Cameron University took on new leadership at the highest-level last spring; President Shane Hunt came on board and hit the ground running. With high ambition and even higher energy, the new wave of inspiration quickly took hold, and many Aggie's welcomed the momentum shift.
There was a breath of fresh air brought into what some felt was a stagnant atmosphere for some of the Aggie experience. As a soon to be graduate, I noticed Hunt spoke right away of big ideas, necessary improvements and plans to tap into the valuable unused potential of Cameron, which resonated with so many Aggies.
It is hard not to notice what Hunt has already established and how much he immersed himself into Cameron and the surrounding community.
You might have seen him at a number of local events, on and off campus, always flashing that friendly smile and likely sporting a Cameron gold polo or sweater vest.
Perhaps you caught him on the evening news in one of the many segments he did with KSWO channel 7 news, to share updates and important information with the Lawton-Fort Sill community.
Have you heard him on KCCU radio (89.3 or 102.9 FM) hosting his own podcast, CU Today: The Aggie Experience? Hunt interviews a current faculty or staff member and an alumnus on each episode, which airs at 6:30 p.m. the last Monday of each month; he also records many promos himself for the station and his podcast.
Maybe you have read one of the columns he personally writes for the local newspaper, the Constitution, to ensure he reaches as many people across the community with various forms of media, which I can appreciate, as a journalist.
Looking back at his incredibly impressive first year in office, from record-breaking fundraising to school naming gifts and scholarships that will positively impact the Aggie family for generations to come, Hunt has plenty to be satisfied with.
“I am extraordinarily proud that we got the first school naming gift in the history of the university,” Hunt said. “I think that is going to create a lot of momentum for us to help support — scholarships for students, endowed faculty positions, funds to
support student travel and innovation — I am super thankful to the McMahon Foundation for making that possible.”
Cameron announced the addition of a new degree option recently, for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Hunt is “overwhelmingly thrilled with the responses we’ve gotten.”
“The feedback from so many of our business and community partners — people saying, ‘we’ll hire every mechanical engineering graduate you produce,’” Hunt said. “I think also, hearing from the students who thought they would have to go away to get an engineering degree, and can now do that right here in Lawton-Fort Sill.”
We can see work being done all around campus, from beautification to repairs and renovations, like the softball fields and Aggie gym, to the Shepler dorms and Howell Hall. This administration is seemingly allocating the budget and newly raised funds to benefit as many Aggies as possible.
“I think being able to have more spaces, improved spaces, enhanced spaces, for our students, for our community to benefit from, I am really proud of that,” Hunt said.
Hunt has been vocal about the warm welcome the Lawton-Fort Sill area gave him and his wife Jenifer since their arrival last year. Although they were excited for the move and transition, he didn’t expect the outpouring of love, acceptance and open arms that have ushered them in, but more importantly,
meeting all of those who are rooting for the Aggies.
“I couldn’t have imagined how much I would love being here. It’s an awesome place, both at Cameron and the LawtonFort Sill community,” Hunt said. “There have been so many people that want Cameron to be successful, that want our students to be successful, and who want to help be part of that success.”
It’s no secret that Hunt has ambitious goals and is vocal about the high expectations he has for Cameron as an education insitution, but also for individuals that he encounters and meets. His encouragement to dream big and continue to raise the bar of possibilities is inspiring and contagious when it comes to the overall campus climate. Hunt has seemingly surprised even himself with some of the accomplishments his team has completed and put into motion already, in just the first nine months of action. Not only have goals been expedited, but he is now more motivated to push forward with new and even bigger dreams for the years to come, ensuring that complacency is never a first option.
“I think the ceiling on what I thought was possible is higher today than when I first got here,” Hunt said.
His approach to leading is versatile and transparent, which is a refreshing change of pace for many students who may have felt disconnected from academic leadership of the past.
“We want to continue to find ways to make that better, and it’s a never-ending project,” Hunt said. “We want to continue to have listening sessions — because a lot of the things we have done this first year have been directly from student suggestions. I think it’s been really beneficial, and I would say, reach out to me and look for ways that we can have that dialogue, because I think it’s really important.”
Not every student has access to
same resources or adequate living situations, and there have been concerns raised about the growing population of unhoused students in attendance, and this issue has not gone unnoticed by Hunt and his team.
