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This episode of the Tiger for Life podcast features alumnus Julio Pruitt from the class of 2009. Julio finished his 4-season career with the Ouachita Tigers with 171 catches for 2,406 career yards – a school record at that time. He also set a school record for receiving yards in a season with 1,116 in 2008. His other school records at the time include 77 receptions and 11 touchdown catches in a season. Julio also had a career-high 4 touchdown catches during his favorite game as a Tiger in the Battle of the Ravine at Henderson State in 2008 which landed him on ESPN Sports Center’s Top 10 that night. After wrapping up his final season with the Tigers, Julio was signed by the Miami Dolphins joining their practice squad and then being promoted to the team’s active roster playing for three seasons. Julio shares about his time in the NFL, about finishing his degree this fall with Ouachita Online, his favorite memories playing football at Ouachita and for the Dolphins and his plans to return to Newport, Arkansas to invest in youth in his hometown with the opening of his Upfront Performance Enhancement training facility. You can also read about Julio on Ouachita's blog here: https://obu.edu/stories/blog/2020/11/julio-pruitt-former-nfl-player-harnesses-work-ethic-finishes-ouachita-degree.php

This episode of the Tiger For Life podcast features Ouachita graduate Sara Wheeler McDaniel ('98). After teaching elementary students for 10 years, Sara worked in educational sales and consulting -- still working with teachers around the country today to help them be better educators. After feeling led to move home to Louisiana in 2014, Sara set her sights on restoring a Louisiana cottage. Her journey and her beautiful home have been featured in magazines and on social media accounts like Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, Cottages and Bungalows and more. Sara shares about her journey to reclaim her life and restore her home as well as her favorite Ouachita memories. You can connect with Sara on social media at simplysoutherncottage on all platforms or visit her website at www.simplysoutherncottage.com.

On this episode of the Tiger for Life podcast, alumna Lindsey Fowler Catlett from the class of 2014 shares about life in Birmingham with her husband Jacob, also a 2014 grad, their son Rodney and their dogs Lily and Daisy. Lindsey tells listeners about her work supporting small businesses through PPP loans and forgiveness, their journey adopting a teenager and some of her favorite Ouachita memories from Tiger Tunes to Tiger Traks and more. This episode is sponsored by Baba Java Coffee. By sourcing coffee directly from farmers in Yemen, China, and other origins around the world, Baba Java provides valuable business to these communities in exchange for quality coffee worth celebrating. Baba Java roasts coffee for their cafe and for customers to buy directly online. Ouachita alumni will receive 15% off their purchase at www.babajavacoffee.com until November 15th. Use the code OBUALUMNI at checkout to receive this offer.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life Podcast, we hear from alumna Abby Turner ('11). Abby currently serves as Senior Manager of Brand Reputation at Walmart and has a popular entertaining blog www.atabletopaffair.com where she shares recipes and inspiration as she encourages you to share the table with new and old friends alike. Abby has a new cookbook coming out in March, The Living Table, which is available for preorders now here: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Table-Devotions-Everyday-Get-Togethers/dp/1644548496. Abby shares tips to gather during the pandemic, simple holiday and Friendsgiving ideas, about the process of writing and creating her cookbook and her favorite Ouachita memories like Tiger Tunes shows and spending weekends as Ouachita's mascot Talley the Tiger. Our sponsor for this episode is Leiva's Coffee -- the provider of coffee at our on-campus Dr. Jack's Coffeehouse. Learn more and sign up for a coffee subscription at www.leivascoffee.com and use code TIGERS15 for 15% off your order.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life podcast, we hear from Ouachita student Levi Dade ('23). Levi is a Sophomore Christian Studies and Spanish major from Senatobia, Mississippi. Levi shares about his journey to Ouachita, his love of Tiger Tunes and getting to be one of just 20 students in JPAC when our Tiger Tunes Hosts & Hostesses recorded for Tunes REWIND, his favorite Ouachita memories so far and about his podcast he started during quarantine this summer Defending Christianity. You can listen to the podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defending-christianity/id1520520449.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life Podcast, we hear from alumnus Joey Licklider from the class of 2002. Joey served as a student worker, assistant technical director, technical director and production manager in Ouachita's Jones Performing Arts Center over a 17-year span. In 2015, Joey moved to Orlando, Florida to work as a stage technician at Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World working on Finding Nemo the Musical and Rivers of Light. Joey now serves as an entertainment technician and production planner at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney. Joey shares about his work at Disney World, his years in JPAC, his favorite Tiger Tunes shows and his memories from his time as a student and on staff like Walt's steak and shrimp nights and learning from incredible professors like Dr. Bill Downs and Dr. Dave Ozmun.

On this episode of the Tiger for Life Podcast we hear from Ouachita alumna Anna Lloyd ('00). After teaching elementary music for years at various schools in Arkansas, Anna received her master's degree in Education Administration and Supervision in 2010 before becoming an assistant principal and now a principal. Anna currently serves as principal at Pulaski Heights Elementary in Little Rock where she is known for her love for her kids, families and teachers. Anna shares about leading through the pandemic, how she prepared to open her school for on-campus instruction, what she learned surviving the crash of American Airlines flight 1420 as a Ouachita student and her favorite Ouachita memories like singing with Ouachita Singers and decking her professors' yards at Christmastime.

