university of memphis Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What!

Summer Owens with mother and 101 year-old grandmother at the S.O. What! Awards and Scholarship Soiree

Business/Entrepreneurship, College, Education, Events, family, speaking, the S.O. What! Foundation

The Success of the Inaugural S.O. What! Awards and Scholarship Soiree

One night about six years ago, I had a dream about an awards and scholarship program. I've been a part of several awards programs either as a recipient or helping to plan the event, and I knew I wanted this one to be special. On April…

the S.O. What! Foundation

New Leadership Feels SO Good

You never know where your dreams can take you. In 2011, I started my speaking business, S.O. What! LLC, and the next year I founded the S.O What! Foundation. I had no idea how hard it would be to lead and grow both organizations simultaneously.…

College, Education, Events, General, life

Ms. University of Memphis and Me

Do you attend your college or high school homecoming events and games? As a student at the University of Memphis, I enjoyed the basketball games but have never been a big football fan. So the first Homecoming I attended was when I was a finalist…

College, Education, Events, friendship, General, Info, life, relationships

Bud Richey: S.O. What! Success Story

Bowties. Crawfish. And leadership. They are all things I immediately think of when I think of Bud Richey. As a student leader over 20 years ago, I met Bud Richey when he came to the University of Memphis to direct the Emerging Leaders…

College, Education, friendship, General, Info, life, Personal, relationships, speaking

Annette McNeil: S.O. What! Success Story

It’s never too late to get your degree(s). That’s one of the first thoughts I have when I think of Annette McNeil. Another is how she too was a 15-year-old mom. A third is our connection to the Fogelman College of Business and Economics…

Business/Entrepreneurship, College, Education, Events, friendship, General, Info, Personal

Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis: S.O. What! Success Story

Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis went from poverty to a Ph.D. and has inspired thousands of people along the way. As a nineteen-year-old black female college student, I’ll never forget the day I saw Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis (known to me as Dr.…

College, Events, General, speaking

3 Lessons From Hosting the 40th Distinguished Alumni Awards at the University of Memphis

In 2019 when I became the president of the University of Memphis Alumni Association National Board of Directors, hosting the 40th Distinguished Alumni Awards (DAA) program was something I looked forward to doing at the end of my term. For…

College, speaking

Three Crucial Tips for College Students in New Student Orientation Programs

For most students, going to college comes with a variety of thoughts and emotions. Excitement, fear, hope, anxiety, curiousity, and uncertainty are common feelings. Those feelings are often amplified if you're a first-generation college student…

College, Events, family, friendship, General, Info Article, life, Personal, relationships

Jermaine Swagerty S.O. What! Success Story

One thing in life that we all need is SUPPORT. And that comes in different forms from different people. It’s hurtful when it doesn’t come from where you expect it, but it’s beautiful and encouraging when it comes from unexpected places. When…

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