Community First: Why Your Connections Matter Most with Logan Locke

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Hi everyone, it's Corey Keller with the Arkansas State Media Network and Partners in Progress.
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Today I have with me Logan Locke.
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Hi.
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Woo! Welcome, Logan.
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Thank you.
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Thank you for having me.
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Good.
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Well, as a 2020 and 2022 alumni, I always love the opportunity to talk to current students.
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So here's a little bit about Logan.
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Logan is a senior finance student in the Honors College at Arkansas State University, graduating May of 2026.
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So how many days is that?
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It's almost I guess it's a little under two weeks.
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He's not counting or anything.
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No.
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A transfer student who found his footing at A-State, Locke has built a record that spans banking, fraternity leadership, and academic competition.
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He currently works at Centennial Bank, serves as vice president of Alpha Limd Delta, and previously turned around the finances of Phi Delta Theta as its treasurer.
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Great work.
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Thank you.
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He is also a CFI certified fintech professional and a participant in the CSBS Community Bank Case Study Program.
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Welcome.
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Thank you.
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That is quite the resume at such a young age.
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So I had to ask beforehand, but please tell our listeners what is Alpha Lambda Delta?
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Yeah.
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What is it?
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It's uh it's a freshman honor society honoring students above a 3.5 GPA.
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Uh it's actually a national honor society.
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So we do have conferences with other chapters and other events uh nationwide, including a conference and a summit yearly.
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Nice.
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And CFI.
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So tell me a little bit about what that is.
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Of course.
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The Corporate Finance Institute is actually a uh company based in Canada.
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Uh they do financial certifications um, including banking analysis, financial ratio analysis, uh, a bunch of other ones.
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But I specifically went for fintech.
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So that's like financial technology, including uh fintech, wealth tech, reg tech, which is just, I guess, buzzword jargon for you.
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But uh it covers the blockchain, financial transactions.
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Um, it also includes things like uh insurance and wealth fundamentals for banking and institutions uh spanning federal regulations.
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So you said it also kind of covers like crypto and Bitcoin.
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It does, yeah.
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Like a crypto advisor now.
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No, I wouldn't go that far.
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I do have that's a different podcast.
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I do have some money in in Bitcoin and I I keep an eye on Ethereum, but I wouldn't say I'm I'm I'm good investment advice.
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Don't listen to me at all.
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Please don't listen to me.
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Yeah, that's a different podcast.
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We won't um include that on this one.
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Well, good.
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Well, we're so glad to have you today.
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So let's talk a little bit about you.
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So where are you from?
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I'm from Jonesboro, Arkansas.
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Uh so you're from here.
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Okay, great.
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So where did you go to school?
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I went to Valley View High School, uh, and I graduated in 2022.
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Okay, so it said you're a transfer student.
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So where did you come from?
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I have two alma mater secrets out of the bag.
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I did start at the University of Arkansas, uh, but I ended up transferring here.
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Okay, transferring.
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That's a big decision.
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So, what made you initially want to fly the nest and go across the state to our friends who shall not be named?
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I think it's just a crazy opportunity.
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You you're raised in one place for your life, and you're like, I want to make a spontaneous decision and go across the state, maybe follow some friends and make some new ones along the way.
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But sometimes those pieces don't exactly work out, and you decide that you want to move back home and and pick up college there.
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Yeah, that decision must have been hard.
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It is hard.
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Uh, transferring is a very awkward experience.
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I feel like when you're transferring, you you don't really have that sense of community.
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Like I'm from Jonesboro, but in other students' cases, I feel like you wouldn't have necessarily such a connection with the community.
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You're coming in maybe sophomore, junior year, and you're just completely like confused on what's going on.
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I feel like it's such an interesting process because on one hand, it's you're you're doing something for your career and your college career, and you only have so much time left, and also you have to build that community with the time you have left.
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Yeah.
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When you made the decision to transfer, how did you make the decision to come to A State?
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Yeah, my parents are both alumni.
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Um, so my dad and mom both graduated in 90.
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Uh, they always heavily encouraged me to go to A-State, but I was uh the black sheep and decided to go to Arkansas.
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That pieces move around, things don't work out in life, and that's okay.
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We get over it, we accept that.
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Um, I think coming to Arkansas State, you know, it's one of the more reputable colleges.
