THE LIFESTYLE MANUAL FOR THE MODERN MOM
NOVEMBER 2016 · THESAVVYMOMS.COM
THE COLLEGE TOUR
GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN ARKANSAS
FOSTERING HOPE FOR CHILDREN ONE FAMILY'S ADOPTION SUCCESS STORY
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NOVEMBER 2016 CHECK OUT OUR TOP EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER!
MODERN MOM 14 MAMA SAID
BETTER TOGETHER: FINDING COMMUNITY TAKES EFFORT
16 MIND, BODY & SOUL
SURVIVING AND THRIVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
SAVVY FAMILY 18 SAVVY STYLE
SETTING THE TABLE FOR THANKS
20 MAMA LOVES FAMILY TIME... IN THE KITCHEN INCLUDE THE KIDS THIS THANKSGIVING
24 FOSTERING HOPE FOR ARKANSAS'S CHILDREN
CASA STANDS UP FOR KIDS IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM
28 18 UNDER 18
MEET OUR STATE'S FUTURE LEADERS
34 ART TO RECONSTRUCT YOUNG MINDS
THEA FOUNDATION'S ARTS RECONSTRUCTION
SPECIAL SECTION 36 ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN ARKANSAS
IN EVERY ISSUE 6 EDITOR’S NOTE 10 NEWS & NOTES
CALENDAR & FOOD REVIEW
12 ROAD TRIP BRANSON
54 BAG CHECK LAURA GRIMES
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NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
ON THE COVER: (FROM LEFT) JEANNIE KUANG-NGUYEN, TAEMORA WILLIAMS AND MIGUEL VALDERRAMA ON THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK CAMPUS. PHOTOGRAPHY: INC. BY CARPER CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
A SCHOOL AND AN OUTPATIENT PEDIATRIC THERAPY CLINIC A place where children with developmental disabilities and learning differences can grow and develop in an environment tailored to meet their unique needs.
IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER: Autism . Down Syndrome . Apraxia . Speech/Language Disorders . Intellectual Disability
CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE AN EVALUATION FOR YOUR CHILD.
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We work with a variety of private insurance providers as well as ARKids 1st, Medicaid, TEFRA and TRICARE.
We've got a lot on our minds in November. There are Thanksgiving meals to plan, and all the stress that comes along with family gatherings; time to fill as the kids are on break from school; and the annual task of holiday shopping that is staring us right in the face. It's a busy month, and it will fly by if you don't stop and take a breath. Savvy is here to help! We have fabulous, kid-friendly recipes for your Thanksgiving feast. Kerry Guice offers advice on how to get your kids involved in the preparation of the meal, and get them excited about eating veggies on page 18! She also tackles the topic of table manners by offering a list of rules that will help everyone survive time around the table. While this season comes with lots of joy and family bonding, the holidays aren't everyone's favorite time of year. Mind, Body & Soul touches on the emotional side of coping with the holidays. Look for tips on how to give yourself a break and permission to say "no" to traditions and commitments that may take the fun out of family time on page 16. And, while family gatherings may be dreaded for some, there are more than 5,000 Arkansas children in foster care that want nothing more than to be included in a permanent family tradition. On page 22, we introduce the Kelton family, who has adopted three children from foster care. Read their story, and find out about the good work the CASA program does for kids in our state's foster system. The kids will be out of school for a whole week this month, and you'll need a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the boredom away! We've got a great lineup of local events in News & Notes to keep everyone moving. Or, pack up and go on a mini-vacation to Branson, which will be in full holiday swing with millions of twinkling lights, parades, Santa Claus sightings and more. Get the highlights on page 12! Want to know what's in store for the future generation of our state? Meet Savvy's 18 Under 18 on page 26. This group of teens and tweens have impressive resumes of academic, athletic and community service achievements. You'll want to take notes! We hope this issue leaves you fully prepared for the holiday season ahead. If it's like all the holidays we've survived before it, it's probably going to be a doozie. Just remember to take time for yourself, enjoy your family, and find the little things (like cranberry relish!) to be thankful for—there are so many!
Last year I hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner! Amy Gordy Editor, Savvy @SavvyAR
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PHOTOGRAPHY: LILY DARRAGH
SLOW DOWN & ENJOY YOUR RELISH
High quality child care looks like
COMFORT.
Young children have simple needs. They need a predictable world. Routine calms them.
Quality caregivers know this. They work to understand even the youngest child’s needs.
They need food, safety and love.
Find child care that is more than basic. Visit our website to find high quality child care.
They need caregivers that talk to and listen to them.
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
www.ARBetterBeginnings.com 1-800-445-3316
Learn more at bit.ly/savcomfort
Sensory Santa
is an alternative sensory reduced environment for children that may not be able to participate in the typical “mall santa” experience. It is a calm & quiet environment with appointments.
No long lines! No loud music!
This event is suitable for children with, but not limited to, sensory processing or medically fragile children
December 3 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Henderson United Methodist Church Otter Creek • 1300 West Baseline • Little Rock 72210
Kidsource Kids
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PUBLISHER BLAKE HANNAHS | blake@arktimes.com EDITOR AMY GORDY | amy@arktimes.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANDY KEENER | mandy@arktimes.com EDITOR AT LARGE REBEKAH LAWRENCE | rebekah@arktimes.com MANAGING DIRECTOR PHYLLIS BRITTON | phyllis@arktimes.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS | lesa@arktimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE WENDY REED | wendy@arktimes.com ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER ROLAND R. GLADDEN | roland@arktimes.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR JIM HUNNICUTT | jimhunnicutt@arktimes.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS BRYAN MOATS | MIKE SPAIN | KEVIN WALTERMIRE PRODUCTION MANAGER | CONTROLLER WELDON WILSON IT DIRECTOR ROBERT CURFMAN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/OFFICE MANAGER KELLY JONES BILLING/COLLECTIONS LINDA PHILLIPS CIRCULATION DIRECTOR ANITRA HICKMAN
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ARKANSAS TIMES PUBLISHING ALL MATERIALS ARE HANDLED WITH DUE CARE; HOWEVER, THE PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE AND SAFE RETURN OF UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. ALL LETTERS AND PHOTOS SENT TO SAVVY™ WILL BE TREATED AS INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO SAVVY'S™ UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO EDIT OR TO COMMENT EDITORIALLY. 201 E. MARKHAM ST. SUITE 200, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985. ALL CONTENTS ©2016 SAVVY™
@SAVVY_AR
contributors NOVEMBER 2016
KERRY GUICE is a food blogger and photographer living in Little Rock with her husband, two kids and their dog. When she’s not sharing her latest meal on Instagram, Kerry is planning her family’s next Arkansas adventure or crafting with her creative tots.
AMY CARPER is going on her18th year as a photographer. She works in the commercial market as well as the private sector from her downtown Little Rock studio right in the middle of an exciting area. Her clientele consists of some of Arkansas’s most elite families and companies.
OUR PARKS SHOULD BE SMOKE FREE.
THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF SECOND HAND SMOKE KD REEP is a writer and public relations practitioner in Little Rock. She owns Flywrite Communications, Inc., a public relations agency, and is the PR director for Mass Enthusiasm, a fullservice marketing communications firm in Little Rock.
DWAIN HEBDA is a writer and editor living in Little Rock. He and his wife, Darlene, are the parents of four grown children. The empty nesters spend their time traveling, working out and spoiling their two dogs.
SOBR Inc.
Steven Del Rio | 501-920-2531
THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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news & notes
november
5
Meet the man in red along with your favorite University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans basketball players. Members of the men’s and Rock & Roll to the Clinton Center’s New Exhibit women’s teams will be at Park Plaza Mall at 11 a.m. alongside Santa Claus giving away 200 free tickets to both home Oct. 8, 2016 – openers. lrtrojans.com.
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April 2, 2017
9-12
Get your holiday shopping done in one convenient event. The Junior League Holiday House at the Statehouse Convention Center hosts more than 150 merchants from across the country. jllr.org/holiday-house.
Enjoy free admission to the Clinton Presidential Center all day in celebration of the 12th anniversary of its grand opening. Through April 2, “Ladies and Gentleman...The Beatles!” explores the impact The Beatles’ arrival had on American pop culture. Look for artifacts in fashion, art, advertising, media and music. clintonfoundation.org.
NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY! Little Rock, Arkansas • (501) 374-4242
www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org
Curated by the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE and Fab Four Exhibits. Photo © The Bob Bonis Archive www.BobBonis.com
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11 VETERAN'S DAY
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 19-20
Treat your pets to a photo session with Santa Claus at Cammack Village City Hall. Whether your pet’s been naughty or nice, you’ll enjoy supporting this fundraiser for C.A.R.E. A $20 donation gets a professional 5-by-7-inch print. Holiday card packages are also available. careforanimals.org.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS
Through April 23 Don’t miss this new exhibit at the Museum of Discovery that explores the human body. “Magnificent Me!” offers more than 20 handson exhibits. museumofdiscovery.org.
Through Nov. 13 Join your favorite characters, including Rabbit, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Christopher Robin and Pooh, on an adventure at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre production of “Winnie the Pooh.” arkarts.com/childrenstheatre.
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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY!
news & notes
Rock & Roll to the Clinton Center’s New Exhibit
SEE THIS! SEE THIS COLORFUL FILM!
HERE’S WHAT 10-YEAR-OLD JACKSON CASE (AND HIS MOM, KERRI) HAD TO SAY ABOUT ALL ABOARD:
“Trolls,” Nov. 4. This family-friendly Dreamworks animated feature tells the story of a couple of trolls out on an adventure. Look for voices by Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake and Russell Brand. HEAR THIS! Arkansas native and Evanescence singer Amy Lee released a children’s album inspired by her son, Jack. It’s filled with upbeat songs to get everyone moving, and slow, sleepy ballads perfect for bedtime. “Dream Too Much” is available on Amazon.com. DO THIS!
Oct. 8, 2016 – April 2, 2017
UALR TROJAN'S BASKETBALL HOME SCHEDULE
Women, Nov. 11 vs. North Texas, 6:30 p.m. Men, Nov. 12 vs. Central Baptist, 3 p.m. Men, Nov. 14 vs. University of the Ozarks, 6:30 p.m. Men, Nov. 18 vs. Idaho, 6:30 p.m. Women, Nov. 23 vs. Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m. Women, Nov. 26 vs. St. Louis, 3 p.m. All games held at the Jack Stephens Center on the UALR campus.
A MOMMY AND ME COLORING BOOK!
Springdale’s Stacie Bloomfield, the illustrator behind Gingiber, teamed up with Paige Tate Co. to create an adorable coloring book filled with her whimsical animal illustrations. Each spread offers one page for mom and one for the kids. paigetate.com.
Little Rock, Arkansas • (501) 374-4242
www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org
Curated by the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE and Fab Four Exhibits. Photo © The Bob Bonis Archive www.BobBonis.com THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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road trip
BRANSON
There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit in the Midsouth than to take a trip to Branson, Missouri. This tourism-driven city does holiday décor right with tons of opportunities for kids and adults to experience the magic!
ALL ABOARD!
Climb aboard the Polar Express and explore the Branson Scenic Railway! This train ride departs from the historic 1906 depot in downtown Branson, and serves up hot cocoa and cookies on its route. bransontrain.com.
VISIT AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS!
19 ER ON NOV. HOLIDAY CHE DE. LOOK H IT W S LL FI PARA NDING ME OF YEAR BRANSON LA US! ONDERFUL TI W AND MRS. CLA ST TA O N M SA E D N A FOR TH RS A ST BRANSON’S FOR ALL OF NSON.COM. A EXPLOREBR
TRAIL OF LIGHTS
Check out the light display on the 160-acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead. Tickets include a trip to the top of the 230-foot Inspiration Tower for a breathtaking view. trailoflights.com.
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SHOP ’TILL YOU DROP
Get away for an hour or two and knock out your holiday shopping at the Tanger Outlets. This popular shopping destination has great, kid-friendly options, including a Disney Outlet, Toys 'R' Us Express, Gymboree, Carter’s and more. tangeroutlet.com/ branson.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILVER DOLLAR CITY AND BRANSON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
On Nov. 5, Silver Dollar City is transformed into a holiday wonderland with 5 million twinkling lights. In addition to all your favorite rides, sign up for breakfast with the real Santa (he’s legit, guys) and don’t miss the holiday parade. silverdollarcity.com.
SAVE YOUR FORK! THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE FALL THAT GETS US IN THE MOOD FOR A SLICE OF PIE. THE BEST THING ABOUT PIE IS HOW DIVERSE IT CAN BE—FILL IT WITH APPLES, TOP IT WITH ICE CREAM, PILE IT HIGH WITH MERINGUE. SERVE IT HOT OR COLD, WE’LL TAKE IT EITHER WAY. WE SENT 9-YEAR-OLD KATHARINE BROWEOLSON AND HER MOM, KELLY, ON A QUEST FOR THE PERFECT SLICE.
SAVVY: Tell us where you went and what you ordered. KATHARINE: At Honey Pies, I had the Pumpkin and Chocolate Brownie; at Izzy’s I tried the Lemon Box Pie; at Bobby’s Country Cooking I tasted the Chocolate Cream Pie and the Strawberry Pie; and at Franke’s Cafeteria I had the Chocolate Brownie and Lemon Pie. S: Which pie was your favorite and why? K: The Lemon Box Pie at Izzy’s. The creamy lemon flavor was not too sour, not too sweet, it was just right, and the whipped cream was great. S: Which restaurant did you feel most comfortable in? K: Izzy’s. Honey Pies was cute but small, we tried Bobby’s pies at home and Franke’s seemed a little old skool. S: Which restaurant had the best pie selection? K: Honey Pies had a lot of different pies. S: What is your favorite thing to drink with pie? K: Milk with chocolate pies, or lemonade with lemon pies—but not at the same time. S: If you could put anything in a pie, what would it be? K: Gummy bears, lemon, whipped cream, chocolate, key limes, sour gummy worms and marshmallows, but maybe not at the same time. S: What was the best part about your research? K: My favorite part of trying all the pies was eating out with my mom, and stealing my mom’s delicious brownie pie at Honey Pies. (Mwah, ha, ha, ha, ha!)
THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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mama said...
