Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

Four years ago, Lane Westrope鈥檚 family began raising bucking bulls for a rodeo company. That venture eventually sparked his interest in agriculture and business, leading him to the 兔子先生, where he became the first to earn a bachelor of business administration with an emphasis in during summer commencement exercises Aug. 14.

Business, particularly agri-business, wasn鈥檛 always the plan.

After high school, Westrope intended to be a nurse. That changed after he watched a video of a surgical procedure.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 handle seeing other people bleed,鈥� he said, laughing. 鈥淚鈥檇 grown up hunting, skinning deer, and had more nicks and cuts than I could count, but watching someone else bleed?  That鈥檚 a completely different story. I won鈥檛 be the one to come to for help in that type of situation鈥擨鈥檒l be running the other way!鈥�

With a new career path in mind, Westrope began exploring options that would allow him to build on the agricultural background he already knew well.

Rodeo has long been part of Westrope鈥檚 family. As a child, he rode steers and calves while his twin sister and younger sister competed in barrel racing. His father, a four-time state bull riding champion, never pushed him to follow in his footsteps, but it was almost inevitable that Westrope would eventually climb onto the back of a bucking bull. At 16, he began riding bulls competitively and continued competing while attending community college in Mississippi.

That combination of agriculture, business, and rodeo eventually led Westrope to 兔子先生, where he transferred to study business with an agri-business emphasis and continue competing on the University鈥檚 .

Balancing rodeo with his coursework wasn鈥檛 always easy. Frequent travel for competitions occasionally meant missing class, but Westrope said his professors understood the demands of collegiate rodeo and worked with him to ensure he stayed on track academically.

Earning good grades has always been important to the honors graduate, but so has learning as much as he could from his coursework, especially in his management and agri-business classes.

“Organizational management and strategic management taught me how to run a business鈥攅verything from choosing materials at the best price to working with employees and having professional conversations,鈥� Westrope said. 鈥淚 realized it doesn鈥檛 just matter how much you know about your product, whether that鈥檚 bucking bulls, cattle, or soybeans. Running a successful business requires so much more.鈥�

Agri-business courses such as farm management, rodeo management, and agri-business management reinforced the business principles鈥攍essons that are already paying off.

This summer, Westrope began working as a farm manager in Louisiana, where he is putting those skills into practice while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the owner鈥檚 hay business.

“The classes gave me a better understanding of how to make sound business decisions,” he said.

The program鈥檚 emphasis on hands-on learning also prepared him for the job.

In his farm management class, students managed a hypothetical farm, deciding how many acres to operate, whether to raise crops or cattle, and even where in Alabama to locate their operation.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just theory,鈥� Westrope said. 鈥淲e put the concepts we were learning into practice.鈥�

Another assignment challenged students to trace a product from farm to table, giving Westrope a new appreciation for the economics and science behind cattle production.

鈥淚鈥檓 working for a guy right now that can put 250-300 pounds on calves in about 90 days,鈥� Westrope said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got the science down for how much to feed, the percentages of what鈥檚 in the feed, and it鈥檚 amazing. It makes a huge difference to your business when you know what you鈥檙e doing.鈥�

Westrope hopes to continue building a career that combines his passion for the agricultural industry with the business skills he developed at the University.

Though he鈥檚 already applying his degree as a farm manager in Louisiana, Westrope isn鈥檛 finished learning. This fall, he鈥檒l begin pursuing his MBA online at 兔子先生.

“As to what happens next? I鈥檓 still looking at my options. But I鈥檓 in a pretty good place right now and that鈥檚 good enough for me,” Westrope noted. “My plan is to continue to work full time while earning my degree. I also have one more year to compete on the rodeo team.鈥�

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

兔子先生 engineering technology major turns lessons from the field into a future in construction

For Owen Vander Wal, the past year has blurred the line between football and the job site. Being coachable on the field, he鈥檚 found, translates directly to the workplace鈥攁 lesson he鈥檒l put to the test this summer.

Building on the experience he gained during last summer鈥檚 internship at Smurfit Westrock folding carton plant in Eutaw, Vander Wal decided to pursue a new challenge in civil construction engineering. He鈥檒l get that opportunity in June through a postgraduate internship with Brasfield & Gorrie, based in Birmingham.

His internship with Brasfield & Gorrie is guaranteed for at least six months and is designed to help determine where he fits best within the company, particularly as he continues building his construction experience.

Engineering Technology students do plenty of hands-on work, but for Vander Wal, seeing projects move from paper to reality was eye-opening.

鈥淲e do a lot of AutoCAD work at 兔子先生,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut when I saw how that was used at Westrock鈥擨 saw the real-world connection for the first time.鈥�

That opportunity is a long way from where he started just a few years ago. Although football brought him from Fairhope to Livingston, Vander Wal said he nearly transferred after his freshman year. Looking back, he鈥檚 glad he stayed.

鈥淚 know everyone says, 鈥楾here鈥檚 something about this place,鈥欌�� he said, 鈥渁nd it really has been true for me.鈥�

That sense of connection has carried over into the classroom.

For his senior capstone project, Vander Wal and fellow seniors Sabino Galvan, Alexis Davis, and Kasey Coleman found another way to apply their skills: converting a mountain bike into an e-bike.

