonna fail. It's just how college works; it's how life works. It's definitely been something I've had to learn as a 21-year-old girl trying to get a job. I can't really be scared of everything. I've got to get over that anxious feeling and just kind of go on with life, because being scared is just gonna hold me back.”

She’ll say Amen to that, along with the freshmen she leads in the college ministry who can all learn the same with time

“She has a really good head on her shoulders,” Klein said. “So anything she ends up doing, I have faith in her.”

Starting from what she calls “rock bottom” in agriculture, Mackenzie Hodge went from uncertainty to one of the most decorated student careers in Tarleton’s animal science program this year.

Her path into agriculture started with a lot more questions than answers.

“I’ve always liked math and science,” Hodge said. “I knew I wanted to go into some sort of medicine that would allow me to work hands-on.”

Originally, she envisioned a future in human sports medicine, shaped by years of involvement in athletics. But everything changed when she volunteered at a retired Clydesdale rescue.

“Learning how to care for them and make them feel better, my passions changed,” she said. “That’s when I started looking into pre-vet and animal science programs, which is when I found Tarleton, and everything fell into place.”

Hodge grew up in Arizona, and with both parents working in offices, agriculture wasn’t something she had much experience with. That reality presented one of the biggest challenges of her college career, but also one of her greatest motivators.

“What seemed to be base knowledge for everyone else was brand new to me,” she said. “I had to start from the absolute rock bottom and try to bring myself up to everyone else’s level.”

Instead of it discouraging her, Hodge let that obstacle push her forward.

“It was challenging, but so rewarding,” Hodge said. “I’m still working to learn everything I can about this industry.”

Her willingness to embrace the unfamiliar quickly set her apart. Dr. Contreras, one of her professors and research mentors, remembers noticing that drive early on.

“She’s asking the questions, wanting to learn more, and that’s something we don’t have in every student,” Contreras said.

Hodge’s academic experience was shaped significantly by her involvement in research. After taking genetics, she began working with Contreras on a project studying heat stress in lambs and its effects on growth and meat quality.

As an undergraduate research assistant, Hodge immersed herself in every aspect of the work, from animal handling to collecting blood samples, assisting with ultrasonography and analyzing postmortem carcass data.

“She was not paid, she was just working voluntarily,” Contreras said. “But she never said no, and she never missed a shift.”

That level of dedication left a lasting impression.

“She was a very reliable student with self-motivation and really good leadership skills,” Contreras said.

For Hodge, the experience was transformative.

“It truly opened my eyes to what research is and how much I love it,” she said.

She later expanded her research experience through her honors thesis, a meta-analysis on nutritional management methods for musculoskeletal diseases in working dogs. Through that project, she gained experience designing methodologies, writing proposals and analyzing complex data.

“It’s been amazing getting to see the behind-the-scenes aspect of research,” Hodge said.

Her work also led her to present at the American Society of Animal Science conference, marking her first professional conference experience and further solidifying her passion for the field.

Hodge also made her mark through extensive campus involvement and leadership.

Over four years, she participated in numerous organizations, including the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA), the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources ambassador program, Alpha Chi Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society. She also served as a teaching assistant for genetics and applied nutrition and worked as a paper grader in the math department.

Her leadership journey within PVMA stands out as especially meaningful. After serving as risk management officer, she was elected president for her senior year.

“Leadership to me has always been about proving your own success and then helping others get there too,” Hodge said.

That mindset reflects what her professor observed in her daily interactions.

“She wanted everybody to succeed next to her,” Contreras said. “She is light.”

Hodge emphasized that leadership isn’t about recognition, it’s about responsibility.

“Being in those roles taught me the importance of supporting people who look up to you,” Hodge said. “They deserve to learn from your experiences –- what helped, what didn’t, all of it.”

Hodge’s dedication did not go unnoticed. Among her proudest accomplishments are receiving the John Tarleton Spirit Award and being named the Spring 2026 Outstanding Animal Science Undergraduate.

“The Spirit Award reaffirmed everything I’ve done over the past four years,” she said. “It encourages me to keep pursuing these opportunities.”

For Hodge, the Outstanding Animal Science Undergraduate award carries especially deep meaning.

“Since I don’t have a background in agriculture, it means a lot,” she said. “It shows that I made strong connections with my professors and put myself out of my comfort zone enough to show how hard I’m willing to work.”

Her growth from a student unfamiliar with agriculture to one of the program’s top graduates speaks volumes about her determination.

When Hodge first arrived at Tarleton, she described herself as an introvert. But it soon became a space for transformation.

“I decided that I could be whoever I wanted to be,” she said.

Through research, leadership roles and pushing herself into new experiences, Hodge gradually built confidence in herself and her work.

Her professor witnessed that change firsthand.

“She was very shy, but by the end of her senior year, she wasn’t that shy girl anymore,” Contreras said.

Hodge now looks back on her journey with a sense of pride and perspective.

“I remember seeing someone in high school with all these awards on their stole and thinking, ‘I wish that could be me,’” she said. “Now I look around, and I realize it is me.”

Like many Tarleton students, Hodge’s experience was shaped not only by academics but also by campus traditions and memories.

One moment she says she will never forget is participating in the tradition of launching ducks, a symbolic representation of personal growth and changing goals.

She even kept her rubber ducks over the years as a reminder of how far she’d come.

Another memorable experience came early in her freshman year during a Purple Thursday.

“I got yelled at by the president for not wearing purple,” she said. “But then we took a picture together, and we still keep in touch. It’s one of those fun memories that really captures Tarleton.”

While Hodge’s time at Tarleton is marked by academic achievement and leadership, it’s the smaller, unexpected moments that she says truly defined her college experience.

“They’re the kinds of memories you don’t expect to matter as much as they do,” Hodge said. “But they end up being the ones you never forget.”

This fall, Hodge will take the next step in her journey as she begins veterinary school, with plans to pursue a career in rural veterinary medicine.

“She has that heart that cares,” Contreras said. “She’s doing it genuinely because she wants to help.”

In rural communities, where access to veterinary care can be limited, professionals like Hodge play a critical role.

“I know she will make a great impact,” Contreras said. “She will give back everything that we as professors have invested in her.”

Hodge credits Tarleton with preparing her for this next chapter, not just academically, but personally.

“Tarleton gave me the opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone and grow,” Hodge said. “It helped me build my public speaking and professionalism skills to a point I never thought I’d reach.”

As she reflects on her time at Tarleton, Hodge emphasizes one key lesson: balance.

“School is extremely important, but so are experiences,” Hodge said. “Go out, have fun, live your life, but also take your education seriously. Work hard, play hard.”

That balance, combined with her work ethic, compassion and humility, defines not only her college experience but also the path she’s carving forward.

Contreras perhaps said it best:

“She’s talented, smart, kind, caring, self-motivated, dedicated and above all, she just has a good heart.”

Art Director

As graduation approaches, many graduates are looking back on their time at Tarleton State University and reminiscing on good times, late nights, long hours and many accomplishments. For Paige Davis, there were a few more late nights than the average student.

Davis came to Tarleton as a mathematics major, straight out of her small town in Kansas, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She quickly realized that what she really wanted was to major in mechanical engineering technology instead. She went on to become an honors student, join the Texan Corps of Cadets and thrive as a member of the rodeo team.

Being involved in so many different things both on and off campus is hard for any student, but her background in high-pressure situations truly helped her to thrive through a lot of the toughest times during her college career. 

“The motivation wasn’t always there, and there were some days where I woke up and was exhausted,” Davis said. “Sometimes when the motivation isn’t there, you have to fall back on either being disciplined enough to still get up, or you have to be passionate enough about what you do.”

Davis started firefighting at the ripe age of twelve through her hometown firefighter’s apprenticeship program. She was the National Volunteer Fire Council’s 2021 National Junior Firefighter of the Year, as well as receiving a life-saving award and being a civil air patrol cadet. 

Along with these accomplishments, she also grew up barrel racing and working on her father’s cattle ranch. All these things that built up a strong sense of determination and helped when she got to college and was pushed hard academically and within the corps and rodeo team.

A good friend of Davis, Bethany Kilpatrick, testified to the determination and drive it took for her to get through all of the many responsibilities that she had. They met originally at a military ball, and from there Kilpatrick was her photographer for several photoshoots. Eventually, it bloomed into a close friendship.

“Honestly, my first impression of Paige was that I was kind of intimidated by her… she was so cool. She seems to be such an adventurous person; she’s so sure of herself and confident,” Kilpatrick said, “If I had to describe Paige in three words they would be adventurous, hard-working and kind. She is one of the most determined people that I’ve ever met, and I know that she’ll be so successful in life wherever she goes and whatever she ends up doing.”

As an engineering student, the workload was far from light, but through many projects and late nights, she was able to make it all the way to the finish line, which proved to be the hardest part of it all. 

The capstone for her degree is designed to push students to the limit, simultaneously having them working on major projects for a real company while also taking the class and staying on top of coursework. It was difficult to juggle everything she had going on while also completing the capstone, but the preparation for the real world is something she views as exciting and 100% worth the long hours. 

Two of her most influential professors and mentors were Dr. Tom Faulkenberry and Dr. Eileen Faulkenberry, both of whom played major roles in her success at Tarleton.

Dr. Eileen Faulkenberry specifically dealt with Davis both in class and as an honors student, and she couldn’t sing her praises more.

 “She is going to accomplish anything that she sets her mind to. I know that she will shoot for the moon, and I have zero doubt that she will make exactly what it is that she wants to happen, happen,” Dr. Eileen Faulkenberry said. “Paige exemplifies all of our core values…she has developed the ability to manage all of the very distinct interests that she has.”

Outside of her academic success, she has also been in the Texan Corps of Cadets, and will be commissioned into the army after graduation as a second lieutenant. The first year of college made it clear for Davis that the Army was the right direction for her to take.

Davis said that a lot of her good communication skills, as well as being able to balance a lot of different things being on her plate, are greatly due to her time in the corps.

“The corps specifically was such a huge guiderail throughout school… There were some days where I was exhausted, but because of the corps I still got up, worked out and went to all of my classes,” Paige said. 

She is graduating as a company commander for the corps, and attributes much of her success and consistent motivation to her time with them. 

Outside of the Corps of Cadets, one of the biggest parts of Davis’s college experience was her time on the rodeo team. She began rodeoing at a young age, starting out on roundup and rescue horses, training them up and selling them with the help of her family, until she was able to purchase her current equine partner, Marlin.

“He is the most recent horse that I’ve bought. It was obvious that he was a really good horse, but I had no idea how lucky I had gotten when we bought him,” Davis said. 

Safe to say, the rodeo team, along with Marlin, made her time at Tarleton one of the best times of her life.