BETTER TOGETHER
Finding Community Takes Effort, But Is So Worthwhile
N
either my husband nor I grew up in central Arkansas. We were raised on cattle and chicken farms in separate but equally rural parts of the state. We both moved to Little Rock for work more than 15 years ago and met here through mutual friends. We lived a fun, childless lifestyle for several years. You remember those days, right? The memories may be dim. Think, though. Really concentrate. Can you recall the days when you could go out to dinner on a whim? When you could sleep past 7 a.m. on weekends without a dog’s cold nose or a child’s cold feet jolting you awake? How about coffee and the paper as you eat breakfast at your own pace. “Leisurely,” I believe it was called. You know, when you aren’t scrambling to find a shin guard for the soccer game starting in 15 minutes When our daughter came nine years ago, life changed. Dramatically. It was a good change that affected our lives in more ways than we ever expected. We had never quite been successful in finding a church home. Our friends didn’t have children, and our families lived several hours away. For a while, we felt very much on an island. To a new mom, that feeling of isolation can be terrifying—hopeless, even. My husband worked a lot at the time, and I was alone with the baby nearly 12 hours a day many days. I remember thinking I needed help. I needed a friend who understood, someone to talk to besides the poor Target employees. I needed to commiserate with another mom before I went (even more) crazy. But how do you do that? How do you make new parent friends? How do you find community? I have heard a lot of women my age say the thing they’re enjoying most about the aging process (because we have to find something, right?) is greater self-confidence. The older we get, the more at peace we become with who we are. If we can learn to be compassionate to ourselves, we can accept and embrace our flaws. We know our strengths, our weaknesses, and we move about our lives—and the world—accordingly. But it’s so hard to see this in the new parent phase. It’s so hard to find the confidence to join a group or a discussion because self-doubt gets in the way. We think, “These people are already friends. I won’t fit
into their group,” or “I’m screwing up this nursing/sleeping/parenting thing and they’ll all see right through me.” But we’ve all been there. Every one of us has been the odd man out, the one fidgeting on the outskirts of the groups at the children’s library or church or La Leche League thinking, “I should just go.” You know what I’ve noticed? One person makes all the difference. If one person in a group welcomes a newcomer, everyone else does the same. If one newcomer introduces themselves to the group, the entire dynamic changes—suddenly they’re part of the group. Looking back, I wish I had been better not just about introducing myself, but to welcoming others once I was “in.” How quickly we forget what it’s like to be the new guy. My kids are 9, 5 and 3, and it’s only in the last couple of years that I have felt well and truly in the firm embrace of the community around me. It wasn’t easy. Making an effort to get to know the people on our street has helped. Staying off my phone and actively engaging other parents at school events has facilitated deeper conversations and relationships, which I cherish. And carpooling and helping other parents when they’re in time crunches has been returned three-fold. One fairly easy and effective tool to facilitate community has been a school Facebook group, in which we share homework woes and make plans for nights out. And even though sometimes I would rather sink into the couch until I can crawl to bed, I go. I go because those parents are the ones who help tie shoes at soccer and dance. They are the ones I will see at middle and high school fundraisers and musicals. They’re the ones that might someday catch my child in a dangerous situation, and I want them to be confident in acting as my parenting proxy. The parents of my kids’ friends are my friends, sharing a common goal. We are a team now, working together to form the village it takes to raise our children. Community can be daunting and difficult to find. Forming your own is even more challenging. It’s important to know we’re not alone. We’re all looking for a better way, we’re all just parenting as we go. If you’ve found your community, good for you! You’re lucky. If not, keep looking, and don’t be afraid to make the first move.
A COMMUNITY OF JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY DADS GRILLS OUT!
Jen Holman is often irreverent and frequently imperfect. But she’s happy, by God, and that’s what matters. A former Congressional press secretary and executive director of Arkansas Literacy Councils, Jen has also published three fiction novels. She lives in Little Rock with her husband and three (im)perfect children.
14 NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
Upgrade their piggy bank WITH A KIDS CLUB SAVINGS ACCOUNT
fsbank.com • onlyinark.com
Member FDIC
Join us for pictures with Santa, FREE carousel rides, a FREE lighted train ride to the North Pole, crafts for kids, special meet-n-greets with our penguins, live music, and food vendors at Holidays in the Wild!
Adults $ 10 Children $ 8 (ages 12 and under) • $2 discount for members • Price is all-inclusive except for food purchases.
www.littlerockzoo.com #1 Zoo Drive | Little Rock, Arkansas | 501.666.2406
Like us on Facebook!
THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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mind, body & soul You don't have to have a Pinterest-perfect holiday.
SURVIVING AND THRIVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS What can you make with stressedout parents, well-meaning in-laws, overcommitted kids and immense pressure from the media? A sure-fire recipe for holiday madness. BY KD REEP
T
urn off that noise and make the holidays ones you’ll enjoy. Care for your family and yourself, and forget what the magazine covers and daytime talk shows tell you are the best ways to have a perfect holiday. Instead of surviving the holidays, follow these tips for thriving during the holidays. First, and most importantly, say no. This means not pursuing traditions you just don’t have time for—long-held, family-based or otherwise—or taking on any new ones (Elf on the Shelf, anyone?). “You may feel pressure from your parents or in-laws to continue the traditions they have set, but you are not committed to that,” said Dr. Brittney Schrick, assistant professor and family life specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. “Saying no to things you aren’t excited about will allow you to enjoy the things you are excited about. If you are running from one thing to the next for six weeks, you won’t remember or enjoy anything you do. Give yourself permission to opt out of some things. Maybe it means you go to one side of the family for Thanksgiving and one side for Christmas. Maybe you have Christmas morning at your own house and then travel in the afternoon. Maybe you send your regrets to a party host or two rather than accepting every invitation.” Next, accept that you don’t have to do everything perfectly. “Pinterest has increased a pressure for perfection that already existed,” Dr. Schrick said. “The decorations, parties and presents you see in the media or even at other’s homes are not necessary. If you don’t have the time, funds or energy to make your front door look like the cover of Country Living, DIY all of your kids’ teacher gifts, or make an elaborate meal, then find a level of engagement in the holiday season that works for you and your family. What kids want most is time. Time with mom; time with family; time with each other. Sharing yourself is really what the holidays are about.” This may seem counterintuitive, but be selfish. This means doing something just for yourself when everyone is grabbing for your time. “Put yourself on your calendar,” Dr. Schrick said. “Give yourself time to refresh and recharge. Schedule a massage or pedicure. Curl up in
16 NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
your PJ’s and watch Netflix. Read a book. Take a nap. Whatever you need to do to be fully yourself is not only OK, it’s necessary. It’s sometimes viewed as selfish when parents take time out for their own interests or self-care, but what is the alternative? A stressedout, stretched-thin parent who is desperately reaching for the finish line rather than present in the moment.” Determine what is most important to you and your kids. Be mindful that this may change from year to year. “Don’t be surprised if kids become less engaged in the holidays as they get older,” Dr. Schrick said. “Little ones are excited about everything. They want to help, even when you don’t want them to. Everything is magical. Older kids are harder to impress, and they may just look at the holidays as a break from school where they get presents. Getting older kids involved in the actual preparation can get them engaged in new ways. It’s also a great way to teach skills like cooking, budgeting and organizing. Let them cook part of the holiday meal, clean and organize the house, read to or entertain younger kids. You get to spend time with them, and they gain a sense of accomplishment (even if they don’t show it).” Don’t forget to keep moving. “You can find whatever kind of rich food you are looking for during the holidays,” Dr. Schrick said. “All the candy, cookies, nuts and other treats can wreak havoc on your system. Definitely enjoy the spiced cider and eggnog, but be good to yourself by exercising and balancing your meals. Eat larger portions of vegetables and fruit, smaller portions of desserts and treats, keep working out, and you’ll feel better overall.” Finally, if you are struggling, reach out. “The holidays are not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone,” Dr. Schrick said. “In fact, many people feel isolated, empty and depressed. Sometimes, these feelings can become overwhelming. If you feel hopeless, trapped or like a burden to others, please know there are people who care and want to talk to you. Call 1-888-CRISIS2 (274-7472) for help any time of the day, every day of the year.”
Have a Friday Night Injury? We Have a Saturday Morning Solution. If you have a Friday Night Lights injury, come to the Next-Day Sports Injury Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. This Saturday morning clinic gives your family next-day access to the most specialized sports medicine and orthopedic care in the state. Our physicians understand how to best treat the developing athlete. NEXT-DAY SPORTS INJURY CLINIC • No appointment necessary • Saturdays, Sept. 3 - Nov. 19, 9AM – 11AM • Located in the ACH Orthopedic Clinic Who’s Got Game? You tell us! On Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Hooten’s Arkansas Football Facebook. (501) 364-GAME | archildrens.org/SportsMedicine
Above and Beyond T H E L AT E S T I N T E C H N O L O G Y. T H E B E S T I N C A R E .
Denise Davis’ former position as a pediatric nurse required a lot of walking. Despite this fact, most of her patients and their families never realized that she was an above-knee amputee who wore a prosthesis to get around. Now that Denise has changed jobs, she continues to trust the staff at Snell Laboratory to always go above and beyond to take care of her needs.
Statewide Toll-Free:
1-800-342-5541
www.snellpando.com
Accredited Facility
Offices located in Little Rock, Russellville, Fort Smith, Mountain Home, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Conway. THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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A SPECIAL SAVVY ADVERTISING SECTION
savvy style
Setting the Table for Thanks PAY IT FORWARD!
3
2
STORE GRANDMA'S RECIPES!
Paper Souce
5 Williams-Sonoma
DRESS UP YOUR TURKEY PLATTER!
7 Party City
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Rifle Paper
4 Rhea Drug
Crate & Barrel
MORE THAN 200 RECIPES!
6 Pottery Barn Kids
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN CHILSON/COURTESY VENDORS
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As you count your blessings around the table this Thanksgiving, do it in style with these holiday dining and kitchen essentials.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE…COME SEE US! 1. The gift that keeps on giving! This Giving Plate is the perfect hostess gift for your holiday gathering. Bring it filled with treats and leave it for the hostess to pay it forward. Available at Paper Source, papersource.com.
WE WILL OPEN EARLY ON DAYS THAT SCHOOL IS OUT!
SANTA & MRS. CLAUS WILL BE AT BIG ROCK SAT., DEC. 10TH 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.
2. Keep your treasured recipes organized with a beautiful recipe box to pass down for generations. Available at Rifle Paper Co., riflepaperco. com. 3. Everyone loves pumpkin pie! Showcase your baked treat in this covered pumpkin pie dish to keep it warm until your meal is done. Available at Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. 4. Explore cuisine from around the world with this cookbook by Arkansans Robin R. Jones and Jaime A. Hurtado. “A Passport to Foods of the World” features more than 285 recipes from around the globe. Available at Rhea Drug, Little Rock, 501-663-4131.
WE HAVE GIFT CARDS FOR SALE!
BIGROCKFUNPARK.COM
Call Us Today! 501-455-3750
www.bigrockfunpark.com 11411 Baseline Road, Little Rock (near Bass Pro Shops)
5. Perfect for your next party, this marble and wood cheeseboard displays appetizers beautifully with natural wood and marble finishes. Available at Williams-Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com. 6. Keep the kids at the table busy with this kraft paper Thanksgiving table runner. Set out some crayons for them to color in the turkeys and fill in the blanks on what they are thankful for. Available at Pottery Barn Kids, potterybarnkids.com. 7. Make dishing up Thanksgiving dinner a cinch with this elegant fall orange oval platter. The large plastic platter is reusable and the perfect size to display the turkey. Available at Party City, partycity.com.
November 10 - 12, 2016
OCT. 29th - NOV. 1st CONVENTION S T ASTATEHOUSE TEHOU S E C OCENTER NVENTION CENTER to purchase tickets, go to www.jllr.org
Purchase tickets at jllr.org/holiday-house
KIDS CAN HELP, TOO!
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Get the kids involved in a simple task that is easy for small hands. Setting the table is a great way for them to feel helpful and stay out of the kitchen while you're putting the finishing touches on the turkey. Give them this simple guide, and watch them take pride in a job well done!
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THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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savvy family
ADD VIOLET'S BROWN RICE SALAD TO YOUR THANKSGIVING FEAST.
20 NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
INVITE THE KIDS INTO THE KITCHEN THIS THANKSGIVING FOR SOME FUN AND FAMILY BONDING TIME STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KERRY GUICE
I
have a hashtag that I use when I post photos of my family doing something fun together: #Mamalovesfamilytime. I look forward to family time because we are always so busy and moving in different directions, and for this reason, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The other reason it’s my favorite is because of the food. #Mamaalsolovesfood. It seems like sometimes the youngest generation gets the short end of the stick on Thanksgiving, because there are already too many cooks in the kitchen, preparing for the feast. Usually, the kids don’t seem bothered by this and enjoy the time to play with their cousins and have less watchful eyes on everything they do. But sometimes kids just want to help! Setting aside just one side dish that is easily prepared by a few kids with little oversight is a great way to make kids feel involved, and feel like big kids. It’s also a great incentive to try foods they might not otherwise put on their plate! Last fall, my then-6-year-old daughter, Violet, entered a recipe contest sponsored by a rice company. She chose to make a rice salad, and with just a little help, she created a really wonderful brown rice salad that pairs so well with everything that goes on a Thanksgiving spread, and it’s one of the most kid-friendly recipes you’ll find! It is a new tradition to have her and her little brother recreate this recipe for our family meal. You only use a knife once to chop the pear (pick the oldest cousin), and if you cook the rice the day before, it’s simply a matter of pouring ingredients, shaking the jar of dressing, tearing greens, picking pomegranate seeds out, crushing walnuts, and crumbling feta cheese. It combines sensory play, feeling a sense of responsibility and ownership over a task, and a feeling like they belong in the kitchen. I’d be surprised to hear if after all that, any kid still refuses to try at least one bite! Another recipe that’s equally qualified to squeeze a spot into your Thanksgiving menu is my Butternut Squash Mac’n Cheese. It’s the perfect way to sneak a veggie onto your kids’ plates. Still cheesy, still creamy, my version is topped with crushed potato chips and sage rather than breadcrumbs. It tastes like fall, and the butternut squash lends a sweet and nutty flavor to the creamy sauce that will have the oldest and youngest family members fighting over seconds. As a bonus, both of these recipes are vegetarian! As we get older, our gratitude for our families grows and strengthens. With each passing year, time speeds up, and we can rely on Thanksgiving to slow us all down and invite us to sit around one big table, laughing and bonding and enjoying the truly fortunate gift that is a Thanksgiving feast. It’s so much more than good food. It might be the last time you see your toddler sitting with his great-grandmother while she plays piano. You may share a laughuntil-you-cry conversation with your brother that you’ll never forget. You might high-five yourself for remembering to take the rolls out of the oven on time when you know everyone is expecting you to forget. It’s about all those moments that stay with us forever.
