John Brown University (JBU) in the fall of 1997.  Simeon moved to Siloam Springs, Ark. that fall and began majoring in Digital Media and Broadcasting.  This is where he and Stephanie, who was also attending JBU on scholarship as a basketball student-athlete, met and developed a friendship.

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After graduating in 2002, Simeon began working in the media industry and married Stephanie, who was an elementary school teacher, several months later.  Over the next few years, they would both graduate with their master's degrees in Educational Administration (Stephanie) and Sport Management (Simeon).  Stephanie would then move into a new role as Assistant Principal at Elmdale Elementary in Springdale, while Simeon returned to JBU as Sports Information Director and Director of Intramurals. During this time, they would welcome two sons, Sammie and Seth, to their family. 

 

Simeon spent six years working for JBU before transitioning to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he began pursuing his doctoral degree in Recreation and Sport Management.  While pursuing his degree, he began working for the Razorback women's basketball program in several roles including interim assistant women's basketball coach for the 2014-15 season.  Simeon completed his doctoral degree in December 2015, and at that time, he felt the call on his life to leave his position at the U of A to found the iYes Foundation, with the ultimate mission of investing in the lives of young people in Northwest Arkansas and The Bahamas through education and sports.  

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In July 2019, the iYes Foundation hit a key milestone when iYes Bahamas was officially established as the sister organization to iYes NWA.  With the goal of developing communities and creating opportunities for children in The Bahamas to attend post secondary educational institutions, iYes Bahamas soon joined forces with Caribbean Sports Academy to continue investing in the lives of Bahamian kids. 

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From working at summer camps as teenagers to becoming elementary school and college administrators, Simeon and Stephanie have been involved in inspiring young people for as long as they can remember. They are passionate about seeing young people from all races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds succeed through education and sports, and they have a vision for youth growth and development that will change the future for children in NWA, The Bahamas, and eventually across the globe.  Their ultimate goal is to help our youth create a belief in themselves to always say "YES I CAN, YES I WILL, YES I MUST, BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE"!