Story by Lisa Sollie

Aileen Charles has never needed a practical reason to take on a challenge.

That mindset has taken the recent University of West Alabama finance graduate from kicking footballs at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa to collegiate soccer and, most recently, preparing to hike the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) this summer.

Charles tends to choose the unconventional route. When her high school needed a kicker, she stepped up. When she enrolled at UWA as a soccer recruit, she chose—at her father’s advice—to pursue a rigorous major. She majored in finance not to prepare for a specific career, but to gain knowledge she could carry throughout life.

Her hard work in the classroom paid off when she was presented the Ralph M. Lyon Award, the University’s top graduating student award during May 8 commencement exercises. The Ralph M. Lyon Award for Academic Excellence is given to the student with the most outstanding scholastic record among all students receiving baccalaureate degrees at UWA since the preceding commencement. Presented by Interim Provost Dr. Amy Jones, the award is named in honor of Dr. Ralph M. Lyon, a longtime professor, and administrator at the University.

Now, her sights are set even higher.

Charles wants to fly.

“I thought about going into the military or flight school directly from high school,” she said, “but when I was recruited to UWA, I took the opportunity because I realized not everyone has an opportunity to play a sport they love on a collegiate level. I’m glad I did. It wasn’t far away and felt like home the first time I came to campus.”

Aviation has interested Charles since childhood. Although she hasn’t decided whether to enlist or pursue Auburn University’s aviation program, she said her time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail will give her plenty of time to think about what comes next.

Often considered the West Coast equivalent of the Appalachian Trail, the PCT begins near the Mexican border in Campo, California, stretching through California, Oregon, and Washington before ending at the Canadian border.

Charles said a friend asked her if she wanted to go, and she didn’t need much convincing to say yes.

Researching the trail for about a year, Charles purchased the gear she would need. One major purchase—a satellite phone—was gifted to her by her mother at Christmas.

“While my parents are a little nervous about the trip,” she said, “they are also excited because they know I’ve never really had a lot of free time over the summers before, between working, playing soccer and workouts. This is the first time I’ve had time to do something just for me that I wanted to do, so they’ve been very supportive.”

Charles knows her path may not look like anyone else’s, but that has never bothered her. This summer, she’ll head west and start walking, ready to see where the trail leads next.

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

UWA business student balances the classroom and the gridiron

Whether he’s flying around a motocross track or drilling field goals for the University of West Alabama, Elijah Guyton approaches every challenge with the same mindset: make a plan, then make it happen.

A management major at UWA, Guyton didn’t begin his football journey as a kicker. He started playing the sport in seventh grade, but it wasn’t until his junior year of high school that a coach mentioned the team needed someone to handle the kicking duties. Guyton volunteered, figuring “Why not me?”

What started as a spontaneous decision quickly became a serious path. After performing well for someone who had never kicked before, he began attending camps and one-on-one training sessions the following year. Scholarship offers followed, and he chose UWA for its close-knit campus community and the chance to be “more than just a number.”

A high honor student, Guyton arrived ahead of the game. Because he took dual enrollment classes and then a full load each semester, he shaved off a full semester and is set to walk in commencement exercises on Friday, Dec. 12.

Although football brought him to UWA, Guyton knew a business degree could take him in countless directions. Still eligible to play next season after redshirting his freshman year, he plans to begin work on an this spring while continuing to contribute on the field in the fall.

That decision, he said, is part of a larger plan he set in motion long before college.

“I had a goal when I came to college to not have any student loan debt to pay off,” Guyton said. By using his scholarship funds to cover graduate coursework, living in the dorms, and walking to class, he is well on his way to achieving that target—another example of the deliberate approach that shapes both his academic and athletic life.

A diligent student, he noted that if he happens to miss a class, at least one professor typically checks on him.

“I like that my professors know me and notice if I’m not there for some reason. It’s not like me to miss, so they don’t hesitate to reach out,” Guyton said. “That personal connection,” he added is a big part of why UWA feels like home.”

Named an AFCA All-American last year, he recently hit a career-long 51-yard field goal against Northeastern State. He hopes to attend some kicking camps next year that can get him in front of NFL scouts and pro evaluators.

“A lot of kids dream about making it to the college level to play football, and I’ve made it—so why not push the limit and go the next step while I’m at UWA? If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have two degrees to fall back on.” He figures the odds are in his favor either way.