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It's in my personal opinion, my favorite college in the state.
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Um, go Red Wolves.
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But no, it's it was just kind of like a personal decision.
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You come to this conclusion that you want to start over, you want to get a sense of community, and I mean, looking at the classes and ever the way everything's outlined, it's like so perfect for at least finance on my behalf because it really set me up for success.
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And I don't think people really think about longevity in that way.
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You think about getting the prime experience, you're not thinking about your academics as much.
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And when when I decided to transfer, I was thinking more academically based, how much time I have left and how much I can really get out of it.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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I think, and this can be kind of our PSA to the Jonesboro kids that might be listening to this.
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And I remember I was I lived here for six years when I was a student.
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I had a lot of friends that were from Jonesboro, obviously, and a lot that were not, and I was not from Jonesboro, I'm from Stuttgart.
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And um coming here, I felt like I heard a lot of the same sentiment from people from Jonesboro that they were like, I was really worried it was going to be like an extension of my high school life, and I didn't want that, and I didn't want it to feel like I'm not leaving necessarily, but most of my Jonesboro friends built such an expansive network that it didn't feel like an extension of high school.
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Can you expand upon that?
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Did you have a similar sentiment?
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Of course.
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I I did go to the U of A partially because of my high school experience, not in a bad way, just in an I want to move on from this kind of way.
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Try something new.
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Yeah, you you just want to try something new.
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And you come back here and you kind of realize that although there's like 200 kids from your high school going to a state, I maybe see one of them every couple of months.
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It's very rare.
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So I don't, you're not really building on that high school experience, you are stepping away from that.
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It's it's cool to keep in touch with people from high school.
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Like if I see somebody walking around campus, I'll say hi.
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It's it's not awkward.
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You just both kind of pass that high school stage and you're building and expanding your career, so you're gonna move different directions, and that's completely okay.
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Yeah, and uh a nice thing to remember is connections are important.
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So it's nice to know people and have that security blanket of home, but you can make it what you want.
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That experience this experience of college is so unique and not like any other thing you're going to do in the real world, and this is probably also the easiest and best time to make friends.
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So that is um good to hear.
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So you're also a part of Greek life.
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So, what has your Greek life experience been like since transferring?
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Greek life was honestly super amazing because you're going from an SEC school with a huge rush life scene or Greek life scene, you're going from a rush with thousands of kids that are geared for this their whole life, and you're coming to a smaller base, but you're making more of a genuine connection.
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And going into my pledge class, there were maybe 15 to 20 something guys, and because of that, I was able to make a more genuine connection with these people and build strong, genuine bonds.
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Um, I love the guys at Fide, uh Roll Fi, uh did our little hand sign that we do.
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Oh no, I was an alpha game, Ghost Squirrels, yeah.
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But yeah, uh it it really forces you to make a deeper connection with the guys within the fraternity.
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It's not really you meet a pledge fam and then you you go along with that for the rest of your college career.
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You know every guy by a name basis, and you're able to do things and hang out with him that you normally wouldn't do on such a large scale.
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And I feel like Arkansas State is really moving towards uh an expanded Greek life scene because they are doing things and having initiatives, especially with Fidealt right now.
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They're really hammering down on their initiatives, trying to go outside the box.
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And I have to say that's a part of Harris and Hurricott's work.
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He's just really great at what he does.
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Um, and I'm proud that he's the president of the fraternity now because uh when I started, he was really uh forward on his ideas and his initiatives, and he's since gone through that and just absolutely killed it.
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Mm-hmm.
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Yeah, we Greek life at an SEC school sometimes seems like it can be hard to compete with.
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But I remember going through Rush and I was feeling all of the same experiences or recruitment, whatever the formal term is.
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Sorry, Greek life, please don't come for me.
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But um, whatever the formal term is, I was going through it to be recruited to a sorority, and it felt still very intense.
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It still felt intense in a good way, like something you really wanted and yearned for, but it still felt like something that was very attainable.
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And like you said, when I got in my sorority, it still feels big.
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It still feels like there is different personalities, and you're not all the same because there is enough people and diversity among the grades, but it's still feels like a community, it still feels like women, or in your case, guys that you know that you're going to build relationships with, be intentional with, be friendly with, do service projects with, or you know, serve in whatever capacity with without being so large that you don't get to know people.