Her rodeo coach, Coach Brittany Stewart was one of her biggest inspirations while at Tarleton, always making sure she along with everyone else had all of the tools they needed to be successful. 

The friends and mentors she has had in the corps have pushed her to be a better person and a better leader. Her boyfriend, who is now a U.S. Marine, was also a huge factor in her determination to continue through every high and low. 

Her parents were some of her greatest supporters throughout the most challenging parts of college, and she says she could never have gotten through it without their unyielding support and care. 

“The standards that I set for myself are absolutely rooted in my parents and the work ethic that they taught me,” Davis said. “While I was down here, they gave me nothing but encouragement. Having my parents there for me has made a huge, huge difference.” 

That work ethic carried her through many tough times, even some times where she wanted to quit. Late nights became frequent, managing classwork for upper-level engineering classes, being an honors student, while also juggling her duties in the corps and being on the rodeo team was no small feat. 

Sometimes finding time for her life outside of all of her commitments was impossible. 

“‘Do you have time to sleep?’ That's what I get asked all the time. That summarizes a lot of my college experience,” Davis said. 

When looking back on her time at college though, Davis’s only memory isn’t the lack of sleep; it’s how important the many things she was involved in were to her. Her biggest piece of advice to those who may be following a similar path is that college is all about experiences. 

“Do as much as you can while you can, and make the most out of whatever you do. Don’t do things halfway, because the time that I had here absolutely flew by. Your time in college is pretty limited,” Davis said, “Some people say it’s the best time of your life, but maybe not; I don’t agree with that. I think the best time in your life is going to be whenever you decide that it is.”

Not only that, but she said doing the things that she truly loved and was passionate about made the last four years so much more meaningful and fun. Diving headfirst into every experience that she came upon allowed her world to expand in a way that has opened doors that she never would have imagined.

“Do things because you enjoy them. When the motivation to get up early or to study fails, you either have to be obsessed or you have to be disciplined,” Davis said.

That mindset will take her far, both in her career path and in the Army. Her determination and passion for what she does is inspiring, and after graduation, will carry her through many more amazing experiences, travels, jobs and journeys.

Editor-in-Chief

I’ve been putting this off longer than I should, because writing it makes everything feel so much more real.

College has a way of moving faster than you expect. Looking back now, it’s hard to believe how much has changed, and how quickly it all became familiar.

This last semester especially has moved at a pace I could barely keep up with, but it has also been one of the most meaningful seasons of my life.

When I first came to college, journalism wasn’t even on my radar. I started in engineering because math and science had always made sense to me. I liked structure, and I liked knowing what came next.

Even so, I had a connection to journalism before I ever stepped into a newsroom. In high school, I competed in UIL journalism. I even considered applying for what was then just the J-TAC while I was still in engineering. I went back to my high school journalism advisor and pulled old writing samples just in case I needed them later.

But at the time, I did not have the space to pursue it. I stayed where I was… until I couldn’t. 

Eventually, I had to admit engineering was not where I belonged. I loved the people I met there, and mentally facing that realization was incredibly difficult. It was hard enough that I seriously considered stepping away from college altogether.

But a voice — mostly my mom’s — told me to keep going.

So I found my way back to journalism, something I thought I had left behind. My first journalism class is where I found Mr. Austin Lewter and the Texan News Service.

Lewter made something intimidating feel possible. It still felt like a big jump at first, but the newsroom and the editors at the time made it approachable instead of overwhelming.

I started as an MMJ and eventually became news editor, then editor-in-chief. I never expected that kind of progression for myself, especially not when I started college unsure of my direction in the first place.

But TNS trusted me with more than I thought I was ready for, and that trust shaped everything that came after

I will always remember getting moved up to news editor my second semester. It was not something I expected, and it meant a lot to be trusted with more responsibility, bigger stories and leadership so early on.

Some of my favorite memories are not tied to one moment, but to routines that became part of weekly life.

Tuesday SMAC meetings are one of those. Those meetings became my favorite part of the week, just getting to sit in a room with everyone and talk about anything and everything for a bit.

Then there were the deadline nights. This semester especially, late nights became normal. Some nights meant editing until three or four in the morning. It could feel endless at times.

But at the same time, it was rewarding in a way that is hard to explain. It was also incredible to watch writers grow in real time, to read their stories, see their voices develop throughout the semester and be part of helping shape that process. That part stayed with me far more than the exhaustion.

One of the biggest experiences I will carry with me is the New York trip with Brenna, Gavin, Andrew and Lewter for the College Media Association.

Touring The New York Times made journalism feel larger than anything I had experienced before. It made my work feel real and powerful and global.

But I also remember the smaller moments just as clearly: exploring the city with Brenna, seeing the Statue of Liberty, standing in front of Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso at The MoMA and ice skating for the first time at Rockefeller Center while Frank Sinatra played as it started to pour down rain. It felt unreal, like one of those moments you know you’ll remember forever while it’s still happening.

To Gavin, Andrew and Brooklyn, thank you all so much for the work you put in this semester as sports, news and feature editors. You made my job easier in ways I don’t think I ever said out loud enough. Having editors I could trust made all the difference, and I’m incredibly grateful for the way you each showed up for your sections and for the newsroom as a whole.

To Bethany, as managing editor this semester, you were a constant source of support. You helped carry so much of the workload and kept things steady when it felt overwhelming. I could not have gotten through this semester without you. I have not an ounce of doubt that you will do an incredible job as EIC next semester.

To Brenna, you have been one of the most important people in my college experience. From meeting you on my very first day of college, to grabbing lunches, to joining TNS together and even living in the same house, you have been a steady presence through all of it. I do not know what college would have looked like without you.

To Lewter, you have been there since the beginning of my time in TNS. You were the first face I saw in the newsroom, and from the start were supportive and encouraging. You believed in me more than I ever could have believed in myself and gave me opportunities that pushed me to grow into roles I never expected to hold. I am so grateful for your guidance and for the way you have shaped my experience here.

To my family, thank you for supporting every change of direction, every late night and every uncertain step along the way. I hope to have even half paved the way for the amazing things my sisters will do. I love you all more than you can imagine.

And to TNS, thank you for giving me a place to learn, grow and belong. I will forever be grateful for this chapter.

Multimedia Journalist

From as far back as Grace Heavyside can remember, she knew that Tarleton State University was where she was meant to be.

Grace’s journey started as a wildlife, sustainability and ecosystem sciences major in the fall of 2023, when she lit her flame, unaware that one day, she would be lighting other students' flames just the same. 

But just like any other student who is adjusting to beginning college, Grace had a hard time transitioning. 

“The first semester here… I didn’t know a whole lot of people, and I’m actually really shy,” Heavyside said. 

However, joining the TTM (Tarleton Transition Mentor) program brought light to Grace’s life and played a big part in her finding her place at Tarleton. 

“When I really started connecting with the people within the TTM... all those people are such happy people and such joyful people to be around, and that's when I really started to feel at home and knew that I was going to be OK here,” Heavyside said.

Since joining the TTM program, she has also joined and been a part of many significant groups and clubs at Tarleton. 

These include being a part of her sorority, Delta Zeta, for three years, which her mom was a part of when she attended Tarleton. In the sorority, she also got the opportunity to be a part of the Order of Omega, a special leadership honor society consisting of only the top 3% of all fraternities and sororities. 

She is a part of the RoundUp Leadership Team, whose mission is community service work around Stephenville. 

Focusing on her major has also been a priority. She has been a part of the COANR (College of Agriculture & Natural Resources) media team and AgriLife Research Center. 

Grace’s brother, Hatcher Heavyside, is three years older than Grace and began his journey at Tarleton before her, but their college timelines did overlap partially.

Throughout her time at Tarleton, Hatcher has been a witness to the growth his sister has experienced.

“Growing up, Grace was fairly shy, quiet and reserved. If she didn’t want to do something, there was no way you were convincing her otherwise,” Hatcher said. “The biggest way that she has grown up was putting herself out there.”

 While he was president of his fraternity, Delta Chi, she was “stuck to his hip” and got to know and make friends with a lot of Hatcher’s fraternity brothers. 

In the spring of 2024, Grace was named the sweetheart of their fraternity. 

“That moment in particular is one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Delta Chi has brought me some of my best friends, but having Grace join that part of my life is something that I never imagined beforehand,” Hatcher said. “It was and still is extremely special that I got to experience Grace taking another step towards breaking out of her shell and making new friends that just so happened to be my best friends.”

Grace has been a big inspiration to Hatcher and taught him a lot over the years. 

“What’s really stuck out to me is her commitment to excellence in everything that she does and never straying away from that standard that she sets for herself. Grace never ceases to amaze me,” Hatcher said. “She has taught me to be steadfast in my commitments and to always believe in myself. As I have gotten older, the lessons she inadvertently taught me still ring true to this day.”

Grace’s passion for helping others is the characteristic that Hatcher admires the most.

“Her accomplishments are snapshots in time that will never fade, but her consistent commitment to her family and friends are what really makes her special,” Hatcher said. “She is the epitome of a good friend and a better sister.” 

To Hatcher, every moment with Grace has been a favorite, no matter what the activity. 

“She constantly keeps me laughing and always on my toes, but she has also been my rock and someone to turn to when I need her most,” Hatcher said. 

Through all of her accomplishments, Hatcher said that she is a prime example of what it means to be a Tarleton Texan.

“She strives to inspire people to try new things and treats everyone like family,” Hatcher said. “She makes me extremely proud to be her brother every day.”

Alongside Hatcher, her roommates and friends are just as proud of her. 

Emma Burns and Sydney Cannon are Grace’s current roommates and have seen her grow through all of her accomplishments and activities. 

“She is the most selfless person, and she always puts others first before herself,” Burns said. 

Burns met Heavyside the summer before Grace came to Tarleton through their parents, who were both in Delta Zeta. 

“When I first met Grace, she was super shy and very down to earth but nervous,” Burns said. “Throughout these years of college and being with her and living with her, she has really come out of her shell. She has no problem talking to people, and I think she's really learned how to put herself out there.” 

Cannon met her when Grace moved into her apartment with Burns, and has been inspired by her greatly. 

“She makes me want to be a better version of myself. She has inspired me to be a better person and strive to achieve higher achievements,” Cannon said. 

All the people who have been around Grace and have watched her journey say they have been greatly inspired and will always be proud of the person she has become and will continue to be.

“I’m proud of her, and everyone is proud of her. Everything she’s achieved at Tarleton, she’s done it on her own. We all see the effort that she's put in,” Burns said. 

Hatcher would like to leave a message for his sister. 

“Sis, you have been one of the most influential people in my life. You’ve always been my role model and best friend. As our lives go on, I will always turn to you for an honest opinion or a laugh,” Hatcher said. “You’ve helped me more than you can imagine. Thank you for being the best little sister. Love you sis.”