THE GOOD KIDS’ GUIDE TO THANKSGIVING TABLE MANNERS (A.K.A. “HOW TO SCORE PIE AFTER DINNER): 1. COME TO THE TABLE WITH CLEAN HANDS AND A CLEAN FACE. 2. WAIT TO START EATING UNTIL YOU’RE TOLD. 3. STAY AT THE TABLE UNTIL YOU’RE EXCUSED, AND SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT FIDGETING IN YOUR CHAIR. 4. DON’T SAY OUT LOUD WHEN YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING ON YOUR PLATE. DO SAY OUT LOUD WHEN YOU DO LIKE SOMETHING ON YOUR PLATE. 5. TALK TO THE GROWN-UPS. ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO DROVE A LONG WAY TO SEE YOU. 6. USE NICE WORDS LIKE “PLEASE” AND “THANK YOU.” NO RUDE NOISES OR LOUD JOKES. 7. USE YOUR NAPKIN, NOT YOUR SHIRT. 8. USE YOUR FORK, NOT YOUR FINGERS. 9. DON’T REACH FOR SOMETHING ON THE TABLE. ASK NICELY FOR IT TO BE PASSED TO YOU. 10. DON’T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL, AND DON’T TAKE BIG BITES.
THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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2 cups peeled and diced butternut squash 1 bag elbow pasta (or your favorite spiral noodles, I used Cavatappi) ½ cup diced onion 3 cloves minced garlic 4 teaspoons chopped sage ½ teaspoon dry mustard 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ½ cup Parmesan cheese ½ cup cheddar cheese, plus cup for topping
2 cups warm milk 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock 1 cup potato chips Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle diced butternut squash with 2 teaspoons olive oil, then sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Roast at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Raise oven temp to 400 degrees. While squash is roasting, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat, then saute onion, garlic, half of the chopped sage (2 teaspoons), dry mustard, ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper until soft and fragrant. Add the flour and coat until flour is incorporated. Slowly add the chicken stock, and then the warm milk, whisking to combine. Raise heat to medium, and when it comes to a simmer, remove from heat and stir in Parmesan and cheddar cheeses. Stir until thoroughly combined. In a food processor or blender, combine the roasted squash with the cheese sauce and carefully blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Boil pasta al dente (cooked but still firm), and combine pasta with sauce. Pour into casserole dish. Top with cup shredded cheddar cheese. In plastic zip bag, crush 1 cup of potato chips with the remaining 2 teaspoons of chopped sage. Sprinkle on top of cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until topping is bubbling and golden brown. Serve hot.
LITTLE ROCK
NORTH LITTLE ROCK
501.223.4929
501.978.3154
11218 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD.
22 NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
4822 N. HILLS BLVD.
2 cups cooked and cooled brown rice 1 packed cup roughly chopped baby greens (like spinach and kale) ¼ cup roughly chopped walnuts ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ cup pomegranate seeds 1 pear, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Dressing: 2 tablespoons good apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons roasted walnut oil (found at Kroger by the olive oils) 1 tablespoon maple syrup (get the real stuff!) 1 teaspoon dijon mustard 1 teaspoon grated ginger Salt and pepper to taste
MAKE YOUR OWN DRESSING!
Pour dressing ingredients into a mason jar and secure the lid. Let the kids shake the jar 30 seconds to combine. Set aside. In large bowl, combine cooked rice and greens. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Pour into serving platter, then top with remaining ingredients. Serve at room temperature.
TIP: DON’T COOK BROWN RICE ACCORDING TO THE PACKAGE! RINSE FIRST, THEN ADD TO A LARGE POT OF SALTED BOILING WATER FOR 25 MINUTES. DRAIN WELL, THEN ADD BACK TO THE POT (TURN OFF HEAT!) WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID. LET STEAM 10 ADDITIONAL MINUTES IN ITS OWN HEAT TO ABSORB ANY LEFTOVER MOISTURE. NEVER AGAIN WILL YOU HAVE STICKY OR GUMMY RICE! WORKS EVERY TIME.
Give Thanks FALL DECORATIONS Starting at
149
THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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savvy family
CASA STANDS UP FOR KIDS IN THE STATE’S FOSTER SYSTEM
BY DWAIN HEBDA PHOTOGRAPHY: INC. BY CARPER CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY & COURTESY KELTON FAMILY
Anna Grace, Penny and Johnna Kay Burkhalter, now 13 years after Penny's diagnosis.
(Back row, from left) Olivia, Brian, Amy and Isabella Kelton adopted three new members into their family.
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TAMMY KEECH, ADVOCATE SUPERVISOR WITH PULASKI AND PERRY COUNTY COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES, KNOWS THE STORY ALL TOO WELL, the one
about foster care and courts and the system. It’s repetition personified, like the sing-song jingle a 4-year-old can’t get out of his head and drones for hours on end. Hers is a quest both personal as well as professional, having adopted children herself and now spending her days battling for the rest of them. The purpose of life is to have a life of purpose she says, but given the matters at hand, it’s still not the kind of job you love every day. “I admit, I get extremely frustrated seeing the same thing happen over and over and over again, and all these kids that are in the system,” she said. “But if you don’t step up and do something, then what’s going to happen? It’s only going to get worse. All I can say is you’ve got to be part of the solution, because if you’re not part of the solution you’re definitely part of the problem.” For the past four-plus years, Keech’s part of the solution has been speaking up for children through the Court Appointed Special Advocates program, CASA, which pairs adult volunteers with kids in foster care to ensure they are being treated well and receiving what they need in terms of basic care and education, and that any special needs or issues are being handled appropriately. If these needs are not being met, the volunteer, called a CASA advocate, speaks up for the child to state officials, the authorities or in court, as the situation calls for. “Our advocates devote anywhere from 10 to 20 hours a month, usually somewhere in the middle,” Keech said. “They go out into the homes, they make sure the children are receiving what they need. Basically they come to know the child like the back of their hand.” Amy Kelton and her husband, Brian, are the happy ending every child without a family dreams about. And even they have to be careful what they say in certain situations. “I think it’s fine to say we live in Little Rock,” Amy said, pleasantly. “I’d prefer not to print the kids’ names due to the history of abuse.” “The kids” are the three children the Keltons have adopted. Two toddler sisters, ages 3 and 2, and a 3-year-old little boy from another household; all three cast into the same cosmic misfortune of being born to people ill-equipped to care for them, if they wanted them at all. The Kelton couple and their two biological daughters, Olivia and Isabella, ages 14 and 10, have been involved with kids like this long enough that they don’t put much thought into “whys” anymore. A foster family long before becoming an adoptive one, they stopped pondering too deeply the tragic tides of fate and circumstance that brought so many children to their door. Besides, after a while the details are often only distinguishable by degree. It wasn’t a question of if drugs were involved, but which parent was hooked or incarcerated; not if the sallow-faced 5-year-old arriving in the middle of the night had lived through abuse, but what variety. Truth be told, it never really affected what Amy and Brian were there to do anyway. “I know a lot of people who say, ‘Oh, I’d love to do [fostering]. I love kids, but then I would be so sad when they leave,'” Amy said. “I’m kind of like, well, they need somebody to love them that much. They deserve that. They deserve for somebody to cry when they leave. It’s about them.” So Amy and her family went on loving the little ones, went on crying when they left, too. And they always left, some the next morning, others staying just long enough to make the parting really hurt on their way to wherever and whatever. Until one little boy didn’t. Leave, that is. In three and half years of hugging shadows and kissing ghosts goodnight, Amy and Brian never thought what would happen if one stayed. Even now, they were sure every day would be the one the car would pull up and he’d be gone. But all the CASA advocate said when she’d drop in to check on him was, “Well, at least he’s got a home here.” “It started planting that seed and the more I started thinking about it, I was like, ‘I’m momma to him,’” Amy said. “He never had visits or anything so if he leaves, then that’s loss that he wouldn’t have known otherwise.” Anyone 21 or over with a clean criminal background and a commitment to the cause of children can become a CASA advocate, but not nearly enough do. Keech currently has
THE INSIDE SCOOP with AMY Where were you born? Shreveport, Louisiana. Where did you go to high school? Phoenix, Arizona. Who is your role model? Hands down, other moms! What is the hardest thing about being a parent? To remember to stop and enjoy the stages the kids are in and to "be present." Parenting is not a means to get from point A to point B. It is a journey. I need to remember this more. What is the best thing about being a parent? I love seeing their individual personalities develop! The babies are hilarious with their toddler speech patterns, and trying to make us laugh. They really have become quite little characters! Bella has such a compassionate heart, and Liv is really expressive with music, art and dance. What do you admire most about your husband? He is SUCH a great model for being a father to the fatherless. He has truly loved all the foster children we have had in our home, and is such a great daddy to them all. What are three words that best describe you? Creative, nurturing, determined. What are three things still on your bucket list? More traveling to new places, go rappelling, drive on old Route 66. What do you do to relax? l love to lay by the pool in the summer, and sit by the fire pit with our friends in the cooler weather. What is one good piece of advice you've picked up along the way? Be true to yourself. Don't be afraid to stand out. What is one thing most people don't know about you? I have driven on the German Autobahn, and on country roads across Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. I love knowing that it is an experience not a lot of Americans have had. THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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The Kelton sisters on their adoption day in March.
The Kelton family participated in the Walk for the Waiting in April.
Isabella bonds with her new sister.
“THEY DESERVE FOR SOMEBODY TO CRY WHEN THEY LEAVE. IT'S ABOUT THEM.” the advocate manpower to serve about 150 cases out of the 900 foster children in Pulaski County at any given time. The number brings out disbelief even in her veteran voice. “We believe that every abused or neglected child needs someone consistent in their life, and unfortunately, many times they don’t have that due to the workers changing over or foster parents requesting children be removed from their home due to behavior,” she said. “It’s necessary to have this one voice, this one person that’s a constant in their life. “This is a critical time in our state, even in our county, because the child protection system is in crisis. We would love more people. We’re trying to build our pool of advocates every day.” Back at the Kelton house, fostering has been put on hold due to the number of children living on premises, but life has been anything but slower as each of the adopteds wrestle with a slightly different demon in a slightly different way. The older girls are a big help and have taken their parents’ example to heart—one did a presentation to her class about foster care, and the other shows the same natural nurturing skills as her mom. The most striking thing about the five patchwork Kelton kids, though, is how similar their parents’ prayers are for them. “Do I worry differently for them? Yes and no,” Amy said. “There’s a lot of the same worries that we have, but at the same time, especially for our 3-year-old girl, I have concerns for her dating life and needing to feel accepted. I just want to make sure that she finds somebody that’s going to treat her right. “Do I dream differently for them? I guess that part would probably be the same. Just that they find something that makes them happy so they can be successful and have their own families if they choose. They’re so much a part of us it’s hard to think of them as different or separate from one another.” FOR MORE INFORMATION CASA: arkansascasa.org; 501-682-9403 THE CALL, a faith-based organization that mobilizes foster/adoptive parents through churches: thecallinarkansas.org; 501-907-1048
Adopted brother and sister love playtime together.
26 NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
ARKANSAS DEPT. OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES dhs.arkansas.gov/dcfs/ heartgallery; 888-736-2820
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MEET OUR STATE'S FUTURE LEADERS, TEACHERS, DOCTORS AND ARTISTS. WE WERE BLOWN AWAY BY THE NOMINEES FOR THIS EDITION OF SAVVY'S 18 UNDER 18. THE KIDS YOU'LL MEET IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES EXHIBIT ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE RECORDS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THIS WORLD. REST ASSURED, THE FUTURE OF ARKANSAS IS IN GOOD HANDS.
MEGHANA BOLLIMPALLI, 15,
has a trophy case that’s about to burst and a heart that’s bent on helping her community. She’s participated in science fairs since the fifth grade and has won numerous awards every year. She’s won first place overall in her school’s annual STEM fair, first at Regionals, was a recipient of the National Naval Science award, and was selected as a National Semifinalist for the prestigious Broadcom MASTERS premier science fair. She’s won Overall Grand champion at the Harmony Science and Engineering Fair in Houston, and won the silver medal at Genius Olympiad, “the world’s largest environmentally focused international science and engineering fair.” Meghana is an active member in many clubs and organizations and engages in community service. She’s an active advocate for protecting the environment and eradicating homelessness among children and youth in Arkansas. Meghana was nominated by her parents, Venkat and Madhavi Bollimpalli of Little Rock.
COLE HARRISON,
10, is a true fighter with a fantastic attitude. Cole was born three weeks early and admitted to the NICU after both of his lungs collapsed. He had bilateral chest tubes, as well as a PIC line. He bounced back quickly, but unfortunately he did not grow as expected and was diagnosed with idiopathic short stature syndrome, delayed bone growth syndrome and human growth hormone (HGH) deficiency, for all of which he now very bravely gives himself HGH injections nightly. Despite medical setbacks, Cole has thrived. He competes in basketball, baseball, chess, Taekwando, golf and soccer. He consistently demonstrates talent, dedication and a positive attitude on and off the field. He cheers on his teammates, and never lets a loss get him down. Cole was nominated by his parents, Dan and Michael Harrison of Little Rock.
MADYSON BRIGHT, 11, is an
exemplary Girl Scout who is on track to do big things in her community. She is a Cadette Girl Scout and has achieved the third highest award in Girl Scouts, the Bronze Award, for helping lead a project for the CALL Center to organize 60 backpacks filled with needed items for kids entering foster care. She also helped organize and donate almost 200 coats to the local women and children’s shelter. She received the Gold Presidential Volunteer Award the last two years for giving more than 75 hours to her community. She is a member of two competitive cheer squads and has won several national titles. Madyson is involved in the gifted and talented program at school, and wants to become a neurosurgeon. Madyson was nominated by her parents, Randall Bright, Jr. and Annette LaRue of Benton.
