Class of Sweethearts includes 73 area girls

The American Heart Association's Sweetheart program, a long-held tradition and a fundraiser for the Central Arkansas Heart Ball, continues with a class of 73 sophomore-age girls participating in 2016-2017. The girls will be presented during the Heart Ball, scheduled for April 1 at the Statehouse Convention Center.

Ball chairmen Eileen and Dr. Ricardo Sotomora founded the Sweetheart program 20 years ago. Since then, about 1,000 girls have participated, with each putting in at least 20 hours of community service/education hours in the central Arkansas area, focusing on the importance of heart health and stroke prevention.

The heart association once limited the number of Sweethearts, but it's now open to any girl who wants to participate. During the eight-month program, they learn about cardiovascular health and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices through tours of local hospitals and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Sweethearts are also certified in infant and adult CPR. Social events include a welcome reception, a sleepover at the Arkansas Arts Center, a mother-daughter luncheon and a father-daughter barbecue.

The 2017 class of Sweethearts includes Madeleine Faith Adkins, daughter of January and Scott Cross and Ted Adkins, Little Rock Central High School; Eva Caroline Allen, daughter of Mary and Ryan Allen, Episcopal Collegiate School; Molly Marie Bohanan, daughter of Jenifer and Derek Bohanan, Stuttgart High School; Sophie Grace Bravo, daughter of Rosemary Bravo and Dr. Eric Bravo, Mount St. Mary's Academy; Annabelle Helen Brown, daughter of Ann and Geoff Brown, Mount St. Mary's; Kylee Alexa Carleson, daughter of Kimberly and Stephen Carleson, Little Rock Christian Academy; Karen Elizabeth Cline, daughter of Karen and Ernie Cline, Mount St. Mary's; and Corinne Nicole Clower, daughter of Molly and Doug Clower, Episcopal Collegiate.

Others are Abigail Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Tammie and Mark Davis, Little Rock Christian Academy; Hannah Elise Day, daughter of Paige and Gregg Day, Mount St. Mary's; Shea Eleigh De Bruyn, daughter of Dana and Dr. Van H. De Bruyn, Little Rock Christian; Cameron Everett DeMott, daughter of Jackie and Scott DeMott, Pulaski Academy; Lanie Elyse Driver, daughter of Holly and Kevin Driver, Robinson High School; Margaret Harper Emerson, daughter of Kristin and Michael Emerson, Central High School; Addie Leigh Farquharson, daughter of Carol and Mike Hulse and Ernie Farquharson, Mount St. Mary's; Chloe Ann Farquharson, daughter of Carol and Mike Hulse and Ernie Farquharson, Mount St. Mary's; Elizabeth Riley Ford, daughter of Laura and Dr. Barry Ford, Pulaski Academy; Courtney Lynn Frederick, daughter of Sheila and Joe Frederick, Mount St. Mary's; and Anna Caroline Funk, daughter of Paula and Jonathan Funk, Little Rock Christian.

Sweethearts in the Class of 2017 also include Audrey Grace Funk, daughter of Paula and Jonathan Funk, Little Rock Christian; Reagan Elizabeth Garner, daughter of Dania Garner and Jim Garner, Little Rock Christian; Frances Faith Gentry, daughter of Lisa and Scott Gentry, Little Rock Christian; Sydney Nicole Hazlewood, daughter of Dawn and Keith Hazlewood, Little Rock Christian; Whitney Carol Hines, daughter of Stacey and Lance Hines, Little Rock Christian; Sarah Elizabeth Huber, daughter of Theresa and Dr. Michael Huber, Mount St. Mary's; Carly Francis Hugg, daughter of MiMi and Jim Hugg, Mount St. Mary's; Raivin Chorelle Jackson, daughter of Nicole and Curtis Jackson, Episcopal Collegiate; Julia Ann Jansen, daughter of Piper Jansen and Matthew Jansen, Mount St. Mary's; and Megan Farrel Jennings, daughter of Allison and Jay Jennings, Mount St. Mary's.