Hatcher is not the only family member proud of Grace’s accomplishments over the years. Michelle Heavyside, Grace’s mother, also shares this pride.

Michelle said that growing up, Grace was shy and very much a reserved kid, but after attending Tarleton, she has opened up and become more social. 

“It makes my heart warm up because she’s so outgoing,” Michelle said. 

Michelle said that it's hard to pick a moment or an accomplishment of Grace's that stands out the most, because she's done so much. However, one example of growth came to mind when thinking about Grace’s crowning as Lady Tarleton this year.

“I loved watching her answer questions at May Fete and the lord and lady because I know how hard that is for a shy person to be put on the spot in front of her peers,” Michelle said. 

Michelle attended Tarleton, where she met her now husband, John Paul Heavyside. 

Since the beginning of her childhood, Grace had grown up around Tarleton traditions and had known that Tarleton was where she was meant to be. Just being at Tarleton has amplified her character. 

“She is a wise soul, and she's well beyond her years. She’s not a forceful person, she's such a warm and inviting person that she makes other people welcome and to inspire them,” Michelle said. “She just has a presence around her that's an encouraging presence that makes people feel like they're in a safe place to express themselves. She’s got a listening ear, and she's always willing to listen.”

Michelle said that her daughter’s warm, sweet and encouraging personality draws people to want to know her.

Grace will continue to inspire her community even after she graduates from Tarleton. She has left her mark on not just Tarleton, but the people who have been graced with her humble and selfless personality. 

She may be leaving, but the impact she has made during her time at Tarleton will leave a lasting impact.

Contributing Writer

A grandma mask, bowling shoes and a purple robe. These are all items you would see Jennifer Shifflett, a Tarleton State and Purple Poo alumna, wearing to raise the spirit of Oscar P.

However, you wouldn't quite know it was her if you saw her.

Shifflett graduated from Tarleton State University in 1994 while being a Purple Poo. Shifflett is now in her seventh year at Poolville ISD, where she serves as the junior high school principal.

The Purple Poo is a spirit organization on campus established in 1921. The organization consists of ten men and ten women, who are known as the Ten Tarleton Peppers and Ten Tarleton Sisters, respectively. Traditionally, each member put on a purple robe and masked every part of their body, hiding their identity. It is also known as “the best kept secret in Texas.”

Shifflett remembers participating in making “Poo Signs.” The signs are made by the Poo themselves for events on campus, saying things like “Poo say: go to the basketball game” or “Poo say: on Thursdays we wear purple.”

“It was very secretive, we used to make signs every Monday night,” Shifflett said. 

These signs are now given out by the Poo at events to students who show spirit and enthusiasm for Tarleton. However, they haven't always been given out to students in this fashion.

Shifflett remembers when signs were nailed to trees on Monday nights and were not taken down by students until Wednesday morning. Though still around on campus, this tradition seemed to hold more significance at the time. She said it was their way of letting students know what was happening on campus and when. 

“When you woke up Tuesday morning, all the signs were there,” Shifflett said. “It was just like magic.”

Shifflett said that initially she had no idea what the Purple Poo were and had no intention of joining. She worked tirelessly on her schooling and job. She never socialized much. 

Shifflett said the only reason she was chosen to be a Poo was due to one of her good friends already being one, and she chose her to carry on the tradition. 

“I called [my parents], telling them everything, and that it's a secret and nobody's going to know, and that we dress up in these robes and masks,” Shifflett said. “My mom immediately said, ‘Oh my gosh, are you in a cult?’”

This was during the time of David Koresh and the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, causing her mother to question what exactly she was involved in.

After Shifflett was inducted, so to speak, she had to come up with a signature costume. 

“We would go during Halloween, find masks and come up with whatever,” Shifflett said. “I had an old lady mask and also I had one that was a witch's mask.” 

With current rumors that the Poo raid the drama closets for their costumes, Shifflett quickly shut the hearsay down, at least for her generation.

“Nope, I took a pair of bowling shoes from the bowling alley in Stephenville,” Shifflett said. “I had a lot of my old shoes, old bandanas and costume jewelry. Anything you could find to make yourself look gaudy, that's what we did.”

Shifflett reflected on how unique the costumes used to be.

“We didn't have names, only masks; we had a Ronald Reagan, and we had a Bart Simpson,” Shifflett said. “It was before everybody had the ‘Scream’ mask; we were all very individualized.”

While it is unknown where the Purple Poo meet now, Shifflett said their old meeting spot was especially interesting.

“There was an attic in the Trogdon House, where Dr. Hurley lives,” Shifflett said. “We would meet up there, but nobody lived there. It was an office building when I was there.”

Shifflett said she doubts they meet there now due to the President and his family living there. She also said the Poo reveal process used to be different.

“We gave a pig at graduation, the president would hug us and we would take a picture,” Shifflett said. “We would have on our robes, our masks would be off and everyone else would turn around so you couldn't see our faces. Then it came out in the yearbook.”

Shifflett’s Purple Pig is on display in the Barry B. Thompson Center, located in a display case across from the circulation desk on the bottom left shelf. It is labeled “Jennifer Morris” and has her unique Poo signature.

Although the reveal tradition has changed, she did say that the new way of revealing the Purple Poo was neat, with parents involved and other students realizing who was behind the mask the whole time.

With that, she never recalled a time when her mask almost came off and revealed her identity before the reveal in the yearbook. However, she said that you could see her distinct blue eyes while wearing the mask, and that a group of her friends became suspicious. 

During the basketball games, she would mess with the student body. When she saw her friends, she tried not to make direct eye contact with them. One of them tried talking to her, but she didn't talk back. Instead, she shook her head and turned away so they couldn't see her eyes.

“Whenever I revealed myself, they were like, ‘I knew it was you,’ but I never would confirm that they picked that out,” Shifflett said.

Shifflett said it was hard at times when friends wanted her to participate in something, and she couldn't. She also said she recalls a time when her own roommate started to become suspicious of the excuses she made to hide her Poo identity.

Developing new friends, unknown to current friends, was a hard thing to mask for Shifflett.

“You hang out with your normal crowd, and then you develop this whole secret group of friends. And everybody is like, ‘How do you know them?’” Shifflett said.

Even though keeping “the best-kept secret” in Texas came naturally for Shifflett, it was tough at times, but she never let anything slip.

According to Shifflett, one of her fondest memories of being a Purple Poo was rallying the crowd at Texan football and basketball games.

“We had so much fun because they would mess with us and we would mess with them,” Shifflett said.

Once a spirit organization she knew nothing about, it quickly became a huge part of her journey.

“I bleed purple. It’s been one of my favorite windows of my life, aside from my kids and my marriage. The pride is a real thing,” Shifflett said. “It’s one of the top achievements in my educational career.”

The Purple Poo continue to raise the spirit of Oscar P to this day. With new generations coming in and with past ones proudly representing the title, some Purple Poo traditions may change, but the secret will always stay. 

“Make friends and show up to everything, because you never know who you're talking to,” Shifflett said.

Digital Media Director

On March 20, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” was released in theaters, continuing the story of our protagonist, Grace MacCaullay, after her new in-laws tried to kill her in a game of hide-and-seek.

Before we start on the review, just a quick recap of what previously happened in “Ready or Not.”

Grace MacCaullay, a former foster kid, marries the love of her life, Alex Le Domas, and ends their wedding night by playing a game chosen at random with the rest of the Le Domas family, a family tradition of theirs. 

After selecting the game “hide-and-seek,” the Le Domases begin to hunt her down during the game due to a deal their ancestor, Mr. LeBail, made with the devil. If the Le Domases don’t find and kill Grace by dawn, they will all die in the name of Mr. LeBail. In the end, Grace survived, leaving the Le Domases and her husband to die. 

Now, onto “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.”

When the movie started, and I was sitting in the theater, I was very surprised to see that the sequel starts directly after the first movie, even re-showing the very final scene of “Ready or Not.”

Grace ends up in a hospital and, once healed, is taken down to a police station for questioning since the cops believe she killed the Le Domases. Her sister, Faith MacCaullay, arrives at the hospital to check on her, where we learn just how distant the two are.

Later on, we learn that other families are tied to a deal with Mr. LeBail and the devil. These families are the Danforths, the Wan Chens, the Rajans and the El Caidos. They have a chance to fight for a ring that gives them power over the world, now that the Le Domases are gone.

Even though Grace has already survived hide-and-seek once, she must play again with her sister in order to truly survive Mr. LeBail and tear down his whole society.

In order to keep the movie a surprise for first-time viewers, I’ll turn instead to the acting performances.

First, this cast was absolutely stacked. Samara Weaving, Shawn Hatosy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kathryn Newton and Elijah Wood played some vital characters and truly let their acting abilities shine. My personal favorites were Weaving, Hatosy and Wood.

Weaving, who plays Grace MacCaullay, is an actress absolutely built for the horror genre. Her crying and screams are so realistic and visceral that I always forget she’s acting when it happens. She carries a rage and desperation in her character choices that are impossible to ignore. Considering her emotional range along with her comedic timing, it's no wonder she’s the lead of the movie.

Hatosy did fantastic with his character, Titus Danforth. While a few of his lines were a little cheesy, Hatosy still delivers them in a way that is as terrifying as his character. He plays Titus with such chaos and anger that you can feel how dangerous he is through the screen. Even then, Hatosy’s performance is captivating and really makes an impact.

Wood is the most different character here, playing the lawyer for all of these families. Rather than having to carry heavy emotions, Wood’s character doesn’t express himself much, keeping fair and calm throughout the whole movie, even in the most climactic moments. I find this incredibly impressive, as I find it hard to keep myself from expressing too much.

I also felt that the plot of the movie worked well despite immediately following the first film.

I was nervous at first, especially considering that having a sequel follow directly after the prequel is risky since there’s no room for character development off-screen. However, I feel like it strangely worked in this case. By having no time skip for the sequel, it makes Grace’s anger even more justifiable and hits harder, especially now that her estranged sister is dragged into it. 

I also like that, even though it’s people hunting down Grace in hide-and-seek once again, it has a different feeling to it than the first movie did. In “Ready or Not 2,” Grace is prepared rather than being surprised by the deadly twist.

I’d love to dive more into this movie and why I think it’s great, but I’ll save it for another article. “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” will be on select streaming services soon, so keep an eye out for this thrilling sequel.

Contributing Writer

It’s that time of year again when the Texas sun shows no mercy. With summer quickly approaching, I was on the hunt for something to cool me off, and preferably something sweet, thanks to my insane sweet tooth. 

While doom-scrolling on TikTok, I stumbled upon the most glorious thing I’d seen in a while: The local snow cone stand in Stephenville, Funky Munky, was opening in just two days.

As a self-proclaimed snow cone connoisseur, I felt it was my civic duty to give my expert opinion on the top five most popular snow cones purchased at Funky Munky in Stephenville. 

