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| How Students Are Breaking Into Competitive Industries Earlier Than Ever |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (12 reads) | |
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For years, the usual path into a competitive industry was clear: finish school, earn a degree, apply for entry-level jobs, and hope an employer took a chance on you. That model is changing quickly.
today, students are entering fields such as technology, finance, media, design, consulting, healthcare, and entrepreneurship long before graduation. Some are landing internships in their first year. Others are freelancing, building online portfolios, launching small businesses, or contributing to real-world projects while still in high school or college.
the reason is not that competition has disappeared. In many industries, it is tougher than ever. What has changed is the number of ways students can prove their value before they have a traditional résumé full of full-time jobs.
the shift from credentials to evidence
degrees still matter in many fields, especially those that require formal qualifications. However, employers increasingly want evidence that a candidate can solve problems, communicate clearly, and produce useful work.
a student with a strong portfolio, relevant experience, and a visible online presence may stand out more than someone with higher grades but little proof of practical ability. This is especially true in industries where results can be shown publicly, including software development, digital marketing, graphic design, journalism, content creation, and business analysis.
students have also become more strategic about using their time. Instead of treating school as the only preparation for a career, many now combine coursework with independent learning, volunteer work, internships, competitions, and personal projects.
this does not mean students need to do everything at once. It means they need to identify the kind of work they want to do and begin collecting evidence that they can do it.
why students are looking for help earlier
the pressure to stand out can be intense. Students are expected to maintain grades, build professional skills, apply for opportunities, and make career decisions before they feel fully prepared. It is easy to see why some students need outside resources to write my paper for me when deadlines pile up.
that search often points to a larger problem: students are overwhelmed and trying to protect time for career-building opportunities. The better solution is not to outsource academic work. It is to get legitimate support that helps students manage their workload without sacrificing learning.
for example, students can use tutoring, writing feedback, study groups, office hours, academic planning tools, and assignment coaching. These options provide support while keeping the student responsible for the final work. They also build skills that matter in competitive industries, including research, time management, critical thinking, and clear communication.
the most successful students are not necessarily the ones who never struggle. They are the ones who learn how to ask for the right kind of help and use it to become more capable.
internships are starting earlier
internships used to be viewed as something reserved for juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Now, companies increasingly offer programs for first-year students, high school students, and people with limited work experience.
early internship programs are valuable because they reduce the experience paradox. Students often need experience to get a job, but they need a job to gain experience. Internships, job shadowing, campus roles, and short-term project placements create a bridge between education and employment.
even when an internship is not directly tied to a dream career, it can still be useful. A student who works in customer support may learn communication and problem-solving. A campus event assistant may gain project management experience. A student helping a local business with social media may develop marketing skills and client confidence.
the key is learning how to describe the experience in a way that connects to future opportunities.
portfolios have become career accelerators
a portfolio is no longer limited to artists and designers. Students in almost every field can create one. For someone pursuing public relations, it could feature campaign ideas, press releases, and social content. A future software engineer can share coding projects, technical documentation, and contributions to open-source work.
a strong portfolio gives employers something more useful than a list of claims. Instead of saying that you’re skilled at data analysis, show a dashboard, report, or project that demonstrates the skill. Effective student portfolios often include:
- personal projects that solve a real problem
- coursework adapted into polished case studies
- freelance or volunteer work for small organizations
- competition entries or hackathon projects
- writing samples, presentations, or research summaries
- clear explanations of the student’s role and results
the work does not have to be perfect. It needs to show initiative, progress, and the ability to think independently.
online networks open doors faster
professional networking used to depend heavily on family connections, career fairs, and formal introductions. Those channels still matter, but students now have access to professionals through online communities, industry events, alumni groups, and professional platforms.
this makes it easier to learn directly from people already working in a target field. A student can follow industry leaders, comment thoughtfully on relevant discussions, attend virtual events, or ask alumni for short informational interviews.
the important word is thoughtfully. Networking is not about sending dozens of generic messages asking for a job. It is about showing genuine interest, asking specific questions, and building relationships over time.
students who network well tend to do a few things consistently. They research the person before reaching out. They keep messages brief. They ask for insight rather than immediate favors. And when someone helps them, they follow up with appreciation and an update.
learning is more accessible than ever
students no longer need to wait for a formal class to begin developing valuable skills. Online courses, tutorials, industry newsletters, virtual conferences, and digital communities have made self-directed learning far easier.
this is especially important in fast-moving fields. Technology, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and media production can change faster than college curricula. Students who build a habit of learning outside the classroom are better prepared to speak confidently about current tools and trends.
however, collecting certificates alone is not enough. Employers want students who can apply what they learn. A short course becomes more valuable when it leads to a project, a case study, a presentation, or a measurable outcome.