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So I agree.
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I share that sentiment for sure.
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What made you confident that A-State was the right place to finish your degree?
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Yeah, after I transferred, you know, getting into classes, going into classes four or five days a week, you're just meeting people all the time.
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You're making connections, you're getting the best education in the state.
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Uh, you're making genuine connections with the professors, and there's not really much you could ask for besides that.
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It's very academically charged.
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You're doing great things in the classroom, you're getting hands-on casework projects, you're getting tons of homework assignments that are beneficial to what you're learning and affect your outcomes.
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And you're getting to speak to the people beside you and and talk to them day in, day out.
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And uh, two of my friends, uh Ethan and Charles, uh, they were classmates at one point.
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We we hit it off in class.
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It might have taken a few weeks, but just making sitting around and making those genuine connections really drives you to want to push for a degree here, uh, knowing that you have options and what you put in is what you get out of it.
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Um, and I've definitely learned that as now a graduating senior, it's you're everything just revolves around what you're putting out there.
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And the harder I worked in my classes, the more it really drove me to get my degree here.
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Because when you really take the time to think about it, you're not getting these opportunities anywhere else in the state.
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Uh, there's such a big competition pool, but here you can really decide what you want, how you want to grow your life, how you want to change your career, and then just shoot for it.
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Yeah, it seems like you get a lot of individualized attention even in class.
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Like you said, if you seek out those opportunities, they will in turn come to you.
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Have you had a mentor or anyone that has kind of helped guide you through this process or given you great advice along the way?
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Um, I wouldn't really say I've had a mentor, but uh, my professor, Heather Nelson, now the vice chancellor, uh, I would consider her a mentor.
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She, in my last semester, has given me some of the best life advice I could ask for.
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And on top of that, helped me delve into professionalism, professional career building, building a brand for myself.
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And I I feel like that's probably the best it gets.
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Honestly, just having someone who supports you, watches out for you, and makes sure you're headed down the right path is the most important thing ever.
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Is there any words of wisdom that she has given you that you would like to share or tell others?
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There are so many, but as long as you're just trying your best, that's that's all you need to do.
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You can be everybody uses this as a platform for building.
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And when you really break it down, there's some people that are gonna have this set up as a timeline.
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They know exactly where they're going from high school.
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But as long as you just round yourself out and and get involved, put effort into things and believe in yourself, that's all that really matters.
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You don't have to have it all figured out when you start college.
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No, never.
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But I think motivation and hard work and just dedication to the craft, whatever that may be, whether that's finance and accounting or that's exercise science or philosophy or whatever it is, if you just put in the time and energy, you will reap the reward.
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I totally agree.
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Um, and I think you're a great testament to your college journey does not have to be cookie cutter and it doesn't have to be pretty necessarily.
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It doesn't have to fit into a box.
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So someone's looking to transfer, what advice would you give them?
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Or someone's just thinking about going to college, what advice would you give them now in hindsight?
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Yeah, of course.
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I don't think you can really plan out your college career and your destination.
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You don't need to know what you're doing after college, and you shouldn't treat it as a timeline.
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I think college is an important experience and you're starting an adventure.
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Um, I don't I hate to use this analogy, but Christopher Columbus set out from the southern blue.
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Yeah, he set out from southern Europe heading to Asia and subsequently hit the United States.
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So, I mean, you don't have to have the whole voyage planned, but as long as you have a destination and some sort of a goal to reach, you're still gonna get there, even if it's if it's not the way you planned.
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I had this like pretty picture in my head when I came to college.
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I really did.
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I was like, I am going to be a physical therapist, I'm going to get my degree in exercise science, I'll get my doctorate of physical therapy, I'll get married, I'll do all these things, and life will be amazing.
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And I sit here at 28.
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I have an exercise science degree, a master's of communication with sports production.
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I did three years of television freelance work for sports reporting, and now I work in healthcare.
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Yeah.
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And just finished up my doctorate of healthcare admin.
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So your plan is not linear.
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Usually it looks like a hodgepodge of the spaghetti news.
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Oh, it's always going to be.
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I started, I started as an international business marketing major at Arkansas, transferred here, went pre-law econ, loved that, but law is not for me.
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I can't, I can't do it.
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I don't want to do public service work.