But I couldn’t just selfishly experience this all by myself; I had to recruit some help. I gathered three Tarleton students who know their sweet treats inside and out: Ava May, Gabby Dodd and Skye Calderon.

Each snow cone was ordered as a small, or as they call it, a chimp. We got them with the tops off, meaning they didn’t have the dome on top. The flavors we tried were suggested from the Fancy Flavors menu. 

With that, the ranking begins from bottom to top: the top five snow cones at Funky Munky, based on the workers’ recommendations.

5. Dr. Pepper

According to the Funky Munky website, the Dr. Pepper snow cone is described as plain shaved ice with Dr. Pepper syrup. They also offer a gourmet option called the “Dr. Pepper Dream,” which includes the same base but is topped with their homemade cream. 

We were told we received the regular Dr. Pepper snow cone; however, despite that description, ours came topped with a generous amount of their homemade sweet cream. So much so that it completely masked the Dr. Pepper flavor. 

As a Dr. Pepper lover, I was disappointed because I was hoping for the classic flavor I love. The ice of the snow cone was very soft and did not contain large chunks, which made it easy to eat. It wasn’t too sweet, but with the cream, it was hard to judge the true sweetness. 

Overall, this snow cone was good, but without the cream, it would have been a bit higher on the list. My recommendation to fellow Dr. Pepper lovers is to order it, but try it without the cream.

4. Cowboy Kid

According to the Funky Munky website, the Cowboy Kid is a root beer snow, stuffed with a scoop of ice cream, topped with whipped topping and a cherry. As someone who personally does not like root beer, this one was a hard no. 

It had a spot-on root beer flavor, which was surprising to us, because sometimes root beer flavoring isn't always accurate. 

“The ice cream and whipped cream were a nice touch, but that really sold it to me as a root beer float,” Dodd said. “If I wanted something like a float, I would just go get an actual root beer float.” 

The ice consistency remained the same throughout the testing, which was a plus, because no one wants inconsistent shaved ice. The ratio of ice cream and whipped topping to the snow cone was well-balanced. Neither seemed to overpower the other. 

Die-hard root beer fans would definitely enjoy this one; however, for those who simply like root beer or floats, the general consensus would be to stick with a root beer float.

3. The New One

According to the Funky Munky website, The New One is a mix of pina colada, blue coconut and pineapple snow stuffed with a scoop of ice cream and topped with homemade cream. This one was good and definitely smelled like summer in a cup. 

All of the flavors paired nicely together. Though according to Calderon and Dodd, they didn't enjoy it as much, because they were getting different flavors with every bite they took. The snow cone was a bit too syrupy for some as well. 

The sweetness level for The New One was probably a solid nine out of 10. Considering the three different flavors plus ice cream and the cream, it was a lot — not in a bad or a good way, just not for everyone. The color of this snow cone was the prettiest out of all of them. It looked like a green and blue tie-dye. 

Tropical lovers will enjoy this snow cone, but to tone it down if needed, try it without the ice cream and cream. For those who aren't fans of tropical flavors, I would suggest choosing another option.

2. Rockin Roo

According to the Funky Munky website, the Rockin' Roo is a wedding cake and blue coconut snow stuffed with a scoop of ice cream and topped with homemade cream. It's also stated on the website that it's their most popular flavor.

“The wedding cake overpowers the blue coconut, but it's still a great snow cone,” May said. 

To be honest, I am not a fan of almondy flavors in anything but cake. However, I was overruled by my cohorts, who enjoyed the wedding cake flavor, placing it at number two on the list. 

The ice cream added a good creaminess that paired well with the almond flavor, and the color was a beautiful blue. Despite the overpowering wedding cake flavor, it was rich and flavorful, making it easy to see why this is their most popular snow cone. 

For wedding cake and almond flavor lovers, this one is a must-try, with its authentic taste standing out in every bite.

1. The Wedgie

According to the Funky Munky website, The Wedgie is a strawberry cheesecake snow, with an actual slice of cheesecake, whipped topping, graham cracker crumbs and strawberry drizzle. This one was a showstopper. 

The flavor of the strawberry cheesecake snow was by far the best we had tasted. It also came with a slice of cheesecake, accompanied by whipped cream, strawberry jam (or what seemed to be jam) and graham cracker crumbs on top. 

This all paired so nicely with the snow cone. With the others we had tested, the homemade cream seemed to get in the way at times. But, surprisingly, all of these items did the complete opposite for this one. 

The cheesecake added a smooth, creamy touch, which seems to be something snow cone lovers enjoy, since most snow cones here are topped with ice cream or homemade cream. Visually, this was the best-looking snow cone, in addition to its flavor. 

Everyone agreed this was the most outstanding snow cone of the day. Overall, The Wedgie is a cheesecake lover's dream, with each bite being better than the last. It was a beautiful combination of everything a snow cone connoisseur wants and needs.

Whatever type of snow cone strikes your fancy, Funky Munky has something to satisfy it. This list is just based on their top five sellers, but it’s worth trying a few different flavors to make a personal favorites list.

News Editor / Podcast Producer

“Guys, it’s sumo wrestling!” 

I shouted that with excitement to my group of TNS staffers as I looked through a storefront window. We were strolling through Denton’s Town Square after a day of sessions at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) when we stumbled across the captivating glow of sumo wrestling coming from Kurowashi Sumo Collective at The Dojo. 

We had just wrapped up boulder climbing at Movement, a gym just down the street, and were heading to dinner when we collectively decided to stop and check out the wrestling. 

Upon entering the dojo and receiving a warm welcome from everyone, we were directed to sit in the viewing area and watch the wrestlers warm up. After 15 minutes or so of spectating, our staff was asked if we wanted to participate in the warmups. 

We said yes about as fast as one can, and walked onto the mat. We started with fairly regular stretches and eventually learned how to perform several sumo rituals. Shiko was the first we were taught and is likely the most iconic of them all. It’s essentially a foot stomping exercise, that both warms up the wrestlers and is meant to symbolize stomping out evil spirits. The Chirichozu ritual was next, and for this one, we were all in the ring. We got down into the sumo resting position and clapped once, then raised our hands to show we had no weapons and intended to have a clean fight. 

This is when our staff started to realize just how much meaning is in sumo. 

Matt Kuruks'irari Jim was the first wrestler we met, and he patiently walked us through all the warmups, rituals and matches we participated in. 

He started Kurowashi Sumo in March 2024. Before that, he was a member of the Dallas Sumo Club. He also hosts a sumo podcast called Sumo Punkz in his free time. 

“We practice Amazumo, or amateur sumo,” he said. “Japan has a tight monopoly on pro sumo, or Ōzumo (grand sumo). There are tight restrictions on who can be accepted into a sumo stable in Japan. You have to be under 23 years of age, and they only allow one non-Japanese foreigner per stable.”

He said the rise in popularity of sumo has led to the creation of several semi-pro organizations. 

“Our organization, Kurowashi Sumo, has trained with a former professional rikishi (rikishi is the Japanese term for a professional sumo wrestler) named Ryuichi Yamamoto,” he said. “He wrestled under the name Yamamotoyama and retired back in 2012. [Yamamoto] used to train sumo wrestlers in Los Angeles, including Justin Kizzart (lightweight national gold medalist), who had trained my sumo teacher. He trained with us directly, and we hosted a few seminars for other aspiring sumo wrestlers to come learn from him. We also had training with John Jacques from Hawaii. He is one of the Godfathers of American Sumo (along with Ernie Hunt). He started practicing sumo in the 1970s, and is responsible for training and scouting the Hawaiians who had dominated professional sumo in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s."

This training was, of course, for sumo wrestling on the mat, but much of it was applicable to life. 

“[Jacques] taught us what it means to walk the sumo path, also known as 'Sumodo,’” Kuruks'irari Jim said. “It is the embodiment of the cultural aspects of what is expected of a sumo wrestler outside of the ring. He also taught us to embrace our fighting spirit, to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones and to keep getting back up and moving forward, no matter how many times you fall. Learning sumo from John Jacques was a privilege.” 

Our team also got to practice with Jared Parham, the Heyagashira (top senior student) of the Kurowashi Sumo Collective. He has been recruited into World Championship Sumo for several years and has recently fought with the World Elite Sumo promotion, created by former pro Sumo wrestler Ōzunaarashi (Great Sandstorm). 

Parham recently competed at Nationals in Las Vegas and got fifth place in the openweight division. He has also won the 2024 Mighty Eagle Team Tournament, the 2025 Olympia Sumo Tournament and the 2025 Texas Classic Openweight Tournament. 

I had the pleasure of fighting both Matt and Jared, and for both fights, it only took a few seconds to realize how steep the learning curve is in this sport. 

Aside from the obvious weight, height and strength difference, the amount of technique that they both had sealed their victory before I could even realize I had been picked up and flung into the ground. 

All sumo wrestlers have a style of fighting, and this is where you can start to gain an advantage among other wrestlers just as strong as you. Matt told me he has lost before to wrestlers who were much smaller and lighter, simply because they can move around much quicker on the mat. In amateur sumo, there are four weight classes, but once you reach heavyweight, there is no weight cap. This is where the technique really comes into play. 

My technique was to survive, but Matt showed me how to grab the opponent's Mawashi (belt) and use that leverage to (try to) move them. Did it at all work against him? No. But if I were wrestling another TIPA journalist, I have no doubt this would give me the upper hand. 

By the end of the evening, our TNS staff knew how to (somewhat) properly enter a sumo ring, perform the pre-fight rituals, square up against our opponent, fight and even how to properly celebrate your victory. 

This was an opportunity that we just don’t say “no” to. Sumo wrestling was one of those things for me that I was almost certain I would never seek out, but nevertheless something I have always wanted to try. 

For anyone walking through the Denton Town Square, or inspired by our team’s bravery, this was an experience we would all recommend. 

Sports Editor

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

It’s a quote from the late American poet Maya Angelou.

It’s also someone else’s self-proclaimed “code” as a human being. That person — by coincidence or not — is now Tarleton State’s men’s basketball coach.

Life has come fast at Eric Haut. Just over a month ago, he was coaching Utah State to a first-round win in the NCAA Tournament, while working a second job trying to get his staff and roster together at Tarleton State University.

Now, over a month into the new job, all that sits in Haut’s office, still, are a couple of water bottles, a container of Clorox wipes, some unpacked boxes and a flat-screen TV.

“I’m not even in the move-in process yet,” Haut said. “My wife and my son went back to Utah from the Final Four, so she’s packing up. They’ve got me in some temporary housing.”

“I literally have the same clothes that I packed for the NCAA Tournament; that’s the same suitcase that I’m living out of right now. Because I never went back [to Utah].”

All of that — and still, no one has embraced their platform more in that time than Coach E.

