Commencement canceled at UAPB
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Spring 2020 commencement has been canceled due to the coronavirus global outbreak.
A number of events tied in with the annual commencement time period is also canceled, including Founders Celebration events, such as Honors and Awards Convocation, originally slated for April 25-30. The university has been holding Founders Celebration events since 1943. Also canceled: the annual Alumni Breakfast.
The university also said Thursday it is canceling Lion Fever Day, originally planned for April 3. Lion Fever Day is a recruiting event that attracts high school seniors and juniors who can tour the campus, speak with campus advisors, and experience some aspects of campus life with performances by the university's marching band and select Greek organizations. It is one of the largest on-campus recruiting events UAPB holds each year.
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The Mary E. Benjamin Educational Access Conference, which had been planned for April 22, has also been canceled, the university said Thursday. The annual conference -- this year's would have been the 27th -- aims to address ways to access education, ranging from developing strategies to help students and staff affected by traumatic events in their communities, enhancing distance learning through online courses and creating nurturing environments that help students finish their education.
Etherly awarded Deputy of Month
The Jefferson County sheriff's office has named Delucas Etherly as the Detention Deputy of the Month for February 2020.
Deputy Etherly, a seven-year veteran of the Jefferson County force, has exceeded the expectations of a detention deputy for the month of February, according to Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr.
"It feels good to receive this recognition," said Etherly. "I feel honored that I am the very first individual to be recognized as Detention Deputy of the Month."
Etherly began his career with the sheriff's office in 2013 as a guard at the W.C. "Dub" Brassell Detention Center. He became a patrol deputy in 2016 and decided to go back to the detention center in 2019, where he has now been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Chief Jail Administrator Joseph Gorman said that Etherly displayed outstanding performance as a detention deputy in the month of February. "Etherly always has a positive attitude and he goes above and beyond to get daily tasks accomplished," he said.
Lieutenant Tamu DeBerry described Etherly as a very good officer. "He listens well and he does everything the way he's supposed to do it," she said.
Selection of the Detention Deputy of the Month is based on a system of points totaled each month for work attendance, job performance, demeanor while on duty, de-escalation of situations, and other performance factors.
SundayMonday on 03/22/2020