The Places They'll Go

Five outstanding college women are well on their way to making a name for themselves

Their stories may be unpublished, but they are certainly bestseller material. Nominated by their professors at Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University, these five women’s promising futures are blank pages waiting to be filled with tales of inspiration and prosperity. They have found time to reach out to their peers and community all while hitting the books and maintaining stellar GPAs. Whether they are graduating, continuing their schooling or starting a career, these young women are entering new chapters of their lives.

The Green Thinker

Alyssa Evalle’s feet are firmly planted in the soil of Amarillo. Originally from San Jose, California, Alyssa was homeschooled by her mother and raised with a family who ingrained in her an appreciation of nature’s beauty.

As a biology major at Amarillo College, Alyssa has immersed herself in the study of all aspects of things green or flowering and intends to become an organic farmer.

“I chose biology because I knew that I wanted my career to involve the natural and earth sciences,” Alyssa explains. “My love of nature started at an early age and was fostered by the freedom of home education. My interest in ecology led to a heightened awareness of environmental issues and stewardship of the earth, which is why I favor small-scale organic farming over commercial agriculture.”

Community involvement is a concept deep-rooted in Alyssa’s heart and she hopes to educate others on the benefit of organic produce and betterment of poverty-stricken areas in Amarillo.

“I would like to start my own co-op and give back to the community,” Alyssa confesses as she peers down at her TOMS shoes. “After college, I want to raise awareness about organic farming and help people get back to the earth.”

Alyssa’s parents always encouraged her to explore her own interests, ensuring a fruitful future for their eldest daughter. Surrounded by her family’s garden that flourished with everything from cilantro and jalapeños to strawberries and pumpkins, Alyssa was exposed at an early age to what the earth has to offer.

“Giving back to our community and our world is what makes our sojourn on earth worthwhile,”
Alyssa declares. “Although we may die and return to the earth, we have the opportunity to use our
life to give life to others. This is why the idea of a cooperative organic farm is so appealing to me.
I would be able to nurture my interest in plants but also positively interact with my neighbors to foster a healthy and interconnected community.”

After continuing her education and earning her bachelor’s degree in biology or plant and soil sciences, Alyssa desires to do research and discover a new species of microorganisms or plant and is considering obtaining her master’s and doctorate degrees. But her plans do not just consist of career-minded goals.

“I eventually want to be a wife, homemaker and a home-school mom,” Alyssa admits.
While Alyssa’s college life revolves around science, she still finds time to participate in school activities. As a member of the Honors Program, Blue Blazers and Baptist Student Ministry, her two years at Amarillo College have been gratifying. Through her Christian mores and passion for the earth, Alyssa measures success not by setting goals but by glorifying God and serving others, she says. “My parents have trained me to always strive to do my best and go the extra mile,” Alyssa proclaims. “Although it may not always be the easy choice, I do a task to the best of my ability. At the end of a day, I want to say that I did not waste any time, resources or relationships.”

The Financier

Cydney Friemel, 21, West Texas A&M University

While growing up on her family’s ranch in Vega with three older siblings, Cydney Friemel was
exposed to a strong work ethic and picked up a plethora of trades.

“I have always been very independent, being the youngest, and can put up a pretty good fight,” Cydney boasts. “Anything my brothers ever could do, I always made sure I could do the same thing, too. The job might not get done as good as if they were doing it, and Dad is probably out a few bucks for letting me do it, but I don’t think there are too many girls that can weld, drive semis/tandems/combines/graincarts/load-alls, dehorn calves, and just get plumcovered
in caca, to be polite, as good as I can.”

Before switching her degree for the third and final time at WTAMU, Cydney held a broad range
of jobs from interning at a veterinary clinic to waitressing at her aunt’s restaurant in Umbarger,
trying to figure out what career field she wanted to pursue. But it was with her first business course at WTAMU’s College of Business that Cydney settled on finance.

“I find finance fascinating in the fact that I use it on a daily basis as it captures my experiences and life ambitions in an entrepreneurial focus,” Cydney explains.“”I enjoy the energy levels of the futures markets and the stress of managing the risk for my growing cattle operation. Finance allows me to pursue my business career goals, yet still remain connected to the agricultural world I was raised in.”