Since rebranding himself as Tarleton State’s men’s basketball coach, Haut has been very active on social media. From spontaneous video messages, to a Q&A session, to showing his presence at a number of university events, Haut is choosing to integrate with the community — and faster than most people would expect.

“It’s the only way I know how to be,” Haut said. “I've always been very engaging wherever I've been in the community, on campus. It's just, people want to feel a connection, right?”

He views his coaching the same way.

“I can't get our players to their maximum potential if I don't have relationships with them. I just can't,” he said.

Haut learned the art of developing rapport with players from his former boss at Utah State, Jerrod Calhoun, who recently accepted the head job at Cincinnati.

“That was kind of like our secret sauce at Utah State. We were never the most talented team in our league… but we were the most connected team in the league. We were the best team in the league,” Haut said.

In his opening press conference, Haut went as far as declaring that he and his staff will lead the country in time spent with their players. And he has a plan, starting with what he calls the foundation of his program: player development.

“I'm going to be working guys out individually, along with the rest of our staff,” Haut said. “I'm going to be doing a lot of individual film sessions with different positional groups; I'm going to have daily and weekly touch points with all of our players.”

Those responsibilities are usually pawned off, in his words, to assistant coaches. But Haut will be very hands-on.

His plans off the court, though, are where the connections will really be shaped.

“We may have a leadership council, where three or four guys are in that and we're reading a book about leadership over the summer,” Haut said. “That could mean, I'm gonna grab so-and-so and we're gonna go to Buffalo Wild Wings and have lunch. … That could be, I'm going to have three or four guys over to my house to have dinner one night with my wife and [son] Karter.”

Haut views his players as a part of his family. They’re a huge priority in his life.

In fact, in his eyes, every player’s family should be embraced as an extension of the team. He has a plan to welcome them, too.

“We'll have a parent group, where it's a group text with all our parents on it so that they can be connected,” Haut said. “We're gonna have parent meals. We'll pick three or four [home] games a year where this is a family day; so after the game, we'll have a meal catered in for our parents and our significant others and their children and their siblings so that we can build that connection.”

Guess what: it doesn’t stop there.

Haut wants to broaden that web of connection to the entire community. To him, this means putting more time into community service than any other team in the university—and showing up to support those other teams at their games.

“I want our players to be well known in the community… I want to share in everyone's success,” Haut said. “So, that's really important for our program and for our guys to, again, understand you're a part of something bigger than yourselves.

“To me, that stuff, that leads to wins,” he continued. “Maybe not in the win-loss column — I think it does — but just in life in general. I just think that's important, man.”

Haut may be a good quote. But with only three losing seasons in 22 years as an NCAA coach (all of which came at TCU from 2008-11), six appearances in the NCAA Tournament and fresh off contributing to a record-setting season at Utah State, he has the cachet to say… it’s working.

And despite inheriting a team coming off two straight losing seasons, Haut was not shy about his goals for the Texans’ next season.

To remind himself of these goals, Haut will soon be making another addition to his bare office: a piece of net he cut down after Utah State’s win in the Mountain West conference championship on March 14.

The net will be in his line of sight every day — because a year from now, he plans to add to the collection with a fresh piece of net from the UAC Championship.

“I've always set ambitious goals,” Haut said. “Nobody thought I could be a Division I player; I ended up being a Division I player. Nobody thought I'd be an all-conference player; I was an all-conference player. I don't think anybody knew what my path would be in terms of coaching, but I feel like I've always just set high expectations and worked my butt off to get there. And I feel like this is no different.”

How will he get Tarleton State to the mountaintop? Again, it all comes back to player development.

Tarleton State may not be the most talented team in the UAC this year. Neither was Utah State in their conference. So when players inevitably make mistakes, or don’t come up with the right results, Haut wants to remind them to be “process-oriented.”

Take, for example, the way a player shoots a basketball.

“When you're working on your shooting, guys will get caught up in if they made it or missed it. But you can shoot a shot the wrong way and make it, and you can shoot a shot the right way and miss it,” Haut said. “So if you get caught up in the makes and misses, it's really not best for your development. You want to shoot the right shot the right way.”

Haut has a system he’ll implement to reward players for doing things the right way. They’re called accountability charts, one for offense and one for defense.

Players will be graded every day in practice on how well they apply certain concepts the coaching staff wants to emphasize. For instance, if a player makes a great pass but their teammate misses the shot, the former will still be graded positively.

“It's process over outcome,” Haut said. “If you embrace the process and you believe in the process, the outcomes that you want, they will come.”

What the “process” really means, to Haut and his staff, is having championship habits every day. Part of that is to not let their players get down about the results maybe not coming as fast as they want.

“We coach with a lot of positivity. Even when we have to push guys, it's always because we know how good they can be,” Haut said. “... I'm high care, high accountability. And that's where the relationship piece comes in.

“I cannot maximize someone's potential if we don't have a relationship,” he continued. “‘Cause at some point, I'm gonna have to push them further than they think they can go. And if they know I have their best interests at heart and I'm really trying to get them to where I feel like they can get as a young man and as a player, they're gonna be more open to that coaching.”

Another area Haut wants the program to shine in is efficiency.

“I've been a part of staffs and workplaces where you'd meet for five hours, and you could have got that meeting done in about 45 minutes,” he said.

That’s why Haut said he wants to keep film sessions to about 15 minutes. He may even show film on the court some days with a portable TV, he said, so then after about five clips, players can get up and start applying the lessons immediately.

“Our practice plan will be down to the minute. We'll know exactly when we're transitioning to the next thing,” Haut said. “We will jog to the next thing; we're not walking around. Everything will be very, very efficient in everything we do.”

To this point, Haut has more goals set for the program than he has items in his office.

Never mind the program structure and accountability, he’s set tangible goals as well, like being top 50 nationwide in assists, top 30 in tempo, top 20 in steal percentage and top three in offensive and defensive efficiency.

Besides steal percentage, the team wasn’t close to any of those marks last year. But that doesn’t matter to Haut.

“This is a new era, this is a new energy, and we're just moving forward,” he said.

Haut’s approach may be a little different than most. It’s certainly a significant deviation from the previous regime. But even if his vision takes some time to come into focus, he won’t blink.

“I'm not saying it's better or worse. Just different,” Haut said. “It’s gonna be a different way of doing things.

He just has to be him, he said. It’s the only way he knows.

“We're gonna win in everything we do. We're gonna win in the weight room; we're gonna win in our recovery; we're gonna win in the community; we're gonna win in the classroom; we're gonna win on the court,” Haut said. “I just feel like it's a mindset, and right now, we are building that mindset.”

There are a lot of factors that will play into Haut’s goals being realized — some of them uncontrollable. For instance, another goal he has is to double the home attendance record of 3,187 in year one. Ambitious.

But there’s one thing Coach E knows to be true:

“When people feel a connection to something, they're more apt to support it.”

And it’s on to 2026.

Multimedia Journalist

In Stephenville, live music has always had a place. Whether it’s a small set at a local venue or a larger weekend show, artists and audiences have kept the scene active, creating a space where music is a regular part of community life.

In just a few years, Stephenville’s live music scene has exploded, moving from small hometown shows into a destination for nationally recognized artists. Crowds are growing, energy is building and more people, both locals and visitors, are taking notice. Stephenville is no longer just a place with music; it’s becoming a place people come to for music.

Part of that excitement comes from the steady flow of artists choosing to perform here. Venues like Twisted J Live have helped create an atmosphere where live music feels fun, consistently bringing in talent that keeps audiences coming back for more.

In recent years, well-known Texas artists such as Koe Wetzel, Randy Rogers Band and Josh Abbott Band have taken the stage in Stephenville. Their presence reflects a larger shift and shows that Stephenville is becoming a recognized stop on the Texas music circuit, a place artists are excited to play and fans are eager to experience.

That momentum has only grown with the arrival of nationally recognized artists like Kodak Black and That Mexican OT. Bringing wider audiences and different attention, these performances mark a turning point for Stephenville’s music scene.

Events like the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival add to that reputation. Known for bringing together large crowds and a wide range of artists, the festival has become a memorable part of Stephenville’s music culture, one that continues to draw attention and reinforce the town’s growing presence in the music world.

What makes Stephenville’s music scene more special right now is that it’s not just about the artists coming in; it’s about the artists coming out of Stephenville.

Emerging artists like Hudson Westbrook highlight the momentum that continues to build. As newer voices begin to gain attention, it becomes clear that Stephenville’s music scene isn’t slowing down.

When interviewed by reporter Taylor Brooks with “The Ones to Watch,” Westbrook talked about the impact of community in the early stages of his career.

“They had faith in a kid who was a college kid. I think there is something so special about that” Westbrook said.

That kind of environment where artists are given a chance before they’ve fully made a name for themselves is part of what makes Stephenville stand out.

That growth doesn’t stop with just one name. Artists such as Tyler Halverson, Kolby Cooper and Giovannie and the Hired Guns further show how much the music scene is evolving. Whether performing in Stephenville or influencing the broader Texas music landscape, they contribute to the sense that something bigger is happening here.

Another reason for this rapid growth is the role of social media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have completely changed how artists build their audiences. A single performance, a short clip or even a crowd reaction can reach thousands of people almost instantly. What happens in Stephenville doesn’t stay in Stephenville anymore, it spreads.

For artists, that kind of exposure is a game changer. It means they can build careers without leaving behind where they came from. For fans, it means being part of something that feels both local and larger than life at the same time.

As this visibility increases, so does the pride within the community. There’s a growing sense that Stephenville is becoming known for something new, something that expands its identity rather than just changing it. Music is becoming part of the town’s future in a way that feels exciting and full of possibility.

That excitement is hard to miss. It shows up in packed venues, in crowds that know every lyric and in the growing anticipation of what’s coming next. People are paying attention—not just because of who is performing, but because of what Stephenville is becoming.

Of course, with growth comes the need for more opportunities, more space and continued support for artists. But if recent years have shown anything, it’s that Stephenville is ready for that challenge. The demand is there, the talent is there and the momentum is already in motion.

Right now, Stephenville feels like a town on the edge of something bigger. The music scene is flourishing, drawing in artists, building up local talent and creating experiences that people want to be part of. It’s no longer just about individual performances, but about a scene that is growing stronger with each show, each artist and each crowd that fills the room.

And as that growth continues, one thing is clear: Stephenville isn’t just participating in the Texas music scene anymore, it’s becoming a place that helps shape it.

Contributing Writer

Stephenville, Texas, is growing at a rapid rate. According to the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, the town has already seen a 54% growth rate since the year 2000.

Tarleton State University sits at the heart of Stephenville and is responsible for a sizable amount of the city's growth. Tarleton recently made a massive leap to being a Division I university, attracting more students from all over the world.

