Oklahoma State
University
The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently recognized Karson Walker of Lowell for her achievements. She earned the Champion Forfox Liz Claiborn CDX Award for her interest in small animal veterinary medicine. A second-year veterinary student, Walker is the daughter of Sherry Walker of Lowell and Walter Walker of Jenks, Okla.
Fayetteville
Mission Campus
Classical Conversations is a classical Christian homeschool group that meets weekly at campuses around the area to equip parents and students for lifelong learning. Three students recently earned recognition as Memory Masters for 2015-16: Lillian Clinehens, Hezekiah Golden and Kayle Hardesty.
The students memorized 161 events and people in a chronological timeline; 24 history sentences; 120 locations and geographic features in Africa, Europe and the Old World; 24 science facts (including classifications of living things and each continent’s highest mountain); five Latin noun endings and their singular and plural declensions; English grammar facts (including 53 prepositions, 23 helping verbs and 12 linking verbs); skip counting up to 15s; common squares and cubes; basic geometry formulas and unit conversions; and 44 U.S. presidents.
Williams
Baptist College
Haley Thompson of Pine Bluff has been inducted into Beta Beta Beta national biological honor society in a ceremony April 19 at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge. The society works to develop scholarship, promote the dissemination of knowledge and encourage research in biological sciences and honors outstanding students in the field of biology.
Thompson, a senior majoring in biology, is the daughter of Tammy and Jeff Thompson of Farmington.
University
of Arkansas-
Fort Smith
Two Fort Smith community leaders will serve as the keynote speakers for the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith spring commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 14.
Benny Gooden, superintendent of Fort Smith School District, will speak to graduates at the 10 a.m. ceremony, while Sam Sicard, president and chief executive officer of First National Bank in Fort Smith, will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Commencement exercises will be held in the Stubblefield Center on the UAFS campus.
The 10 a.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from the College of Applied Science and Technology and the College of Communication, Languages, Arts and Social Sciences. The 2 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from the College of Business, College of Health Sciences and College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
University
of Arkansas-
Fort Smith
More than 40 University of Arkansas-Fort Smith students were recognized for their academic performance during the university’s Academic Excellence Awards held April 19. The awards honor top students from many of the university’s academic programs, with UAFS faculty members submitting nominations for the awards.
Alma: Taylor Brandli, nursing; Taylor Hall, mathematics; and Judah Scott, biology.
Fayetteville: Morgan Strong, radiography.
Fort Smith: Stephen Bowman, history; Damian Cabrera, information technology; Shirley Carter, applied science; Matthew Eggert, criminal justice; Danyell Farris, Spanish education; Christopher Ha, music education — instrumental; Jeanetta Henry, organizational leadership; Holly Hickman, mathematics education; Lauren Hyman, graphic design; Quoc Le, imaging sciences; Hannah Lovins, theater; Quynh Nguyen, international business; Cecilia Rebrick, office management technology; Joseph Reed, music education – vocal; Jennifer Sanchez, middle childhood education; Daniel Schwartz, electrical engineering; Megan Smith, marketing; Dusan Stojanovic, media communication; and Lindsay Tillery, English education.
Greenwood: Wendi Learned, general technology – welding; and Kayla Schluterman, studio art.
Harrison: Tasha Heard, dental hygiene.
Huntington: Sarah Robinson, history education.
Lavaca: Jared Melton, chemistry.
Morrow: Kory Reed, finance.
Pea Ridge: Ethan Higgins, business administration.
Van Buren: Jessica Medeiros, Judith Anne Wrappe art award; Timothy Pool, electronics technology; and Reonna Scott, surgical technology.
Northwest
Technical
Institute
Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale announced the school’s winners at the recent Arkansas SkillsUSA competition in Hot Springs. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. The Arkansas SKillsUSA competition saw more than 20 schools participating this year.
Winners include Jennifer Martin, first place, and Truen Taylor, second place, in post-secondary automotive service technology; Seth Nitz, first place, and Luis Mancia, second place, secondary automotive service technology; Jonathan Rangel, third place, secondary power systems; Joe Javorsky, first place, post-secondary collision repair; Carl Alderson, second place, and Dustin Edens, third place, secondary collision repair; Olin Blair, first place, Jake Wright, second place, and Glenn Watson, third place, post-secondary diesel technology; Kristopher Long, first place, secondary diesel technology; Tristen Martin, second place, post-secondary prepared speech.
Northwest
Arkansas
Community
College
Northwest Arkansas Community College’s Enactus team won its league during regional competition April 18 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. They advance to the national competition May 15-17 in St Louis.
Enactus is an international organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. They were guided by Autumn Rook, a Sam M. Walton fellow, and Chris Neyland.
Enactys project leader Stephany Weston partnered with sponsor KPMG and business advisory board member Randy Potter to teach students at Mathias Elementary School how to build Lego robots and program them to complete tasks. The team also put together a STEM expo at the school, which helped expose the students to more STEM-related careers as well as giving the students’ parents the opportunity to learn about and sign up for classes at NWACC.