The post Kicking his goals one at a time appeared first on University of West Alabama.

Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

In a milestone moment for the University of West Alabama, students competed for the first time at the International Collegiate DECA Conference this spring, showcasing their skills on a global stage in San Francisco.

Five students from UWA’s College of Business and the College of Liberal Arts—Alexis Jones, Neely Atkinson, Luke Goldman, Kiona McCallister, and Donovan Dicker—represented the University’s newly launched DECA chapter, established in fall 2024. Accompanied by UWA advisors Abby Fuller and Wes Watkins, the team joined more than 1,000 peers worldwide to solve real-world business challenges in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

Launching UWA DECA
UWA’s DECA chapter is part of a global network of more than 200 collegiate chapters designed to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

The idea to start a chapter began with Fuller, who partnered with her colleague Watkins. The two are both staff members in UWA’s CARES program, which provides students with academic advising, career exploration, tutoring, study spaces, and enrichment resources.

“Wes brought in Dr. Willy Hill, dean of the College of Business, whose support, enthusiasm, and financial contributions were crucial to our chapter’s launch,” Fuller says. “His backing allowed us to send a team to California for the international competition.”

Throughout the fall semester, Fuller and Watkins focused on forming the chapter’s structure— establishing officers, setting organizational goals, and recruiting motivated students. Chapter president Alexis Jones played a leading role in identifying students whose interests aligned with DECA’s core principles.

“It was hard getting students to buy in at first because most of us, including me, didn’t realize how beneficial DECA could be,” Jones says. “It wasn’t until after the conference in San Francisco that I truly understood its value.”

Competing on the Global Stage
Jones and teammate; Neely Atkinson, both integrated marketing communications majors, competed in the Entertainment Marketing event. Their performance stood out, advancing them to the second round and earning a spot in the Top 10 in their category.

“What impressed me the most was that our judges were actual professionals in the entertainment marketing industry,” Jones notes. “It legitimized the work Neely and I put in.”

For Jones, the professional atmosphere and networking opportunities left a lasting impact.

“Being around other students who were serious about this kind of work, that energy rubbed off on me,” she says. “It was exciting to be part of something that exposed me to many new opportunities.”

Beyond the competition
Beyond the event, the students explored San Francisco and gained valuable real-world experience. One highlight was riding in Waymo’s autonomous vehicles, offering a glimpse into the future of transportation.

“It might have been everyone’s favorite part,” says Watkins.

The group also explored the city’s cultural richness by visiting Chinatown and Little Italy neighborhoods.

“Travel like this opens students’ minds, he adds. “That’s something you just can’t replicate in a classroom.”

What’s Next
With one international event under their belt, Fuller and Watkins are already thinking bigger.

“We were the only collegiate chapter from Alabama at the conference, so all eyes were on us,” Fuller says. “If more schools got involved, we could eventually host a statewide collegiate conference, similar to what already exists at the high school level. More than 1,000 students competed in Alabama’s high school DECA conference this past year.”

Watkins sees the chapter as a powerful recruitment tool as well.

“By collaborating with our admissions office, we could attract high school DECA students and connect them with our collegiate chapter,” he says. “It might be what helps tip the scales in UWA’s favor when a student is choosing a college.”

Jones agrees and believes the chapter could offer even more to students.

“I’d love to see us provide professional development workshops. Sometimes students don’t know what skills they need until after graduation,” she says.

The advisors also plan to better prepare future teams for competition by using available test materials through DECA’s corporate headquarters and working on interview skills to sharpen students’ presentation and interpersonal skills for competition and future job or internship opportunities.

And for those not looking to compete, Fuller says there will be opportunities closer to home.

“Last year, several of the business faculty invited our DECA students on academic field trips across the state,” Fuller says. “I believe that will continue this year.”

For Jones, DECA’s actual value lies in the connections—on campus, across the state, and internationally.

“There’s so much you can gain from DECA. “Whether it’s networking, career skills, or simply stepping outside your comfort zone, it’s an experience I wish every student could have.”

Watkins echoed that sentiment.

“DECA is just the tip of the iceberg,” Watkins says. “There are incredible opportunities here at UWA, but students have to take the initiative to step outside the four walls of the classroom and experience them.”

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