for example, a student who learns basic data visualization can analyze a public dataset and publish a short report. A student studying search marketing can audit a local business website and suggest improvements. A student learning video editing can produce a short campaign for a student organization.
applied learning turns knowledge into evidence.
students are thinking like entrepreneurs
another reason students are breaking into competitive industries earlier is that more of them are treating their careers like small businesses.
they are identifying problems, building solutions, finding audiences, and learning how to communicate value. This entrepreneurial mindset does not require starting a company. It can be as simple as creating a niche newsletter, launching a small freelance service, organizing an event, or developing a useful app.
these projects teach skills that employers value:
- ownership and initiative
- adaptability under pressure
- communication with real people
- basic financial awareness
- decision-making with incomplete information
- resilience after mistakes
students who have built something from scratch often have stronger stories to tell in interviews. They can describe what went wrong, how they adjusted, and what they learned. Those stories are usually more memorable than vague claims about being hardworking or motivated.
the competitive advantage is consistency
breaking into a competitive industry early is rarely about one impressive moment. It is usually the result of consistent effort over time.
a student who spends a few hours each week improving a skill, publishing work, meeting professionals, and applying for opportunities can build meaningful momentum within a year. Small actions compound. One project leads to a portfolio. One conversation leads to an introduction. One internship leads to a stronger application for the next role.
the students who move ahead are not always the most confident at the beginning. They are often the ones willing to start before they feel ready.
the smartest approach is to focus on progress rather than perfection. Build one project. Attend one event. Contact one professional. Apply for one opportunity that feels slightly out of reach and repeat.
competitive industries are still competitive, but students now have more ways to earn attention before graduation. Those who combine academic effort with practical experience, ethical support, visible work, and consistent networking are putting themselves in a position to enter the workforce earlier and with far more confidence. |
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| McCoy: Standing Legacy...Ryan Holton Survives To Carry On The Family Name - Pres |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (14 reads) | |
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Carried away from an accident five years ago at hilliard, ryan holton has made his comeback as a trainer and advocate for youth involvement with racing. A career that’s been scary at times, he has the scars to prove his commitment to racing. He’s looking forward, not to the past.
columbus, oh — ryan holton is still standing. And that, in itself, is a major miracle.
he didn’t walk away from his last race in a harness sulky. He was carried away after an accident five years ago at hilliard.
his x-rays from that mishap resemble a photograph of broken pick-up sticks.
he had 28 fractures, broke all of his ribs on his right side, collapsed and punctured his lung, has no right collarbone, just a metal plate and screws.
the doctor said it looked like that kid’s game, ‘operation,’ where you pick up pieces with a tweezer.
and he had titanium plates put in his body
“my horse fell,” said holton. “I was going down easy, but the guy behind me. …Wow. That knocked me from here to the parking lot.”
he was in the air long enough to qualify for a pilot’s license, “and i cracked up when i finally hit the ground,” he said.
he doesn’t remember the horse’s name, doesn’t want to remember.
his lovely wife, holly, his constant companion and guardian angel, said, “it was a catch drive. He wasn’t even supposed to drive that one. Somebody said, ‘hey will you drive this for us?’”
and in addition to the mountainous injuries from the accident, holton has had three kidney transplants.
but keep him away from the horses and the tracks? It would be easier to pull molars with tweezers.
holton, like so many horse people and horse lovers, has surrounded himself with horses as long as he can remember.
“all my life,” he says. “My father, terry, is a hall of famer. I grew up around horses and that’s all i know. And some days i’d like to know something else,” he adds with a laugh.
“he started coming to the barns with his dad when he was about 13,” said holly.
“actually i started staying here when i was 13,” he said. “Back in the day they had 21 barns and a tack room here at scioto downs and i’d actually stay here until the meet was over. That’s where i grew up.”
holton calls himself semi-retired, but as of now, holton and holly own and train four horses on their farm near pataskala at the end of a dead end road which holly calls, “our little slice of heaven.” But handling horses is not a dead end for the holtons.
his body may be broken, but his mind is sharp and full of equine memories.
his first win?
“my first win was only my third time start,” he said. “Her name was she’ll be sweet right here at scioto downs. That was 1984 or 1985.”
does he miss sitting in the buggy, bolting down the stretch in search of the finish line?
“some days,” he said. “But i was about ready to call it quits anyway before the accident. The kidney stuff has taken some of my strength. I had already told holly, ‘i’m about done.’ But i do miss it once in awhile.
now it’s training.
“i hadn’t done any training, just driving,” he said. “I got into it after my wreck and my third kidney transplant. I have somebody take care of the horses, but i do all the training.
