Top fund-raisers
for AHA named
Wendy Broughton, the instructor for Ignite health professions in the Bentonville School District, and Debbie Jones, the superintendent and board member of the American Heart Association-NWA received awards for highest fundraising in the Kids Heart Challenge and for their impact in implementing the "Check.Change.Control." high blood pressure monitoring program through Ignite.
UAFS receives
large donation
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith announced on Sept. 25 the award of a $10.8 million estate gift to the university from the late Myles Friedman, an engineer and former Westark Community College faculty member. This is the third-largest gift in the university's history and the largest gift given to the school by an individual.
At the time of his death, Friedman funded a $10.8 million charitable remainder trust. When the trust terminates, the residual amount is donated to a charitable beneficiary. In this case, it will be added to the Myles Friedman Scholarship Endowment and will provide additional merit-based scholarships to students pursuing bachelor's degrees in the arts or sciences. In recognition of the gift, UAFS also renamed its honors international studies program to be named the Myles Friedman Honors Program.
A graduate of Fort Smith High School, Friedman attended UAFS when it was Fort Smith Junior College and was a lifelong resident of the town. He also earned degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and the University of Missouri in Columbia.
UAFS employees
honored for work
Tammy Spencer and Danielle Jolie were honored as outstanding employees during the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith's annual staff meeting Sept. 26. Spencer of Poteau, Okla., is the assistant director of procurement and contracts, and Jolie of Fort Smith is the director of academic services and academic coordinator in the College of Applied Science and Technology.
The women received the Lucille Speakman Staff awards, which recognize exemplary staff members at the university. For winning the awards, Spencer and Jolie each will receive a $2,500 monetary award. The award is named for the late Lucille Speakman, a longtime teacher, administrator and member of the board of trustees when UAFS was a two-year community college.
Spencer, who worked at UAFS from 1979 to 1985 before returning to the school in 1990, has served in various roles throughout her tenure, including payroll officer, director of purchasing, budget officer, human resources administrative analyst, assistant to the director of plant operations and her current role as contracts manager.
Jolie, who began working at UAFS in 2011, also has filled a number of roles during her time here, including academic advisor, assistant director of career services and career services coordinator.
Four share
hospitality
The Arkansas Hospitality Association recently recognized four representatives of the Fayetteville's tourism industry as nominees for the annual stars of the industry awards. Reese Roberts of Bordino's Restaurant was a star award winner. Other finalists include Joanna Spencer, nominated in the hospitality manager category; Tony Blackburn of the Chancellor Hotel, front of the house category; and Lester Bunch of the Chancellor Hotel, heart of house category.
PTA earns
state award
Sammi Beckmann, program director of the physical therapist assistant program at Northwest Arkansas Community College, recently was honored by her peers in the Arkansas chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. Beckmann received the Kerry Williams Memorial PTA Award at the association's annual banquet Sept. 29.
One assistant is recognized each year for significant participation and contribution to physical therapy in Arkansas on a state. Beckmann won the award from a nomination for her contributions to education and public awareness.
This award is a memorial to Kerry Williams, a physical therapy assistant, who was employed by Timber Ridge NeuroRestorative Services as a physical therapist assistant for 21 years. Kerry himself was a multi-year recipient of the award, and he served numerous terms representing Arkansas at the national physical therapy assistant caucus.
Coalition ready
for emergencies
The Washington County Community Resilience Coalition was awarded the Northwest Arkansas individual and community preparedness award by the Arkansas Emergency Management Conference at an awards ceremony Aug. 30. The coalition focuses on increasing resiliency of children and institutions that serve children in the event of a disaster. The coalition works to build partnerships, train parents, create institutional plans for institutions and develop a county plan for community roles during an emergency.
Samaritan Community Center announces new director
Samaritan Community Center announced and welcomed Matt Loveless as director of operations. After seven years of being a committed director of operations, Maxie Carpenter opened the floor for Loveless to succeed him. As director of operations, Loveless will lead and manage the SCC program services of both Rogers and Springdale centers, ensuring all program activities operate consistently within the mission and values of the organization.
NAN Our Town on 10/18/2018