{"id":784,"date":"2025-03-13T10:48:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T15:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/?page_id=784"},"modified":"2025-03-17T10:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T15:28:09","slug":"spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"784\" class=\"elementor elementor-784\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-899f070 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"899f070\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c7f827d\" data-id=\"c7f827d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27241c0 elementor-grid-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-left elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"27241c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet_extra&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-823 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-spotlights entry\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/04\/01\/vista-fellow-spotlight-alyzah-mcglasson\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/04\/FA24VISTA6-scaled-e1743538261333-300x278.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-824\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/04\/FA24VISTA6-scaled-e1743538261333-300x278.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/04\/FA24VISTA6-scaled-e1743538261333-1024x948.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/04\/FA24VISTA6-scaled-e1743538261333-768x711.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/04\/FA24VISTA6-scaled-e1743538261333.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/04\/01\/vista-fellow-spotlight-alyzah-mcglasson\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tVISTA Fellow Spotlight: Alyzah McGlasson\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Alyzah McGlasson serves as the SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA Fellow for the Foster Care Initiative and Muleriders Serve programs at Southern Arkansas University. Her goal is \u201cto provide support and assistance to the foster care community found both on and off campus, along with recruiting and uplifting those Muleriders who serve their community through our Volunteers Service.\u201d Alyzah was inspired to join after seeing the impact of VISTA projects firsthand. \u201cI had already met many individuals who were a part of the program and got to see how their projects affected my personal life. For instance, I knew how impactful the Mulerider Market was, and I wanted to be part of something that would make as big of a difference as that.\u201d She first learned about AmeriCorps VISTA as a student. \u201cBack in undergrad, I was attending track practice, had two different<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/04\/01\/vista-fellow-spotlight-alyzah-mcglasson\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about VISTA Fellow Spotlight: Alyzah McGlasson\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-812 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-spotlights entry\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/03\/17\/unplugged-coffeehouse-sau-community-unwinds-unplugs-and-reconnects\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/Club-Sports-2025-70-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-813\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/Club-Sports-2025-70-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/Club-Sports-2025-70-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/Club-Sports-2025-70-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/Club-Sports-2025-70-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/Club-Sports-2025-70-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/03\/17\/unplugged-coffeehouse-sau-community-unwinds-unplugs-and-reconnects\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tUnplugged Coffeehouse: SAU Community Unwinds, Unplugs, and Reconnects\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>On Thursday, March 6th, 2025, the Reynolds Rotunda at Southern Arkansas University was filled with energy, creativity, and heartfelt performances, all thanks to VISTA Fellow Bailey Cole and Dean Dr. Carey Baker\u2019s Healthy U initiative. The event, named Unplugged Coffeehouse, sought to bring together students, faculty, and staff for an evening of connection without the distractions of our ever-present phones. The main goal of the Unplugged Coffeehouse event was simple but impactful: encourage the SAU community to step away from their devices and engage in meaningful, face-to-face interactions. In today\u2019s digital age, it\u2019s all too easy to get lost in the screens of our phones and forget the joy of spending quality time with one another. This event provided the perfect opportunity to reconnect with one another, share stories, and enjoy a night of entertainment in a more mindful, unplugged<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/03\/17\/unplugged-coffeehouse-sau-community-unwinds-unplugs-and-reconnects\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Unplugged Coffeehouse: SAU Community Unwinds, Unplugs, and Reconnects\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-790 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-spotlights entry\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/03\/13\/sauamericorps-vista-fellows-honor-martin-luther-king-jr-with-a-national-day-of-service\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/MLK-DAy-2025-Group-Photo-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-791\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/MLK-DAy-2025-Group-Photo-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/MLK-DAy-2025-Group-Photo-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/files\/2025\/03\/MLK-DAy-2025-Group-Photo.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/03\/13\/sauamericorps-vista-fellows-honor-martin-luther-king-jr-with-a-national-day-of-service\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tSAU+AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows Honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a National Day of Service\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, twenty-six SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows rolled up their sleeves and gave back to the Magnolia community on January 20, 2025. Inspired by Dr. King\u2019s legacy of service, the Fellows dedicated their time and energy to two vital community projects: the SAU Community Garden and Compassion&#8217;s Foundation, Inc. At the SAU Community Garden, VISTA Fellows worked tirelessly, planting seeds, and tilling in ground gardening plots. Ryan Wells SAU Community Garden Fellow stated, \u201cThanks to the SAU VISTA Fellows, the SAU Community Garden was able to start over a thousand seedlings for planting in the future.\u201d These seedlings will mature and help fulfill the garden\u2019s mission to provide fresh, nutritious food to students in need. Once harvested, the produce will be made available through SAU\u2019s Mulerider Market, the University\u2019s free food<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/2025\/03\/13\/sauamericorps-vista-fellows-honor-martin-luther-king-jr-with-a-national-day-of-service\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows Honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a National Day of Service\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2408,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-784","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2408"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=784"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":817,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/784\/revisions\/817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/vista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}