“it has been a lot of fun and i told holly, ‘i’m having a lot of fun doing this,’” until a couple of weeks ago when my body started aching,” he said.
it may slow him a bit at times, but it doesn’t slow his enthusiasm or work ethic.
“what did i like most about racing? Winning,” he said. “I love the competition.”
his list of big wins is as long as a horse’s face — a sires stakes in lebanon behind peachie pie. He also won sires stakes in new york and pennslyvania. And he has captured stakes races in indiana.
“i won the adios in 1999 with one of my dad’s horses named life work. He was second in the elimination and fifth in the final,” he said. “The same year they let me drive him in the little brown jug. We ended up fourth in his elimination.
“there were three divisions that year,” he continued. “The top three and the fastest fourth qualified and i missed it by a fifth of a second,” which is quicker than the blink of a horse’s eye. “He put in a good effort, 1:52.2 and that was 1999, good speed back then.
“my brother, richie, had a real nice 2-year-old, special mel, in 1990,” said holton, continuing his walk down memory lane. “We won at lexington with 1:53 and that was pretty good back then.”
said holly of ryan’s racing retirement, “it should have been done earlier.” Wives think that way, ultra-protective. And 34 years into their marriage, she is still protective, always with him at the tracks.
in addition to working with hubby, holly owns an in-home care company for seniors and her cousin is current racing legend david miller.
and the holtons are giving back, trying to get younger people involved in the sport.
“we all grew up together around the races and i that’s where i met him,” she said. “His dad (terry) was so involved in harness racing, a hall of famer, and we wanted to keep his name alive. Terry always tried to keep young people involved in harness racing.
“so when i started my company, we started a young driving series every year,” said holly “the first year was only four or five legs.”
“we struggled to get horse and kids into it,” said ryan. “This is year they just had the first leg at circleville with six or seven in it, a full field. So it’s really picked up.”
now there are 10 legs at county fairs and a final set for dayton raceway.
“it is growing and it is fun,” said holly. “It is hard to get the young kids involved.”
said ryan, “hey, it’s coming around and it’s a good series. We’ve taken the opportunity. And there’s a dinner at the end of the year and they give an award in terry’s name, ‘the youth award.’”
the holtons have a son, hunter, who always has loved the horses and the racing. He was always around the races, but too big at 6-foot-4 to be a driver. Instead, he went to notre dame on a track scholarship.
“ryan told him, ‘you go to college and get your degree, then if you want to mess with horses after that…’” said holly. “So he did and he pushed us to get together and we did. We formed holton racing llc and he owns all or parts of the horses. It’s fun, it’s family.”
and the rebound from the devastating accident is a refreshing story that happened to one great couple.
harness racing is all the better for it. |
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| Oklahoma HC Skip Johnson Calls National Championship Celebration Event Incredibl |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (14 reads) | |
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Oklahoma hc skip johnson calls national championship celebration event ‘incredible’
norman — the sooners received a hero’s welcome in norman on wednesday evening.
oklahoma hosted a celebration event at kimrey family stadium to honor its national championship-winning team. Every seat at the 3,180-capacity ballpark was filled, and hundreds more spectators huddled into standing-room areas, as well as the grass sections on the first- and third-base lines.
as soon as ou coach skip johnson and each of his players and assistant coaches walked from the dugout to the stage — set up in front of home plate — “boomer sooner” chants and a roar of applause rang from every corner of the stadium.
“it was awesome,” freshman pitcher xander mercurius said. “Sooner nation showed out, just like they did in omaha. It was something else.”
the event began at 6:30 p.M., But gates at the ballpark opened at 5:30 p.M. During that time, fans made their way to their seats as highlights from ou’s cws finals game 3 win over north carolina played on the scoreboard in left field.
university of oklahoma president joe harroz opened the event by highlighting how remarkable the sooners’ run to the title was.
harroz, though, was quick to dismiss the notion that it was a “cinderella” run.
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“they want to call us the cinderella sooners… well, we know we’re bigger than that,” harroz said. “This is no cinderella story. It’s our third time to be national champions in baseball.”
ou’s 2026 championship follows national titles that the sooners won in 1951 and 1994. Oklahoma is one of just 10 programs across the nation that have won three or more national championships.
though ou is one of the best programs historically, the path to its 2026 championship was rather unconventional.
after losing their final four series of the regular season and their first game of the sec tournament, the sooners took down no. 2 georgia tech, no. 3 georgia, no. 5 north carolina, no. 7 alabama and no. 15 kansas in a three-week span to reach the top of the college baseball world.
athletic director roger denny took the podium after harroz, and he underscored the team’s grit throughout the highs and lows of the season.
