Presentations a go for metal detectors
FAYETTEVILLE -- Bidders offering metal detectors for athletic venues at the university will move forward with presentations.
But a UA spokesman, Kevin Trainor, said in an email Wednesday "inviting presentations still does not imply a commitment on our part to act."
The university last spring asked for security product bids and received four responses, Trainor said in August. Before UA's home football season began in September, Trainor said the equipment was not a part of stadium security plans at the time.
In a Jan. 8 letter, the university said an evaluation committee "is proceeding with on-site presentations" and "selected bidders will be contacted."
Kansas State University in 2017 paid about $382,000 for metal detectors and related equipment, Casey Scott, an executive associate athletics director with Kansas State, said last year.
In November, the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa tested metal detectors at its final home football game of the season. Monica Watts, the university's associate vice president for communications, in an email said no decision had been made about future use of the equipment.
New way to de-ice airfields nets award
FAYETTEVILLE -- A civil engineering student has won recognition from the U.S. Department of Transportation for research on de-icing airfield pavement.
Joseph Daniels III received the department's Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering award.
"Congratulations to this year's winner for developing new techniques to enhance safety during extreme weather events at airports, which is so important to protecting the traveling public," U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement.
Daniels is a doctoral student who earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T State University.
He said he was notified in mid-December and received the honor in Washington, D.C., at a Jan. 6 awards ceremony.
"We're trying to look at the cost advantage of using solar energy," Daniels said.
Existing technology does the job of de-icing, but Daniels said his work aims to conserve energy and lessen environmental effects. A laboratory "proof-of-concept" has been developed with ongoing testing at UA's Engineering Research Center, he said.
Daniels thanked his faculty adviser, Ernie Heymsfield, and research technicians Mark Kuss and David Peachee.
Daniels also will receive a community service award today from the Northwest Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Council.
$1.3 million grant to aid schools' use of arts
FAYETTEVILLE -- A five-year, $1.3 million grant from the Windgate Charitable Foundation will help expand a network supporting arts integration in elementary and secondary schools.
The Arkansas A+ Schools network, based in North Little Rock, will be merged with UA's College of Education and Health Professions as part of the grant.
The network this year includes seven schools, according to the program's website. Schools taking part receive support through training for teachers with the aim of integrating the arts into subjects such as math, science and history.
The Windgate Charitable Foundation is based in Siloam Springs. The model used for the arts-integration network was first tested in North Carolina more than 20 years ago, John Brown, the foundation's executive director, said in a statement released by UA.
NW News on 01/15/2018