Approximately 50 high school students are attending the 2025 Arkansas Student Officers Leadership Academy (SOLA) at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
The academy began on Wednesday, June 4, and continues through Friday, June 6. Those in attendance are developing their leadership skills, networking with peers in other organizations and making plans for their respective organizations in advance of the 2025-26 academic year.
Organizations represented at the 2025 Arkansas SOLA are Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Educators Rising, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), SkillsUSA and Technology Student Association (TSA).
The student leaders were welcomed to campus by Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president; Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost; Professor Tracy Cole, dean of the ATU College of Business and Economic Development; and Dr. Valerie Breashears, ATU director of admissions.
This is the third consecutive year ATU has hosted the Arkansas SOLA. The academy is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Career and Technical Education, the Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education and BSW Advertising.
