When Matt Porter first went to college right out of high school, he took some bad advice, and going against his gut instinct, he was pursuing a degree in industrial electricity. However, he said, once his wife was starting to do well in her career, she encouraged him to finish his coaching degree.

About 14 years ago, Sarah Monfee was working in a bank and attending college at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, when she became pregnant with her son, Parker.

The biggest goal for Anna Henderson this year is making sure her students are as safe as possible. She said that while the goal may be kind of broad, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is on the forefront of her and her staff’s minds at Morrilton Elementary School.

One summer, when Bonny Hill was younger, she was at a camp that was hosting a deaf camp at the same time, and when the two camps shared meals in the cafeteria, the deaf campers would sign their prayers before they ate.

Adair Howell was one of the first women to be voted into the Conway Noon Rotary Club in 1989. At the time, allowing women into the club was controversial, with the vote heavily split.

Brooke Bradford found out she had been elected state president of Arkansas FFA the same day she found out she had been named a U.S. Presidential Scholar for 2020.

David Ewing went from painting a police station in Alaska to running one in Arkansas.

Ellis Arnold can’t shake Hendrix College.

Paul Bradley is rooted deeply in the city of Conway. He graduated from Conway High School in 2002 and earned his management information systems degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 2006.

For Dr. Casey Smolarz and his staff at the emergency room of Baptist Health-Conway, he said being properly trained has helped them prepare adequately enough for a crisis such as COVID-19.

Hendrix College in Conway was the host of the Arkansas Governor’s School, a summer residential program for high school seniors, for 39 years — ever since the program’s conception. But in 2018, AGS moved from Hendrix to Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

Growing up, James Walden spent many hours playing SimCity video games and pouring over state highway and tourist maps, as well as population and statistics. He said it may sound incredibly nerdy, but he was always excited when the census would come along.

Claire Summers never planned on becoming a teacher.

Kasey Griffin has lived in Heber Springs her whole life.