“you competed for one another, you trusted one another… because of that, you accomplished something that will forever be a part of our program’s greatness,” denny said to the team. “Those moments that tested your adversity revealed who you really are.”
after harroz and denny’s speeches, johnson and ou outfielder trey gambill addressed the masses at kimrey family stadium.
less than 48 hours removed from their heroics in omaha, those two expressed their gratitude to those who consistently supported the team.
“i don’t know where to start… it’s incredible,” johnson said. “Continue to stay behind us. Y’all made this happen.”
gambill said, “we’ve been overlooked all year. We’ve been spit on, we’ve been embarrassed, and, yes, we’ve been punched in the mouth. But when we taste blood… most people can’t stand it, some people can tolerate it, few are champions… and that’s sooner baseball.”
as soon as gambill walked off the stage, the roaring applause resumed and people started walking toward the exits.
kimrey family stadium was more lively for wednesdays event than it was for any of ou’s home regular-season games.
sophomore kyle branch — an integral piece in oklahoma’s run — wants sooner faithful to keep that same energy when february 2027 rolls around.
“we would all love to see that,” branch said after the event. “In omaha, especially, they showed up big-time. We all felt their presence, and it was a real game-changer.
“we know that sooner nation’s very capable of showing up here and showing out, and they have. But we’re really excited for next year and just getting back to work.”
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carson field
carson field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in colorado, texas and wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from arizona state university and texas a&m university. When he isn’t covering the sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors. Twitter: https://x.Com/carsondfield
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| With $1 million donation, Sung honors the memory of late husband |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (12 reads) | |
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With $1 million donation, sung honors the memory of late husband
buffalo, n.Y. – A new $1 million gift from philanthropist janet h. Sung, md, to the jacobs school of medicine and biomedical sciences at the university at buffalo is honoring the memory of her late husband, john j. Sung, and continuing the couple’s long commitment to supporting future physicians.
the donation, made this year following john sung’s death in december 2025, brings the family’s total giving to the jacobs school to $3 million in support of the john j. And janet h. Sung scholarship.
“our family just wants to honor john’s lifelong dream of helping students gain an education,” janet sung says. “Hopefully, they will benefit from this, will be good citizens and return the gift to society.”
the sungs first established the endowed scholarship in 1999 with a $1 million gift. The scholarship is awarded to one medical student in each incoming class. In 2015, after selling their medical imaging business and retiring to florida, the couple expanded the fund with another $1 million donation.
“we just wanted the scholarship to be bigger and to help more students,” janet sung says.
specializing in women’s imaging
the sungs founded windsong radiology park in western new york, one of the largest freestanding diagnostic imaging centers in the united states. Janet sung is a nationally recognized radiologist specializing in women’s imaging who has pioneered numerous diagnostic procedures, while john sung was widely regarded as a driving force behind the operational and financial success of windsong radiology.
through their continued philanthropy, the sungs’ scholarship support has helped generations of medical students pursue their education at the jacobs school.
“john and janet sung built their lives, careers and the american dream here in buffalo, and they have given back to this community with exceptional generosity,” says allison brashear, md, ub’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the jacobs school. “This gift is a beautiful tribute to john’s vision and reflects the family’s unwavering belief in expanding opportunity for our students. Their impact on the jacobs school is immeasurable.”
janet sung says the couple originally decided to fund medical school scholarships because of the hardships they faced as students in their native south korea.
“john grew up in the countryside until he went to high school in seoul for a better education, which would lead to a chance to go to university and have a better life,” she says. “He went through tough times to meet basic necessities and pay tuition throughout his school days.
“scholarship wasn’t easy during those days in korea although he was smart and lucky enough to receive it many times. It was always in his mind that he would set up scholarships for less fortunate hard-working students.”
hardships inspired altruism
janet sung says her father, a junior lieutenant, was the first korean soldier killed in the korean war on june 26, 1950. She was 3 years old at the time and her mother became a widow in her mid-20s.
“i was raised by a mother who never remarried,” she says. “She was the one who forced me to go to medical school. In korea, the ladies never worked; it was always being a housewife. But at that moment, she determined that i wouldn’t have to go through what she did. So, in her mind, i had to be a professional.”
she earned her medical degree from korea university college of medicine in 1971, and she and her husband arrived in new jersey a year later with $200, the maximum amount south korea allowed its emigrants at the time.
while janet sung completed her residency training, john sung earned his mba from seton hall university and completed his cpa training.
in 1977, they moved to buffalo where she held positions in radiology with area hospitals. John sung worked first for the accounting firm peat marwick mitchell then taught at daemen college and had his own office before working full-time with janet sung.
“my first job was at sisters of charity hospital and then i moved to st. Joseph,” she says.