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I I don't want to do federal legislation.
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So I transferred to or switched my degree major focus to finance banking.
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And that's where I've been ever since.
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So your experience at Centennial Bank, so you go from class to work.
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How did you get this job?
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Did they encourage you to get this job through your major?
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No, they actually didn't.
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Um, I was doing literally nothing on the side besides frat stuff.
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And I I told my parents that I wanted to get a job that was probably applicable to my major.
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So I started applying for like 30 to 40 places just looking for a job.
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And eventually one contacted me back, Centennial Bank.
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Um, and I got an interview at the downtown East Washington branch, and I've been there ever since.
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It's it's been an amazing experience, and I look forward to building on my career at Centennial Bank going forward postgrad.
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You heard that Centennial help our man out here.
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Please need a job.
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Yes, he needs it.
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It's in progress.
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We're working on it.
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Oh, good.
00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.159
Okay, okay.
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To be continued, yes, we'll need a social media post update later.
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Yeah.
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Yes, thank you.
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This is going on LinkedIn.
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Yes, it will.
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Don't worry.
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We'll send the link.
00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:13.759
So it doesn't have to be pretty.
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No.
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And anyway.
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But I think sometimes those experiences are more meaningful because you work through the challenges, you work through the hard times, and you really have to not only find yourself in the process, but find what makes you happy and be fulfilled.
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Of course.
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Which truly, at the end of the day, happiness is important.
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And we want you to be happy here at A State because we think it's the best.
00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.799
It is the best.
00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.839
It is the best.
00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.039
No questions asked.
00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.680
No doubt.
00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.359
So you're getting close to the finish line.
00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.720
You're a senior.
00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:48.799
What do you think students underestimate about the value of their time here until it's almost over?
00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:54.400
I feel like at A State specifically, people neglect the sense of community.
00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:05.119
They don't take the time to, I guess, necessarily analyze what's going on around them and get involved in it.
00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:18.640
So when I was a transfer student coming in, you know, you come from Arkansas, you want to get involved in every program, you want to see the sports team succeed, and you want to be a part of something bigger.
00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:26.799
And I feel like as a graduating senior, I've definitely gotten that out, but I've I've seen a lot of people kind of neglect this.
00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:31.680
Like you can put so much work in and you can get so much benefit from it.
00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.920
But there's so many people that are just sitting there and wanting to blend in.
00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:40.160
And I think in my personal philosophy, you have to stand out.
00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:43.599
You have to stand out, or you're never gonna get anywhere professionally.
00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:58.960
You have to take that risk, you have to believe in yourself a little, and you have to be able to transform and adapt your life to this new standard because everybody's using AI, everybody's magically performing their turning the resume into something special.
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.400
How are you gonna compete with that?
00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.720
With opportunity and community.
00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:25.359
If you know someone, you're more likely to get a job and and form a career in in that field, or if you have some kind of specialized opportunity, like the CSBS banking competition, or I mean, in my experience, um we'll go with the CFI FinTech Professional or even the uh leadership and entrepreneurial management class I took with Dr.
00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:27.440
Shields and Professor Nelson.
00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.279
You have to be able to stand out.
00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:45.200
You're talking to these employees, these CEOs and executives that are highly regarded in the industry, and some especially in Arkansas, you have to be able to go up to them, shake their hand with confidence, and be able to speak to them about what you're doing and ask questions.
00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.839
Yeah, I could not agree more.
00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.079
And even just the friends that you make here.
00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:56.480
One day they might be a CEO, a vice president, a um a chancellor of a university.
00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:09.519
And those are contacts that are going to help you professionally, personally, and just hopefully be a friend that you can call should you need advice, should you need just someone to talk to, or just want to catch up about your time here at A State.
00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:29.119
And it's it's great to know that A State is big enough to where you can have a plethora of opportunities like studying abroad or working for a major sports team or um even being involved in local community, like working at Centennial Bank, like you do, or participating in different challenges or competitions.
00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:38.559
I mean, it's really it's neat to see how the opportunities here are diverse, but yet still very attainable and reachable.
00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.640
Like you said, if you just put yourself out there.
00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:43.519
So would that be your advice to a new student?
00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.680
Definitely just put yourself out there.
00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:48.319
Believe in yourself, be a little experimental.