“We are looking at a lot of different things with our SEC and Student Support Services on additional ways we can find help to support students where they are,” Hunt said. “I think as the inflationary pressures have continued to rise, this has become more of a serious problem, and I would say one of my goals for year two, is to add to the outstanding group we already have working on this — we need more resources and more people — in the last month as we have discussed the budget, we have talked a lot about mental health and the unhoused student populations.”
This first year for Hunt hasn’t been without obstacles, but the team and support from Cameron’s staff and faculty have helped him overcome any challenge posed. As a first-time president, there were aspects of the university that Hunt wasn’t experienced with, but he has embraced the learning and new opportunities to lead. The measure of success is subjective, and Hunt looks at all the firsts and new records set during his time thus far, to determine how victorious his first year has been.
“We now have the first named school in university history, we have received the largest individual gift commitment, we have received our largest research grant in university history, and in research we are up 1000% over last year,” Hunt said. “Enrollment in spring was our largest increase in that semester in well over a decade, so I would say — with more students, more research investment and more fundraising success, plus the community momentum is there — I measure all of those things as a success.”
The significant increase in the number of sponsorships, donations and support across the community reflects the outreach efforts paying off and the opportunities being established.
“That means we are going to impact more students that are here, more students that are part of the Cameron family — more students who have the opportunity to take that world class education and help it to position themselves into careers and the life that comes after they walk across that stage.”
See HUNT Page 2
Courtesy photos
Student Government As sociation
End of Semester Update
Angelica Martinez Managing Editor
As the semester comes to a close, Cameron University’s Student Government Association is reflecting on changes made throughout the fall and spring semesters while preparing for the upcoming academic year.
By-laws Passed
During the spring semester, SGA approved six by-law updates.
On Feb. 2, SGA members voted on two by-laws. One established a policy requiring elected officers to hold weekly office hours, ensuring availability to the student body. The second created a formal impeachment process.
The office hours by-law requires the SGA president to serve a minimum of ten office hours per week, the vice president at least eight hours and the treasurer at least six hours. The measure passed with unanimous approval.
The impeachment by-law outlines a structured process. To initiate a vote, all SGA members, excluding the member facing impeachment and SGA officers, meet in a separate room to vote. The impeached member and officers then cast their votes. If a majority supports impeachment, a trial is held at the next SGA meeting. Following the trial, a second vote is held requiring a threefourths majority for removal to take place. The by-law passed with 95.7% approval.
On March 30, SGA approved two additional by-laws. One established an
oath of office, while the other defined term lengths for officers.
The oath of office requires all elected and appointed officers and senators to pledge to uphold the SGA Constitution and promote goodwill within the student body.
The oath must be signed at the final SGA meeting of the academic year or the Annual University Awards Ceremony depending on whichever occurs last. The measure passed unanimously.
The term length by-law states that elected officers begin their terms the Monday after graduation and serve until the same point the following year. Senators begin their terms upon appointment and serve through the Monday after that academic year’s graduation. The by-law passed with 96% approval.
On April 13, SGA approved two additional by-laws. One formalizes the process for appointing senators, while the other addresses election committee membership.
The senator appointment by-law requires the Dean of Students to request two to three nominations from each academic department chair and the director of CU Duncan. The election committee selects one student per academic unit, followed by a confirmation vote by SGA. At-large senators are confirmed in the meeting following their application. The measure passed with 95.8% approval.
The election committee by-law states
Interscholastic FFA
HUNT continued from Page 1
One thing Hunt has displayed a unique aptitude for, in his university leadership debut at Cameron, is the ability to be creative and innovative. Solving problems such a student financial and housing instability is no different, as he considers, “opportunities for us to be creative, there’s grant partners who are looking for universities to help support that (unhoused populations), so we are exploring all of our options.”
The partnerships that Hunt has fostered, explored and initiated in some areas continue to propel the current and future Aggie graduates into a flourishing reciprocal connection as locally educated people are hired within the community and create a brighter outlook for Southwest Oklahoma’s more sustainable trajectory.
“I say this to the mayor, and to the Chamber of Commerce — at the end of the day, Cameron’s most successful future is a place where the communities
that, prior to senate confirmations, the committee consists of SGA representatives and elected officers.
