2024 Fabulous 40 and Under

2024 Fabulous 40 and Under

The annual Four States Living Magazine Fabulous 40 & Under issue has been a staple of the community for 18 years. Each September, 40 young people from Texarkana and the surrounding area are recognized for their outstanding achievements and community service, and this year is no exception. The 2024 honorees are innovative entrepreneurs, dedicated professionals, selfless public servants, and volunteers extraordinaire. Their stories of perseverance, hard work, and creativity serve to inspire readers of all ages. 

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Paving a Path

Paving a Path

Historically, the presence of women in STEM fields has been disproportionately low. However, according to the US Census Bureau, the number of women in engineering has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, allowing for diversity in perspectives and skills across the field. Adding her name to the influx of women engineers is Texarkana’s own Taehlor Lafferty. 

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FSLM Student Profile

FSLM Student Profile

Bright lights and ecstatic crowds rhythmically stomping around the dance hall: this is just what makes playing music so special for 16-year-old Anthony Price. 

Anthony, a junior at Texas High School, has always had a passion for music. He started drum lessons at 11 years old and went on to pick up the guitar and singing, but his love of music began even earlier, under the influence of his grandfather. 

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A Slice of Life

A Slice of Life

Cooking professionally was always a dream for entrepreneurial pizza chef Tyler Traut. After losing his job to COVID shutdowns, Tyler ran head-first into that dream, not knowing that it would become something much bigger and more meaningful than he had ever imagined. 

“Food has always been a happy place in my home,” he said. “I have always cooked and gotten a lot of satisfaction from the joy of serving food to others.”

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Producing Wins at ESPN

Producing Wins at ESPN

During his youth at Pleasant Grove, Jonathan Weaver used to do his own play-by-play commentary while watching his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas Rangers. “I quickly knew that I didn’t want to be on-camera but wanted to create the visuals from behind the scenes,” Jonathan said from his ESPN office in Connecticut. “I took PGTV as an elective as soon as I could in high school.”

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The Fabric of Downtown

The Fabric of Downtown

“Only God and I know where I come from and the challenges I faced to be here,” said Irma Zuniga, who left her home and family when she immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras.

Looking for work, Irma arrived in Texarkana in 2010. She took a job at Osaka Japanese Steak House, where she worked for more than 10 years. But, a mom of two, Irma dreamed of being her own boss and showing her children the power of determination.

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From Panther to Pilgrim

From Panther to Pilgrim

Bannon Price, a long-time resident of Ashdown, Arkansas, will soon pack his bags and head northeast for freshman year at Harvard University. Bannon recently graduated as valedictorian of his class at Ashdown High School but said that he still couldn’t believe his eyes when he was accepted in March to the prestigious Ivy League. 

“It was all so surreal,” he said. “I screamed, cried, and ran to my mom and hugged her. More than anything I was shocked.”

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Jani Speaks Out

Jani Speaks Out

On November 6th, 2023, 19-year-old Jani Nix (then Gailey) wasn’t answering her mother’s phone calls. While this is a typical experience for many parents of young adults, Tonya Satterfield was worried.

“Normally I’d text her, and if she wouldn’t respond, because of all the things that had happened, I’d call her,” Tonya said. “And I told her that if she ever lets her phone die, I’m gonna get her.” They had an understanding: after all that Jani had experienced, if Tonya called, she was to answer.

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Climbing the Mountain

Climbing the Mountain

Jason Butler paused for a second to reflect on his experience and then said, “The beautiful thing about life is that you can wake up tomorrow and start over brand new.” Nobody understands that sentiment more than him. Several wrong turns put Jason on a path that took him to places he never should have been. However, through faith, a passion for service, and hard work, he was able to reroute those wrong turns and navigate a new journey of purpose. 

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Meet Texas A&M–Texarkana's Fifth President

Meet Texas A&M–Texarkana's Fifth President

Leaders are not born; they are built from years of work, education, life influences, and choices. The importance of finding a leader of strong character and dedication to students was paramount in the selection of Texas A&M University–Texarkana’s fifth president. Dr. Ross Alexander is completing his first academic year as president. A family man raised with a strong midwestern work ethic, Ross leads in this role with dedication and community-mindedness.

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A Sign of a Champion

A Sign of a Champion

Kirstyn Snyder, a junior at Arkansas High and member of the softball team, has been deaf since birth. She communicates with her family, none of whom are deaf, in various ways. 

“Some of my family learned a little sign,” she explained. “My mom signs a little. My two siblings sign a little, too. Most of the time, I usually just text it out on my phone.” 

Kirstyn owes her love of softball to her father. “I’ve been playing for 14 years now,” she said. “It started when my father helped and taught me how, and I’ve been in love with it ever since.”

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Jumping for Joy

Jumping for Joy

Entering GJump, the 20,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park with disco lights bouncing off the walls and ceiling, is a bit like walking into another world—a world filled with laughter and fun. In contrast, the man behind the scenes works from a simple office with a single piece of decor on the wall. It’s a picture printed with his ethos, the words of Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

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Dancing on the High Seas

Dancing on the High Seas

“Fate loves the fearless.” These words by poet James Russell Lowell are the driving force behind everything Laventry Easter does. He thrives most when overcoming obstacles and achieving his goals. “I know what I want, and I achieve it,” Laventry said. Working as a professional performer on the Carnival Paradise cruise ship, the Arkansas High School graduate owes his career to his tenacity and courageous spirit.

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"I've Seen A Lot of Water Go Under the Bridge"

"I've Seen A Lot of Water Go Under the Bridge"

Among the serious fishers of East Texas, Mr. Donald Crain, age 97, is a local legend.

“I’ve been riding around this dock here for forty years,” he said. “Everybody in the county probably knows me, I’ve been here so long.”

Donald spends as much time as possible on his houseboat, which he built himself 33 years ago, at Lake O’ the Pines—but his dreams of an East Texas retirement began even earlier, in 1975. A native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, but longtime Illinois resident, a 48-year-old Donald was vacationing with his wife near Jefferson, Texas, when the seed was planted.

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