00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:52.799
It doesn't have to be cookie cutter, you don't have to have any predestined plans.
00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.200
Just just put yourself out there.
00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:58.319
Um, make sure that you're being genuine and authentic.
00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.680
Don't tell people lies.
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:02.079
That doesn't really work out for you in the long term.
00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.279
Um, people like more genuine people.
00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:08.079
Um it just it just works that way.
00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.519
Yeah, it's fun.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.880
It's really fun.
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:17.599
When you're just being yourself, people you will find your community, you will find your people for sure.
00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:25.200
So you've written that success isn't about a single decision, but about how you consistently learn, adapt, and lead over time.
00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:29.440
Where did that belief come from and how has A State tested that?
00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:34.640
Yeah, so I actually touched on that in my Daniel and Cody Brown from Big River Steel article.
00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:40.160
Um, coming in, you have to, like as a transfer student, you have to really learn how to adapt.
00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:44.319
There's so many moving pieces going on, and you're going to fail.
00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:46.640
It's it's obligatory.
00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:50.559
Failure is isn't an option, but it's something that happens.
00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.559
Uh, failure is good.
00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.359
You have to accept and learn to fail.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.519
And by doing that, you're going to consistently learn to adapt.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:08.160
And by going into adaptation, you're going to be able to come out as a stronger person, and that's going to give you the opportunities you need to lead.
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:12.480
Leaders aren't always going to be perfect, as you've probably noticed.
00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:18.640
There's a lot of discourse and things that go on behind the scenes that you don't even really think about.
00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:25.839
And being able to adapt will make you significantly better leader, especially over time.
00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:32.160
I think I really internalize that because making a decision is still a decision in itself.
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:37.920
Wise words from Cody Brown, uh, operations management at Big River Steel.
00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:46.559
He we talked post-class and he really solidified that mantra of learn, adapt, lead.
00:22:47.039 --> 00:23:09.599
He he talked about his experience coming in from A State to Big River Steel, going from um criminal investigation major to a an operations and logistics manager at Big River Steel, and having to adapt and learn from what he was doing to transition into this position really felt inspiring.
00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:29.759
Especially as a young professional, you're going into this big career, and even if you don't know what you're doing, you can still learn to adapt and then you can transform that and then lead with that because the skills built under leading are the ones that are going to push you further in leadership.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.680
I totally agree.
00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.680
You know, diamonds are made under pressure.
00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:58.720
So if you're willing to adapt and to change and to consistently evolve and be flexible and know that your path is not linear, it's gonna have bumps and curves and turns, and you know, change is inevitable and change is a hard thing to do because I think we're innately rewired to have a routine and to want things to go how we planned it, but that's just not how the world works sometimes.
00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:09.039
But it's great that you're seeing that at a very young age and getting to meet with professionals in your community and continue to network and grow as an individual.
00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.359
That's only gonna help you in professional life.
00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:13.200
So I commend you on that.
00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.400
That's amazing.
00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:17.759
Um okay, so we're gonna have a little fun now.
00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:23.039
We have about 10 or so ish a little longer minutes.
00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:27.680
So I'm gonna use my handy dandy friend, ChatGPT, and we're gonna have fun.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:31.839
Okay fill in the blank.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.960
Okay, okay, ready?
00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.319
Scarlet Ann.
00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.759
Howl?
00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.759
Good one.
00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.920
Scarlet and black.
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.279
Nice.
00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.240
Wolves.
00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:42.880
Red.
00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.559
Oh, you're saying wolves first.
00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.359
Wolves.
00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:48.079
Oh howl?
00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.519
Yeah.
00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.880
It took me a second.
00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.640
I was like, oh yeah, we're here.
00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.359
We're back.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:56.640
My brain simultaneously went to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.480
I was about to say Kevin Garnett.
00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.000
What?
00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:03.200
This is the Arkansas State Media Network.
00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.400
That's so funny.
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:06.720
But yes, Timberwolves, sure.
00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:07.680
Absolutely.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.759
Red Wolves, too.
00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:12.720
Um okay.
00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:16.640
Favorite place to study on campus.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:23.599
Oh, I gotta say the Delta Center for Economic Development, uh, the computer lab in there.
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:26.559
It's you just get to you get to hang out.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.680
I mean, when there's not class.
00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.359
Do not go in there when there's a class.