After confirmations, it includes a roughly equal number of representatives and senators, with additional officers appointed by the president. The by-law also passed with 95.8% approval.
Constitutional Amendments
SGA approved one constitutional amendment this semester, while two additional amendments are currently under consideration.
The amendment updating officer roles and responsibilities was first introduced March 2.
It assigns record-keeping duties to the vice president and simplifies the secretary’s role to assisting with meetings. The treasurer is now responsible for submitting all SAFAC budget requests.
The amendment also eliminates the parliamentarian position, transferring its responsibilities to the sergeant-at-arms.
Additionally, it establishes a press secretary position responsible for social media outreach and documentation of meetings and events.
If the appointed positions of secretary, sergeant-at-arms or press secretary are not filled by the fifth SGA meeting of the fall semester, a vote will reassign those duties to elected officers.
The amendment passed the SGA body with 95.2% approval and was approved by the student body with 91.5% following voting from April 6–10. SGA also hosted an information booth in the McMahon Centennial Complex during the first two days of voting.
SGA is currently considering two
additional constitutional amendments.
On April 6, SGA approved updates to the amendment and ratification process. The proposal establishes a 15-schoolday deadline for SGA to vote on newly introduced amendments. It also removes the requirement for university president approval, instead requiring notification of passed amendments. The measure passed SGA unanimously, with student voting forthcoming.
Town Halls
The spring semester not only brought changes to SGA’s constitution and by-laws, but also introduced a new way for students to connect with their student government through town halls.
Town halls were held from 4:305:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 and April 1 in the Johnson Auditorium. The events allowed students to discuss various topics with SGA officers in a more personalized setting than standard SGA meetings.
According to SGA President Connor Holt, the motivation for establishing town halls was to encourage open dialogue between students and their representatives.
“The motivation really was just to have a greater discourse with the student body,” Holt said. “And hopefully help raise more awareness of what SGA is doing and give us more ideas, what we can do for you.”
SGA meetings are held at 5:15 p.m., Mondays, in the Johnson Auditorium. For updates, follow SGA on Facebook and Instagram @cameron_sga. Students can also email cusga@cameron.edu or call (580) 581-2444 with questions, comments or concerns.
Jake Thomas News Editor
Cameron University held its biannual Veterans Resource Fair from 9 - 3 p.m. on April 8 - 9 inside the McMahon Centennial Complex. The event brought together federal, state and local organizations to provide guidance, tours and opportunities all in one place. The resource fair was at the first floor of the MCC, serving as a centralized hub for people seeking assistance with everything from employment benefits to educational support. The event also hosted the Vet-Fest, a community engagement event held on April 9, expanding its services with activities available to attendees.
Event leader and coordinator of Veteran Affairs Vicki Henson, said the ability to provide opportunities to Veterans and military dependents is one thing, but making it easily accessible is another.
“There’s just a host of services available to help veterans improve their quality of life – to be able to find assistance,” Henson said. “It’s a one-stop shop you know, they can come and get access to a variety of services.”
The representatives who hosted tables at the MCC involved organizations such as the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Oklahoma Department, the Fort Sill Military Coordinator and the Lawton Vet Center. Service organizations were also present, including the American Legion, the Comanche County Veterans Council and more. The employment assistance mentioned earlier helped people with job searches and future guidance. Henson mentioned that these are especially helpful for either students or veterans transitioning into longer term employment.
“We do have job representatives here that
we reside (Lawton-Fort Sill and Duncan) are thriving, and growing and successful,” Hunt said.
As we look forward on Hunt’s three to fiveyear vision for Cameron, his outlook is optimistic and encouraging, as he proudly claims it will be “an even more amazing place, that people couldn’t have even imagined 3 to 5 years ago.”
“A place where we are doing unprecedented levels of student internships, where we are connecting the AI and digital tools that we have, with the sense of community that we all need. Where we are giving students unprecedented experiential learning opportunities, to not just take exams — and to do all of that in a place that keeps the soul of what has always made Cameron special.”
Perhaps one of Hunt’s best leadership qualities is his ability to empathize with those currently experiencing their education journey and what that might entail, as he specifically thinks about himself as a first-generation college student who was unsure if school was the right choice.