On this episode of the Tiger for Life Podcast we hear from teachers Stephen Curry ('15) and his wife Abby Root Curry ('17). Abby and Stephen both enjoy teaching at the same school — just like Abby’s parents, Ouachita professors Drs. Jeff and Deborah Root. The Currys share about teaching online this spring and now the hybrid in-person and online theater and choir programs at Little Rock Christian Academy, settling in to their new home in Little Rock and their favorite Ouachita memories like Abby directing the Campus Activities "Freshmen" Tiger Tunes show, featuring our Tiger for Life Podcast theme song, getting engaged in the education department and their love for endless cereal and pancakes at just the right time in the caf.

This episode of the Tiger For Life Podcast features alumna Kelly Martin Stamps from the class of 1995. Kelly is a well-known and loved blogger from Northwest Arkansas who is married to her husband Scott and has three children Harper, Hollis and Will Holden. Kelly shares how her family survived the spring and summer at home due to quarantine, what it's been like getting kids back to school, about her work with Tangible Truth Ministries, how her blog Kelly's Korner began and the success of her popular Singles Day series and some of her favorite Ouachita memories. You can visit her blog at http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life podcast, alumnus Barrett Baber from the class of 2002 shares about performing and songwriting during the pandemic, his experience on The Voice and Ouachita memories including being a Tiger Tunes host and surviving the crash of American Airlines flight 1420. Barrett also performs one of the most recent songs he's written entitled "No Man's Land."

This episode features lawyer and alumna Kendra Pruitt ('10), Senior Advisor to Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. Kendra shares about her time in the mayor's office and projects and policies she's helped move forward in just 18 months, her volunteer work with the organization she started to give back, reach and empower youth in her hometown of Newport, Arkansas -- Club R.E.S.T.O.R.E., her thoughts on the current state of the fight for racial justice and equality in our state, country and at Ouachita, and some of her favorite memories at Ouachita like R.O.M.S. meetings, Saturday football games and Tunes as well as feeling at home in the caf.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life podcast, we hear from COL Andrew Landers ('92) and his wife Michelle Franks Landers ('93). COL Landers currently serves as Supervising Assistant Deputy for Health Affairs for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) at the Pentagon after returning stateside from commanding the 549th Hospital Center & the Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital at Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea. COL Landers was a distinguished military grad at Ouachita and a commissioned ROTC graduate before receiving his Doctor of Medicine degree from Tulane University. In his 24-year career with the army he has received numerous awards and decorations including several bronze stars and the valor award, served in special operations and been deployed all over the world. Michelle is an attorney and 24-year senior U.S. Army spouse. She enjoyed an extensive career in law, politics and federal defense contracting and now focuses her time and passion on supporting military families for which Michelle has been honored numerous times. In addition to their military service, Andrew and Michelle share about their time at Ouachita including meeting each other on a blind date for Roommate Roundup, Michelle's performance in the EEE skeletons Tiger Tunes show and how Ouachita prepared them both for a life of travel and service.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life podcast, alumna Sarah Harmeyer ('99), Founder and Chief People Gatherer at Neighbor's Table, shares about starting her small business on a love mission, stories of people gathering and how that has looked different during COVID and what it might look like moving forward and some of her favorite Ouachita memories like being introduced to white gravy at Walt's and making lifelong caring friends. Learn more about her work and start dreaming of and planning for your own backyard table at www.neighborstable.com.

On this episode of the Tiger For Life podcast, James "Bearcat" Reynolds ('71) shares memories from his time on campus as the first Black member of the Ouachita football team and reflections from his more than two decades of chaplaincy -- including years of ministry on death row.

On this week's Tiger For Life podcast, Ouachita alums and members of Point of Grace Shelley Phillips Breen ('91) and Denise Masters Jones ('91) share about what they've been up to during quarantine, what's new with Point of Grace as well as their favorite POG and Ouachita memories like performing at the Grand Ole Opry and the National Prayer Breakfast and the early days touring the country in the Praise Singers van.

Dr. Blake Ligon ('08) shares about pastoring his congregation at Central Baptist Church Jonesboro's Paragould Campus in the midst of the pandemic, his call to ministry and his favorite Ouachita memories like meeting his wife Joy, being in the Beta Beta "Glove Makers" Tiger Tunes show and his love for the caf's shrimp alfredo.

Alumna Vanilla (Nelson) Hannah ('72), counselor at Arkadelphia High School and Goza Middle School, shares about education during the coronavirus pandemic, reflections on the peaceful protest in Arkadelphia following the death of George Floyd and some of her favorite Ouachita memories like singing with Ouachita Singers and listening to Cliff Harris ('70)and the Dallas Cowboys in the Student Union.

With unemployment numbers on the rise due to COVID-19, the work of the Arkansas Foodbank is so important. Ouachita alumna and Arkansas Foodbank CEO Rhonda Sanders ('83) shares how foodbanking works, how the work of the Arkansas Foodbank has changed during the pandemic and how we can get involved as well as her memories of Walt's mashed potatoes and building Homecoming floats with her Chi Delta sisters.

Award-winning journalist and co-host of KATV's Daybreak and Good Morning Arkansas, Melinda Mayo ('87), shares about broadcasting from home during the pandemic with her sidekick weather dog Ozzie, her favorite Ouachita memories and highlights from her recent trip to the Holy Land.

Alums Brad-Hunter Heird ('15) and his wife Lauren Dunklin Heird ('15) share what it's like serving as nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Heirds also share about finding Ouachita, finding each other and the things they love and miss about Ouachita.