00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:41.119
It's I it's a really awkward experience because there's maybe 30 kids and they're all on the computers and they're getting a lecture and you're sitting in the back and wondering what's going on and why they keep staring at you.
00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:44.240
You I fear you're speaking from experience.
00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:44.559
Yeah.
00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:44.880
Yeah.
00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.160
Once or twice.
00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.720
It was on action.
00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:51.839
I was not an economics student, so I did not have my ID did not get me into the building.
00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:56.559
So I was always very jealous of my business friends because that is such a nice space.
00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.279
But we have great space in the library also.
00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:02.480
I also like to study in the humanities building when it was open.
00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.039
I love chaos and like sound and things.
00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:07.599
So those little pods, do they still exist?
00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:07.920
Yeah.
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.359
Love them.
00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.319
I'm showing my age.
00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.759
I'm like, are they still here?
00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:16.640
Like I was here in the Stone Ages, but um loved that area.
00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:19.440
Favorite place to eat on campus?
00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.799
Starbucks.
00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:23.039
I I like getting a uh, yeah.
00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:31.359
Uh I mean I haven't had a meal plan in a few years, but I would say Starbucks simply because I can get like an iced mocha or I not iced mocha.
00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.240
I don't drink iced mocha.
00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:36.559
I like a iced vanilla latte, sometimes almond milk, sometimes one percent.
00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:41.279
And and I'm feeling uh when I'm feeling like I need a diet, skim.
00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:43.119
Oh get a skinny one.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.839
Skinny.
00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.519
Or I do an espresso over ice.
00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:47.759
That's a little evil, but we take those.
00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:50.880
When you're having a hard day, you just need a little espresso over ice.
00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.480
Nice, especially when it rains.
00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:54.400
What is your like studying snack?
00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.839
Do you have a favorite snack?
00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.839
I like eating protein bars.
00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.759
Uh so bare bells.
00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.039
Those are the best.
00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.680
Those are the best.
00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:04.240
The salty peanut one tastes exactly like a Snickers one.
00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.039
It really does.
00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.079
I have one in my purse.
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.960
They're so good.
00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:12.880
The the chocolate dough one gets a little overwhelming after you've had it a few times, and then the cookies and cream one kind of tastes.
00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.839
Sorry if you're listening from it tastes like whey.
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:21.200
Like if you've ever had the protein powder, it tastes exactly like that.
00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:26.640
Now you if you it it's like if you hardened a protein shake.
00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.279
Oh.
00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:30.559
This is now a nutrition podcast for anyone that's listening.
00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:33.039
All right, guys, you gotta hit your macros for the day.
00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.759
Uh make sure to prioritize protein low carb.
00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.400
Okay.
00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.440
Fiber.
00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.599
Put in your diet, protein.
00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:42.000
How many grams of protein per day should we be getting?
00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:47.440
Uh probably 0.6 to 1 gram of protein for optimal muscle building.
00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.079
Okay.
00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.079
Sure.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:54.319
I have an exercise science degree and I took nutrition and I'm like, I should be knowing these things.
00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.880
Per pound.
00:27:59.119 --> 00:27:59.440
Per pound.
00:27:59.680 --> 00:27:59.839
Okay.
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:04.160
Yeah, because if you're if you're eating one gram of breast, you're probably on four calories.
00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:06.160
Yeah, you're having a hard day.
00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.640
That's hilarious.
00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.200
Okay.
00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:13.200
So do you use like the gym or anything on campus?
00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:15.200
No, but I I go to the trim gym.
00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.160
Great local company.
00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:18.079
Oh, support local business.
00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.839
The Red Wolf Center is pretty nice.
00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.599
I like the indoor walking track.
00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.079
Yeah.
00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:28.559
These are things I miss now because I wish I lived in a community where I just had a gym like a block away.
00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.440
I would never go.
00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:32.160
I was on the dance team, so we had like mandatory workouts.
00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:35.039
So I think that made me not want to work out any other time.
00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:40.880
But I yes, I miss I miss the Red Wolf gym for sure.
00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:43.759
When you go to sporting events, what's your favorite?
00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.880
Basketball.
00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:47.039
I really love basketball.
00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:49.200
It's I love NBA.
00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:51.119
Uh Timberwolves.
00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:53.200
Yeah, I'm actually a big Knicks fan.
