As he begins his sophomore year, Tillman Austin finds that his time at Arkansas Tech University is helping him open up to the world of possibilities that surrounds him.
“I feel like I became a lot more social and a lot more out there, doing different things,” said Austin, a finance major from Siloam Springs, when asked to reflect upon his freshman year at ATU. “I’m just trying to get as involved as I possibly can, and I feel like it’s made me a lot kinder and more active person.”
Austin was seated inside the Dr. Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall lobby on Wednesday, Aug. 20, which was the first day of class for the fall 2025 semester at ATU.
This is the 116th session of Arkansas Tech, which is anticipating increases in overall enrollment and freshman enrollment this year.
Austin, who is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at ATU, said that rush week to recruit new members and the events associated with it will be among the highlights of the new academic year for him. He said that he encourages his fellow ATU students to learn more about fraternity and sorority life.
“You can join whatever group you feel like you affiliate with and they will accept you with open arms,” said Austin, who hopes to pursue a career in investment banking after graduation.
Seated beside Austin in the Brown Hall lobby on Wednesday morning was a fellow Siloam Springs product, Jessica Grant. She is a sophomore elementary education major.
“Arkansas Tech is far enough away from home, but also close enough that I can go home,” said Grant. “I hope to make it through my classes (this year) by studying a lot. I would like to grow in my career field, so I got a job working with kids to try to expand my range with them. I also want to make a lot more friends. My dorm is my favorite part of Arkansas Tech. I like hanging out my roommate and my friends in there, but I also like going to the library to study. The faculty are all really nice and helpful. I feel like when I ask a question, they are really good at answering them.”
Grant also credited the ATU Learning Center, a tutoring service that is free to Arkansas Tech students and located inside Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center, with helping her achieve academic success.
“It definitely helped me pass math,” said Grant.
Across campus, ATU senior Gracyn Block of Conway was gathered with friends around a table at Baswell Techionery as she passed some free time between classes on the first day of her final year on campus.
“Last year was the best year ever…hands down,” said Block, who is majoring in tourism and has an interest in one day owning her own restaurant. “I joined Chi Alpha, which is a Christian ministry here. I met so many friends, too. I’m thankful that God put me in this situation. I used to be a shy person who would sit by myself. Now, I’m sitting here with a group of people. I enjoy being around them…I can act silly, be my normal self and they won’t judge at all.”
Block said she is excited for the opening of Ferguson Student Union, which will take place during the spring 2026 semester at ATU.
“That’s going to be a game changer,” said Block when asked about the new 70,000-square foot center for campus life at Arkansas Tech. “A whole lot of people are going to want to come up there and hang out. It’s going to be amazing. A lot more people will want to be there with their friends and be a part of the community. People are drawn to places like that. I think it will be a huge hit.”
Learn more about Arkansas Tech at www.atu.edu.