Cydney attributes her fortitude to her family and finds inspiration in her parents. “They work side by side on a daily basis and have built themselves from the ground up,” she affirms. “They have raised an outstanding family and stick together through the good times and the bad.”

In addition to raising her own cattle and balancing school, Cydney is a commodities broker at Brock Thompson Trading, president of the Agribusiness team at WTAMU and project leader for SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise), which took home its 17th consecutive win at the Regional Championship in March. Graduating in May with a finance degree and accounting and agribusiness minor, Cydney will migrate in June to Minneapolis, Minnesota to join Cargill, Inc. as a Commodity Merchant Trainee.

“[It’s] not much of a summer,” Cydney jokes, “But I am excited to begin a new chapter… I am curious myself to understand what exactly this title [at Cargill] means.”

As far as success in the real world goes, Cydney’s banking on it and is certain no matter what obstacles God throws in her path, she will overcome them.

“With each event I encounter, I always take a lesson away from it,” Cydney declares. “As I learn from them, I realize that what I thought I couldn’t do, I now can. My boss [at Thompson Trading] told me that the best way to learn how to trade is to trade your own account. After fully understanding the risk I was about to take, I did just what he had told me to... Several tears and a few gray hairs later, I guess you could say that I understand a tad bit more of what “risk” is and now can push
myself further and take on new opportunities when they present themselves.”

The Fighter

Sarah Clark, 22, Amarillo College

Overcoming a hearing disability since the age of 18 months has been the least of Sarah’s feats.

“Human beings evolved to cope,” Sarah states. “Anyone with a disability overcomes it in one way
or another.”

Enrolled in REPA (Regional Education Program for the Deaf), Sarah learned how to communicate by reading lips and responding orally and admits to having forgotten most sign language. While the ability to speak and attend regular schools has benefited Sarah, it has also put her at a disadvantage.

“The real challenge was the social, emotional, and mental challenges that accompanied my hearing impairment,” Sarah explains. “There is a catch-22. “I’ve never been fully accepted by the deaf community and I’ve never been fully accepted by the hearing world. As a result, I occupy a grey area
that is a No Man’s land. As a teenager I struggled with this in a lot of different ways… and it’s only as a young adult that I finally accepted my lot in life and decided to give ’em all hell while I’m here.”

While taking a sabbatical from her education after graduating from Tascosa High School where she was editor of the newspaper, Sarah lived in Albuquerque and managed three jobs to provide for herself but realized she needed to return to Amarillo to continue her schooling. At Amarillo College, Sarah carried over her knack for media from high school and has remained active in the journalism community, working as a page editor and photographer for the Ranger and holding the positions of assistant editor and editor for the AC Current. She was inducted in Phi Theta Kappa this past semester and received second place at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association competition last month.

“I’ve been a cashier, a waitress and a camp counselor–there’s nothing I can’t do except be a telemarketer,” Sarah says. “But give me a bit and I’ll figure out a way around that, too.”

Ultimately, Sarah wants to earn her Bachelor of Arts and juris doctorate and eventually work for a nonprofit organization in the Public Relations Department or as a public interest lawyer.

“I have the goal of establishing myself as an attorney–preferably in Amarillo–but I prefer to take life one bite at a time,” Sarah says. “The areas of public interest as well as the position of a federal public defender appeal to me the most.”

Following in the footsteps of her father, attorney Warren Clark, is also a dream of hers. Like father, like daughter, it’s in Sarah’s genes to analyze, argue and prove she’s right, no matter the consequences. Her father’s advice, “Do the right thing. Who cares about whose feelings are hurt? Just do what’s right because it’ll pay off in the long run,” is the mantra Sarah follows.

“I can’t stand being told I can’t do something or if I’m limited… If I’m dismissed or overlooked, the only thing I can do is say, ‘Oh yeah? Watch me.’”

The Musician

Hanna Osteen, 21, Amarillo College

When Hanna Osteen traded in the viola for the cello in the seventh grade, she didn’t foresee a future in the spotlight. As her last year at Amarillo High School flew by, she was still at a loss as to what field to pursue.

“I really had no idea what I was going to do next, but I knew that I wanted to continue my education,” Hanna says. “One day I found a poster at Amarillo High advertising for the orchestra at Amarillo College. I went and auditioned because I knew that I wanted to continue playing cello.”