00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:56.880
Oh uh, I love all New York sports, but that's a little off topic.
00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:59.039
Uh the Red Wolves basketball have been great.
00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:00.319
They've been improving every year.
00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:04.480
And then you've got Coach Pannone coming in, making big changes.
00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:04.880
Oh.
00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:07.519
And especially next season, it's looking great.
00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.519
What are you expecting to see from him?
00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:13.680
Uh I'm expecting to see an SBC title charge, honestly.
00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:15.519
I think I think they can do it.
00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.920
They've shown consistency in year one.
00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:19.519
Let's run it back and go year two.
00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.839
What about Coach Rogers and the women?
00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.799
Ooh.
00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.880
They're great.
00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.599
They're great.
00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.640
They're they're amazing.
00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.480
They're they have a title.
00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:30.559
They they are they are titled up.
00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:32.880
Uh spectacular team.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:35.200
They've they've done some crazy things.
00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:41.440
They even went to the women's final four, which is like, I guess, crazy uh in terms of A State.
00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:47.440
Um, and that was what um I don't remember what the tournament's called.
00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:53.839
It's the it's the WNIT for invitees of people who didn't make the big dance.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:57.759
But I mean it's they barely they barely lost.
00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:04.079
And that it was a heartbreak match to first female basketball coach too at A State.
00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.480
I mean, she's really a pioneer of the program.
00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.279
Absolutely.
00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.079
Groundbreaking.
00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.440
Do you ever go to volleyball?
00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:11.039
I have not been to a volleyball match.
00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:16.400
Okay, well, I used to do sports reporting for volleyball, and I have to say it is quite entertaining.
00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.519
I love it.
00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:24.400
It's really fun, and to be in the combo, formerly the combo now, first national bank arena, is just really fun.
00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:27.039
Have you been to any concerts on campus?
00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.160
I have not.
00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.279
What?
00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:31.440
Y'all have good people come.
00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:37.599
I don't listen to a lot of country, so it's not like in my genre, yeah, but the environment's really neat.
00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.799
Yeah, I could imagine.
00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.359
I've seen it.
00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:42.160
I did once see Rascal Flats when I was in college, they came.
00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.359
Rascal Flats.
00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:46.559
I'm trying to think about like Dirk Spentley, maybe came.
00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:49.039
I don't remember, but it was awesome.
00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.880
You know, Taylor Swift has been here.
00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:53.359
Yeah, it was long, long, long, long time ago.
00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.759
It was.
00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.039
That was in her country era.
00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.519
Yeah.
00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:58.319
But now at least she knows we exist.
00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.680
You know, that's pretty cool.
00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.480
We're on the map.
00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:01.359
We are.
00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:04.240
We guys, your favorite artist knows who we are.
00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:07.519
So if that's not a reason to come to A State, I don't know what is.
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.200
I mean, what can I say?
00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:12.319
I didn't see her going anywhere else, you know?
00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.400
So pretty cool.
00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:19.039
What is one thing when you got on campus that you instantly loved?
00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.559
I love walking.
00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.119
Okay.
00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:24.480
I love that they have all the paths carved out.
00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:26.960
Uh, they're always well maintained.
00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:31.680
So I'm a big walker, and there's just some beautiful scenery.
00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:45.440
Like when you're walking to from Pack Place to the business college, it's there's like a nice ambiance going on, and you can see caraway when you start passing the humanities, and there's so many trees, it's sprawling landscape.
00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:48.960
It's it's just nice, especially on like a warm day with little breeze going on.
00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:52.400
It's like you gotta take your airpods out and just enjoy it all.
00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:52.960
Yeah.
00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:56.000
Campus weather, when it's a good day, it's it's really nice.
00:31:57.119 --> 00:32:03.359
If you could give the College of Business a theme song, what would it be?
00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:05.039
Um, you know what?
00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:09.599
Let's go with let's go with the adults are talking by the strokes.
00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:11.440
I'm a huge The Strokes fan.
00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:16.160
Oh, so what can you give us a taste of either the song or the lyrics?
00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:16.559
Okay.
00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:18.400
Uh it's it's been TikTokified.
00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:23.039
It's like da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da.
00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.000
Uh-huh.
00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:26.559
And then what are the lyrics?