Erath County is also in the top 10% of counties in the state leading agricultural production according to the Chamber. So, it’s not surprising when people move here for the small-town feel — the sense of warmth and community you don't find in the heart of a metroplex.

Just because the town is growing, new people are settling in and Tarleton is bursting at the seams does not mean the rich memories of Stephenville’s past have left.

Sheri Tomlinson Eddy and her sister Luann Tomlinson Rez, both Stephenville natives and Huckaby residents, said they recall a time when they spent their days going down the “Drag.”

The “Drag” was a loop that friends and families would take from the Dairy Queen on Washington Street to the former Dairy Queen north of Jake and Dorothy’s cafe.

“That was how you saw your friends, ‘honk, honk,’” Rez said.

JoAnn Shipman, a longtime Stephenville resident, also remembers going down the “Drag.”

Shipman said she can't recall how many times she and her friends cruised up and down from one Dairy Queen to another. She said that’s all there was to do. It was a way for her and her friends to get out and socialize with everyone they knew.

The Dairy Queen on West Washington Street was opened by Margaret Frayne in the late 1970s.

The establishment not only held countless memories on the road for friends, but the lot itself served as a community.

Dean Parr, a Stephenville City councilman, said that's not something you see around anymore. He said a handful of FMC retirees meet weekly at the Whataburger for coffee, and that's about all you see in terms of recurring gatherings.

For his family and the community back then, Dairy Queen was that place for them.

“My folks would have coffee and talk over everything under the shining sun,” Parr said. “Us kids would get ice cream and play football until the parents got tired.”

The specific lot, 1601 West Washington St., has been home to many businesses over the years, including a steakhouse. But the Dairy Queen was the most prominent, and it held the most memories.

However, this long-time community hub has officially closed its doors. The physical building may soon be gone, but old memories stand strong and new memories are soon to come.

Tarleton has purchased the lot where the old Dairy Queen stands. The university plans on expanding its academic facilities onto the lot.

Don't worry, though — the iconic soft serve will soon make its return to Stephenville. Construction of a new Dairy Queen is in progress at 703 E. South Loop.

It isn't the only thing soon to come for Stephenville; many more changes around the town are being put into play, such as new businesses, hotels and dining options.

That brings up a word some residents are cautious of: “change.”

“Serving on council, we’re still trying to maintain that small-town feel,” Parr said. “But also have the businesses, where people don't have to drive to the Metroplex.”

Gathering hubs like the Dairy Queen are fading. Small towns are growing and developing, but the changing landscape of the city alone is not to blame.

Technology comes into play when dealing with lower levels of face-to-face interaction. With it at the forefront of our society, we can't escape it. It’s all around us, in stores, restaurants and events. It's important not to let human interaction slip away.

Some residents don't want to see it, and some welcome it, but Parr said how crucial it is to grow and embrace change.

“Small towns either grow or they die. There’s no gray area anymore,” Parr said. “The idea of country living and living in a small community has fallen to the wayside for the younger generations.”

Eddy said she understands both sides of the story.

“It’s hard… It’s not that I don’t understand, because I do, but it's been overwhelming for us since we’ve been here all our lives,” Eddy said.

Shipman said she is not 100% in favor of a change in Stephenville, but she thinks it’s for the best.

“I’m sure what's taking place, coming in and happening is good for Stephenville,” Shipman said.

If we're lucky, Stephenville won't lose its charm. After all, the people here are what make it what it is. The small town charm reels people here; the city is doing its best to keep that feeling, despite rapid development.

Change is here. Stephenville is growing. But it’s community memories, hubs and hangouts that keep the city alive.

Get outside, talk to your neighbor and ask someone how their day was. Keep the small-town charm alive.

News Editor / Podcast Producer

Stephenville, Texas has evolved a lot over the last decade.

The “Cowboy Capital of the World” currently has around 22,000 residents, and is projecting a 22% population increase by 2030. This growth mirrors Tarleton State University’s growth as the fastest growing university in Texas, and a now prominent name in regards to sports after a strong Division I entrance.

All of this growth has happened quickly for Stephenville. Driving through the city's main road, Washington Street, you see businesses left and right that were pieces of land just a couple years ago. Entire shopping centers have been added with large, national brands while small businesses still continue to thrive.

Much of this growth is overseen by the Stephenville Economic Development Authority. Jeff Sandford is the President and CEO, and says the SEDA is funded entirely by Stephenville sales tax.

“We take a small percentage, (one eighth of one cent of everything), for our organization to operate,” he said. “We spend the vast majority of our time recruiting businesses, recruiting investment, recruiting new dollars into our community, that either advance and provide more jobs at our higher paying levels, so increasing the median wage, or investing with new buildings, new amenities, new things like that.”

In short, the goal of the SEDA is to work with Stephenville to (as the name says) economically develop the city. Over the past six years, that’s looked like more than 60 new projects and just over half a billion dollars in investments.

A large part of Sandford’s job is bringing new businesses to Stephenville, which he described as kind of like building a puzzle. Stephenville can’t just go and grab all of the businesses that people are asking for and toss them along Washington Street. Instead, it’s a game of figuring out not only what businesses fit, but where in the town they fit. “Fit” as in physically fit, but also “fit” as in making sure they complement the other businesses and steadily follow the population growth of the city.

“Even though there is a rich history of greatness in our community, we felt like there were some ways that we could expand upon those championship ideals in different areas,” he said. “And so we have attacked as many areas as possible to grow and make it (Stephenville) something that my own kids would want to stay here for.”

An important step in getting businesses to come to Stephenville is advertising. No one will put a business in a town they’ve never heard of. Sandford said the best advertising Stephenville has is Tarleton’s football team.

“Whether you're a sports fan or not, the biggest marketing tool we have is when our sports teams play on a national stage,” he said.

It doesn't end when the game is over either. Sandford said the coverage that comes after it, especially the coverage from publications like SportsCenter, reaches far more people than regular advertising.

The best example of this is when Tarleton beat Army last year. A game-winning field goal in double overtime put the Texans in headlines from ESPN to the New York Times.

Now, the city of Stephenville, Texas sticks a little in the minds of everyone who saw that game.

“Tarleton's success helps us tell the story of Stephenville's success,” he said.

Tarleton, without a doubt, helps Stephenville. The students of Tarleton also help support all of the business around the city from August to May. After summer break starts, the bars may be a little less crowded and the midnight drive through lines may be a tad shorter, but Stephenville still thrives.

Sandford says quite a few Tarleton students stay over the summer, and businesses simply budget their inventory for the months where student traffic may be lower.

“Obviously, when they (students) come back in August, it just goes through the roof. And so what our businesses have learned to do…you learn to sort of budget your stock based on the trends of the student population,” he said. “So you'll see ups and downs. In April, you have the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival that will see 60,000 plus people come into town. So they know to stock up at different places. It's still going to stay high through May because in May, you have all of the different things that happen with graduations. June still stays pretty good…and the summer school attendance though is much higher than it used to be. So you're going to have a higher number of people that stick around.”

He said in July, business does drop down, but only for it to pick right back up in August and September, once all of the students are back.

Despite Tarleton being such an integral part of Stephenville, the businesses aren't solely relying on the Tarleton student population. In fact, the student population really doesn't account for that much of Stephenville's total shopping traffic.

A “trade area” is defined as a region where a city draws its customers.

The population of Stephenville is only about 22,000 people. The trade area of Stephenville, or the number of people that shop in Stephenville, was 80,000 in 2018.

Now, that number is 147,000.

Even when you remove the number of Tarleton students on the Stephenville campus, the number of people Stephenville attracts is still well over 100,000.

This is why Sandford says that while Stephenville wants to cater to the student population, “The soccer moms and newly retired are just as important.”

Stephenville's recent development clearly caters to a wide range of people. Recently, residents got a Hobby Lobby, Ross, TJ Maxx, Old Navy and Five Below all in one plaza.

He stressed the need for a wide range of businesses for every type of customer. Stephenville is now catering to an audience that allows them to have common retail spots and restaurants like Ross and McDonalds, but also higher-end destinations like Venture19 and The Seeker.

Stephenville helps accomplish this by also catering to those outside the city limits.

“So now we're drawing in not just the students, not just the local residents, but people from out of town that now don't have to go to Weatherford or Brownwood or Granbury or Fort Worth for that matter. So now we're capturing dollars that are already being spent. We're not poaching dollars from anywhere in town, these are dollars we have been spending in other communities,” Sandford said.

Now, that sales tax money can be put right back into the city.

“So now if [the money] is spent in town, that sales tax rises, and that gives us a chance to invest back in our town, not raise people's individual taxes, as much, if ever, and we can still do the kinds of things that are needed to be done, such as roadwork, infrastructure, all those things that aren't real sexy, but are needed in a town that's growing,” Sandford said. “And we use other people's money, which is awesome. They're going to spend and buy a pair of shoes anyway, buy them here.”

So what’s new for Stephenville?

First off is a new convenience store right off 281 by Atwoods. That, combined with a new travel center will hopefully catch those driving past Stephenville and lure them further into the town.

Sandford said attracting new visitors is the key, because as much as the residents want new restaurants, for example, “we’re not going to eat a fourth meal.”

He said that when new restaurants come to the city, they inevitably take business away from the others unless more people are coming to the town as well.

New restaurants are still in the works though.

Sandford says new family sit-down restaurants are looking at parcels in town, and then addressed some of the most requested business, at least from the Tarleton student body.

“A variety of quick serve restaurants, or QSRs, are high on the list, and we will continue to pursue places like Raising Canes and Chipotle, among others,” he said.

A new Springhill Suites by Marriott hotel with 126 rooms and convention space will be built next to the Bosque River Taphouse.

A Home2 Suites hotel with 120 rooms will be built on the western part of town, and a Holiday Inn Express with just over 80 rooms will be on the Robert J. Glasgow loop.

A new Cash America pawn shop will join Stephenville's shopping catalog, and the Dairy Queen that used to reside on the outskirts of the Tarleton campus is being moved to the South Loop.

A new golf practice facility will also be built out on the way to Dublin.

A "luxury laundromat” will reside in between HTeaO and the Hampton Inn, and Sandford mentioned countless other plans soon to be revealed to the public.

It’s an exciting time to be a Stephenville resident or Tarleton student. The campus is growing at a record-breaking rate and the city continues to grow right alongside it.

There’s a lot to look forward to for the Cowboy Capital.

Managing Editor

“Texas’s best kept secret,” better known as Tarleton State University, is becoming less of a secret and more of a trend. What used to be considered a moderate university tucked away in the “Cowboy Capital,” Stephenville, Texas, is growing rapidly and setting student enrollment records.

According to Tarleton State News, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) released data that recognizes Tarleton as the fastest-growing public university in Texas.