“I think about how we can increase your Cameron
can contact them for assistance with their job searches,” she said. “That’s a big part of helping veterans move forward.”
Held on the second floor, the Vet-Fest added more interactive elements to the event, some of which were first-time additions. In order to highlight the broad military community, earlier in the day, local homeschool students affiliated with the U.S.O. were invited to campus. The program had cultural dances performed by the Comanche Nation, a historical presentation by local historian Mark McGee and interactive learning stations hosted by the Museum of the Great Plains. Younger visitors also had the chance to interact with animals brought by the Medicine Park Aquarium and Nature Center, including an iguana, a rabbit and a parrot.
“Its just an overall fun event for the kids,” she said, “especially military children, to give them a special experience.”
Community groups like Red Cord, which raises awareness about human trafficking, and Paws with Love Therapy Dogs also contributed with showcasing other aspects of community interaction. By being there, tthey had highlighted the importance of addressing the emotional and social aspects of well-being as well.
The event is a tradition on campus, reflecting the University’s commitment to its military oriented community. Henson said that anyone who missed out on this event should reach out to the Veteran Affairs office for any assistance or questions.
“We’re always glad to assist you with any questions that you have about your veteran benefits, or if you just are not sure,” she said. “If anybody needs information about using their benefits – they are welcome to contact our office at 580-581-2301.”
on-campus experience to make it the best it can possibly be, and how do we position them (students) to be successful next year and twenty years from now,” Hunt said. “Every day when I see our students, I see myself, and so I try to do things that will help the young version of me, who wasn’t sure if this was a good idea.”
Setting such a high bar doesn’t mean that we must keep going up each year, but it does establish a standard that if maintained, will continue to help Cameron and the entire Aggie community to flourish. There has been a lot of community outreach and relationship building to continue to establish Cameron as a hub within the Lawton-Fort Sill community which certainly has a reciprocal effect.
“Southwest Oklahoma is primed for a level of growth that I think may be unprecedented in our history,” Hunt said. “I think Cameron’s role in supporting that — in education, agriculture, business, engineering, in healthcare and in media — we’ve got to be very intentional in producing the workforce that can expand and take advantage of these opportunities that we have as a region.”
Photos by Jake Thomas
Approaching the future Senior’s Retrospective
Amanda Purser Managing Editor
As commencement day rapidly approaches and my undergraduate college experience ends, I reflect on my education journey with a deep sense of accomplishment and relief. Graduation can often be viewed as a single experience — walking across the stage, handshakes, a diploma and a few pictures — but for many, it represents so much more.
I see graduation as not just a chapter closing, but a testament to the sacrifices and perseverance that were required to get to this point. I started my college education right after high school, like many students do, but at that time in my life I had no guidance, little foresight into the next steps and no idea what I enjoyed doing or wanted to be when I grew up. If I am being honest, I envied my peers who had lifelong dreams of a particular career from a young age and were in school to achieve those goals — knowing exactly what steps to take to get them to their next phase
in life.
The young, misguided version of myself was on a rough road to selfdiscovery that brought me to the Army. That plan alone was out of left field, I didn’t have family members who served, and I knew almost nothing about the military, so to talk to those recruiters, raise my hand and swear an oath that I couldn’t fully grasp at the time, was a bit impulsive.
I leaned into that unexpected decision, determined to make the best of my experience. After training, moving around to three different states, getting stationed at Fort Sill and deploying for fifteen months with 214th Fires Brigade to the dessert — I had a lot of time to find myself.
More than seven years later, I was leaving the Army with new skills and life experiences that gave me more perspective and insight. Although, I still didn’t know what my dream career was, I had a chance to explore many positions and knew what I did not want to do.
When the time came to return to school, I attempted to restart
my bachelor’s degree with two young kids, while transitioning back into the civilian world and going through a divorce, so to say I was experiencing a lot of change, is an understatement. Obviously, the timing still was not right, and I had to pause school, but not without making a personal promise that I would return eventually and get it done.
A new marriage, a bonus daughter, another beautiful baby girl, and a lot of work on my mental health and life goals brought me through several more years and the need for something to call my own. I began writing again, first as a therapeutic outlet, then to tell a story and channel life experiences and trauma into my fictional characters, which was also healing. That led me to writing and publishing my first novel and starting a new business.
