Texarkana native, Caroline Cotton has been leaving her fingerprint in the fashion world for the last seven years. She worked three years for Marc Jacobs as an Atelier Assistant, and then moved on to become a Materials Development Associate for brands like Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman. In June, she and her family moved to Los Angeles for her new role as Fabric Developer at Alo, sourcing new materials for design consideration and working to develop new materials for quality yoga products. … What is your favorite Texarkana memory?
Disability activist Robert Hensel, who holds the Guinness World Record for a six-mile wheelie in his wheelchair, has said, “There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.” While it has been seen and proven that people with disabilities bring success, diversity and increased motivation to any workplace, they sadly are still fighting against decades of stigma and discrimination.
How Music Shapes a Memoir … Have you ever noticed when a certain song comes on the radio or streams through your Spotify it can transport you back to a moment in time you would never otherwise recall? … Maybe a past team won a big game and a particular song was playing at the restaurant where you went to celebrate? Or maybe there was a song playing in the background the moment you laid eyes on your future spouse, and something just clicked! We all have songs that hold special places in our hearts because music is a powerful thing.
“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.” That quotation from the Chinese philosopher Confucius adorns the email signature line of our featured alumna, Robin Hilton. Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, Robin received her BSE in Elementary Education from Henderson State University and her MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University-Texarkana, where she did her concentration in History.
Telvin Griffin, Actor/Entertainer … Years lived in Texarkana: 23 … What is your favorite Texarkana memory? … I have so many fun memories for sure, but the first one that comes to my mind was during my second-grade school year at Kilpatrick Elementary. There was a charity fundraising marathon race being held on a Saturday morning and, of course, like most kids, I wanted to sleep in. My mother wasn’t having it at all. She made me get up and we were out there bright and early. They gave us raffle tickets, and of course, I thought nothing of it.
Texarkana’s growth continues to broaden the community, encouraging new opportunities and innovation, but its towering history casts a large shadow on the twenty-first century. This is not to say heritage is unimportant or that “old” is bad. Texarkana’s past is the character, and in many ways the literal foundation that waits to usher in a future where each may coexist. … Nestled alongside the railroad tracks on an overlooked block of downtown is the 1894 Gallery. The building, formerly home to Ritchie Grocery, is now owned by David Peavy.
Certain pieces of art, such as Leonardo Davinci’s The Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, have been etched into the minds of people across the world. These pieces are well known, not because they are new or recently discovered, rather, these masterpieces continue to be beloved because of their extraordinary beauty that has carried them through the ages. It is through pieces such as these that we can see the way art brings people together, draws conversation and questions and can tell hundreds of stories at the same time.