KATIE HIGH,
10, is a model, athlete, actress and a stellar big sister who dreams of becoming a teacher. Katie was awarded both Photogenic Winner and Most Promising Model, and was first runner-up at the 2013 Arkansas National American Miss competition. After those awards, she showed continued interest in modeling and acting, and trained at Excel Models and Talent. Katie loves acting and has appeared in all her school’s plays, and has also acted with the Maumelle Youth Theater. She walked the runway in the ALS in Wonderland fundraiser in 2014, and at McCain Mall’s fall fashion shows. She is on the honor roll at school, and was awarded the President’s Educational Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. She enjoys cheering, gymnastics, basketball and soccer. Katie was nominated by her parents, Sam and Jennifer High of Maumelle. THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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MADISON FAITH HINES, 11,
sets the example on being a wellrounded, athletic, philanthropic person. She’s modeled for Dillard’s and graced the local runways, but spends most of her time in athletics. She is a star on her basketball team, is a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, has a wall full of ribbons for swimming and dreams of being an Olympic gymnast. She even helps teach little ones gymnastics. When her 5-year-old cousin, Carter, passed away from cancer two years ago, Madison was heartbroken. Each year since Madison found out Carter had cancer, without letting anyone besides her father and mother know, she gave all of her birthday money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She’s a go-getter with a heart of gold! Madison was nominated by her parents, Micah Hines and Jennifer Trafford-Hines of Little Rock.
MADISON LACY,
16, is a progressive who loves to work behind the scenes to find new, fresh, innovative solutions to problems. Madison is a member of numerous organizations such as the National Honor Society, The Drama Club, Donaghey Scholars, and Black Girls Code. She volunteers with organizations such as The Arkansas Heart Association, Habitat For Humanity, and The Humane Society of Pulaski County. Her mother calls her “genius baby” because since the time Madison was born her aspirations have been to become a scientist. She has always been “solution-focused.” Madison works alongside other creatives at the Arkansas Innovation Hub in product development for her mother’s interior design company, International Flair Designs. Madison was nominated by her mother, Kymberlyn Lacy of Little Rock.
30 NOVEMBER 2016 | THESAVVYMOMS.COM
ASPEN JAMES, 11,
is smart, kind and has an amazing style that’s all her own. She loves reading and science, has an impressive book collection and has performed dozens of household experiments. She loves cooking, baking and presenting her food with style. In 2015, she helped her Destination Imagination team go to state, regional and the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her grades have always been outstanding. She won the Gibbs Magnet Science Fair and went on to place in the state competition as well. In her last year at Gibbs Magnet, she won the Silver Presidential Award for academics, and even more meaningful, she won the Felicia Bell Hobbs Peace Prize, which is only given to two recipients each year and is based on the student’s attitude, compassion and personality over their five years at the school. Aspen was nominated by her parents, Thaddeus and Melissa James of Little Rock.
SIERRA LACY,15, is
outspoken, witty, organized and tech-savvy. Sierra gives back to her community through Arkansas Children’s Hospital Star Achievers, Habitat For Humanity and The Ronald McDonald House Supper Club. Academically, she’s involved in Donaghey Scholars, Black Girls Code, EAST and National Honor Society. She’s co-captain of her high school dance team and a hurdler for the track team. Sierra developed concepts to expand her mother’s company. She spent the summer at the E.Fay Jones School of Architecture and Interior Design Camp and coding camps with her sister Madison. Although Sierra is an aspiring medical doctor, she enjoys every facet of entrepreneurship that she’s learned from working alongside her mother. Sierra was nominated by her mother, Kymberlyn Lacy of Little Rock.
NICOLE OCCIDENTAL,16, has
a bright future in medicine. Last June, she was invited to attend the Congress for Future Medical Leaders in Massachusetts. She met many talented people and was able to watch live hip-replacement surgery. After the congress, she was presented a Certificate of Excellence and got a letter of recognition from Sen. Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. French Hill. In July, she attended the Harvard Summer Camp where she was one of 280 students selected out of 7,000 applicants, and one of the 18 students accepted at Intro to Neuroscience Camp. She has also been invited to attend the Harvard Medical School Beta Program, which will cover Intro to Immunology and Physiology. Nicole was nominated by her parents, Dr. Jucelle and Carol Occidental of Sherwood.
CORBIN PITTS,10, is
an active athlete, actor and writer who loves the spotlight. Corbin is an honor roll student, videographer for his school’s Dogtown Derby community project, a Cub Scout, plays soccer on a competitive traveling team and takes voice, dance and acting lessons. He’s been cast in 12 shorts films, a television pilot, 13 commercials, two storybook ballets and countless plays/musicals. Corbin has shared the stage with his sister, Grace, in many productions including “Elf,” “Mary Poppins” and the world premiere of “Project Elan” at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and others at the Argenta Community Theater. Corbin also likes to be behind the scenes as he’s been writing screenplays, and has cast many of his friends and former co-stars in his upcoming films. Corbin was nominated by his parents, Kyle and Christen Pitts of North Little Rock.
KIERA PORTIE,
10, has a serious passion for community service. She has been active with Recycle Bikes for more than two years, repairing, washing and testing out bikes and volunteering at the organization’s events. She also attended Cyclofemme this year because she enjoys bike riding, and wants to encourage more girls to ride bikes. Kiera also attended the Little Rock Junior Park Ranger camp where she learned about the natural environment in Little Rock’s park system. For the last two years, Kiera has volunteered with Cranksgiving to help with their annual food drive, and she volunteered at the Autism Speaks Arkansas Walk to hand out balloons to all the walkers. She passes out joy everywhere she goes! Kiera was nominated by her mother, Shana Buterbaugh of Little Rock.
GRACE PITTS, 13,
is a rising star on the stage and at her school. She takes dance, voice and acting lessons, is a Student Council Representative and a cheerleader at her school, where she is also on the honor roll. Her grades, school activities, performing, family and friends are all very important to her. Grace has been cast in 10 short films, a television pilot, 13 commercials, countless plays and 10 storybook ballets. Grace and her brother, Corbin, work with Broadway Kids Auditions and Ethan Paulini in New York, and are in the process of auditioning for national tours, and will attend a weeklong Broadway Bound intensive in New York City this summer with Young Performers of America where they will work with Broadway stars. Look for her in the role of Mary Lennox in “The Secret Garden” at Argenta Community Theater this spring! Grace was nominated by her parents Kyle and Christen Pitts of North Little Rock.
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GAGE ROGERS, 16,
shows excellent discipline and compassion, and is sure to achieve great things in his future career in the military. Gage has shown strength following the loss of his father three years ago, and has continued to excel in anything he chooses to do. He has been part of JROTC at his school for three years, and has decided his career path will lead to the military to serve his country. He is a Staff 1st Lieutenant in the JROTC and has competed in the JROTC drill team, and also had the honor of representing in the Color/Honor Guard. He maintains good grades in school, is a great uncle to two nieces and continues to help around the house. He volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House, THV’s Summer Cereal Drive and Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids' Sake. Gage was nominated by his mother, Andrea Rogers of Hensley.
MASON CAMFERDAM SIMMONS,13, was able
to overcome the medical odds with his unwavering faith. A few years ago, he was so badly burned that doctors said he wouldn’t regain all of the pigment in his skin and would be left with permanent scars. The first time the nurse showed him a mirror, he looked and said, “God’s going to heal my skin.” The nurse explained the odds to him, and when she left he looked at his parents and said, “She must not know how awesome my God is at what he does,” his mother said. Within eight months you couldn’t tell Mason had been burned. Every time Mason would go to the doctor they were shocked with how fast he was healing! Mason’s mother said her son’s faith was bigger than all of her fears, and he continues to amaze their family. He is a great brother, always looking out for, helping and protecting his siblings. Mason was nominated by his parents, Ross and Jessikah Camferdam of Benton.
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SAMANTHA RUSK,
16, has a passion for serving her community and excelling in school. She devotes time to feed the homeless, ring the Salvation Army’s bell each Christmas and start a shoe drive, “Sweet Feet from the Soul,” which she promoted and enlisted volunteers to become a great success. For this project she received recognition as “Volunteer of the Year” in North Little Rock. Samantha has been an active member of the North Little Rock Mayor’s Youth Council and participated the North Little Rock-Uiwang, South Korea, Sister City Exchange Program. Last summer, Samantha participated in a prestigious National Youth Leadership Forum for emerging leaders of the 21st Century, and traveled to Washington, D.C. to spend a week with 375 student leaders and government officials. Samantha was nominated by her parents, Kaysie and Tom Rusk of Maumelle.
TATUM STANLEY,
17, is leading her graduating class and setting the example for school involvement. Tatum serves as her student body president and maintains a 4.0 GPA in addition to her involvement in many school clubs. She is a member of the Forensics Team, Swim Team, STARS program, Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta, Honor Society and the Beta Club. Tatum is a wonderful storyteller and placed third in storytelling at the Tournament of Champions last year. She volunteers with her church in the summer, and is a mentor to elementary students through the STARS program. Tatum also enjoys acting on stage and has appeared in several school plays. She is a self-motivated student that strives to do her best. Future plans include attending college to gain an elementary education degree. Tatum was nominated by her parents, Doug and Kim Stanley of North Little Rock.
SKYLAR ELIZABETH STONE, 10, may be the
strongest kid in central Arkansas. She was diagnosed with a rare birth defect called Schizencephaly, and was not supposed to survive through her first year. Ten years later, Skylar perseveres with the strength and courage of 100 men. She recently became a big sister and is loving it. She deals with so much in her life and has gone through more in her 10 years than most people go through in their lifetime. Through it all, she is so happy and loves life and continues to defeat all of the odds. Skylar was nominated by her parents, Clint and Lindsay Overman of Alexander.
MICHAEL GLEN TARKINGTON,16,
most loves helping others. He was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age 3, but has never let anything keep him from living the life he wants to live. Michael is kind, and has a great sense for knowing when someone needs a hug or a kind word. He is often ignored or dismissed because of his limitations, but he never gets angry or discouraged. Michael loves computer and art classes at his school and wants to be a computer programmer. He is an active member of his church youth group and attends a yearly mission trip where he loves to serve other people. He also enjoys helping out at the Ozark Mission Project by designing artwork and helping with the webpage. Michael was nominated by his parents, Michael and Carissa Tarkington of Conway.
PUBLIC EDUCATION: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES
Pulaski County Special School District
Choose PCSSD schools for– Certified teachers with advanced degrees Test scores higher than other local districts Millions awarded in college scholarships Talented and Gifted programs State-winning sports teams 1;1 tech program providing iPads, Chromebooks Facilities upgrades and new schools underway pcssd.org
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ART TO RECONSTRUCT YOUNG MINDS Thea Foundation’s Arts Reconstruction program is opening doors and minds in public schools. BY DWAIN HEBDA
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(Top, from left) Allysia Marbley, Sara Brannen, Winter Hart and Grace Araujo enjoy paper-making at Sylvan Hills High School. (Middle, from left) Katherine Mullinga and Bernard Smith hone their new craft.
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ara Brannen isn’t the longest-tenured teacher at her alma mater Sylvan Hills High School, but the second-year instructor is making waves nonetheless. Among her classes, 60 students are engaged—enthused, even—for art, something that’s got even some senior colleagues knocking on her door. “I’ve heard students comment, ‘This is my favorite class because I’ve never done anything like this,’” she said. “Other students say, ‘I feel like I’m working in a factory and we’re making all these cool things.’ I thought that was pretty neat.” The project that’s caught the students’ imagination is paper-making, made possible through the Arts Reconstruction program offered by the Thea Foundation. Students break down natural fibers into pulp and turn that pulp into one-of-a-kind paper. The characteristics of each sheet are unique, driven by the type of fibers in the pulp and dyes that are added. “I really feel like when you get students engaged on that level it makes art more relevant,” Brannen said. “It’s a contemporary craft, so it’s something that’s useful to them right now. They get that immediacy.” Brannen’s experience is just one of the success stories of the Thea Foundation, a North Little Rock nonprofit organization devoted to nurturing creative expression among the state’s K-12 students through extracurricular and in-school art programs throughout Arkansas. Arts Reconstruction partners with cultural institutions and arts organizations in Arkansas to provide new and amplify existing arts programming within schools. In layman’s terms, this means bringing educators together to learn new and different types of artistic activities to incorporate within existing curriculum. In Brannen’s case, this took the form of a weeklong paper-making class that included how to operate the beater, a specialized machine used in papermaking. She also received training in crafts that incorporate the handmade paper for a finished product that is artisanal from the ground up. “We learned how to sculpt and dye the paper with natural substances like onion skins and blue jeans and we also used some paper dyes,” Brannen said. “We learned how to transfer images onto wood using a gel medium. “Then we also learned how to do book binding with different stitches. We’re going to use our handmade paper to make books in my class and my students are very excited about that—more excited than I thought they would be to make books.” Nick Leopoulos of the Thea Foundation said the program is one way that the organization is lighting a flame of programmatic innovation rather than cursing the darkness of reduced arts funding in public schools. “There’s loads of research on how desperate the funding situations are for arts programming in the state, but we realize that there’s a bigger picture out there,” he said. “We don’t always want to lean on that as a
Habitat-SavvyAd-DonatePickup-October2016.pdf
complaint for ‘Hey everyone should spend more money on the arts.’ We know we have to be an integral component of actually fixing that.” Part of that fix is changing the mentality of the arts as mere extracurricular diversion and highlighting the integral role artistic expression plays in students’ overall development. This is the cause art advocates have taken up with increasing fervor as education budgets are winnowed nationwide. A 2014 study, for instance, conducted by the University of Arkansas and published in Education Week, divided 1,800 students into two groups. In the first, 5,500 students from 123 Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma schools were assigned to visit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville and 350 were given tickets to attend a live theatrical performance at a Fayetteville theater. The remaining students, assigned in corresponding numbers to control groups, experienced neither activity. The result? In addition to a higher appreciation for and desire for further consumption of the art itself, those exposed to cultural experiences demonstrated more tolerance and empathy as well as better critical thinking skills and a higher attention to detail. Leopoulos said similar opportunities exist for programs like Arts Reconstruction to make a definitive statement about the value of art within the educational construct. “With the state recently adopting new guidelines for the arts, the folks over at the Department of Education have made good strides in creating ways to chart students’ progress in the arts and give examples of that progress,” he said. “We want to try to help interface with that and give teachers another way to achieve the goals they need to achieve.” Which may explain why Brannen’s peer teachers frequently drop her a line about her paper-making project in an effort to replicate such success in their own classrooms. Part of her advice: Prepare to learn almost as much as you teach. “My students are even running the show and teaching me new things,” she said. “They are constantly like, ‘Can we put this in the Holland Beater?’ ‘What about this?’ I’m continually learning new tricks.” C
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ARTS RECONSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT North Little Rock High School: Visual Lakewood Middle School: Strings Crestwood Elementary: Visual Boone Park Elementary: Strings Seventh Street Elementary: Strings
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR
NO MATTER YOUR MAJOR, ARKANSAS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FIT THE BILL The only thing that’s more surprising than the diversity of higher education options that exist in Arkansas is sometimes where you find the major of your dreams. Among the outstanding humanities, IT, business and science curriculum—which have been around for decades—a few less-traditional majors have emerged. You can study forestry at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and learn marine biology at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia; become a world-class mixologist at Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock or the next music mogul at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. The fact is, if you can dream it up, Arkansas’s colleges and universities can probably accommodate your heart for service, head for facts and figures or your spirit for the Almighty on campuses large and small in a town that suits your style. The following gives a glimpse into some of the variety and quality of education that can be had among Arkansas’s institutions of higher learning.
