Starkey’s work shown nationally
Ryan Starkey of Fort Smith is one of 15 artists selected as winners of the 2014 VSA Emerging Young Artists Awards by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The awards recognize the work of artists ages 16 to 25 who are living with disabilities.
Starkey’s work, Help is a Far Cry, will be on display at the Smithsonian Institution until January, when he will travel to Washington, D.C., to be honored. Starkey, a University of Arkansas at Fort Smith student, suffers from dyskinetic movement disorder, a disease that makes him dependent on a walker.
Help is a Far Cry captures his struggles with the disease. The painting is the first in a trilogy which also includes Though Fallen I Must Rise and A Fight to Freedom, which is currently on display in the Fullerton Administration Building at UAFS.
Help is a Far Cry will be part of a traveling exhibition after the January awards ceremony. Starkey will receive a $2,000 prize.
Sunshine School honors Rippetoe
The Sunshine School and Development Center in Rogers honored Seth Rippetoe and Boy Scout Troop 2144 for their work creating a path for children with physical challenges. Rippetoe, 13, is an Eagle Scout candidate with the troop.
A dedication ceremony was held Nov. 11 at the school, where Rippetoe drove in the final stake to officially complete the project.
Cortez receives Eagle Award
Leticia “Leti” Cortez of Springdale is the recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for the month of September at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.
Cortez is a full-time student; a mentor in the Learning, Improvement, Fun and Empowerment (LIFE) Program; a senator in the Student Government Association. She is also a volunteer translator at Elmdale Elementary School in Springdale. Cortez has a 3.39 grade-point average.
She hopes to graduate from NWACC and continue her studies in the University of Central Arkansas physical therapy program. She will receive a certificate of recognition and a $100 prize.
UAFS theater wins awards
The theater department at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith received eight awards and three nominations at the local Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, held Nov. 6-8 on the University of the Ozarks campus in Clarksville.
The competition featured schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma. UAFS received awards for its presentation of Delta-v.
Tony Corbell of Alma and Kendra Carter of Fort Smith received the Excellence in Honor Crew Award. Jennifer Bradley of Fort Smith, Leah Wineland of Fort Smith and Alexander Zacarias of Fort Smith received Irene Ryan Nominations in Acting.
Zacarias also received an Excellence in Writing Award.
Jacob Lensing, L.J. Luthringer and Jacob Webb, all of Fort Smith, earned Excellence in Sound Design Awards, while Bob Stevenson of Fort Smith received an Excellence in Directing Award.
The group as a whole also received the Respondent’s Choice Award, which puts the program in consideration for the regional Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival on Feb. 24-28 in
NWACC four receive honors
Four people from North-West Arkansas Community College in Bentonville were honored at the Arkansas Community Colleges conference Oct. 12-14 in Hot Springs.
Dennis “D.J.” Cameron was named outstanding student. He served as president of the NWACC Student Ambassador and Activities Board in 2013-14.
Alan Clark, the previous director of NWACC’s respiratory therapy program, was named outstanding faculty, while Linda Richardson, an administrative assistant in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, received the award for outstanding staff.
Dianna Portillo, an NWACC alumna and current director of Veterans Resources at the college, was given the outstanding alumni award.
BHS students earn awards
Two Bentonville High School students were recognized for their photography work at the Journalism Education Association’s fall convention in Washington, D.C., this month.
Juniors Noah West and Hannah Walter were two of 2,168 students from across the country who participated in the convention’s Write-Off contests. West received a “superior” award in the Yearbook Student Life Photography category; Walter received an “excellent” award for her entry in the Photo Portrait category. There were 112 superior awards and 263 excellent awards handed out among all the contest categories.
Eagle Award nominees sought
The Washington Regional Medical Foundation in Fayetteville is seeking nominations for the 2015 Outstanding Health Leadership Award, also known as the Eagle Award.
The awards honor individuals and organizations that make contributions to the improvement or delivery of health care services in Northwest Arkansas. Awards will be handed out at the 22nd Foundation Gala at the Walton Arts Center in the spring.
The 2014 Eagle Award recipients were Kathy Grisham and Faith in Action. Nominees can include volunteers, businesses, organizations, nurses, doctors, health care professionals or government officials. Nominations are due Dec.
- Applications may be submitted online at wregional.com/eaglenomination or by mail to Washington Regional Foundation, Outstanding Health Leadership Award, P.O. Box 356, Fayetteville 72702. Information: (479) 444-9888 or foundation@wregional.com.
Livingston chosen outstanding senior
Amber Livingston, a marketing and management major from Rogers, has been named a Senior of Significance at Oklahoma State University by the university’s Alumni Association.
The award recognizes students who excel in scholarship, leadership and service. Livingston is the daughter of Scott and Stacia Livingston.
During her time at the university, Livingston worked as a marketing and special events intern for the Kansas City Chiefs, served as president of the Sports Management Club and was named an Orange Book Outstanding Senior. A public reception honoring Livingston and 43 other Seniors of Significance was held Nov. 17 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater, Okla.
Send information about birthdays, honors and reunions to ourtown@nwaonline.com, trogers@arkansasonline.com or Northwest Arkansas Achievers, P.O. Box 7, Springdale, AR 72765.