“i realized in the hospital setting, it’s not that easy to have much direct contact with the patient. Radiology was usually just taking a picture and then sitting and waiting anxiously in the waiting room.”
‘patient-centered radiological practice’
janet sung was certain that a radiologist’s communication with the patient and the primary care provider was an important part of health care and wanted to pursue a “patient-centered radiological practice.”
“when i got home, we’d talk about our day, and john was the one who listened to my complaints.
he saw the potential and was gutsy and brave so he kept saying ‘you can do this, let’s do it,’” janet says.
the harlem radiology center had a modest beginning in 1987 when the sungs, after pooling their assets and taking out a loan, greeted 55 patients on their first day of operation at a renovated pizza hut in cheektowaga.
janet was the only doctor and had only one x-ray, one mammogram and one ultrasound machine.
within five years, they outgrew the site and relocated to williamsville, changing the practice’s name to windsong radiology.
john sung acted as ceo and his strategic leadership, financial acumen and commitment to community investment helped transform a small family practice into a nationally recognized diagnostic imaging institution with six locations and more than 200 employees.
“education for the less fortunate kids was always on john’s mind. That was the main reason we did scholarships,” she says, noting that the jacobs school was an obvious choice as a beneficiary because “we achieved the american dream at buffalo through our medical practice.”
they began donating to ub after their daughter, janice, was accepted into the jacobs school. Janice sung, md ’03, followed in her mother’s footsteps and is currently a professor of radiology at columbia university. The couple’s son, brian, earned a juris doctor degree from fordham university school of law, and works in finance in massachusetts. |
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| Saratoga Students Score Free Four?Year Land Stewardship Degree Close to Home |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (12 reads) | |
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West valley college is rolling out a new four?Year bachelor of science in land stewardship and sustainability that students can complete entirely on the saratoga campus, turning a longtime local program into a full bachelor’s track without the usual university?Level price tag.
the applied degree builds on the college’s long?Running park management program and layers in upper?Division coursework, field training, a senior seminar and an internship, all structured to keep costs well below those at a traditional four?Year school.
as reported by the mercury news, the california community colleges board of governors has signed off on the program, and the west valley?Mission district says qualifying students will be able to use the district’s free?Tuition benefits. Local coverage notes the bachelor’s is tailored to funnel graduates into conservation and public?Land management roles around the region.
what students will study
the bachelor of science in land stewardship and sustainability takes the park management program, founded in 1970, and pushes it into upper?Division territory. The curriculum includes natural resource management, fire ecology and fuels, environmental law and policy, traditional ecological knowledge, cultural resource management and sustainable land practices.
in a campus announcement, west valley president jennifer taylor?Mendoza said, “for the first time, students can earn a bachelors degree right here at west valley college in a field they are passionate about, without the cost or disruption that often comes with transferring to a four-year university.” West valley college adds that those courses are paired with hands?On field labs and employer connections so students are not just hitting the books but also getting their boots dirty.
how it cleared objections
the approval followed a lengthy intersegmental review that played out mostly behind the scenes. State tracking documents from january listed west valley’s land stewardship proposal as pending while the california state university system raised duplication concerns, arguing the new bachelor’s programs might overlap with existing csu programs.
coverage earlier this year noted that several community?College bachelor’s proposals, including west valley’s, were held up and routed to third?Party review before the system would move ahead. A january report compiled by calmatters lists the west valley degree as under review, and public radio reporting described it as effectively blocked since 2023 until the community college board ultimately cleared it. Kalw covered that debate.
local pipeline and next steps
college leaders say the new bachelor’s is built as a direct pipeline to jobs at park districts, county open?Space agencies and state and federal land?Management employers, with internships woven in so students log workplace experience before they graduate.
according to west valley college, enrollment details and implementation timelines will be posted on the college’s website as plans are finalized.
the move puts west valley among a growing group of california community colleges adding four?Year, workforce?Focused degrees, a shift proponents say gives students a shot at an affordable bachelor’s credential without leaving their home campus. College and district officials say they will publish application dates and program timelines on the college site in the coming weeks. |
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| South Beauregard looks to rebound behind defense, physical attack |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (14 reads) | |
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South beauregard looks to rebound behind defense, physical attack
south beauregard aims to bounce back from a difficult 2025 season under new head football coach c.J. Hudson, leaning on an experienced defense and a physical power-spread attack to compete in one of louisiana’s toughest class 3a districts.
hudson, a former south beauregard assistant and offensive coordinator, takes over after the departure of head coach brad kellogg, who left a couple of months ago to lead the westlake rams. Hudson previously coached at westlake and returned to south beauregard in 2024 as offensive coordinator before being elevated to the top job.
offensively, the golden knights will run a power-spread scheme — a spread offense built on physical, downhill gap blocking more associated with traditional power football. Hudson said the approach is tailored to the program’s strengths.