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I knew I’d check out international business, but I didn’t know I could check out a mountain bike.
Terrell Shephard, a junior and International Business major, at Bona Dea Trails
At Tech, your college experience goes far beyond the classroom. While you can choose from more than 100 areas of study, in some of the most modern educational facilities in the state, you can also enjoy the great outdoors around the campus – you can even check out a bike, kayak or tent for free. It’s easy to see why so many students choose Tech. With Greek Life, campus recreation and plenty of student activities available both on campus and in the surrounding area, you’ll definitely want to check out Tech. Take a tour of the campus and discover what you don’t know about Tech. Get started at discover.atu.edu.
ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Jonesboro | astate.edu Arkansas State University’s (ASU) total enrollment is just over 13,000 students but the school casts a long shadow thanks to its many public-private partnerships bringing new opportunities to the university. ASU entered a partnership to open a $75 million campus in Queretaro, Mexico; brought the New York Institute of Technology's College of Osteopathic Medicine to the Jonesboro campus and partnered with a North Carolina company on a project to increase campus housing. ASU’s capital campaigns have totaled $175 million and the activity is paying off with some of the academically gifted freshman classes in the school’s history measured by highest ACT scores and high school GPAs. The value of its academics is obvious: In the field of education and health care (two of ASU’s specialties) 84 and 70 percent of graduates, respectively, reported being employed in their field or admitted to graduate school. "As prospective students have heard us say, 'People can tell you how great a place is, but the best way to know whether it is right for you is to see it—and experience it—for yourself.' At Arkansas State, we welcome your visit, and we offer a variety of personalized visitation programs. Schedule yours at visit.AState.edu. In the meantime, take some time to enjoy our interactive digital viewbook, at viewbook. AState.edu, to learn more about university life and opportunities at A-State. Supporting our students in a nurturing atmosphere is central to our mission of educating leaders, enhancing intellectual growth and enriching lives."—Dr. Doug Whitlock, chancellor Campus Living & Safety: The popularity of on-campus living at A-State is at an all-time high as the school recorded a fourth consecutive year of maximum occupancy in the fall of 2016. From living-learning communities to on-campus apartment-style residential housing for upperclassmen, Arkansas State provides a range of safe, quality options with more under construction. Tuition & Financial Aid: Arkansas State awards more than $100 million in federal aid each year, and combined with more than 25 additional institutional scholarship programs and numerous privately funded scholarship, between 85 and 90 percent of students at A-State receive some type of financial assistance. Internships & Work Study: Numerous internship and work-study opportunities are available to students who qualify. Sports: The Red Wolves play at the highest level of NCAA sports— Division I BCS competition—and are leaders in the Sun Belt Conference. The Red Wolves' success brings excitement to each of A-State's 16 varsity sports. Clubs & Activities: A-State has more than 200 special interest clubs ranging from academic disciplines to intramural sports. The Student Activity Center opened in fall 2015 and enhances the programs of the Red WOLF Center. A-State is the first bicycle-friendly university in Arkansas.
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ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY Russellville | atu.edu Arkansas Tech University (ATU) has enjoyed 17 consecutive years of record enrollment and this year welcomed 12,054 students, which again ranked ATU the third-largest post-secondary institution in Arkansas. Part of this growth is due to Arkansas Tech’s affordability; all undergraduate students who are legal residents of states contiguous to Arkansas receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition charges. Arkansas Tech University offers majors in 21 academic areas—including many degrees that are in high demand—and updates these offerings frequently to stay at the forefront. Notable recent examples include electrical engineering, biomedical and environmental science. Other new degree programs include chemistry education, computer science education, physics education and a game and interactive media design program providing the skills necessary to work in the video game and entertainment industries. “Almost 12,000 students are enrolled at Arkansas Tech University. What has allowed Arkansas Tech to build one of the highest graduation rates among public universities in the state, and become the No. 1 choice for Arkansans who wish to study in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields? Our students tell us it is because Arkansas Tech faculty and staff care about them as individuals. It’s because we offer academic programs that connect with current and emerging career opportunities, including new degrees in fields such as game and interactive media design, environmental science and computer science education, all while remaining an affordable choice for higher education.”— Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president Campus Living & Safety: Arkansas Tech University has been named the 2016 safest public university campus in the state of Arkansas by BackgroundChecks.org. The staff at BackgroundChecks.org combined data from recent Department of Education reports, natural language analysis, social media sentiment analysis and their own research to create the list of safest universities and colleges in Arkansas. Tuition & Financial Aid: Arkansas Tech has seven levels of freshmen academic scholarships beginning with a minimum composite ACT score of 21 and 3.25 minimum cumulative high school grade point average. Academic scholarships are awarded competitively. Tuition and mandatory fees for an undergraduate student enrolled in 30 hours at Arkansas Tech during the 2016-17 academic year are $8,280. Residence hall rates in 2016-17 start at $1,628 per semester. Meal plan rates in 2016-17 start at $1,267 per semester. Internships & Work-Study: The Federal Work-Study program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. Sports: Arkansas Tech sponsors men’s programs in baseball, basketball, football and golf as well as women’s programs in basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis and volleyball. All 10 Arkansas Tech intercollegiate athletic programs have qualified for NCAA postseason play on at least one occasion. Arkansas Tech is a member of NCAA Division II. Clubs & Activities: Greek Life is thriving at Arkansas Tech with one in five freshmen choosing to be a member of a sorority or fraternity. There are more than a dozen organizations representing the Interfraternity Council, College Panhellenic Council and National PanHellenic Council. In all, there are more than 100 registered student organizations at Arkansas Tech. They vary from social to professional to service organizations. Dorm Information: More than 2,600 students choose to live in student housing at Arkansas Tech, which offers 17 housing facility options for its students including apartment living, suite-style residence halls and traditional residence halls.
Art and Design Communication English Foreign Language and International Studies History and Social Science Music Theatre
Well-rounded education While pursuing an education in Harding’s College of Arts and Humanities, students find themselves inspired and challenged, seeking to better understand the human experience. Seven departments within the college explore media and oral communication, history, languages, and visual expression — all taught within the Christian mission of Harding. Students are prepared to continue their studies in graduate schools or enter into any one of the hundreds of professions in today’s workforce. Within the liberal arts, anything is possible.
A community of mission Harding.edu | 800-477-4407 Searcy, Arkansas
ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE Conway | cbc.edu Campus Living & Safety: Located in Conway, Central Baptist College (CBC) students enjoy easy access to nearby Little Rock, yet reside in the friendliness and security of a small town. CBC is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional College in the South. Tuition & Financial Aid : Life is full of hurdles. At CBC, we offer a myriad of financial options to make these hurdles a little more manageable. Sports: Athletics are an important part of the CBC campus life. CBC is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and competes in the American Midwest Conference (AMC). CBC offers basketball, golf, soccer, baseball, wrestling, softball, and volleyball. Clubs & Activities: At CBC we encourage students to get involved with like-minded students in events that encourage lifelong relationships and nurture the mind and spirit. Some of our organizations include: Fishing Club, Medical Professions Society, President’s Leadership Council, Student Activities Board, Mustang Radio and more. Dorm Information: Dickson Hall is the newest residence hall on the CBC campus. Each room in Dickson Hall accommodates two students and features a private bathroom. They come fully furnished with two sets of the following furniture: loftable bed, twin mattress, desk, chair, wardrobe, and nightstand/small chest of drawers. This building has central heat and air (each room having its own programmable thermostat), cable television, and Wi-Fi. CROWLEY’S RIDGE COLLEGE Paragould | crc.edu Campus Living & Safety: Crowley’s Ridge College (CRC) sits on 150 acres of Crowley’s Ridge. We offer degrees in Bible, Business and Education. We have approximately 230 students on campus. CRC does have a strict firearm policy. No weapons of any kind are allowed on campus. Tuition & Financial Aid: CRC has a one-price cost, which includes tuition, room/board, books and fees. The 2016-17 school year cost to attend is $18,800. Athletic and academic scholarships are available. Athletic scholarships are given by coaches based upon experience and skill. Academic scholarships start at a 20 on the ACT or SAT equivalent. Internships & Work-Study: CRC has campus work-study, which is based upon FAFSA information through the Financial Aid office. Sports: Men’s sports include: baseball, basketball, golf and cross country. Women’s sports include: softball, basketball, volleyball and cross country. Clubs & Activities: CRC offers intramurals, coffee house/talent shows, Pioneer Day, fall retreat to Branson, Mo., and a ski trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Dorm Information: Women’s dorms are suite-style in which four women share a bathroom. Men’s dorms are suite style and community style. Dorms are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis by sending in a $100 nonrefundable dorm fee, which goes toward room and board.
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HARDING UNIVERSITY Searcy | harding.edu Harding University is a private, Christian institution committed to the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences while seeking to strengthen students’ faith and foster a lifetime commitment to serving others. Harding is the largest private university in Arkansas with more than 5,900 enrolled students representing all 50 states and 54 foreign nations and territories. Harding offers 10 undergraduate degrees in more than 100 academic majors, 14 pre-professional programs and 15 graduate and professional degrees. Nearly 50 percent of each graduating class has completed an international trip such as semesterlong programs at one of Harding’s seven international campuses in Africa, Australia, Chilé, England, France, Greece and Italy. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school as a top school in the south for 23 consecutive years and it also ranked ninth in the South in the Best Value School category. “Harding is a Christian university committed to giving every student a ‘why’ to go with the ‘what’ of their studies so that they are prepared to make meaningful contributions to our world. Harding provides an academically excellent Christ-centered education that is financially accessible to everyone. We invite you to join students from all 50 states and 54 nations who come here to be part of our ‘Community of Mission.’”—Dr. Bruce McLarty, president Campus Living & Safety: Harding University is located in Searcy, a safe and friendly city of almost 23,000 people located an hour’s drive from Little Rock. The campus occupies 350 acres with 47 buildings including a library, a world-class recreation center, 14 residence halls and five student apartment complexes. Fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Harding also offers semester-long overseas campus programs in Zambia; Brisbane, Australia; Viña del Mar, Chile; London, England; Paris, France; Athens, Greece; and Florence, Italy. The Harding Department of Public Safety is open 24/7 to ensure the safety and well-being of the campus community. The department employs nearly 70 officers, with armed officers on duty at all times. Golf cart patrols at night provide around 20,000 rides each year for students going to various buildings and residence halls after dark. Tuition & Financial Aid: Tuition for 2016-17 is $17,940 per year. Total cost including tuition, fees, room and board for 2016-17 is $25,395. Ninety-five percent of students receive financial assistance. Internships & Work-Study: The Center for Career Services coordinates multiple career fairs each year to facilitate internship and job placement for students. Additionally, it conducts hiring for hundreds of campus jobs qualifying for work-study. Sports: As a member of the NCAA Division II, Harding athletic programs include men’s intercollegiate competition in baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis and track as well as women’s intercollegiate competition in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and volleyball. Clubs & Activities: Harding offers more than 100 social, musical, religious and academic clubs and organizations, as well as on-campus radio and television stations and a student newspaper. Dorm Information: Nearly all students live on campus in six men’s and eight women’s residence halls as well as five student apartment complexes.
