CONWAY — St. Joseph School Alumni Association announces Terri Seiter, Ray Nielsen and Jo Anne Mayor as recipients of this year's Honorary Alumni Award. They were recognized at the Nov. 16 St. Joseph School homecoming game at the Family Activity Center at St. Joseph School.

Terri Seiter currently serves as assistant principal responsible for the primary school campus. She said, "My duties fall into the following categories: hygiene, maintenance, event planner, instructional leader, communication specialist, etc."

Originally from Helena, this is her eighth year at St. Joseph's. She is married to Mark Seiter, a 1974 St. Joseph graduate. They have three children, Adam, Amy, and Kara, all of whom attended St. Joseph School. "Asthe parent of three children who attended this school, I can attest firsthand to the positive difference this school has made in their lives and in making them wonderful adults."

Seiter received bachelor of science in education and master of science in education degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Harding University.

She said, "St. Joseph's has been my 'home' since 1975 and I can truly say, 'there's no place like home!'"

Ray Nielsen, best known to many Conway residents as the host of The Good Times Picture Show on the Arkansas Educational Television Network, has been a member of the St. Joseph School faculty since 1998. He teaches journalism and Arkansas history and is adviser for the school yearbook and newspaper. He also publishes the Catholic Cabin, St. Joseph Church's newsletter. " There'sa lot of activity here at St. Joseph's, which keeps me and the students very involved in documenting it," he said.

Nielsen is a native of California and joined the Navy after his graduation from high school in 1962. He served in Vietnam aboard ship and continued in the naval reserves until his retirement in 1992 as a lieutenant commander.

He moved to Arkansas in 1966 and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1969.

Nielsen's wife taught at St. Joseph's for more than 20 years and their son Christopher is a 2005 St. Joseph graduate.

Jo Anne Hardin Mayor has been St. Joseph School primary school secretary for the past seven years. Prior to that assignment, she was secretary for the elementary school for two years.

Mayor and her husband, Frank, a 1958 graduate of St. Joseph's, are the parents of six children - Kim Mayor Seiter,Mary Mayor Kordsmeier, Karen Mayor, Joe Mayor, Marsha Mayor Mayfield and Mandy Mayor Perry. All are graduates of St. Joseph School.

The Mayors have 10 grandchildren, two are SJS graduates, and seven are presently attending in grades six through 12. Their youngest, Nate, is 4, and a future "bulldog."

Mayor said, "I feel there isn't any school better than St. Joseph's and the staff is like my extended family. I love my job and I love the students."

She is also cheerleader coach and adviser. "Needless to say," she said, "I bleed purple."

St. Joseph Alumni Association Board President Mitch Hart recognized the recipients between the senior girls' and senior boys' games.

Past recipients named honorary alumni are Coach Joe Mallett, Lum and Debbie Wilhite, Philip and Mary Ann Kordsmeier, Karen Wilson, Janet Hiegel, Beth Henze, Mary Beth Gunther and Mike Sartain.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 108 on 11/22/2007