I still had to fulfill that promise I made to myself years before and when my youngest daughter was in school fulltime, I knew it was my chance to finally make it happen. However, I no
longer wanted to obtain a psychology degree, which is what I was initially perusing, so at that point, I decided to pivot.
Knowing I wanted to continue with entrepreneurial plans and have more credentials for my newly established publishing company and my books, I had to consider a degree that would keep me engaged and set me up for future success. I landed on Journalism and Media Production, so that I could improve my writing and acquire new skills that would help me market and promote my author business. That decision turned into the best path forward with opportunities that I couldn’t have even imagined, when I resumed school in fall 2023.
I decided not to simply complete school to check a box, but to really be present in this journey, so I immersed myself in the degree plan and college experience. I learned about broadcast shows and made video news stories, I joined the Collegian staff in 2024 as a copy editor and that blossomed into me
On behalf of the Collegian graphics team, we would like to congratulate Aggie graduates this Spring 2026. Thank you to our going-away staff, Amanda Purser and Elaina Benke.
taking on the managing editor position within two semesters. Having that chance to lead younger students, learn from my peers and professors while soaking up all the journalism experiences along the way has been so incredibly enlightening.
Though I still run my little indie press and have started my third novel, as well as helped several other writers publish their books over the last few years, I had to decide where I want this degree to take me and what my next opportunity will be.
My restored confidence and ambition allowed me to be creative with my goals, and I put myself out there for a new opportunity. Applying for that position was a challenge, as a disabled veteran I have not worked outside of my home in almost fifteen years, aside from what I take on at school. A position at KCCU Public Radio opened, and something about it spoke to me. The timing, the location, the benefits of being a university employee and of course the versatile options to utilize my journalism and communication skills
made me believe that this was the right place for me. Thankfully, I was selected for an interview and subsequently hired to start a full-time position in May, right after graduation. To have a new career option lined up before I even started my last semester was an incredible feeling. My journey to the commencement ceremony in a few weeks was hard fought, with sacrifices, and plenty of moments of uncertainty. Through perseverance, meticulous time management, some stressful late nights and a few too many emotional breakdowns, I have arrived. Recently, I decided to keep the momentum going and applied to graduate school and I am proud to write that I was accepted and will begin my Master of Science in Organizational Leadership this fall. I don’t have every future step planned out, but I choose to trust the process, and I know I am in the right place and doing something that I love every day, which is more than enough for me, for now.
Comic by Jaley Melton-Wiley and Fabiola Perez-Aponte
Makayla Flenoury A&E Editor
This review contains spoilers!
On March 25, Amazon Prime released “Pretty Lethal.” The film is categorized as an action/ thriller, but it’s more of a horror comedy. I was unsure of the direction this movie was going to take.
The movie features five ballerinas, Bones (Maddie Ziegler, yes, from Dance Moms), Grace (Avantika Vandanapu), Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), Princess (Lana Condor), Zoe (Iris Apatow), and their coach, Ms. Thorna (Lydia Leonard), who are traveling to a competition in Budapest, Hungary, only to get stranded in the middle of nowhere after their bus breaks down.
They stumble upon Teremok Inn, which is managed by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), who happens to be a former ballerina but also a ruthless mafia boss. The Inn is run by her subordinates and filled with other ruthless families and workers. However, the girls are unaware of this and are favored because of their skills in ballet.
Pretty Lethal
powerful mafia family, and he becomes aggressive after Ms. Thorna says no. His aggression leads to Ms. Thorna kneeing him in his no-no square, and as she walks away, he shoots her in the back of the head.
It honestly shocked me.
Chloe, who is deaf, leaves the group to use the bathroom and fix her hearing aid, while the other four girls, Bones, Princess, Zoe and Grace, perform the Sugar Plum Fairy dance for the Inn’s guests after the band encouraged
Everyone is having fun, laughing and dancing, until some guy tries to make moves on Ms. Thorna. this guy to be the son of another
That’s not how I was expecting the movie to change direction. I thought the ballerinas would just get held hostage because they’re ballerinas and Devora has a weird obsession (which we find out why later, her character’s story was written pretty well).