our mission is your success! www.uamont.edu (800) 844-1826
ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Arkadelphia | hsu.edu For 125 years, Henderson State University “The School with a Heart,” has served students and the community alike. Offering 40 bachelor’s degrees, 13 graduate degrees and many other educational programs, the school is consistently ranked for its affordability and quality of programs. The university was named one of the top 50 publicly funded regional universities in the south by U.S. News & World Report rankings. The university received recognition as a 2016 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, placing the school No. 27 among southern colleges and universities. Among the leading majors are teaching, management and accounting at the bachelor and MBA level. Registered nursing, mental health and school counseling programs up to the master’s level and various human services and social work majors are also popular as is learning to soar, literally, through the university’s flight program. “At Henderson State University, we believe in the potential of every person to become an extraordinary leader and difference-maker in society. The university’s very foundation rests on its outstanding ability to educate first-generation college students and students from rural areas by harnessing the transformative power of higher education, and making it available to any and all prospective students who desire to become educated. For 125 years, Henderson State has worked to bridge student aspirations to career success by instilling in students the skills employers most want—communication, decisionmaking, teamwork and problem-solving—through the application of a strong core of liberal arts classes that are applied through professional studies.”— Glen Jones, president Campus Living & Safety: Henderson has implemented several safety measures, including: a mass notification system with 26 alert beacons in academic buildings; the installation of outdoor emergency call phones across campus; an outdoor warning notification system/ siren; Rave Alert emergency mass notification system for sending text messages and emails; and golf carts to safely transport students during evening hours. Henderson police officers are on duty 24 hours a day. The Dunn Recreation Center offers a variety of events, activities, competitive and recreational sporting events, outdoor adventure opportunities, fitness and health education and training. Tuition & Financial Aid: 2016-17 undergraduate in-state resident tuition is $215 per semester hour; out of state resident, $443 per semester hour. Henderson offers scholarships, financial aid and workstudy programs to help make the college experience more affordable for students. Internships & Work-Study: Henderson State prepares students for life-long careers after graduation by encouraging them to use their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom at internships both on and off campus. The work-study program provides part time employment to both undergraduate and graduate students to help supplement educational expenses while providing professional work experience. Sports: The university’s athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division II Great American Conference. Henderson offers 12 men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports including football, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, swimming and diving, golf, cross country and volleyball. Clubs & Activities: Henderson is home to more than 90 organizations, with interests ranging from academics, honor societies,
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religion, music, politics, student government, Greek life, the arts, yearbook and a TV and radio station. Dorm Information: On-campus living has grown immensely at Henderson with a new co-ed residence hall and apartment complex. Henderson offers eight housing options in total, where residents can enjoy on-site laundry facilities, cable TV and wireless Internet, and a recreation center. HENDRIX COLLEGE Conway | hendrix.edu Campus Living & Safety: Approximately 85 percent of students live in college-owned housing, including residence halls (three female, two male, one co-ed); various two- and three-bedroom apartment complexes (Hendrix Corner, Huntington, Front Street); The Quad Houses (co-ed housing on campus); and The Village at Hendrix features two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as new dorm-style living space above commercial restaurants and businesses. Safety is of primary concern on our close-knit campus where students, faculty and staff look out for one another. Hendrix Public Safety Officers patrol the campus and Conway Police respond quickly. Tuition & Financial Aid: 100 percent of students receive some form of financial aid (e.g. combination of scholarships, grants and loans). The average yearly aid is $28,327 (doesn’t include Hendrix Arkansas Advantage or Governor’s Distinguished Scholars awards). Tuition and fees for 2016-2017 are $54,020. Internships & Work-Study: Hendrix College encourages and requires experiential, hands-on learning as a part of every student’s education. Internships allow direct, practical work experience paired with intentional learning components to provide a rich environment for academic, personal and career-oriented growth and reflection. The internship program at Hendrix offers a professional development class to help students learn and hone “real world” professional skills, a one-on-one faculty mentor to help tie what interns are learning in the classroom with what they are learning at their internship sites, and support from Career Services to help students think about their lives after Hendrix and how internship experiences can influence their futures. Hendrix employs more than 500 students annually in nearly 150 unique student job titles, funded through Federal Work-Study and the Hendrix Work Program. Sports: Hendrix participates in 21 NCAA Division III sports. The Wellness and Athletics Center includes a climbing wall, fitness center and space for intramural competition and classes. Approximately 75 percent of students participate in intramurals, club sports and outdoor recreation, or fitness and wellness programs. Clubs & Activities: Hendrix offers more than 70 clubs, some examples include: Hendrix Unity, International Club, Students for Black Culture, The Aonian literary magazine, KHDX (radio), The Profile news magazine, Troubadour yearbook, Hendrix Hillel, Environmental Concerns Committee, Culinary Club, Sword Club, Outdoors Club, Hendrix Bike Revolution, Hendrix Filmmakers, Social Committee and Student Senate. The Miller Center for Vocation, Ethics and Calling funds retreats, internships, volunteer service projects and mission trips to integrate faith and knowledge. The Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs for Literature and Language host regular programs and events including visiting writers.
LYON COLLEGE Batesville | lyon.edu Campus Living & Safety: Safety officers are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Lyon College. Officers secure campus property after business hours, enforce campus policies and maintain order on campus. Officers also serve as a liaison to local police and emergency service authorities. Tuition & Financial Aid: Lyon College boasts a generous scholarship program that provides financial support for 99 percent of the student body. Scholarships offered include the Brown, Anderson, and West scholarships, Honors Day and Scottish Heritage scholarships, and various fine arts, transfer and athletic scholarships. Financial aid staff is also available to assist with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), required for students hoping to qualify for federal Pell grants. Internships & Work-Study: Lyon College offers a federal workstudy program that provides jobs for students with financial needs. The program allows students to work either on- or off-campus and in a variety of positions. Sports: Lyon College fields intercollegiate athletic teams in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling. And what’s more, Lyon student-athletes comprise more than 40 percent of the total student body. Lyon competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Division I’s Midwest Conference (AMC), and Central States Football League (CSFL). Clubs & Activities: Lyon College boasts more than 40 student-run organizations, including service organizations, cultural awareness groups, spiritual and religious groups, student leadership and activism
groups, academic clubs, the Highlander newspaper and the Scot yearbook. In addition, Lyon has cultivated a Scottish Heritage Program designed to teach, preserve and celebrate Scottish arts and traditions in the United States. Students also have the opportunity to zip-line across campus, kayak through the Spring River, plumb the depths of caverns in Blanchard Springs and more with the Lyon Education and Adventure Program (LEAP). Dorm Information: Lyon College has nine residence halls and two apartment-style living spaces. The residential system was originally modeled after the British collegiate house system and strives to integrate the academic and residential programs of the college for the benefit of all students. Within each house is a suite for the Resident Faculty Mentor (RFM), who is a current college faculty or staff member. The RFM guides the residents in programs for the benefit of the entire house. OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY Arkadelphia | obu.edu With a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students come to know their professors as personal mentors at Ouachita Baptist University (OBU), and these relationships are reflected in graduates’ outstanding 97 percent acceptance rate to graduate schools across the nation. Along with being cited among America’s top colleges by U.S. News & World Report for six consecutive years and among Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges listing for the past eight, OBU has also been ranked by USA Today/CollegeFactual.com among the top 100 Best Nationwide Colleges for Your Money. Among its degree programs and pre-
Do you Live Reddie? Whether you want to be a pilot or a teacher, a doctor or an artist, your ambitions can become a reality at Henderson State University. Here, we Live Reddie by empowering you with the tools to excel. We offer more than 70 majors and a variety of academic support resources. Living Reddie is all about our student-centered focus. Henderson State is more than a university. We’re the School with the Heart that prepares you for a successful career and life. Visit hsu.edu to learn how Henderson State can help transform your dreams into a lifetime of achievement.
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR professional offerings in areas such as architecture, engineering and law are brand new courses of study in biophysics, finance and music business that reflect the diversity of today’s students. Not to be missed is the annual Battle for the Ravine, which pits Tiger Nation against Henderson State, is one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, dating back to 1895. “Ouachita Baptist University is a decidedly Christian university with a strong commitment to a quality residential, liberal arts education. Those priorities make all the difference in the lives of our graduates as they invest in their churches, communities and careers. We invite prospective students to discover the Ouachita difference as we pursue academic excellence in a Christ-centered learning community.”—Dr. Ben R. Sells, president
evidenced by our fourth year of record enrollment. Students are attracted to SAU because of our rich and often unique academic programs, our affordability and our increasing reputation as a caring institution. Over the past few years, SAU has established several new and distinctive programs that are proving popular in the state and region. SAU Engineering, which launched fall 2013, already has an enrollment this fall of around 200 students. SAU’s Game Development and Animation Design programs have attracted more than 100 students to Magnolia. Marine Biology is also growing with more than 20 declared majors. Programs recently launched are already garnering attention and include Cybersecurity, Social Entrepreneurship, Welding Engineering Technology, Engineering Technology and Musical Theatre.”—Dr. Trey Berry, president
Campus Living & Safety: With a vibrant residential community, 95 percent of Ouachita students live in campus housing. The university campus is a safe environment with Campus Safety officers on duty 24 hours a day. Tuition & Financial Aid: Total tuition, fees and room and board for the 2017-18 academic year is $32,320. More than 97 percent of students receive financial aid, including generous new merit-based scholarship levels. Internships & Work-Study: Ouachita offers federal work-study positions. Our Career Services office and seven academic schools assist students in securing competitive internships in Arkansas and nationally. Sports: Fourteen NCAA Division II teams compete in the Great American Conference. Men: baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming, tennis and wrestling. Women: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Clubs & Activities: Ouachita offers more than 40 registered campus organizations and a nationally-recognized intramural program. Memorable campus traditions including Scholars Day, Tiger Serve Day and Tiger Tunes. Study abroad programs in 15 countries, including the annual European Study Tour each summer. Dorm Information: Ouachita has nine residence halls, and several apartment buildings are within a few blocks of campus.
Campus Living & Safety: Southern Arkansas University is the fastest growing university in Arkansas. The campus is a buzz with energy and life, and the student-centered atmosphere is felt by firsttime visitors and soon-to-be graduates. SAU has a University Police Department that operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Tuition & Financial Aid: SAU is the most affordable university in Arkansas and has the highest return on investment, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The Office of Financial Aid is able to assist most students in finding financial assistance for their education. SAU also offers a number of scholarship opportunities. Sports: SAU is a competitive member of the NCAA Division II and part of the Great American Conference. Men’s teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, track and golf. Women’s teams compete in volleyball, basketball, cross country, softball, track and golf. The SAU rodeo team is nationally competitive and the SAU fishing team is quite popular. Clubs & Activities: The list of opportunities available outside of the classroom at SAU is as broad and diverse as the list of degree programs. Students can find a niche to match any interest through more than 60 student organizations. Entertainment flavors the campus experience throughout the year as SAU offers professional entertainment, concerts, plays, movies, lectures, workshops and intramural sports to round out the complete college experience. Dorm Information: Through the Residential Interest Group program, SAU offers students the unique experience of living with others who share similar interests. Because of the record enrollments, including campus living, SAU recently completed construction of two new residence halls at the north entrance to campus.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY Magnolia | saumag.edu With enrollment jumping 15.3 percent year-over-year, Southern Arkansas University recorded its fourth straight year of record-setting enrollments and solidified its position as the state’s fastest-growing university. Over the past few years, SAU has established popular new programs including engineering, game development and animation design, marine biology, cybersecurity, and social entrepreneurship. SAU was recognized in 2015 as “Most Affordable” and “Highest Return on Investment” among all Arkansas schools by the U.S. Dept. of Education and ranked the state’s fastest-growing university by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. And, bestvaluesschools. com ranked the school the No. 6 Most Affordable Small College in the U.S. To keep pace, the university has invested millions in capital improvements, including new residence halls and softball complex, repurposing a building for classroom space and upgrading the cafeteria, track, library, alumni center and field house just to name a few. “It is a great time to be a Mulerider! The excitement and energy at Southern Arkansas University’s (SAU) campus is contagious as
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UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH Forth Smith | uafs.edu The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) offers more than 80 future-focused bachelor and associate degrees and certificates to prepare students for the challenges of a changing world. In-demand concentrations include IT programming, security and enterprise computing and information systems management. Healthcare is also big with programs in imaging sciences, practical nursing, radiography and a Master’s of Healthcare Administration to name a few. The university is one of the most affordable in the region, made moreso by 96 percent of UAFS students receiving some form of financial aid, in total more than $54 million awarded. UAFS also stacks up well against peer institutions, named the college with the second-best value for a
criminal justice degree in the U.S. by Best Value Schools and third-best affordable school for the RN to BSN program in the United States by Great Value Colleges. “As one of the best values in the state for a career-focused education, the University of Arkansas—Fort Smith prepares students for the next step in their lives through applied learning overseen by dedicated professors, a tight-knit campus offering numerous leadership opportunities and a unique bond with the community that allows them to do more with their education. Our students apply what they’ve learned in a variety of ways: they paint in international murals festivals, write and direct their own theatrical productions, intern with industry leaders and elected officials, and receive mentoring opportunities from community leaders and CEOs. Visit our beautiful campus and learn more about the opportunities UAFS has to offer.” —Dr. Paul B. Beran, chancellor Campus Living & Safety: UAFS has 104 registered student organizations, and we add on average about ten new organizations every year. During the 2015-16 academic year, our student organizations hosted more than 300 different events and activities both on and off-campus. The UAFS Police Department serves the campus community with full time police services. The department offers safety escorts, lighting tours, emergency phone locations, Rave Guardian App for communication from smart phones, building locks and unlocks and mass alerts through the Lion’s Alert, which allows mass notification alerts.
Tuition & Financial Aid: Undergraduate in-state tuition for 201617 is $160 per credit hour; out-of-state tuition is $437 per credit hour. Each year, more than 80 percent of UAFS undergraduates receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, work-study and other tuition assistance programs. Internships & Work-Study: Internships are one of many ways students receive applied learning opportunities at UAFS, and the university encourages students to pursue internships across the city and beyond. UAFS students have interned with the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), NASA and prestigious literary presses, in addition to companies across the greater Fort Smith region. The university also sends a student to Washington, D.C., each summer to intern with Congressman Steve Womack. Sports: UAFS athletic teams engage in intercollegiate competition in men’s baseball, basketball, golf, tennis and cross country and women’s basketball, golf, tennis, cross country and volleyball. Since becoming a member of NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference, UAFS has won conference championships in volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, and men’s golf. Dorm Information: First-time, full-time in-coming college freshman who want to live on-campus must stay in our Lion’s Den Residence Hall. The Lion’s Den Residence Hall offers suite-style living. Returning students are permitted to live in the Sebastian Commons, which offers apartment-style living.
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK Little Rock | ualr.edu Providing the opportunities of Arkansas’s biggest city, yet small enough to deliver individual attention, the University of Arkansas Little Rock (UALR) represents the best of all possible worlds. UALR’s reputation is particularly distinguished in its engineering programs; UALR’s Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology is ranked the 41st best undergraduate engineering programs nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The College of Business is another popular choice among UALR students, especially with the many partnerships the university has forged within the local business community. The university’s online learning program has always been at the forefront of providing online educational opportunities and today offers more than 450 online courses each semester, making earning a college degree easier and more cost-effective than at any other time in the school’s history. UALR has been rated a militaryfriendly institution for the past six years. “As the newest chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, I’ve been impressed by both the quality of the programs we offer in the heart of our state, and our qualified faculty who are available to our students. In my short time on campus, I’ve become convinced that any student who desires a higher education in a vibrant urban setting does not have to leave the state, nor incur enormous debt, to get it. Our centralized, capital city location offers access to research, internships, service opportunities, employment and much more. Our goal is to see students through to a timely graduation, and ensure they have career-ready skill sets. I urge anyone to come by for a visit and learn about all we offer.”—Andrew Rogerson, Ph.D., chancellor Campus Living & Safety: The Department of Public Safety provides a full range of services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A wide range of measures are in place, including: an emergency alert system to notify students during an emergency or crisis; a transit system for safely traveling to and from classrooms and other buildings; and student lighting walks to determine if campus lights are out or need to be installed. Tuition & Financial Aid: In-state average tuition and fees for the 2016-17 academic year are $8,633. About 70 percent of students receive scholarships and/or financial aid. There are also a variety of scholarships for our diverse student population. Last year, we awarded more than $110 million in scholarships and financial aid. Internships & Work-Study: Our many academic programs offer options in the capital city and across the globe for internships with organizations in government, banking, nonprofits and other industries. The construction management program, for example, brings employers to interview students for internships, which often leads to good-paying jobs before they even graduate. Sports: We are proud members of the Division I Sun Belt Conference. The Little Rock Trojan men’s basketball team completed a historic journey during the 2015-16 season that began with the team’s 10-0 start, continued with the Sun Belt Tournament win, and finished with an upset victory over fifth-seeded Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. Clubs & Activities: A range of organizations are open to students, including Anthropology Club, Clay Guild, Ethics Bowl Team, Student Government Association, Cybersecurity Club and Trojan Elite Dance Team, along with numerous honor societies and social groups.
