Texas Business Hall of Fame Honors Three DBU Students

This year, the Mitchell Family Foundation Award honored three DBU students by inducting them into the Texas Business Hall of Fame for their entrepreneurial endeavors and business brilliance.

Jaret V. Grayson

Jaret V. Grayson was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. Having always dreamed of moving to Texas, Jaret V. enrolled in Dallas Baptist University to gain a Christ-centered college experience. Jaret V. has always had a deep affinity for sports, so he started Lone Star Sports, a marketing agency that helps high school and college athletes with exposure to recruitment and NIL opportunities. After one of his social media posts went viral in 2021, Jaret V. officially started his business and has amassed over 200k followers across TikTok and Instagram in the last three years in Texas.

Through his connections with his professors in the College of Business, Jaret V. became aware of the Texas Business Hall of Fame and applied to be inducted. They named him the recipient of the Mitchell Family Foundation Award, which includes a business investment grant and endless opportunities to connect and network with others within the Hall of Fame. Jaret V. graduated from DBU with a Bachelor of Business Studies in August 2024, which marks the end of his journey on University Hill. Although, his journey with Lone Star Sports is just beginning. "Being honored in the Texas Business Hall of Fame is a testament to how faithful God has been here in Texas and at DBU," he shared. "I'm so grateful to everyone at DBU who has been so supportive on this journey."

Micah Harkless

Micah Harkless was born and raised in Washington, where he spent most of his life until he and his family moved to Texas a few years ago. Originally, Micah wasn't going to attend college. However, the music department convinced him to enroll in the program, so he decided to try it for a year. The Lord awakened Micah's love for business throughout that year, so he changed his major to the entrepreneurship program. One of the highlights from Micah's DBU experience so far is traveling to Hawaii for the "From Seed to Cup" study trip with Dr. Ross O'Brien, where they learned the ins and outs of the coffee industry. Micah credits his relationship with Dr. O'Brien for helping him pursue excellence in all his business endeavors.

Micah is the founder of two marketing agencies: Monastery Media and ParlorLens. Monastery Media is a referral-based agency that seeks to help companies drive growth, establish digital integrity, and develop supercharged sales strategies. ParlorLens is tailored to tattoo artists and parlors, where they help increase bookings, provide professional creative media services, manage scheduling, and create engaging websites that encourage sales. Through these business endeavors and a referral by DBU student and 2023 recipient Zac Kos, Micah was recognized by the Texas Business Hall of Fame and received the Mitchell Family Foundation Award. With this award, Micah will receive a $15,000 business investment. Micah will graduate from DBU with a B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship in 2025.

Christopher Castle

Christopher Castle is a current graduate student at DBU pursuing an M.B.A. in Marketing. Christopher served in the U.S. Air Force for over 20 years, focusing on repairing aircraft, which earned him several medals for his service and expertise. Throughout this time, Christopher earned his bachelor's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After retiring from the Air Force in 2022, Christopher combined his business knowledge with his passion for motors, classic cars, and getting his hands dirty. He founded Built with Faith Motorsports to mentor others while creating a business from restoring classic cars.

Through his dedication to furthering his education and his passion for business, the Texas Business Hall of Fame has awarded Christopher the Mitchell Family Foundation Award, which includes a business investment grant. "Humbled does not begin to describe how I feel," he explained. "But I know this: it has been Christ all the way."

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About the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation
The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation was created in 1982 by a small group of Texas businessmen and women to focus awareness on the positive achievements made by outstanding business leaders and to honor their contributions to their community and state. In addition to recognizing six transformational business leaders each year, the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation awards forty $15,000 prizes in the higher education and veteran community to those who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurial aspirations and excellence. For more information, visit texasbusiness.org.