“we’re definitely going to be a team that uses that size, uses that farming background, that wants to pound the ball,” hudson said. “We want to hit you inside, we want to hit you outside. We’re not always the fastest kids, we can’t always get to the sideline, but we definitely want to use that off-tackle stuff to create cutback lanes for our runners.”
sophomore quarterback davis henry (6-foot, 165 pounds) will lead a young offense, and hudson praised henry’s poise and leadership.
“davis is just a kid you love to coach. He has a lot of moxie,” hudson said. “He’s kind of that prototypical quarterback mindset. He’s very coachable — he’s a coach on the field. I’m able to coach him pretty hard sometimes, because as a baby in football — a young kid, a sophomore — he needs that sometimes, but he responds to it very well.”
the knights will be young at the skill positions overall. Henry and sophomore tailback drew barrow (5-11, 180) may not have much varsity football experience yet, but both started for south beauregard’s state semifinal baseball team last season.
“while the experience on the football field is not there as much, playing at a high level for our baseball team, which is always perennially good, will hopefully pay off as the season comes around,” hudson said.
on the perimeter, seniors ian kendricks and mason richards anchor the wide receiver group, with richards also earning recognition as an all-district safety. Senior h-back grant crawford and tight end brady mcbride will be counted on to open running lanes and contribute in the passing game.
up front, the offense returns just one starter in senior lineman eli benoit. He will be joined by seniors luke wisby (5-10, 220) and acen hanks (5-10, 215) and sophomores gunner burleigh (6-0, 200) and lucas watson (6-2, 255) as the knights rebuild their offensive line.
while the offense reloads, the defense brings back nine of 11 starters from last season.
“to have an older group that understands the terminology, understands the positioning, understands gaps and coverages, it helps make my life pretty easy,” hudson said.
the defensive line features hanks, wisby, sophomore kyle flood (6-2, 225) and senior kyler dartez (5-9, 180). At linebacker, seniors hunter bellard (6-0, 200), a returning all-district pick, and heighth cradure (5-10, 205) give the unit proven production and, according to hudson, strong leadership.
south beauregard will also lean heavily on an experienced and physically imposing secondary. Senior afety rhett dupan (5-10, 180) will direct traffic on the back end, ensuring the defense is organized and aligned correctly. Junior cornerback malik hallmark (5-11, 190) returns after being “thrown into the fire” as a sophomore and has added size and strength.
“we have a decent-sized junior class, but not many of them have found their way onto the field yet,” hudson said. “Malik actually played as a sophomore last year. He’s bulked up — he’s big, too. So we have two really big corners.”
senior cornerback micah dupree (6-1, 185) adds more length on the outside. Hudson is also excited about senior defensive back alex baggett (5-11, 180), another standout from the baseball diamond.
“alex is another big-time baseball kid who has had a lot of success — all-star teams, all-state teams — and he plays with a little bit of swag, a little bit of panache,” hudson said. “He knows what he’s doing and he knows where the ball is going to be. We’ve got some dudes back there. I’m very happy to have them.”
the knights will once again navigate district 3-3a, which includes deridder, iowa, jennings, st. Louis catholic, washington-marion and westlake — a slate hudson compares to the sec at the 3a level.
“in this area, we basically call it the sec of 3a in the state,” he said. “We got very lucky to have iowa, the defending state champs, come back down into 3a and join our district again. We did lose lake charles college prep, who was a dominant program, so that was pretty much a trade-off.”
hudson was joking about being “lucky” to add iowa, the defending division ii nonselect state champion, but he was serious about the challenge the district presents every week.
the non-district schedule, while not as demanding as the district slate, still presents challenges. South beauregard opens at home against st. John-plaquemine, then plays road games at buna (texas) and rayne.
south beauregard will also introduce a new special teams weapon in kicker sam kane, a soccer and track athlete new to football who is training with noted kicking coach pat neck.
“i’m excited about the element he can add to our team, especially on kickoffs,” hudson said. “Maybe we can get some more touchbacks and make people have to go 80 yards. I think we’re going to be able to sneak a few field goals in there, which we haven’t had in the past.”
hudson, a 2001 merryville high school and mcneese state graduate, began his coaching career as an assistant at south beauregard from 2008 to 2020 and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from mcneese during that time. After four seasons on the staff at westlake from 2020 to 2024, he returned to south beauregard as offensive coordinator in 2024 and has been on staff since.
with a veteran, playmaking defense, a physical new offensive identity and a head coach who knows the program inside and out, south beauregard believes it has the pieces to move past last year’s struggles. The knights may be young in key offensive spots and face a brutal district schedule, but hudson is banking on toughness, continuity and multi-sport experience to help the golden knights compete — and eventually contend — in what he calls the “sec of 3a.”
for more louisiana high school football team previews, click here.