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Dorm Information : We offer some of the newest on-campus living arrangements in the state. Perks of on-campus living include convenient access to classes and study groups, free cable and Wi-Fi access. Check out ualr.edu/housing for more. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Fayetteville | uark.edu Campus Living & Safety: Nowhere else in the state can students experience the range of majors, classes, research opportunities and access to world-class faculty and cutting-edge facilities offered by the University of Arkansas. And all that happens in Fayetteville, which was recently named No. 3 among the best places to live in the U.S. Tuition & Financial Aid: The U of A is consistently ranked as one of the top research universities and best values in the U.S. Go to admissions.uark.edu to apply or set up a visit to campus to learn what scholarship and financial aid packages are available Internships & Work-Study: The University of Arkansas offers 231 academic programs and certificates, more than any other university in Arkansas. Several colleges and programs rank among the best in the U.S. Many of our graduates have jobs lined up before graduation. Sports: In addition to cheering on the Razorbacks, students at the U of A have many options for their own exercise and recreation. University Recreation offers comprehensive fitness and recreational opportunities, from club sports such as rugby, hockey and quidditch to intramurals in basketball, flag football and volleyball. There are also outdoor activities like rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and bicycling, as well as fitness offerings such as swimming, dance and yoga. Clubs & Activities: The University of Arkansas has more than 400 registered student organizations. If a student can’t find an organization to their liking, they can start No. 401. Students organize campus entertainment programs, including concerts by national acts such as Foo Fighters, Snoop Dogg and John Legend. Distinguished lectures have included speakers like Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel, former President George H.W. Bush, soccer star Abby Wambaugh and Bill Nye, the Science Guy. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT MONTICELLO Monticello | uamont.edu Comprised of three campuses (Monticello, McGehee and Crossett) and covering more than 1,600 acres including timber and farmland, the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) strives for excellence in all its endeavors. UAM ranks among the 50 Most Affordable Small Colleges for a Master’s of Education degree in a recent ranking by topeducationdegrees.com. UAM supports six graduate degrees, 31 baccalaureate degrees, seven associate degrees, 17 technical certificates and is home to the state’s only school of forestry. UAM College of Technology in Crossett and McGehee are in high demand; the schools’ respective rosters of programs have been on the occupational demand list in Arkansas, particularly the southeast portion of the state, for nearly a decade. Over 80 campus organizations, 12 of them Greek, plus a robust athletics program, allow students the opportunity to get involved and social circles during their college experience. “Since becoming chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello in January, I have come to understand and embrace
the unique mission of the institution, which can be summed up in one word—opportunity. UAM provides a broad range of academic opportunities from certificates of proficiency and technical certificates at our Colleges of Technology in Crossett and McGehee, to baccalaureate and master’s degrees on our main campus in Monticello. We are home to the state’s only School of Forestry and Natural Resources; our Computer Information Systems students excel in statewide competitions; our science graduates have one of the state’s highest acceptance rates to professional and graduate schools; and we have a world-renowned jazz program. As we move forward, we will continue to focus on opportunity—for our students to succeed and make their dreams a reality.”— Dr. Karla Hughes, Chancellor Campus Living & Safety: The University Police Department (UPD) has primary responsibility for campus safety, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Specifically, the UPD is responsible for crime prevention, law enforcement, parking control, emergency response, residence hall security, policing of special events, and various other community services on campus. Rave Wireless provides the UAM alert emergency notification system, which can rapidly provide mass notifications during natural disasters or other emergencies taking place on campus. Numerous video surveillance cameras are located in common areas throughout the UAM campus. Tuition & Financial Aid: In-state resident tuition in 2016-17 is $155.00 per hour; out-of-state resident tuition is $350.00 per hour. Sports: UAM is a member of NCAA Division II, the Great American Conference and fields intercollegiate athletic teams in football, basketball, baseball, golf, cross country, volleyball and softball. UAM also offers competition in rodeo for both men and women, although rodeo falls outside the direction of the NCAA.
Clubs & Activities: UAM has a variety of social, service and academic organizations for a well-rounded student experience. The university is home to last year’s national champion debate team, an internationallyrecognized jazz band, a forestry club that dominates the annual Southern Forestry Conclave competition and a number of Greek organizations. Dorm Information: On-campus housing includes traditional and suite-style living in four residence halls as well as an apartment complex. On-campus students have a number of dining options as part of their on-campus experience. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS Conway | uca.edu Campus Living & Safety: The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Police Department is an effective, skilled and progressive organization made up of men and women who are dedicated to their profession and to the mission and values of the university. We are dedicated and committed to improving the quality of life in our community through a spirit of service and the highest standards of personal and professional integrity. The UCA Police Department, comprised of 28 full-time sworn police officers, nine full-time support staff and several part-time staff, provides around-the-clock law enforcement, public safety, emergency management and 9-1-1 services to the UCA community. Tuition & Financial Aid : The mission of Student Accounts is to professionally assist students, parents and third party agencies through the payment process and serve as the main monetary collection point for the University of Central Arkansas. We strive to offer the best possible service consistent with policies and regulations. We provide
An affordable education in the he rt of Arkansas Scholarships available — whether leadership, academic excellence, athletics, or talent — find your inner Trojan at
ualr.edu/scholarships/apply
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR information, assistance and education to students and parents so they can fully understand the cost of attending the university, the dates when these costs are due and the methods of paying the costs. Internships & Work Study : The mission of the Career Services Center is to assist students in maximizing their educational experience by providing access to career planning, programs, presentations and employment opportunities. Career counselors are available to students by appointment to discuss career options and to prepare for the internship-seeking process. Sports: Women’s sports include: basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, soccer, cross country, and track and field. Men’s sports include: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, cross country and track and field. Clubs & Activities: Student Life provides opportunities for learning, leadership, community building, creative expression, volunteerism, mentoring and much more. UCA offers more than 200 student organizations, clubs and recreational activities to help students engage in campus life, and to become active members of the UCA community. Dorm Information: Our campus residences are more than buildings—they are living and learning centers. We have traditional residence halls and apartment options to fit your different housing needs. Living in the residence halls or other campus housing offers everything needed for college survival, as well as many advantages. You will have convenient access to campus facilities, comfortable living accommodations and a residence life staff to help. UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS Clarksville | Ozarks.edu The University of the Ozarks has developed a legacy of pushing boundaries. This private undergraduate university was the first in Arkansas to admit women, the first historically white college in Arkansas to confer a degree on an African American and to racially integrate athletics, and the first in the nation to create a program specifically designed for students with learning disabilities. That groundbreaking spirit continues, as the school combines a liberal arts education with specialization in multiple fields. Ozarks’ innovative LENS Program curriculum allows students to synthesize and connect across many different departments and graduate with an academic major and two minors. The university’s comprehensive academic program includes more than 60 majors, minors and pre-professional programs, and small class sizes ensure one-on-one attention. Ozark also boasts 16 NCAA Div. III sports and 45 campus organizations to suit every interest. “True to a Christian heritage that is more than 180 years old, University of the Ozarks’ mission is to prepare students from diverse religious, cultural, educational and economic backgrounds to live life fully. We have not raised tuition and other fees for four consecutive years, a testament to our commitment to providing the highest possible quality for our students and their families in the most affordable manner. Not only is that consistent with our values, it creates high value for our students.”—Richard L. Dunsworth, president Campus Living & Safety: University of the Ozarks offers seven on-campus residential housing options, ranging from traditional residential halls to apartment-style lodging. On-campus students can take advantage of extensive residential life programming, free on-
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site parking and laundry services, a modern fitness center, cable TV and high-speed Internet, and a full service dining hall and snack bar. The small, well-lighted campus is patrolled 24/7 by the university’s Department of Campus Safety. Tuition & Financial Aid: Each year, the university awards more than $7 million of its institutional funds to student scholarships. Scholarships range from the $8,000 Achievement Scholarship to the full-tuition Hurie Scholarship. Overall, 95 percent of Ozarks students receive some form of financial aid. For the past two years, Ozarks has been ranked as the No. 1 “Best Value” college in the South region by U.S. News & World Report. Internships & Work-Study: Ozarks encourages students to pursue internship opportunities and offers assistance to students who want to take part. The King Endowment for International Study and the Academic Enrichment Fund are competitive grants that provide nearly $100,000 a year for students who want to pursue internships or study abroad opportunities. There are also numerous work-study opportunities throughout campus that students can participate in. Sports: The university’s athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III American Southwest Conference, made of universities throughout Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Ozarks offers 19 men’s and women’s sports programs including: basketball, soccer, cross country, baseball, softball, tennis, wrestling, swimming, cheer, long distance track and shooting sports. Clubs & Activities: The university offers more than 40 clubs and organizations for students, ranging from academic to social to recreation. Also, Ozarks Outdoors is one of the most dynamic outdoor recreation programs in the state, providing numerous opportunities to explore and enjoy the nature-rich environment that is right outside of campus. WILLIAMS BAPTIST COLLEGE Walnut Ridge | wbcoll.edu Campus Living & Safety: Williams Baptist College (WBC) is situated on a beautiful campus of 250 acres in rural northeast Arkansas. Nearly 80 percent of WBC students live on campus in modern and comfortable residence halls. The setting provides a safe environment, and WBC also takes security very seriously, with certified law enforcement officers on duty. Tuition & Financial Aid: Williams is one of the most affordable Christian colleges in the U.S., and financial aid is available for both academics and athletics. More than 90 percent of WBC students receive financial aid. Internships & Work-Study: Williams students enjoy learning and career opportunities through internships in a wide array of fields. Work-study opportunities are also available. Sports: As of the 2017-18 school year, the Williams Eagles field teams in 18 varsity and three junior varsity sports. WBC competes in the American Midwest Conference of the NAIA. Clubs & Activities: There are more than 25 student organizations on the Williams campus, including 10 academic honors societies. Academic organizations frequently compete and make presentations at state and national conferences. Dorm Information: Women’s residence halls are Southerland Hall, Shell Wing and the soon-to-be-completed Belle Hall. Residence halls for men include Nicholas Hall, Butler Hall, Cash Hall and Wilson Hall.
TWO-YEAR COLLEGES ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY AT BEEBE Beebe | asub.edu Campus Living & Safety: Based on Clery Act reporting, ASU-Beebe has been ranked first among the top 450 colleges in the nation for Safest Colleges and Universities by StateUniversity.com. The university police officers are fully certified and authorized to protect the person and property of students and of the university community. In 2014, ASU-Beebe implemented a new emergency mobile alert system which includes phone calls, text messaging, email messaging, social media, website notification, loud speaker announcements and classroom computer screen takeover. Security awareness and crime prevention programs are conducted by the university police throughout the year. Tuition & Financial Aid : Students are looking to have a college degree without a lot of student loan debt and ASU-Beebe offers degree options at a very affordable price. At $98 per credit hour, we offer the lowest tuition in central Arkansas, and an affordable option for students seeking a degree, looking to transfer to other institutions of higher learning or looking to immediately enter the workforce. ASUBeebe offers numerous institution and private scholarships. Complete details on application procedures and requirements are listed on the applications. For a list of available scholarships, criteria and deadlines, view the ASU-Beebe website at asub.edu. Internships & Work-Study: Several work-study positions are available each semester for students who qualify through financial aid. Student services also offers internship positions during the summer.
Sports: Intramural sports provide traditional and non-traditional students on-campus recreation and social activities during the semester. The program provides sports, fun, recreation and exercise for students. Faculty members supervise the program, and students voluntarily take part during after class hours. Co-educational teams provide competition in a variety of activities. Clubs & Activities: Participation in campus life can be a significant part of a student’s educational experience, and ASU-Beebe offers several organizations and clubs that offer students the opportunity to build leadership skills and provide social interaction. For a list of clubs and organizations, view the ASU-Beebe website at asub.edu. Dorm Information: As the only community college in Arkansas with traditional residence halls, ASU-Beebe is a true college experience both academically and socially. The residence halls accommodate a total capacity of 248 students. Having a smaller on-campus community makes it much easier for students to become acquainted with each other, form study groups and make friends. Room, board and laundry costs are $3,015 for a single room and $2,590 for a double room per semester.
#DOMOREUAFS
do more. “At UAFS, I can become the leader I want to be. The friendly campus lets me create lasting relationships and pursue countless opportunities.” - HEATHER DEERE
UAFS.EDU
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE LITTLE ROCK Little Rock | bhclr.edu
NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE Hot Springs | np.edu
With nine programs of study and nearly 100 years of distinguished service within the medical fields, Baptist Health College Little Rock has a long and distinguished history of providing education, mentoring, academic support and student services in developing the healthcare professionals of the future. Academic programs include training in patient care professions (practical nursing, registered nursing, occupational therapy assistant, nuclear medicine technology, radiography, sleep technology, and surgical technology) and laboratory roles (histotechnology and medical laboratory science). These programs of study vary in length from one-year certificate programs, a two-year associate degree and a number of baccalaureate degree programs in affiliation with partnering colleges and universities. In each of Baptist Health’s programs, students receive extensive clinical experience that begins early in the educational process. This aspect of the curriculum has earned the college an unparalleled reputation for producing professional, work-ready graduates. “Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) is a unique institution guided by the healthcare workforce needs in Arkansas. We offer oneyear programs, associate degrees and bachelor degrees through several university affiliations. Our outcomes in retention, board/registry passage and graduate placement are competitive and are available on our website. BHCLR offers rich clinical experiences and a Christian environment. Individuals who fit well in healthcare have a natural tendency to care for others, enjoy learning and challenge and exhibit professionalism in all areas of their life. The field of healthcare is dynamic and growing, and there are many avenues to an incredible career. Visit our website to learn more at bhclr.edu.”—Judy Pile, chancellor Campus Living & Safety: Since 1921, Baptist Health College Little Rock has served the needs of residents throughout Arkansas and the region by providing quality, clinical-focused healthcare education in the areas of nursing and allied health. Currently serving approximately 800 students each year, BHCLR offers students small classroom sizes and one-on-one attention. Our diverse programs include Registered & Practical Nursing, Histotechnology, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Sleep Technology and Surgical Technology. If you have further questions about our programs, please feel free to visit our website, bhclr. edu, for more information about program requirements, admission procedures and cost plans. If you would like to schedule an appointment to tour the school or discuss your educational opportunities with Baptist Health College Little Rock, call 501-202-6220 or email study@bhclr.edu. Tuition & Financial Aid: BHCLR is proud to offer state and federal financial aid options, as well as local scholarships earned by students. We also offer Baptist Health Foundation Scholarships, open to all students. These scholarships vary in award and you can find the application with the Financial Aid Office. If you have any questions about the types of financial aid offered, please contact our Financial Aid Office at 501-202-7486 or email financialaid@bhclr.edu.