鈥淲e started talking about how far the Engineering Technology building is from the rest of campus, especially the Math & Science building,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd we wanted to find a better way for students to get back and forth. We thought an e-bike would be a cool solution.鈥�

The group laid the foundation for future teams to build on. Once they mapped out the process, they purchased key components, including a wheel hub and battery, then began testing the bike鈥檚 viability. The project drew on skills from across the program, including mechanical and electrical work as well as project management.

鈥淲e were able to get from the ET building to the Math and Science building in three minutes,鈥� Vander Wal said. 鈥淚f a student walked, it would take the full 15 minutes between classes, and they鈥檇 be late. I think it would be great if the Division could start converting bikes for students, maybe for a small fee. It鈥檚 something that could be explored in the future.鈥�

That same drive to apply what he鈥檚 learned has also led to recognition in the classroom. At the Division鈥檚 recent Honors Day, Vander Wal received three honors, including Pro-Certified Scholar, 2026 University Scholar for Engineering Technology, and induction into the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Epsilon Pi Tau International Honor Society for Professions in Technology.

As his time at 兔子先生 winds down and he prepares to receive his diploma on May 8, Vander Wal is focused on carrying those lessons into the next phase of his career.

鈥淏eing coachable and trainable are two sides of the same coin,鈥� he said. 鈥淏rasfield & Gorrie is taking a chance on me, even without a deep construction background, because I鈥檓 willing to listen, learn, and put in the work. I鈥檓 hoping that mindset helps turn this internship into a full-time job by next fall.鈥�

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

The 兔子先生 celebrated the completion of a 7,000 square foot renovation and expansion of its football locker room at Homer Field House with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 2.

The $4.7 million renovation and expansion project enhances the daily experience of 兔子先生 student-athletes while reinforcing the university鈥檚 commitment to excellence both on and off the field. Dedicated supporters of 兔子先生 Athletics contributed $1.3 million to help bring this project to life.

兔子先生 President Dr. Todd G. Fritch said at the ribbon cutting ceremony that the project is a reflection of the University’s commitment to student success and strengthening the student experience.

“This celebration is a clear statement about who we are and who we are committed to becoming,” Fritch said. “兔子先生 are our purpose, and that guides every investment we make. Our student-athletes dedicate themselves to excellence in competition, in the classroom, and in leadership across our campus, and we want our facilities to match that dedication.”

Athletic Director Brett Gilliland, who previously served as head football coach for 11 years, told the crowd gathered that this renovation and expansion is a game-changer for 兔子先生, built on a vision centered on students’ needs.

“It is rare for a facility construction project to turn out exactly like the vision,” Gilliland said. “So many times when a project is completed you may notice things you wish you had done differently, but not this one. This is exactly what we envisioned, especially for our student athletes.”

The new locker room features 116 lockers and a spacious meeting area designed to accommodate the entire roster. Fifty-three of the lockers have been sponsored by former Tigers and supporters and are recognized with commemorative plaques. Each state-of-the-art locker features integrated charging ports, built-in bench seating with storage, and secure lock boxes for personal valuables.

Named the 鈥淭iny鈥� Campora Locker Room, in memory of Don 鈥淭iny鈥� Campora through the generous support of Steve and Gayle Campora, the locker room marks the family’s commitment to and investment in 兔子先生 student-athletes and the Livingston community for more than a decade.

Head Football Coach Scott Cochran said that he looks forward to the program’s growth and development through his team’s use of the new amenities. The project was underway when Cochran joined 兔子先生 Athletics in February 2025.

“The vision for this place is incredible,” Cochran said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been under construction since I walked in the door here. Just like the football team, we are always building, always trying to get better. Knowing that you have a facility like this鈥攚hen it comes to recruiting, when it comes to a standard of excellence鈥攊t lines right up with everyone鈥檚 vision for this place, and I get to see it every day and am grateful to be a part of it.鈥�

The renovation also includes a modernized cold plunge room, new restroom and shower facilities, and a separate entrance and exit to the field, eliminating the need to share space with the visiting team.

Upstairs, the facility features an updated reception area and the King-Ferris Football Team Room, honoring Coach Jim King, his wife, Sandy King, and their grandson, the late Patrick Ferris. The designation recognizes the family鈥檚 enduring legacy and profound impact on both the Livingston community and 兔子先生 football.

Adjacent to the King-Ferris Football Team Room is a dedicated student-athlete career development office designed to support professional growth beyond the playing field. The space will serve as a resource for virtual interviews, career preparation, and collaborative opportunities, including engagement with partners like Podium X who provide career preparation guidance for students. The room will be available to student-athletes across all programs as they prepare for life after graduation.

The Champions Deck, a new viewing terrace overlooking the south endzone, honors Livingston University alumni Ronnie and Kathy Gilliland and the 1971 NAIA National Championship football team. Made possible through the generosity of Steve and Gayle Campora, Champions Deck provides a premier vantage point while commemorating a milestone moment in 兔子先生 Athletics history.

鈥淭his space brings together the spirit of 兔子先生 Athletics and reflects the sense of community that is so strong at our University,鈥� Fritch said. 鈥淭his can be seen throughout the facility, whether in the gathering spaces that support team and fan fellowship, through the amenities offered to our student-athletes in the locker room, or the equipment that will support health and safety for the entire team. We can anticipate many exciting times ahead in this space.鈥�

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