Tarleton State News also shared that Tarleton saw record enrollment numbers for the sixth consecutive year in the fall of 2025, totalling more than 21,000 students.

In the January 2026 edition of Fort Worth Magazine, Brian Kendall wrote in “True Texans: Tarleton State University, the Stephenville college that embraces its Western identity, expands to ‘Where the West Begins,’” that Tarleton was “a university whose growth in student enrollment and expansion to markets outside of Stephenville, including Fort Worth, has signaled a hard right turn from the once obscure rural college to first class, first choice, destination university.”

After speaking with incoming and current freshmen about what drew them to a town where everyone bleeds purple, it seems that many factors anchor students to “the ‘Ville.”

Incoming freshman from Robinson, Texas, Kamryn Petty felt drawn to Tarleton due to the opportunities she saw for herself, as she plans to major in early childhood education.

“I wanted to apply to Tarleton State University because of its strong academic programs, supportive environment and sense of community,” Petty said. “I was especially drawn to how the university focuses on student success and provides hands-on learning opportunities.”

Petty also noticed the tight-knit community that not all universities can offer.

“What makes Tarleton State University stand out to me is its welcoming atmosphere and smaller class sizes, which allow for more personal connections with professors,” Petty said.

Incoming freshman from Lingleville, Texas, Brody Hurt noticed similar aspects that led him to Tarleton.

“To me, Tarleton stands out because of its hometown roots,” Hurt said. “I have lived in Erath County now for 11 years, and every time I visited Tarleton or have been around Tarleton, I have felt like it has been super structured around that hometown feeling.”

The academic programs Tarleton offers are top-tier and have earned a well-deserved reputation. Students with ambitious career goals see Tarleton as their ladder to success.

“I applied to Tarleton because when I was asking other people who were much wiser than me where to attend college to get an engineering degree, the common answer was Tarleton,” Hurt said. “So I decided to apply.”

Student success is undeniably a great contributor to the growth being seen at Tarleton.

Kendall wrote in his article, “One such number, which is likely the most important number to many a college-bound student, is the school’s 84% employment rate within a year of a student’s graduation, which leads all public universities in the state of Texas.”

Current freshman Kobe Norman from Angleton, Texas, first considered attending Tarleton after a family member recommended it to him. Upon his first visit, he instantly noticed the friendliness of Tarleton’s campus.

“The people I encountered during the tour were amazing,” Norman said. “During orientation, we were just exploring campus, and the people we came across were really nice.”

Norman said that his faith is the biggest influence in his life, and that he felt God calling him to attend Tarleton.

“I was praying for a month straight about where to go,” Norman said. “God led me to Tarleton, and I am here.”

From the experiences he has had thus far, Norman said, “I have no regrets. Everyone should consider Tarleton.”

Community and student success seem to be the motivating factors for many entering “the gates that are always open.” It has never been a more exciting time to Bleed Purple and embrace the Texan spirit.

Feature Editor

Cade Mathis is currently managing 200 beehives across Texas, balancing his growing honey company and still leaving enough time to serve his community as a full-time animal science student at Tarleton State University.

To many, that much responsibility might seem overwhelming, but to Mathis, it’s just a byproduct of having the patience and discipline to slowly add to a system that sticks.

What would eventually become a widespread honey company earning more than six figures began 10 years ago, when Mathis’ dad bought two beehives to sit in a secluded corner of Cross Timbers Ranch.

Before he knew it, Mathis was not only looking after the bees like they were his own, but he began gifting and eventually selling the honey they produced to teachers and classmates at just 12 years old.

What Mathis would come to learn is that beekeeping has to be about the bees, not how he could use them. In fact, a lot of what he contributes to his success is leaving enough honey behind for the hives to sustain themselves with as little outside interference as possible.

“If you compare us to a lot of the commercial bee companies and honey production companies, a lot of them treat chemically,” Mathis said. “I don’t do that. I feel very strongly against it. I’m very holistic and natural-based when it comes to beekeeping because they were around long before us.”

Mathis drives pests and parasites out of his hives with techniques like placing peppermint candies in the corners and dryer sheets over the top as a trap.

The secret to his success seems to be leaving enough time to learn what works with his bees and what doesn't, revealing these simple solutions.

“I think he sets a great example of finding that balance of still doing really well in school, but doing really well outside of school as well,” Dr. Eileen Faulkenberry, dean of Tarleton Honors College, said.

Mathis initially had a bee allergy before being stung enough to develop immunity. The stakes always felt high, but his resilience ran deeper.

“I didn’t really have any guidance. I went to Tractor Supply, and I think they had a beekeeping book for probably like $10. I watched a lot of YouTube, so I was self-taught,” Mathis said. “Some of those hives were mean, and they just swarm, so it took a lot to overcome that.”

In fact, he began to see these more aggressive swarms as an opportunity. According to Mathis, the bees with Africanized genes, better known as “killer bees,” that he keeps at Cross Timbers Ranch are often identified by this behavior.

“I check them twice a year, but they produce a lot more honey, like two or three times more than a regular beehive would,” Mathis said.

Mathis came to Tarleton because he didn’t just want the opportunity to sell honey; he wanted to learn more about the bees he was responsible for and open opportunities to make an impact by educating communities.

As a student in the Honors program with a passion for animal science, he published his book “Learning to Leave Enough” last month. “Learning to Leave Enough” not only serves as a beginner’s guide to fellow beekeepers, but also details Mathis’ experiences in the honey business in hopes that it helps people learn about the values of good stewardship.

Faulkenberry knew he was special as soon as he invited a group of students he had just met to grill steaks with him for his birthday, which also happened to be move-in day.

“His smile and sweet spirit struck me that very first day, and I thought, ‘This is an awesome kid. I am so glad he’s in the Honors College,’” Faulkenberry said. “He invites people into the community with him anytime that I see him on campus. He’s just that sort of positive personality that makes everything brighter around him.”

Faulkenberry said she admires not only his generosity but also his passion for beekeeping and producing honey. She specifically remembers the detail that went into the packaging of a Mardi Gras honey blend sample he gave to the Honors College administrative assistant.

“The number of hives that he has, the different flavors of honey, the honey sticks, his business, is way bigger than he lets on,” Faulkenberry said. “He doesn’t brag about all of this other kind of stuff that he’s doing.”

Mathis approached Dr. Faulkenberry with the idea of keeping beehives at Tarleton’s Agricultural Center in 2024.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s a great idea. I think that could be a nice symbiotic relationship out there,’” Faulkenberry said. “All I did was point him towards a certain direction and say, ‘Go talk to either this person or this person.’”

In August 2025, Mathis’ dream of creating a “living classroom” of opportunities for his peers became a reality.

“My goal with that is to eventually create a four-credit class to teach future generations about the importance of pollinators, the honeybees themselves and how they can affect Tarleton agriculture, or our community’s agriculture and agriculture as a whole,” Mathis said. “Because without honeybees, you won’t have life, pretty much.”

While these classes aren’t in session at Tarleton just yet, those who are interested in learning the ins and outs of beekeeping can book two-hour beginner’s lessons at millheimhoneycompany.com for $200.

Millheim Honey Company also offers services for beehive removal and management for those who can’t or don’t wish to look after the bees themselves.

“Rather than killing the beehive, like a lot of exterminators would do, we’ll take it and relocate it to start a new hive,” Mathis said.

Mathis has just as big a heart for Texans as he does for honeybees.

In fact, from July 15–18 of 2025, 100% of Millheim Honey’s profits went directly to supporting relief efforts after severe flooding in Kerrville, affecting Camp Mystic and surrounding communities.

Despite seeing big success, Mathis has stayed as sweet as his honey.

“He sees what he does as a service for others, not something that’s going to inflate him, but it’s going to inflate others and support them and build them up,” Falkenberry said.

Contributing Writer

There are many clubs and organizations that go above and beyond here at Tarleton State University, not just because of their successes, but for the continuous progress and impact they have on their members.

Organizations like Alpha Epsilon Delta, Tarleton Ultimate Frisbee and the Tarleton Pre-PA Society have grown their impact on campus and in the community, showcasing the broader success that clubs and organizations at Tarleton have been seeing.

New initiatives and growing membership are important, but they also prioritize personal, academic and professional development with their members.

Alpha Epsilon Delta

According to Texan Sync, “Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is a national health pre-professions honor society dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in pre-professions scholarship, including medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, physician assistant and many other advanced pre-health professions.”

AED has seen significant progress over the past two semesters, adding around 15 new members. Shelby Perrenound, the AED president, said she is constantly seeing new faces.

AED has also been increasing community service opportunities for members.

“We coordinated a food drive for the Treehouse afterschool program,” Perrenound said. “We want to continue to build upon the structure we have created this year.”

AED assists with the progression of students on their way to the medical field. They honor excellence, but also provide opportunities for members to get a headstart on certain exams required for their professions.

“Recently, we’ve incorporated a new opportunity called MCAT and DAT Mondays. Those are the entrance exams for medical and dental schools,” Perrenound said. “We’ve been holding these meetings for our members who are wanting to go to medical and dental school. Here, they can study and complete practice tests to prepare to take their exams.”

Although AED has had many recent successes, they're not planning to slow down anytime soon. Plans to continue the growth of member numbers and outreach opportunities are in the works.

“One exciting upcoming event is that we will be having a meeting where we have snacks and play volleyball to give us a brain break meeting before finals,” Perrenound said.

According to Perrenound, the organization intends to ensure members have the opportunity to be introduced to various fields of medicine and prepare those students for their applications into programs and future schooling.

Ultimate Frisbee

According to USA Ultimate, ultimate frisbee is a non-contact sport played with a disc, where two teams of seven players compete while officiating themselves. Tarleton’s Ultimate Frisbee team is constantly evolving, rebuilding each year as seniors graduate. They work to create a strong environment that encourages players to improve physically while also having fun.

Despite these sometimes difficult transitions, the team has made steady progress in learning from mistakes and working as a team. The new team recently participated in a tournament at the University of North Texas and placed fourth.

“Considering only four of us had ever played in a tournament, I see it as a huge accomplishment,” Evan Underwood, the risk management officer, said.

The team's growth on the field has been on a steady incline, and they have seen a pique in interest for the sport.

According to Underwood, Ultimate participated in Rec Fest last semester, bringing in around 100 potential new members’ information.

“About half of Ultimate members attended the next day we played,” Underwood said.

Ultimate will also be in attendance at the Tarleton Sports Club Takeover. According to Underwood, they will be playing Kanjam and hosting a throwing contest.

“I think it will be a lot of fun and we can introduce people to a sport they may have never heard of,” Underwood said.

Ultimate has one big goal they’d like to achieve for the future: more members. Gaining members, especially for a lesser-known sport, is difficult, but they have a plan to change that.