Hanna’s graduation gift from her grandfather, a new cello, could not have been more timely and appropriate. After spending a morning shopping in Albuquerque without success, Hanna finally found her match in a mysterious, yet elegant cello abandoned in the storage room of a music store, which she aptly christened “Lady.” When asked the whereabouts of her old cello as she gracefully glides the bow across the strings to the tune of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, Hanna coyly confesses she named it “The Tramp.”

After her audition, Amarillo College soon informed Hanna she would receive a large scholarship. She was delighted to have the opportunity to foster her cellist skills while studying general courses. However, her college education has not come without obstacles.

“When I got the letter offering me a scholarship, I started to realize how much college costs and I knew my family wasn’t able to help me out,” Hanna says. “I decided to take the scholarship because I knew I could definitely put the knowledge of music to good use whether I pursued a music degree later on or not.”

Joining the labor force at age 15, Hanna has continued working throughout her stay at Amarillo College while maintaining excellent grades and staying active within her school. She is the Amarillo College Student Government Association’s historian, member of Phi Theta Kappa and a Blue Blazer and will travel to England this month with the Honors Program.

“I think the ability to balance a job, extracurricular activities and challenging course work has strengthened my ability to manage time and stress and has proved my desire to get an education and be successful,” Hanna claims. “Everyone has the ability to get good grades and be involved in their school and their community, but my willingness to work hard is what has gotten me scholarships and awards.”

And Hanna’s determination and diligence has certainly paid off. She received a full academic scholarship to The University of Texas at Arlington, an accomplishment Hanna is more than grateful for, she says.

“I have always been worried about all of the loans I was going to have to take out when I went away to school,” Hanna admits, “But God has certainly taken care of everything. I feel like that scholarship was an answer to all my prayers and it’s everything that I’ve been working for.”

The Communicator

Sarah Thomas, 21, West Texas A&M University

As an advertising and public relations major at WTAMU, Sarah Thomas recognizes the value of working with others.

“I know when to stop and listen,” Sarah says. “I think great leaders know when to stop talking and just listen to what people have to say.”

After transferring from the University of Texas at Austin, Sarah was undecided on what degree to pursue but knew she wanted to work with the media in the future. With the advice and encouragement of a professor at WTAMU, Sarah chose Advertising and Public Relations as her major.

Graduating in May, the Wolfforth native plans to continue her education at WTAMU and attend its post-baccalaureate program to earn her teaching certification in which she will work directly with students next spring.

Describing herself as a “go-getter,” Sarah has kept herself busy juggling schoolwork and several clubs and organizations. As a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, Sarah served as Panhellenic vice president, Public Relations Chair and Courtesy Chair and is participates in Greeks for Christ. She is a member of the Advertising/Public Relations Club and is currently trying to establish a new organization, West Texas Beauties, which will offer insight on what student life is like outside of athletics.

“I am always willing and ready to take on any challenge that is set before me,” Sarah asserts. “I don’t like to settle for anything that is less than perfect. I want to go that extra mile. I have a willingness learn and I think it is so important to continue to further your knowledge each and every day.”

Sarah credits her father’s nurturing nature for her zeal. “[My father] has shown me the importance of hard work and dedication,” Sarah says. “He has guided and loved me. He has given me the tools that I need to succeed. He supports, loves and believes in me. He holds a special place in my heart and I will always be a Daddy’s Girl. [He] is such an amazing man and if I can be half the person he is, I will be happy with my life.”

Sarah’s brother, New Orleans Saints tight end David Thomas, is also a source of motivation for her.

“My brother has shown me what it takes to succeed,” Sarah says. “He has worked harder than anyone I have ever known to be where is. He continues to inspire me to be a better person and to chase my dreams. My drive comes from knowing that I can do whatever I want to do if I set my mind to it.”

With drive comes goals and Sarah has them carefully laid along with values that will surely take her to the top.

“I want to strive to be the best I can be and always challenge myself to a better person,” Sarah claims. “I want be a loving wife and raise a family that is surrounded by love and built on a strong foundation. I don’t ever want my failures to keep me from reaching the next goal, but rather motivate me to work harder. I want to be able to look back on my life and know that I did everything I could be the most successful woman I could be."

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