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grant chachere
reporter/columnist
the son of a longtime football coach, grant chachere is a new orleans native and a 2023 graduate of lsu. He has covered major sporting events such as the college world series, the women’s division i ncaa basketball tournament, and the lhsaa prep classic and marsh madness. Grant is also a contributing writer for tigerbait.Com, where he writes about the… |
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| Linda Cothiere launches bid for Miami-Dade School Board |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (14 reads) | |
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Haitian-american educator linda cothiere launches bid for miami-dade school board seat
key points(5)
- haitian-american educator and community advocate linda cothiere has announced her candidacy for the miami-dade county public schools school board district 1 seat, pledging to draw on more than 35 years of experience in education, workforce development and community service.
- cothiere, a certified teacher, court mediator and longtime resident of miami-dade county, said her campaign will focus on student achievement, parent engagement and teacher support under the slogan, “students first.
- support teachers.” A graduate of miami carol city senior high school, cothiere earned an associate degree from miami dade college and a bachelors degree in education from st.
- she holds certifications in english for speakers of other languages (esol) and reading.
- throughout her career, cothiere has worked with students, families, educators, faith leaders and community organizations across north miami, north miami beach, opa-locka and miami gardens.
haitian-american educator and community advocate linda cothiere has announced her candidacy for the miami-dade county public schools school board district 1 seat, pledging to draw on more than 35 years of experience in education, workforce development and community service.
cothiere, a certified teacher, court mediator and longtime resident of miami-dade county, said her campaign will focus on student achievement, parent engagement and teacher support under the slogan, “students first. Empower parents. Support teachers.”
a graduate of miami carol city senior high school, cothiere earned an associate degree from miami dade college and a bachelors degree in education from st. Thomas university. She holds certifications in english for speakers of other languages (esol) and reading.
throughout her career, cothiere has worked with students, families, educators, faith leaders and community organizations across north miami, north miami beach, opa-locka and miami gardens. She has also been involved in numerous community outreach initiatives, including school supply drives, food distributions, toy drives and mentorship programs.
“education is personal for me because this community raised me,” cothiere said in announcing her candidacy. “As an educator, court mediator and community advocate, i understand that student success happens when teachers are empowered, parents are engaged and schools have the resources they need.”
her campaign platform centers on four priorities: empowering teachers, improving school safety and infrastructure, strengthening partnerships with parents and increasing efforts to recruit and retain educators.
cothiere said she wants to reduce administrative burdens on teachers and provide them with greater classroom autonomy, while also advocating for investments in modern facilities, enhanced security measures and updated technology.
she is also proposing expanded parental engagement efforts, including making information and resources available in english, haitian creole and spanish.
addressing floridas ongoing teacher recruitment and retention challenges, cothiere said she supports directing local resources toward competitive salaries and retention initiatives.
“when teachers win, students win,” she said. “Investing in our educators is one of the smartest investments we can make in our childrens future.”
in addition to her education work, cothiere co-hosts the reyni talk show on 1360 am and island tv, where she regularly discusses community issues with residents and local leaders.
district 1 encompasses communities in miami gardens, opa-locka, north miami and north miami beach.
the election is scheduled for august 18, 2026, with early voting set to run from august 3 through august 16. |
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| Tusculum names Rhys Pepino assistant womens basketball coach |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (12 reads) | |
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Tusculum names rhys pepino assistant women’s basketball coach
greeneville, tenn. (Wcyb) — tusculum womens basketball coach tandy bradford has added rhys pepino to her coaching staff as an assistant coach.
pepinos responsibilities within the program will include serving as recruiting coordinator and helping with travel, scouting, social media and player development.
pepino joins the pioneers two seasons as an assistant coach at sewanee (the university of the south). During his tenure with the sewanee tigers, he helped the team to its first-ever southern athletic association tournament win in 2025.
prior to sewanee, pepino spent one season at illinois college where he helped the blues finish with their best conference record in 24 years.
before coaching at sewanee, he helped illinois college achieve their best conference finish season the 1996-97 season.
in the early part of his career, pepino served as a student assistant for two seasons at siu edwardsville before finishing his degree at eureka college where he was also student assistant for two years. |
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| Grizzlies havent had a rookie quite like Cameron Boozer since Pau Gasol |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (13 reads) | |
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For the first time since 2001, the memphis grizzlies have an incoming rookie who was hyped as a superstar at every stage of his career and delivered despite the pressure. Cam boozer represents an incredible opportunity to start over after trading jaren jackson jr. And fill a pau gasol sized void.