Campus Living & Safety: National Park College (NPC) has armed security guards during business hours through a private company and a contracted Garland County Sheriff’s Deputy. NPC uses an opt-in “allcall” text/email/phone call system to notify the campus community about threats regarding security or weather. The campus is also equipped with a campus-wide loudspeaker system. As part of NPC orientation, students are briefed on the Title IX law and the college’s no tolerance sexual harassment policy. Each semester workshops in SafeZone LGBTQ awareness are offered to faculty, staff and students. NPC employs a full time mental health professional whose services are available to students free of charge. The campus has a Veteran Center for students transitioning from military service. Tuition & Financial Aid: NPC is less than half the cost of a fouryear university. We lowered tuition to $88/credit hour and haven’t raised it for two years. 71 percent of NPC students receive financial aid. Last year more than 2,046 students received more than $8.8 million in scholarships and aid. NPC also offers tuition and graduate guarantees. Your tuition will not increase as long as you are continuously enrolled. Plus, we promise you will graduate with the skills employers and transfer institutions expect, or you can retake those courses tuition-free. Internships & Work-Study: Many of NPC’s programs of study offer internship opportunities. Health Science related degrees have clinical experiences built in to the curriculum. Work-study is available for students who qualify through federal financial aid. Sports: NPC has men’s, women’s and co-ed teams for intramural basketball, volleyball, softball, and flag football. NPC also has a newly renovated, well-equipped Wellness Center that is available for student use free of charge. There is a weight room, cardio equipment, workout space, and fully equipped gymnasium. Clubs & Activities: Campus clubs and organizations are active in hosting student activities and events. Students can choose to participate in clubs like Anime, Film Group, or Cultural Diversity Club. We have an active Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, along with many program-specific organizations to build connections in your field of study. As part of a three-tiered shared governance structure, the NPC Student Government Association serves as the voice of the student body to college administration. The Office of Student Life hosts campus-wide student activities throughout the semester.
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NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Bentonville | nwacc.edu Campus Living & Safety: The College offers tutoring centers for math, reading and writing to assist students. The Pauline Whitaker Library and Information Commons have been updated with modern furniture and areas for both quiet and group study. Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) prides itself on being a safe campus for all students. Officers from the Department of Public Safety can be seen patrolling the campus and answering questions from students. Tuition & Financial Aid: NWACC strives to keep its tuition rates affordable and has not had a tuition increase in four years. There are many opportunities for scholarships and a majority of our students receive financial aid.
A diamond emerges. Formed by unimaginable pressures. Tougher than tough. Unbreakable. Shaped, polished. Its brilliant inner light released.
Surprise Yourself. Dig Deeper.
Discover the diamond that is you at Pulaski Tech.
www.pulaskitech.edu
WHAT’S THE OUACHITA DIFFERENCE? OBU is a leading liberal arts university with a 12:1 student-tofaculty ratio in a Christ-centered learning community. Come discover the Ouachita difference for yourself – academically, spiritually and personally.
WWW.OBU.EDU // 1.800.DIAL.OBU THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE TOUR Internships & Work-Study: Several work-study positions are available. Internships may be available at local companies and employers. Sports: NWACC has Club Sports, but does not have intercollegiate sports. Clubs & Activities: NWACC has more than 25 clubs and organizations for students to join. Also, our Student Government and Ambassadors Association hosts several events for students to meet other students and learn about ways to be involved on campus. Activities include Welcome Week, Fall Clubs Fair, Pizza with the President, Volunteer Fair, Fall Festival and more. At the request of students, NWACC added a hammock farm where students can study or relax. OZARKA COLLEGE Melbourne | ozarka.eu Campus Living & Safety: Ozarka College makes every effort to provide a safe campus for students, employees and their property. Tuition & Financial Aid: Tuition is $88 per credit hour. Financial aid is available for those who qualify and a representative is available at each campus to assist students in completing their application, and to answer any questions they may have. We provide face-to-face counseling and support throughout the entire process. Internships & Work-Study: Yes Clubs & Activities: The college offers Phi Theta Kappa, Student Government Association and Student Ambassadors. PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE North Little Rock | myptc.pulaskitech.edu Pulaski Technical College (PTC) is a comprehensive two-year college that serves the educational needs of central Arkansas through technical programs, a university transfer program and specialized programs for business and industry. PTC made two bold statements about the future of the campus recently with the completion of a pair of stunning, state-of-the-art buildings, the two-story, 60,000-square-foot Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute and 60,000-square-foot Center for Humanities and the Arts. In addition to the new buildings, the school received two Title III grants totaling $5.25 million last year from the U.S. Department of Education. Both grants are five-year awards that will support student programs at PTC. Pulaski Tech has been a main source of transfer students to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for many years and articulation agreements with state universities ensure easy transfer of college credits. “As a leader in higher education in Arkansas, Pulaski Technical College is here to meet the educational needs of students, business, industry and the entire community we serve. Whether a student wants to further his or her education at a four-year institution with our university-transfer curriculum or desires to enter the workforce with an in-demand skill set, Pulaski Tech is committed to improving the quality of life for the people of central Arkansas. The college empowers our students with the knowledge and skills that give them the ability to transform their futures. And as our students succeed, the entire community benefits.”—Dr. Margaret Ellibee, president
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Tuition & Financial Aid : In-state tuition is $130 per credit hour. Out-of-state tuition is $168 per credit hour. Financial aid and workstudy opportunities are available. Clubs & Activities: Pulaski Technical College student organizations include: Amicus Curiae Paralegal Club, Collegiate Entrepreneur’s Organization, Fine Arts Association, History Club, Lambda Lambda Lambda English Honor Society, Metro Student Ministries, Philosophy Club, Phi Beta Lambda business professional organization, Phi Theta Kappa international honor society, Pulaski Tech Film Society, Pulaski Tech Psychology Society, Student Ambassadors, Student Government Association, Skills USA and Pulaski Technical College Young Democrats. SHORTER COLLEGE North Little Rock | shortercollege.edu A two-year liberal arts institution, Shorter College offers students an opportunity to complete their education with individualized attention due to small class size, while providing a number of supports such as peer tutors, student success coaches and a literacy and math lab. The college has a long history steeped in developing competent leadership among African Americans and providing instruction leading to a general education. With alums such as Scipio A. Jones, a former slave and civil rights lawyer, and Daisy Gatson Bates, civil rights champion and supporter of the 1957 integration of Little Rock Central High School, Shorter College has etched its name indelibly in the struggle for equal rights. The school currently offers five such degrees including general studies, Christian leadership, childhood development, criminal justice and entrepreneurial studies and special programs that help people turn their lives around through education. Tuition & Financial Aid: Students enrolled at Shorter College enjoy a quality level of education at an affordable cost. Although it is a private college, the cost of tuition and fees is highly competitive with other public colleges and universities in the state. Out-of-state students are not charged additional fees. Financial aid such as grants, loans and scholarships are available to assist students with the cost of tuition, books and fees! Payment arrangements are available to students who are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid. Tuition for full time students is $2,052 per semester. SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE El Dorado | southark.edu Campus Living & Safety: South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk) does not have student housing. It takes its commitment to safety seriously, with an on-campus emergency messaging system, call stations in facility parking lots, a security camera system and emergency call and text messaging capabilities. Tuition & Financial Aid: The 2016-17 in-district tuition is $83 per credit hour. Out-of-district in-state students pay $96 per credit hour. Out-of-state students pay $172 per credit hour. Out-of-state students living in five north Louisiana parishes pay the out-of-district in-state rate. SouthArk offers a range of scholarship opportunities, funded through institutional sources and a private educational foundation, as well as other sources. Internships & Work-Study: SouthArk offers both internship opportunities and work-study.
Sports: As a state-funded Arkansas community college, SouthArk is by law not allowed to have extramural sports. Clubs & Activities: The college has a Student Government Association, Student Ambassadors, chapters of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Phi Beta Lambda business organization and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. It also offers other volunteer and leadership opportunities. Dorm Information: The college does not offer student housing. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH Camden | sautech.edu Campus Living & Safety: Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAUT) has on-campus and off-campus housing for students. The college has a police department, which provides security for the campus. Tuition & Financial Aid: Tuition for SAUT is $108 per credit hour for in-state students. The college offers institutional and foundation scholarships, and provides free services to students who need help applying for federal financial aid. Internships & Work-Study: SAUT has opportunities for workstudy and extra help jobs for students. Some programs provide paid internship opportunities. Sports : Intramural sports include football and basketball. Clubs & Activities: RHA, PBL and more student clubs are available to students. Dorm Information: On-campus cost of housing is $1,100 to $1,300 per semester per resident.Off-campus cost of housing is $1,300 per semester per resident. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT HOPE Hope | uacch.edu Campus Living & Safety: No campus housing. Offers on-campus police. Tuition & Financial Aid : Tuition is $64 per credit hour. Internships & Work-Study : Available. Sports: Shooting sports team. Clubs & Activities: Clubs offered include: Arkansas Licensed Practical Nursing Association (ALPNA), Campus Crusades for Christ (CRU), Fine Arts Club, Funeral Services Club, Information Technology Club, Multicultural Club, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Shooting Sports Cub, Student Government Association (SGA), T&I Club and TRiO Student Success Club.
A world of ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. EXPLORE.OZARKS.EDU
How can YOU help? MAKE A MONETARY DONATION • ORGANIZE A FOOD DRIVE INCLUDE THE FOODBANK IN YOUR ESTATE PLANS VOLUNTEER • BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR
Help bring cheer this holiday season ArkansasFoodbank.org
THESAVVYMOMS.COM | NOVEMBER 2016
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bag check I CARRY SHOUT WIPES BECAUSE 3-YEAR-OLDS ARE MESSY, AND SO ARE 35-YEAR-OLDS!
I KEEP THIS PERFUME HANDY FOR DAYS WHEN I’M REALLY DRAINED AND NEED A LITTLE BOOST.
A FRIEND TURNED ME ON TO THIS BOOK. IT’S REALLY ENLIGHTENED ME ON WORKPLACE DYNAMICS.
THIS URBAN DECAY LIPSTICK IS MY NEW FALL COLOR. I CHOSE IT FOR THE NAME, “MRS. MIA WALLACE.”
I CARRY THE SELFIE STICK SINCE I TRAVEL ALONE WITH MY SON. I’D NEVER GET ANY PICTURES OF US WITHOUT IT!
MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED FOR 6 MONTHS. WE STILL HAVE 6 MONTHS TO GO, SO MY SON AND I WRITE HIM LETTERS CONSTANTLY.
LAURA SESSOMS GRIMES
LAURA SESSOMS GRIMES ISN’T A REGULAR MOM. SHE’S, LIKE, A COOL MOM. THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK RESIDENT IS A RETAIL BUYER AND PHOTO STYLIST. WHEN SHE’S NOT SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT FAVORITE THING, SHE CAN BE FOUND ON ADVENTURES WITH HER BUBBLY 3-YEAR-OLD SON, JULIAN “BUZZ,” OR COORDINATING FAMILY FACETIME CALLS WITH HER HUSBAND, DEPLOYED CAPTAIN BEN GRIMES.
54 NOVEMBER 2016 2016 | | THESAVVYMOMS.COM THESAVVYMOMS.COM 54 NOVEMBER
THIS KATE SPADE BAG WAS A RECENT “TREAT YO’ SELF” PURCHASE! THE NEUTRAL GRAY GOES WITH EVERYTHING.
PHOTOGRAPHY: INC. BY CARPER CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY/STYLING: AMY GORDY
MY SON LOVES THESE CARS AND DINOS. I ALWAYS KEEP THEM HANDY FOR CAR RIDES AND RESTAURANTS.
for a healthy smile. The journey to strong teeth and good health starts with a single visit. Your child’s first appointment, to be exact. Around the time they turn one, or when their first tooth arrives on the scene, your child is ready to get to know us. And from that introduction will come years and years of smiles that just get bigger and bigger.
Little Rock: Rodney Parham | Little Rock: Geyer Springs Bryant | Hot Springs | Pine Bluff | Searcy | Cabot
1-844-LEAPKID | LEAPKIDSDENTAL.COM
James L. Bevans, DDS, MS, Pediatric Dentist Bryan K. Angel, DDS, Pediatric Dentist Lowell Williams, DDS, MS, Pediatric Dentist Blake H. Chandler, DMD, Pediatric Dentist Charles K. Morin, DMD, MSC, Pediatric Dentist Robert C. Goldtrap, DDS
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The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures 2013
The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures 2013
1-800-264-5640
www.rivendellofarkansas.com Most insurances accepted including Medicare, Tricare, BCBS, UBH, Ambetter and Private Option.
New outpatient program transportation now available. We have two drivers to pick up clients in a 30-45 mile radius. We accept Private Option, Medicare and Private Insurance along with out of pocket credit card payment.
Inpatient Care
Detox & Acute Psychiatric Care Inpatient Hospitalization for Adults and Children • No Cost Confidential Assessments • 24 Hour Emergency Admissions • Psychiatric Evaluation & Physician Supervised Stabilization • Substance Abuse Detox Program • Counseling & Education • 4 Group Sessions per Day • On Site AA/NA Support • Friend & Family Visitation • Discharge Planning
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Day Treatment
Partial Hospitalization & Recovery 2 Week Day Program for Adults (Insurance/Private Pay) • • • • • • • • • •
Monday-Friday 9am-2pm 4 Hours of Therapy Sessions Daily Medication Management by Team Psychiatrist Lunch & Refreshments included Recreational Activities Guided Journaling Life Skills Seminar Individual Case Management & Aftercare Plan Transportation Provided to Neighboring Cities Referrals for Follow Up Support