At its annual Outstanding Student Awards Banquet, the BT天堂College of Business announced and celebrated the Outstanding Students selected for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The awards given celebrate students who stood out for their academic performance or their service to student organizations. The following students were selected because they have optimized their education by combining exemplary academic performance with internships, volunteerism, professional development, experiential education, and participation in clubs and other important experiences.
One student selected for an academic award is then chosen as COB’s Outstanding Student of the Year.
Outstanding Students of the Year
ACADEMIC AWARDS
College of Business Outstanding Student of the Year
Mason Smith
Also: Outstanding Finance Student of the Year
Future plans: “I have accepted a position as one of two banker foundation trainees at Simmons Bank. I will work at their headquarters in an 18-month training program rotating through departments such as corporate finance, retail banking, HR, and credit. I am excited to work with one of the best banks in Arkansas to learn how banks operate and contribute to helping communities.”
Outstanding Accounting Student
Lucas Hayes
Future plans: “I will assume an audit position at Ernst & Young in Rogers, Arkansas, starting in September.”
Outstanding Master of Accountancy Student
Jarrod Wheeler
Future plans: “Continue working at Landmark CPAs in the Tax Department.”
Outstanding Information Systems Student
Isaiah Kelly
Future plans: “After graduation, I intend to start my career as a data analyst and continue developing my technical and analytical skills. I plan on building experience with tools such as SQL, Python, and data visualization, with the long term goal being a senior data analyst.”
Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student
Wyatt Held
Future plans: “Work full time earning certifications, after experiencing work for a while I will consider grad school.”
Outstanding Data Analytics Student
Keegan Neeley
Future Plans: “Hopefully I’ll reach the job market with enough heat that they find me the best available candidate, but that’s not where I plan on stopping. I would love to go after my masters (or even my doctorate) in the future. Hopefully I can do both as me and my family move forward on our separate and joined journeys.”
Outstanding Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics Student
Katie Brown
Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to continue working in data analytics and use my skills to support data-driven decision-making and improve outcomes within my organization.”
Outstanding Economics Student
David Tooley
Future plans: “I intend to pursue my doctorate in economics at Florida State University.”
Outstanding Insurance & Risk Management Student
Macy Moring
Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in the insurance industry in the Central Arkansas area. I hope to work at an agency that offers a clear path toward becoming a producer. My goal is to continue building my knowledge of insurance and risk management while gaining hands-on experience in the field. I look forward to developing strong professional relationships, growing my skills, and establishing a long-term career helping clients protect what matters most to them.”
Outstanding Management Student
Ashlyn May
Future plans: “I am going to get my master’s in Information Management here at BT天堂and continue playing on the Women’s Soccer team.”
Outstanding Marketing Student
Rylie Melton
Future plans: “For the first 6 months after graduation, I plan to go through a 6-month online portfolio school program. So I will not immediately be applying for jobs after graduation. I will be going through an Art Direction program where I will learn everything about Art Direction in Advertising, including designing, creating campaigns, and working with Adobe. Once I complete that program, my goal is to pursue a full-time position in an Advertising Agency!”
Outstanding Innovation & Entrepreneurship Student
JoAnna Young
Future plans: “To find a job after graduation, connect with other entrepreneurs, and get started on opening my own business.”
Outstanding Logistics & Supply Chain Management Student
Angela Weng
Future plans: “I’ve interviewed for a job, and I’m in the onboarding process right now!”
Outstanding Master of Business Administration Student
Joseph Somervell
Future plans: “I aimed to begin teaching adjunct classes and take the next steps in my career. I started teaching the semester after I graduated. I use the skills I have gained in my current role and am exploring options for the right next full-time role.”
Outstanding Human Resources Student
Kierston Huff聽(not pictured)
Outstanding General Business Student
Drew Duckhorn聽(not pictured)
Outstanding Online Business Student
Savannah Smith聽(not pictured)
SERVICE AWARDS
Outstanding BUILD Student
Logan Redd
Future plans: ” I intend to become an auditor for a firm with the future hope of becoming a forensic accountant.”
Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Leader
Alexandra L. Wayne
Future plans: “By utilizing my financial and healthcare administration skills, which I have developed over my academic career and will further develop through my internship, I want to pursue a career with a hospital or healthcare organization to make an impact on their long-term sustainability and achieve more favorable patient outcomes.”
Outstanding Accounting Club Leader
Kady Harper-Morrison
Future plans: “After graduation, I intend to pursue CPA licensure as I work full time as an audit staff.”
Outstanding Gamma Iota Sigma Leader
Madelyn Neel
Future plans: “After graduating in December, I plan to start working full time in the insurance industry and continue my education through attaining insurance designations.”
Outstanding BASCOM Leader
(Bears for Advancing Supply Chain and Operations Management)
Grant Kemp
Future plans: “After graduation I hope to land an inventory management role here in Central Arkansas. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned here at BT天堂and my internships at the Allen Lund Company and Tractor Supply Company.”
Outstanding FBLA Collegiate Leader
Kaddie Bailey
Future plans: “Upon graduation, I will start my MAcc degree in the fall of 2026. I then plan to prepare and sit for my CPA licensure exam. One day in the future, I plan to open my own consulting firm, focusing my services on small and family-owned businesses. I also aspire to open my own foundation that focuses on youth financial literacy. I also plan to eventually go to seminary and do a two-year Journeyman program with the North American Mission Board.”
Outstanding Girls Who Code Leader
Jewell Callahan
Future plans: “Work as a software engineer for a couple of years before eventually transitioning into DevOps or cybersecurity.”
Outstanding Marketing & Sales Club Leader
Rylie Melton
see also: Outstanding Marketing Student of the Year
Outstanding Finance Club Leader
Payton Jarvis
Future Plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in finance while continuing to grow my business experience. As a licensed pilot, I also hope to explore opportunities in corporate aviation, combining my passion for flying with my professional goals. Long term, I hope to build a career that blends finance and aviation.”