As the girls are attempting to process what happened, Devora has her men put the girls in the “safe room”, which is a creepy cell in the basement, while she “calls the cops.” Bones, the only competent one, runs, while everyone else willingly goes to the basement since they believe that Devora is actually going to call the cops.
Bones gets caught, knocked out and ends up in the basement with the other three girls. Chloe is completely oblivious to anything going on (because she is making out with Devora’s son), and Devora brings her to the office and puts on a movie.
The rest of the film is about the group attempting to escape the Teremok Inn, fighting anyone who gets in their way. This movie is not one you watch for excellent writing, depth, or even impressive
Mercy
production; it is one you watch for fun and entertainment.
Overall, the movie was enjoyable and, in an odd way, almost light-hearted. They relied on humor and corny storytelling to progress the movie and to portray the themes.
I enjoyed the way they incorporated ballet into the fighting scenes. It was a fun way of adding a bit of shock value and keeping the importance of ballet in the movie. Most of the fight scenes were more realistic in how they would go between a group of girls and a varying number of men. However, one of the fight scenes toward the end of the movie was a bit ridiculous and screamed plot armor.
Now, there were definitely times I audibly questioned the writing and the production. My favorite moment was when Devora called in her doctor friend
AI as judge, jury, executioner
Released on Jan. 23, the movie
“Mercy” recently became available on streaming services. This film wasn’t on my radar, but oftentimes, those are the films that will surprise me. My parents asked me to watch the movie with them, and at first, I had no interest; however, it was only an hour and a half, so I figured, why not?
The movie is about a detective named Chris Raven (Chris Pratt,
creative right?) who is being charged with the murder of his wife. In this universe, crime and homelessness are at an extreme, so the government created the Mercy Court.
The Mercy Court is an AI system designed to act as the judge and jury and assess the facts (keep it fiction), while the accused can access evidence and the Municipal Cloud (FICTION!).
The Municipal Cloud is a place where everyone must connect their devices to allow the AI access to everything. The accused must prove their innocence
Court and have been strong advocates for it since. When Raven wakes up in the chair of the Mercy Court, he doesn’t remember anything due to heavy drinking. The AI system, Judge Madoxx (Rebecca Ferguson), presents Raven’s case, and the evidence does not look good. Even so, he’s convinced he wouldn’t have killed his wife.
I was put off by the movie at first. I didn’t like (still don’t) the idea of an AI-centered court system, but as soon as the trial started, I was invested. My intuition was screaming that it wasn’t him, but the evidence was a textbook crime of passion.
I could not figure out the real murderer or how it was pulled off.
Once Raven was able to deduce how his wife was murdered, I
who it was and why — well, almost why. The twists didn’t stop there.
“Mercy” is a film you would watch for excellent storytelling, twists and tension, with a taste of mystery. The story connected every point and possible plot hole; however, the theme of the story isn’t quite clear.
It’s hard to tell if the movie is making a statement against or for AI systems. Personally, I think the movie is protesting against AI systems based on the plot and certain lines throughout the film. Though I can see how someone could believe the opposite.
I also believe the movie is trying to make a point about dirty cops and the judicial system. Instead of attempting to humanely fix the crime and homelessness issue, they pushed homeless people and criminals into “red zones” around the city. Then, the government created the Mercy Court, where the only option is execution. Plus, there is a twist at the end of the movie that I didn’t expect.
Most of the time, I am good at predicting plots and twists in stories, but “Mercy” shocked me. The writers did an excellent job of connecting all the dots and making an interesting murder mystery. Each character, no matter how minor, had depth, and their personalities added to the story, even the difficulty of the mystery.
I would give this movie an 8.5/10.
Makayla Flenoury A&E Editor
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Sports marketing From the classroom to the diamond
On April 8, our Sports Marketing class at Cameron University traded the classroom in Ross Hall for a full-day adventure at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. A group of around 20 piled into two vans at 6 a.m. and made the drive south for an up-close look at how the Texas Rangers run their ticket sales and marketing operations.
President Shane Hunt managed to secure our class a private meeting with Vice President of Ticket Retention & New Business Development Nick Richardson, an alumnus of Cameron University. Two of his Account Executives also joined the presentation, injecting their own experiences. They shared real-world stories about breaking into sports sales, and we capped the day by watching the Rangers take on the Seattle Mariners in a 3-0 shutout victory.