“We will try to be more active in our recruiting process and try to convince more people to come out and try our club,” Underwood said. “... I could see us reaching 100 [members] if we keep recruiting and sharing the game we love.”

Pre-PA Society

Newly founded in Fall 2025, the Pre-PA Society aims to support pre-physician assistant students by providing resources, promoting awareness of the profession and creating opportunities for professional growth, networking and community, according to Texan Sync.Though their time on campus has been short, the society has experienced notable progress. It can be a very difficult, long and laborious process trying to create a new student organization at Tarleton.

Within the first semester, they established bylaws, elected officers and received approval from the university. With these steps, the society was able to see instant results.

After doing an informational tabling during Pre-PA appreciation week, Vice President Katie Peugh said, “We had over 90 students join our Instagram and delivered over 100 student-written thank you notes [to local physician assistants] within our two-hour tabling period.”

The prioritization of outreach is something the society wants to remain at the forefront. Peugh also said the club has seen a significant increase in members in the last semester.

Considering how difficult it can be to gain members for a brand-new organization, it speaks to the interest and need for this type of organization. The Pre-PA Society is continuing to pick up speed with plans to continue fostering the growth of the organization and support for the physician assistant profession. The society also has plans to visit the local nursing home.

“We’ll be putting on a short play to entertain the residents and brighten their day,” Peugh said.

For the next few years, the society plans to see growth in numbers due to the increasing interest in the PA profession.

Sports Editor

The EECU Center has been acclaimed as a game changer for the Stephenville community and a venue bound to conceive Tarleton State University into a newfound sense of belonging at the Division-I level.

Through in its first few months of operation, the initial goals are starting to come to fruition — and even be exceeded in some cases.

Ben Andersen has been serving as executive director of event center operations since January, overseeing event coordination, planning and venue logistics. As the venue approaches the end of its first fiscal year in August, Andersen says he is “very pleased” with the results thus far and making it through basketball season largely unscathed from any public backlash.

“Everything that I've seen up to this point, we're exceeding where we wanted to be at,” Andersen said. “... Transparently, the first couple deals were a little bit more lucrative than we would like, but that's just all to bring talent to Stephenville, just to put the city on the map. So now that we've got some traction with those events, promoters and agents, [we’re] starting to see that we can really bring some good talent to this city.”

Andersen is optimistic about continued growth over the next couple years, including expanding the venue’s revenue budget of $1.8 million to around $2.5 million, while pushing the current agenda of six headlining shows a year to 10 or 15.

“My goal was — when I came in — to not only book some of these touring shows, but also big private events,” Andersen said, “So, that's kind of my focus right now, is pitching to other types of shows to bring additional revenue into the venue — you know, boat shows, gun shows, high school graduations, other elements that we can bring to the venue to increase revenue.”

While the venue’s “primary tenet” is hosting basketball games, Anderson insisted that the EECU Center has found the most success when appealing to the town’s family-focused environment, meaning putting on events that families — from grandparents to little ones — can enjoy together.

The most recent example of this was the Harlem Globetrotters game on Feb. 13, a stop on their 100 Year Tour, which sold over 2,300 tickets.

“It was a really fun event, great to see all the families come out,” Andersen said. “It really showed us, again, that this is going to be a family town market, so that'll bring more and more of those types of shows to the city of Stephenville.”

Andersen has also been eyeing the possibility of landing another eccentric family act: Dude Perfect.

The viral comedy group is based out of Frisco and currently has a deal with Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Schedulers at the venue’s booking agency, Oak View Group, have not reached out to Dude Perfect’s team yet, but Anderson said a gig at the EECU Center will hopefully be in the works “in the near future.”

“Kind of shows like that are more kid-focused. It just seems like there's a lot of families, grandparents here in Stephenville and surrounding area that would love to see a show like that without having to travel to Fort Worth or Dallas,” Andersen said.

A big indicator for future growth will be how well the venue can showcase its versatility, while testing some of its structural challenges for certain events.

For instance, it’d make sense for the EECU Center to eventually host a rodeo, being at the heart of the Cowboy Capital of the World; the ticket demand would be robust. However, the arena is not ideal for rodeo conditions, having tight corners and limited runout space, which could disrupt barrel racing patterns, roping events and bull-riding staging — not to mention permanent seating areas that take up vital space in a floor already smaller than the standard rodeo arena.

“It's going to take a very unique kind of dirt event,” Andersen said. “... However, there are some ways we can work around it.”

Another event schedulers have ambitions for is Disney On Ice, which would play well with the family atmosphere, but it would be very expensive to install ice in the arena with the limited amenities.

“Whether or not that's cost effective for how much we’d make on the show is TBD,” Andersen said.

“I’m not saying it can't be done, but those are the types of events that might be a little more challenging to bring into the venue.”

Nonetheless, among the talent that has graced the EECU Center stage so far includes big names in comedy and country music — such as Leanne Morgan, Koe Wetzel and Hudson Westbrook, with Parker McCollum set to perform on Sept. 24.

“I mean, I think in our first few shows, we've showcased all what we have to offer, and I'm very pleased with the results of our first few shows,” Andersen said. “I'd love to bring as many shows here as possible, so we're going through the booking process right now to look forward to the rest of 2026 and 2027.”

With the crux of the event focus being on basketball, and state-of-the-art undertakings in facilities, the EECU Center is built to help athletic recruitment as well as community growth.

“Texan Nation will watch high-level basketball in a high-level environment for a long time to come,” Tarleton’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, Steve Uryasz, said at the time of the venue’s grand opening in August. “The EECU Center ranks among the best venues I’ve been in across my entire career in collegiate athletics.”

Overall, the vision stands the same, and aggressive — in pushing Stephenville along as one of the fastest growing communities in Texas.

“It's a big deal for Stephenville,” Andersen said. “I mean, you put this arena anywhere else in the country and it'd be a gem by itself. So, I think this is a huge, huge thing for the city to bring everybody together.”

Digital Media Director

During the fall 2025 semester, Dr. Jacob Brewer, Dr. Walter Moore and instructor Meg Cline made their work come to life and began to have meetings for Tarleton State University’s new literary magazine, the Bosque River Review (BRR).

Now, the BRR gears up for their first issue to be launched this April.

In the BRR, many students’ works of fiction, poetry and/or art will be featured, displaying their hard work so others around Tarleton and Stephenville can enjoy a good story or art piece in their spare time.

Although Cline left the project after the fall semester, Brewer and Moore have continued to help lead the student editors throughout the final steps.

While Brewer and Moore may be observing and managing the budget, the students involved are the real leaders. Student editors decide the accepted pieces and make final edits, making it their final product.

During the process of creating this magazine, the students split into two groups: fiction editors and poetry editors.

Andrew Kitchens, a poetry editor, decided to join the BRR due to his love for puzzles and music and found that poetry bridges these two very well. According to him, creating a literary magazine is much more than printing a story.

“In 2026, when the current world order is changing before our very eyes, it's important for us students to make our voices heard and share our ideas with a wider audience,” Kitchens said. “It's our turn to step up and bat, and here at the Bosque we're swinging for the fences.”

Teagan Driscoll is another member of the BRR and is a fiction editor for the nine stories that will be featured. His reason for taking on this genre was his love of editing written pieces.

“What draws me more to fiction than poetry is how I can look at the pacing and development of a story like a puzzle to bring out the most impact,” Driscoll said. “Being able to work with writers in piecing together something that they feel the most proud of is such an incredibly rewarding process for me.”

The upcoming BRR magazine will not be focused on one topic or genre, but rather cover a plethora of options so there is something for everyone. Such genres include fantasy, horror, supernatural and literary fiction.

While also submitting her own fantasy piece, senior Zeina Halili, the Editor-in-Chief for the BRR, has helped put together the magazine and conducted her own interview for a special feature in it.

“Being Editor-in-Chief has been a mix of a lot of things at once,” Halili said. “I get to work with all the editors reading submissions, then working on editing them. I was also able to perform some interviews for the first edition and learn everything that goes into putting something out there for others to read.”

Having this magazine built by students is incredibly important for the members of the BRR.

“The BRR needs to be built by students because we're actively building a community through student work,” Kitchens said. “While I appreciate our professors for their continued support, we're the ones that have something to prove, and we've built this journal from the roots up.”

Halili agreed, noting how having students make the journal makes it feel more personal for other students that are just starting to find their fit in the writing world.

“We are not just looking at pieces, we are holding stories and ideas that people had and are giving them a place to belong,” Halili said. “I think it makes it more intentional and meaningful, because it's coming from people who actually understand what it means to want your work to matter.”

On April 27, the BRR will celebrate the launch of its very first edition. Students, family and residents of Stephenville will be able to find copies of the literary magazine on campus and at select locations.

Podcast Host

Music lovers gathered this March for the first-ever music festival in Hamilton. The Santa Teresa Music Fest marks a new chapter in the community’s growth.

The festival features artists such as Shane Smith and the Saints, The Great Divide, Red Shahan, The Droptones and home-grown celebrity Presley Haile. The festival also featured a VIP performance by Josh Weathers.

The music festival was held in Hamilton, Texas, at Santa Teresa Ranch. The ranch was originally known as Bywater Hereford Ranch in the 1930s. In 1950, the ranch was repurchased, and then again in 2003.

The owner, Casey Fields, bought the land a few years back and heard that this historic ranch had tried to host a music festival in the past, but the idea never became a reality — until now.

“We had heard, I guess it was in the 90s, they tried to do some music fest out here. I believe Hamilton and Hico are up-and-coming, and we thought it would be cool for the community,”  Fields said.

With this being the festival's first year, the Santa Teresa team set realistic expectations for attendance; however, the community's support exceeded expectations and helped drive strong attendance.

This music festival would be another venture added to the ranch’s resume. Along with a music venue, Santa Teresa was also a pub and steakhouse, and is even rumored to have a hidden speakeasy somewhere on the land.

Along with the music, there were vendors for attendees to shop at, such as American Hat Company, Will Leather Goods, Van Garden and more.

One of these businesses is Uncle Bekah’s Inappropriate Trucker Hats, a small business that sells “comedic dirty” hats, based out of McKinney, Texas.

The owner, Bekah Hardick, heard about Santa Terresa from some of the other vendors they have worked in the past at other music festivals. Working with Santa Teresa, Hardick has noticed the community's and workers' support.

“I like working with festivals that want the vendors to do well, and they support me as much as I am trying to support them,” Hardick said.

Hardick knew little about Hamilton before the music festival, but after seeing the town, she said she has come to respect the charm it offers.

“I drove through it and heard about it, but no, I didn't know much about it. I literally just passed through, but I always thought it was super cute,” Hardick said.

Hardick and so many others have come to learn more about the small town through this festival.

The Santa Teresa Music Festival has brought significant attention to the small town of Hamilton, Texas, through live entertainment, shopping and community engagement.