ARKADELPHIA — An event-filled weekend at Henderson State University attracted costumed children, football fans, parents of HSU students, veterans groups and military personnel to the campus Friday night and Saturday.
The influx of nonstudents to the HSU campus just outside downtown Arkadelphia began Friday night with Henderson’s annual Halloween event. Hundreds of trick-or-treaters from the community gathered on the college’s South Lawn next to Arkansas Hall.
Campus groups and other community organizations set up booths to give treats to the youngsters, creating a safe atmosphere for the holiday rounds. Organizers claim it was the best spot in town for the gathering of superheros, zombies, vampires and princesses because student organizations compete to have the best candies and treats, along with some interesting booths to delight the children.
Saturday’s Family Day offered activities for alumni, and especially the parents of HSU students.
“Last week was homecoming, and this is family week,” Henderson President Glen Jones said. “This week we particularly invited parents to come spend time with their sons and daughters on campus. It’s a chance [for parents] to see some of their life as students at Henderson.”
The opening event of the day was the presentation of the first Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship to one of Henderson’s ROTC students.
The idea for a ROTC scholarship was birthed in 2010 by Gerald Loyd, a former Army lieutenant colonel and a retired Henderson sociology professor, along with three other HSU alumni — Jerry O’Neal of Bismarck, Curt Hays of Hot Springs and Ronnie Echols of Arkadelphia — who started a campaign to create a memorial to the nine Henderson ROTC graduates who were killed in Vietnam.
Loyd and the others established a scholarship that will keep the memory of the nine soldiers alive by helping future students of the college advance their education.
The first scholarship was awarded to Cadet Vera Akuro, a junior nursing student who will enter the U.S. Army after graduation.
Akuro, who was an attorney in her home country of Cameroon, came to Henderson State to study international law.
“I was working part time in a nursing home, and I discovered how much I enjoyed helping others,” she told the Tri-Lakes Edition. “I moved to College of the Ouachitas in Malvern to get an associate degree in nursing, and now I have come back to earn a bachelor’s degree and become an officer in the Army Nursing Corps.”
Jerusha Schofer, administrative assistant for the military science department and to the ROTC Corps at HSU, said the story of Akuro, a 29-year-old single mother, brought tears to her eyes when she read the application.
“She found a new career and has joined the military to serve her new country,” Schofer said.
The scholarship was presented to Akuro by Loyd, Jones and Brig. Gen. Keith Klemmer, deputy adjutant general of the Arkansas Army National Guard.
The ceremony came a day after HSU announced that the university had received designation as a Military Friendly School for 2015 by a veteran-owned national business, Victory Media.
The award was presented to HSU for “its demonstrated commitment to supporting student veterans on campus and in their careers.” Henderson was one of 10,000 schools approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs surveyed by Victory Media. Less than 100 institutions of higher learning received the designation.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., contestants for the rib cook-off at Wells Gym signed in and started cooking for the competition, which was held at 1 p.m.
At 11 a.m., a trivia contest for the families was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Garrison Center. At the same hour, contestants were invited to start making their favorite salsa recipes for another contest. The winners of the rib cook-off and the salsa-making event were announced at 2 p.m.
The day ended on a high note with the Henderson State Reddies beating the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils 49-7 at the campus’ Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.
Reddie quarterback Kevin Rodgers threw for more than 300 yards for the 24th time in his career, completing 28 of his 36 attempts for 346 yards and 3 touchdown passes.
Rodgers became the Arkansas state leader in career total offense, running his total up to 12,813 yards.
Dustin Holland of Benton became only the third player in HSU history to record 2,000 career receiving yards as the senior caught a season-best 7 passes for 100 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.
“It was a great day for the Reddie family,” said Lewis Shepherd, vice president for student and external affairs at HSU.
Through the early afternoon, the families gathered around Wells Gym at
Henderson could hear the cheers from the stands of Cliff Harris Stadium across the street and see the fans in the home side stands of the field come to their feet. The fans of rival Ouachita State University were cheering as their Tigers charged to 8-0 on the season, the first time they’ve reached that mark since 1914, with a 38-28 victory over Southern Arkansas University.
Staff writer Wayne Bryan can be reached at (501) 244-4460 or wbryan@arkansasonline.com.