NWACC’s club president Jennifer Vehon and team member Jeffery Longoria, with funds provided through a Wal-Mart Women’s Empowerment Grant, worked with Oasis of Northwest Arkansas to open Oasis Coffee Shop in the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development on campus. They received assistance from Chris Grant (proprietor of Cycle Path Cafe in the Bentonville library), Cafe Don Pablo Coffee Company, Diane Boss, Jim Lay and the NWACC construction department.
Rachel Hebert was the lead on Enactus’ partnership with Jack Thompson and NWACC’s “Zero Landfill” initiative. Hebert dressed up as a superhero and organized a workshop that showed students at the Shewmaker Center what can and can’t be recycled.
Team members Kayla Scroggins, Nichelle Arrington and Courtney Troxtel — working with business advisory board members Laura Sossamon and Melissa Cole — have begun a new Enactus project aimed at teaching cacao farmers in Belize how to increase their yields in a sustainable manner.
William Woods
University
Tiffany Rhame of Farmington is one of 25 charter members of the Rotaract Club of William Woods University in Fulton Mo. Rotaract, an affiliate of Rotary International, received its charter April 2. Rotaract is a service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30, based either in the community or at a university.
The new club has already undertaken or planned several service projects. They assisted Fulton Rotary with the Callaway Cup Mouse Races to raise money for community needs, helped stain the fence at the Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence, planted a tree at the university in celebration of Arbor Day and Earth Day and helped at the Fulton soup kitchen.
University
of Arkansas-
Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith presented awards to 18 students for their research presentations delivered at the ninth annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Booneville: Sara Tomlin (on a team of 3), “Neo-Victorian and Steampunk Inclusion in a Canon-Based Classroom.”
Elkins: Lacy Frederick, “Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita.”
Fort Smith: Shania Atchison (team of 4), “The Effects of Creatine HCI on Planarian Regeneration”; Jerome Kremers, “The Effects of Text Messaging on Relational Intimacy in Young Adults”; Justin Moore (team of 2), “Design of an Autonomous Robot for a Simulated Search and Rescue Game”; Luis Muniz, “A Review of Cultural Awareness Impacts on the Success Rate of International Assignments”; Solon Pender, “Much Ado About Adoing Too Much: Analyzing the Critiques of Anderson and Ferguson on Violent Video Game Research”; and Lindsay Tillery (team of 3), “Neo-Victorian and Steampunk Inclusion in a Canon-Based Classroom.”
Greenwood: Kayla Schluterman, “The Meaning Behind the Appearance of the St. Stephen Burse Reliquary.”
Uniontown: Henry Gutierrez (team of 4), “The Effects of Creatine HCI on Planarian Regeneration.”
Van Buren: Victoria Wiley (team of 3), “Neo-Victorian and Steampunk Inclusion in a Canon-Based Classroom.”
Waldron: Shane Hale, “The Power of Positive Relationships and Effective Teaching Strategies on the Academic and Social Success of Young Adolescents.”
Harding University
Patrick Jones of Clarksville completed requirements for junior theater majors at Harding University in Searcy by directing a portion of the two-part production The Eye of the Artist last month. Each student-led contribution fit the general theme of the show, reflecting on “Why we create art.”
Jones was responsible for selecting, coordinating, producing and staging about 25 to 30 minutes of material. Student directors managed a cast of 20 members to showcase their selection.
Harding University
The Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration at Harding University in Searcy awarded outstanding student awards to a junior and senior in each major. Students were nominated by professors in their fields of study and were presented with departmental plaques, to which their names were added. Local students earning recognition included Mitchell Freer of Clarksville and Adam Lantz of Bella Vista.
Lyon College
Lyon College in Batesville recently held its annual Honors Day convocation. Local students were recognized for outstanding academic and co-curricular excellence.
Those honored include Damon Akin, Bentonville, Long Bible award; Austin Johnson, Mansfield, editor of the year award; David Ferris, Fayetteville, Sigma Tau Delta senior writing award; Laura Winters, Holiday Island, outstanding student leader; Jacob Lackey, Eureka Springs, Hall of Leaders; Hope Woods, Huntsville, Hall of Leaders and LEAP outstanding volunteer; Damon Akin, Bentonville, Above and Beyond award and Dennis Wright leadership award.
Quiz Bowl
champions
The results of the 2016 Arkansas Quiz Bowl championships were decided April 23 at the Arkansas Educational Television Network in Conway. In Quiz Bowl, students are presented with a series of questions, and players must display their knowledge in literature, math, science, history, art, music and economics.
The Arkansas Governor’s Quiz Bowl Association awarded each first place team $3,000 in scholarship funds and each second place team $1,500. Each MVP also received a scholarship. Teams also compete for the chance to represent the state in national tournaments.
The final standings were:
District 1A: Norfork defeated LISA Academy North (North Little Rock).
District 2A: Hazen defeated Conway Christian.
District 3A: Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville defeated Episcopal Collegiate (Little Rock).
District 4A: Subiaco Academy defeated Brookland.
District 5A: Little Rock Christian defeated Harrison.
District 6A: Russellville defeated Sheridan.
