First-year students at Arkansas Tech University for the fall 2025 semester were guided through their orientation process by a group of returning students who helped demonstrate the Tech way.
“This group of orientation leaders was passionate about making an impact and showing the new, incoming students what makes ATU such a special place,” said Rhylie Gachot, ATU assistant dean of campus life. “From day one of orientation leader training, they found ways to meet the students where they are all while making sure they learned about the resources that ATU has to offer. Both groups brought the energy to get the fall semester started, and I think that is because it is an exciting time to be at ATU with the addition of the Ferguson Student Union and students being back on campus. Green and gold spirit is strong.”
First-year student orientation for fall 2025 began on Saturday, Aug. 16, and continued through Tuesday, Aug. 19. Incoming students were exposed to a wide variety of informational sessions and social activities designed to help them make the transition to college life and become successful members of the ATU community.
Gachot provides oversight for the ATU orientation program. The members of the fall 2025 ATU orientation leader team were led by three of their fellow ATU students — junior Ashlyn Brickley of Ozark, junior Carson Smith of Russellville and junior Lainey Martin of Morrilton.
Additional fall 2025 ATU orientation leaders were:
- Juan Almaraz
- Jax Andrews
- Miyon Atkins
- Dalton Bishop
- Corbin Bowlin
- Jordan Brown
- Mary Brown
- Damaris Castaneda
- Fernando Flores
- Sadie Foster
- Zoey Gillespie
- Haley Greer
- Emily Hallmann
- Shelby Hamerlinck
- Hannah Hardesty
- AJ Hawley
- Cogan Hester
- Carsyn Hobson
- Chasey Hudson
- Timothy Hufford
- Faith Kelly
- Kylie Kelly
- Emily Key
- Lucy LaDuke
- Kara Lee
- Meagan Lewison
- Destiny Lorings
- Haley Lorings
- Halle Lynch
- Emma Mann
- Lauren Massey
- Courtney Mayberry
- Kyleigh McCurnin
- Hannah Melton
- Mason Moore
- Sydney Moore
- Destini Nguyen
- Alvaro Ortiz
- Meredith Pearson
- Oscar Perez
- Lance Phillips
- Garrett Poole
- Sophie Puckett
- Makenzi Pudgurney
- Cameron Quandt
- Kade Ratcliff
- Kylie Rehberger
- Hunter Seals
- Madeline Shelton
- Zoey Skaggs
- Jacob Smith
- Vivica Smith
- Macy Sparks
- Ellie Stokes
- Allison Stoll
- Randi Stripling
- Riley Tuttle
- Nikki Victory
Learn more at www.atu.edu/orientation.