00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:28.960
Are they any ones that stick out to you?
00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.000
Let's see.
00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:33.039
I can't I can't really give a specific lyric, it's just the sound.
00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:35.759
It's maybe because I was listening it to like the energy.
00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.079
Yeah.
00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.759
We're here for the energy, yeah.
00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.960
Okay, cool.
00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:42.000
I said previously maybe like money, money, money, yeah.
00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.200
Money for Mama Mia.
00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:49.200
Yeah, it's it's kind of like um the whole song is kind of about like corporate entities.
00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:58.079
So I kind of felt like that's because the adults are talking or referring to like people in suits making executive decisions.
00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:01.039
So I think that's kind of what did it, along with like the energy.
00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:03.759
Maybe I was listening to it on the way to class the other day.
00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:06.319
I don't it's a good association song.
00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.599
Yeah, love it.
00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.119
So suits in class.
00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.480
Do people wear suits in class?
00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.440
On occasion.
00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.160
Really?
00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:19.440
Yeah, they have an interview or something, they'll wear a suit, or if there's like a conference going on, you'll see somebody come in with a with like a nice gray or blue suit.
00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:21.279
Oh, nice, very cool.
00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:24.240
What would you say is your day-to-day attire on campus?
00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:33.680
I usually wear khakis and a polo because I have to go to work at the bank like either before or after, and I am not gonna change in that work bathroom.
00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.680
You heard it here first.
00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:38.160
So let's talk about becoming an alumni.
00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:48.880
I kind of cried a little whenever I graduated because I was just so sad to be done with school essentially and move away, and all my friends were moving away, and it felt like a big transition for me.
00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:56.720
How are you planning to stay involved with campus or with this A-state community that you've built after school?
00:33:57.039 --> 00:34:00.319
I mean, I'm staying in Arkansas for sure, 200%.
00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:07.680
I really want to go towards Northwest Arkansas, but I want to stay grounded and involved in A-state activities.
00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:21.920
So any alumni activities that come up, it's only a four-hour drive, and you can always make the trip home, but also through like donations and keeping in touch with the people I met and the the friends I made and the the professional connections here.
00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:28.960
Like it's just going and doing that, staying involved, staying in the know, being aware of what's going on.
00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:31.519
I think that's the most important thing you can do.
00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:42.719
And then just encouraging them to keep doing what they're doing because Todd Shields is is building something special, and I feel like if you stay tapped into that, it'll become even better.
00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:47.360
I feel like this should be like the Todd Shields promotional podcast.
00:34:47.599 --> 00:35:07.119
Every podcast we've done, we've talked about what an exceptional job he's done, but he's truly just a testament to the great leadership that we've had historically at A-State and how um we have just had people that have continued to innovate and change the university for the better and grow it in a way that is sustainable and advantageous for all students.
00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:11.199
So I'm very, very grateful for him and also grateful for him for having me do this.
00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:12.000
This is so fun.
00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:24.719
And in my entrepreneurship class one week, he actually did serve as a panelist and told us about how how groundbreaking of a of a tenure it was to get here.
00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:31.039
And so I really think that he's done an amazing and stellar job at just building the campus.
00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:37.039
And now every year we're having inclined growth rates and the campus is becoming something really special.
00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:38.880
Yeah, I concur.
00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:40.639
He's done a great job.
00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:46.159
So, last question as this is partners in progress, you're about to be a partner in our community.
00:35:46.320 --> 00:35:49.199
What does progress look like for you and for A State?
00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:53.199
Progress is just going out there and making a change every day.
00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:58.239
So as long as you're working hard towards something, that's what really counts.
00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:16.239
And being a partner in progress is is kind of the fundamental steps of going through the alumni process and still staying involved and being some somebody that understands their grassroots, knowing where they came from, what they built, and giving back to that.
00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.039
Absolutely.
00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:20.639
It takes all of us to continue this university and help it grow.
00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:21.360
Love it.
00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:24.639
Well, thank you so much for joining us today, Logan.
00:36:24.719 --> 00:36:26.159
I really appreciate your insights.
00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.480
It's been great to get to know more about you and your journey here.
00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.320
Thank you for having me.
00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:30.800
Yes.
00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:35.280
Well, that was Partners in Progress through the Arkansas State Media Network.
00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.480
Wolves up.