memphis has experienced remarkable periods of success since trading gasol to the los angeles lakers in 2007, of course, but they hadnt drafted a player quite like him until boozer.
ja morant was electric, but he was a mid-major player who didnt truly reach the nba radar until his sophomore season of college. Mike conley and jaren jackson jr. Were heralded and decorated, but not quite regarded as future franchise players. Even o.J. Mayo, heralded as he was, had cooled off to some degree by the time the nba draft arrived.
what the grizzlies have in boozer, however, is a player who has faced superstar expectations his entire career and delivered at every step.
in a stacked class with three players competing for the no. 1 pick, boozer going no. 3 somehow didnt feel like a slide. Instead, it was simply a landing spot based on team needs at the top of the board and marginal differences in upside projections by the top two teams.
with boozer now in memphis, the grizzlies have their first tried and true top five pick since they landed gasol in a 2001 class that was expected to produce as many as four all-star centers.
cam boozer knows what its like to thrive under weight of expectation
gasol entered the 2001 nba draft as a two-time liga acb champion and a eurobasket bronze medalist. Hed not only taken well to professional basketball, but showed signs of dominance in the worlds second-best league before hed even turned 21.
even in a generation that questioned how european players could translate to the nba, gasol still went no. 3 overall in what was initially perceived as a stacked class for big men.
boozer, meanwhile, was a five-star recruit who was in a three-player race with darryn peterson and aj dybantsa for the no. 1 spot in the country. Faced with the burden of living up to his all-nba fathers name and the hype of a potential no. 1 pick, he more than delivered.
boozer won the national college player of the year award, thus joining anthony davis, kevin durant, cooper flagg, and zion williamson as the only freshmen to achieve the feat.
boozer will now join the grizzlies as not just a beacon of hope, but a player who knows the burden of expectation. That is the separating factor between boozer, gasol, and so many other grizzlies rookies: by the time those two ended up in memphis, they were ready for the moment.
for a grizzlies franchise in need of a new identity, the addition of a proven talent who isnt afraid of pressure is exactly what they needed.
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| North Georgia Technical College and Young Harris College establish New Transfer |
| Posted on Thursday, June 25 @ 00:02:05 PDT (12 reads) | |
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The agreement expands opportunities for ngtc graduates to pursue bachelor’s degrees at young harris college while receiving credit for approved coursework completed at ngtc. The partnership reflects both institutions’ commitment to increasing access to higher education and supporting student success throughout northeast georgia.
under the agreement, students who complete select associate of applied science (aas) degrees at ngtc will be eligible to transfer course credits into corresponding bachelor’s degree programs at young harris college. The articulation pathways include:
- accounting aas (ngtc) ? Finance and accounting, bachelor of science (yhc)
- social work assistant aas (ngtc) ? Psychology, bachelor of science (yhc)
- social work assistant aas (ngtc) ? Criminology, law and society, bachelor of arts (yhc)
some of the approved sociology coursework completed through ngtc’s social work assistant program may also be applied toward electives within young harris college’s criminology, law and society degree program.
“at north georgia technical college, we want our students to know that earning an associate degree is just one step in their educational journey,” said ngtc president john wilkinson. “This agreement with young harris college creates new opportunities for our graduates to continue their education, build on the knowledge and skills they’ve gained at ngtc, and pursue a bachelor’s degree. We’re excited to partner with young harris college to provide a smooth transfer pathway that helps students reach their goals while saving time and money.”
the agreement allows eligible ngtc graduates who meet admission requirements to apply previously earned credits toward their bachelor’s degree programs at young harris college, reducing both the time and cost required to complete a four-year degree.
“this agreement reflects our shared commitment to establishing clear, accessible academic pathways for our students,” said dr. Stephanie benson, ngtc vice president of academic affairs. “By strengthening our partnership with young harris college, we are expanding opportunities for our graduates to continue their education and successfully pursue their long-term career goals.”
young harris college president dr. John wells emphasized the value of collaboration between institutions in helping students achieve their educational aspirations.
“this is a great opportunity for north georgia technical college and young harris college to partner together to help students in the area pursue their degrees,” wells said. “Providing an avenue like this for students helps them to follow whatever their academic dreams are—which should be the focus of any higher education institution.”
the agreement falls under young harris college’s transfer credit policy, which allows students with a previously earned associate or bachelor’s degree to satisfy lower-division general education requirements, with the exception of specific requirements within their chosen major.
the new partnership supports ngtc’s mission of providing students with multiple pathways to career and academic advancement while strengthening workforce and educational opportunities across the region.
for more information about north georgia technical college and its transfer opportunities, visit northgatech.Edu. |
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