The trip was designed to give us firsthand testimony on what it really takes to build a career in sports media and sales. For me, it was my first time stepping inside a Major League Baseball stadium, and the experience delivered far more than I anticipated.
We left campus before sunrise; I stumbled into the van a little sleepy. The drive gave us time to chat. I got the chance to get to know my classmates Baryn Wallis, Kailee Latimer, Michael Gonzales and Ty Spence a lot more, which was nice. A quick McDonald’s stop in the morning kept everyone fueled, and we rolled into Arlington energized and ready for the day ahead.
Nick Richardson, who rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Ticket
Retention & New Business Development, kicked things off by introducing himself and two Account Executives from his team.
It was especially cool to hear from Nick because he’s a fellow Cameron University alumnus, giving the class proof that the skills we’re building right here in Lawton can lead to bigleague opportunities.
The three of them walked us through the day-to-day operations of ticket sales. We learned how they handle everything from season ticket renewals and group packages to premium suites and new business development.
They emphasized that the job involves constant outreach. The sales team is constantly making phone calls, sending emails, having meetings and plenty of relationship-building with fans and their corporate partners.
One of the most honest takeaways was how tough it can be to break into the industry as rejection is part of the business.
Nick brought up how he had gone back and hired people based on how well they handled the rejection from not getting the job the first time.
They mentioned it could be a potential client saying no to a suite contract or a fan passing on season tickets; handling that rejection with professionalism and persistence is what separates those who succeed from those who don’t.
When I asked Nick what advice he’d give his younger, college-self, his answer was simple and powerful, “Read more books.” He explained that continuous learning, whether it’s sales strategies, leadership or understanding human psychology, has been one of the biggest factors in his success. It was the kind of no-nonsense
tip that stuck with me and I’ve been thinking about how I need to read more every day since the trip.
After the meeting, we got a tour of the massive stadium.
From the outside, Globe Life Field doesn’t even look like a traditional baseball stadium; it’s enormous, sleek and blends into the Arlington buildings that surround it.
Once inside, though, the scale hits you. There are several floors of offices, suites, concession stands and fan experiences.
We saw the different types of suites available for contract. They ranged from intimate group spaces to luxury options with views directly behind the plate. The stadium even has a full-fledged buffet and kitchen operation that keeps fans fed during games. Scattered throughout were plenty of spots for food, cold beer and souvenirs, making it clear how much thought goes into the fan experience beyond just the baseball game.
The retractable roof was a cool feature. It can apparently close in about 10 minutes, but on this Wednesday, it stayed shut, giving the whole place an indoor feel.
For someone like me who had never been to a Major League Baseball
game before, walking out and seeing the perfectly manicured field under the massive roof was unforgettable.
The real payoff came when we took our seats for the afternoon matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners. The energy in the ballpark was not what I expected, it was calm with cheers here and there, but it was a weekday. We watched the Rangers dominate, however, winning 3-0 in a shutout that completed a sweep of their series with the Mariners.
Being there in person, cheering with the crowd for a team I don’t know about, smelling the ballpark food and eating some awesome nachos, while feeling that atmosphere, was a completely different experience than what I’ve seen on TV.
The drive back to Lawton felt long, but we were buzzing with everything we’d seen. Several classmates were practically begging for a stop at Buc-ee’s, the famous Texas
roadside stop known for its massive selection.
It was my first time visiting a Buc-ee’s and holy moly was I blown away. I couldn’t resist grabbing a Buc-ee’s beanie, I just had to get something for my first time. Earlier at the stadium, I also picked up a small Texas Rangers towel as a souvenir from one of the gift shops, two perfect reminders of an unforgettable day.
Our visit to Globe Life Field showed us that careers in sports marketing and sales are built on resilience, relationships and a willingness to keep learning. Nick Richardson’s journey from Cameron University to the VP level at the Texas Rangers is living proof that where you start doesn’t limit where you can go.
For my Sports Marketing class, this wasn’t just a game day field trip, it was time that brought us closer together as friends. It is a turning point in our college careers that can remind us the big leagues are closer than they seem.