Others are London Alayah Jones, daughter of Janee Jones-Lankford and Bryan Lankford, Episcopal Collegiate; Paris Nicole Joslin, daughter of Jill and Greg Joslin, Pulaski Academy; Sydney Grace Kellam, daughter of Valerie and Art Kellam, Mount St. Mary's; Celia Kate Kreth, daughter of Ellen and Kelly Kreth, Episcopal Collegiate; Ayah Ali Krisht, daughter of Nashwa and Dr. Ali Krisht, Pulaski Academy; Chloe Ashlyn Lane, daughter of Tawnya Herring and Mike Herring, Stuttgart High; Chloe Ann Lay, daughter of Cathy and Mark Lay, Mount St. Mary's; Mary-Kaylin O'Neal Linch, daughter of Dr. Michele and Lt. Col. Perry Jon Linch, Little Rock Christian; Shea Elizabeth Longnecker, daughter of Christy and Sean Longnecker, Stuttgart High; Lauren Elizabeth Longworth, daughter of Elizabeth and Patrick Longworth, Little Rock Christian; and Maggie Marie McLeod, daughter of Wendy McLeod and Scott McLeod, Mount St. Mary's.

This year's program also includes Mabry Suzanne Meadors, daughter of Michele and Mark Meadors, Mount St. Mary's; Lauren Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Carol and Dr. Scott Miller, Episcopal Collegiate; Ella Marie Moody, daughter of Kristi and Scott Moody, Little Rock Central; McKinley Claire Morden, daughter of Heather and Shane Morden, Episcopal Collegiate; Grace Nolan, daughter of Liza and Raymond Nolan, Mount St. Mary's; Blakely Greer Norris, daughter of Becky and Dr. Blake Norris, Mount St. Mary's; Bethy Alice Paladino, daughter of Alicen and Dr. Tim Paladino, Little Rock Central; Mary Claire Payne, daughter of Catherine and Stanley Payne, Little Rock Christian; Kennedy Ann Phillips, daughter of Kari and Paul Phillips, Mount St. Mary's; Mary Beth Pierce, daughter of Tiffany and Dwayne Pierce, Little Rock Christian; and Alexandra Cole Pittman, daughter of Kelly and Jerry Pittman, Little Rock Christian.

Others are Charlotte Edith Powers, daughter of Mary and Dr. Robert Powers, Episcopal Collegiate; Gabrielle Celeste Rancifer, daughter of Tracey Rancifer, Episcopal Collegiate; Ann Riales Rayburn, daughter of Shelly and Dr. Tom Rayburn, Little Rock Central; Olivia Ann Richardson, daughter of Robyn and Keith Richardson, Pulaski Academy; Mary Kathryn Roberts, daughter of Beth and Chris Roberts, Little Rock Central; Marilyn Kate Ronnel, daughter of Jennifer and Steve Ronnel, Little Rock Central; Riley Raye Shepard, daughter of Christi and Dr. Mike Shepard, Central Arkansas Christian; Abigail Caroline Smith, daughter of Lindy Smith and Andrew Smith, Little Rock Christian; Camille Elizabeth Ann Smith, daughter of Jennifer and Dr. Daniel Smith, Mount St. Mary's; and Jamie Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Susan and Jason Smith, Pulaski Academy.

The 2017 class of Sweethearts also includes Ashley Olivia Suffridge, Angie and Dr. Phillip Suffridge, Mount St. Mary's; Lindsey Kay Taylor, daughter of Marsha Taylor and Brad Taylor, Mount St. Mary's; Georgia Ann Thomas, daughter of Audra and Tony Thomas, Little Rock Christian; Caroline Wells Thompson, daughter of Allyson and Travis Thompson, Benton High School; Phoebe Neet DeVoe Tompkins, daughter of Katherine and Christopher Tompkins, Episcopal Collegiate; Ashlyn Belle Tunnell, daughter of Beth and Michael Tunnell, Pulaski Academy; Gracen Claire Turner, daughter of Angela and Dr. Greg Turner, Cabot High School; Gracie Peyton Vaughn, daughter of Tammy and Mike Vaughn, Baptist Preparatory; Jordan Amelia Wood, daughter of Susan Wood and Dr. Russell Wood, Little Rock Christian; Katherine Ann Woziwodzki, daughter of Regina and Roger Woziwodzki, Little Rock Central; Madeline Marie Woziwodzki, daughter of Regina and Roger Woziwodzki, Mount St. Mary's; and Peyton Aly Yee, daughter of Dr. Suzanne and Bill Yee, Little Rock Central.

High Profile on 12/18/2016

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