District 7A: Fayetteville defeated Conway.
Bentonville High
School
Members of the Bentonville High School theater department took home awards and scholarships from the 35th William Inge Theater Festival and a competition for the high school original play April 20-23 in Independence, Kan. Combined, the Bentonville theater department won $2,200 worth of scholarships for their work.
BHS students performed three original plays they wrote and directed themselves. Family Tradition was written and directed by Beck Damron, Cliche by Kaitlyn Bullington and Building Blocks by Megan Marks.
The students won seven of the nine possible scholarship awards at the festival, including Beck Damron, best playwright; Zach Currie, best actor; Erin Noland, best actress; Kaitlyn Bullington, runner-up playwright; Ben Warfield, runner-up actor; Rebecca Geren, runner-up actress; Carley Johnson, honorable mention actress.
University
of Nebraska-
Lincoln
Tyler Jerold Steiner of Fayetteville, a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was among students honored during individual college celebrations and the All-University Honors Convocation on April 24. Steiner, a senior in the College of Business Administration, was recognized as a High Scholar, for students in the top 10 percent of their classes.
Northwest
Arkansas
Community
College
Northwest Arkansas Community College’s adult education program held its annual honor society induction ceremony in April. Inductees included Maria Luisa Alvarez Villegas, Padmavathi Balasubramanian, Adam Christopher Bonin, Satyamadhuri Chukka, Neil Polack Jr., Brittany Lee Sheldon, all of Bentonville; James Dale McIver of Decatur; Maria Reyna Self of Garfield; Jim Russell Clark of Gentry; Chelsea Jones of Gravette; Erika Huerta of Lowell; Robert Jakob Taylor of Siloam Springs; Kassey J. Aldana and Eric Lamb, both of Springdale; Anna Thuthao Thai of Summers.
Manuel Aguilar, Francisco J. Araujo Bernal, Douglas Ihotsumura Arimura, Elia Albarran, Juan Calzada, Gustavo A. Chacon, Esequiel Junior Cortes, William Oswaldo Diaz, Fatima Esmeralda Flores, Krishna Flores, Juan Carlos Garcia, Laura A. Garduno, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Claudia Marlene Hernandez Gomez, Summer Janelle Kingsley, Kevin Jose Martinez-Hernandez, Jose G. Mejia, Gabriela Oria-Perea, Alejandra M. Rodriguez, Cristabel A. Rodriguez, Jose Luis Romero, Azat Mirgalimovich Sadyrov, Rosaura Serrano, Rodney (A.J.) Snoxhill, Jesus Vera Trejo, Jorgina Viveros, all of Rogers.
University
of Arkansas-
Fort Smith
Ten students in the University of Arkansas -Fort Smith’s College of Business were recognized during the college’s student awards ceremony April 27. Frank Hug, president of Hug Chevrolet Buick and GMC, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Graduating and returning students were recognized in the fields of accounting, business administration, finance, international business and marketing.
Local students winning awards were Jordan Johns, Alma, outstanding graduate in accounting; Christian Taggart, Charleston, outstanding major in finance; Cynthia Harrison, Fort Smith, outstanding graduate in finance; Jordan Needham, Fort Smith, outstanding major in accounting; Megan Smith, Fort Smith, outstanding graduate in marketing; Remington Pate, Greenwood, outstanding major in business administration and leadership award.
Additionally, Daniel Tu, Kendra Tucker, Terrie Guajardo and Jared Needham received the Arkansas Society of Certified Professional Accountants scholarship.
University
of Arkansas-
Fort Smith
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith students, student organizations and advisers were recognized during the 13th annual NUMAs awards ceremony. NUMAs are presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, student organizations which have worked to improve campus life and advisors who have supported their organizations and made an impact on student success.
Also awarded are the chancellor’s spirit awards, given to students who excel academically, have an established long-term record of service in leadership and membership roles on campus, have made a significant impact on campus co-curricular life, display a strong sense of school pride and spirit and utilize an ethical leadership style that is an example for others to follow.
Local sinners were James Batura, Alma, SGA representative of the year; Meagan Bowling, Fort Smith, Greek advisor of the year; Tony Jones, Fort Smith, chancellor’s spirit award and Greek man of the year; Jennifer Hosley, Greenwood, outstanding non-traditional student leader of the year; Morgan Kratts, Greenwood, outstanding student leader of the year; Allie Billups, Harrison, new Greek female member of the year; Kory Reed, Lincoln, Greek chapter president of the year; Ashley Andrews, Rogers, Greek woman of the year; Kari Carbajal, Rogers, outstanding student leader of the year; Rosario Nolasco-Schultheiss, Van Buren, outstanding advisor of the year.
Additionally, the Campus Activities Board was given the organization of the year award, while the Student Veterans Organization earned the new student organization of the year award. Delta Gamma won the community service award, and the College of Business Student Leadership Council won the Legacy Maker award.
The Student Government Association also presented Derek Goodson, assistant professor of computer graphic technology, the faculty appreciation award in honor of Lori Norin at the Faculty Appreciation Ceremony on April 15.