2018
MONTH February
REVIEW ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY-NEWPORT
Board of Visitors On February 2, ASU-Newport’s Board of Visitors held it’s quarterly meeting. The committee discussed items that affect the ideas and comments from those in attendance.
Graduate Success
Congratulations to Hospitality Services graduate Ashtyn Hayse! The Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting on February 2 for The Teapot, Ashlyn’s new specialty grocery store and restaurant located in Jonesboro. We were honored to be invited to share in her success, and we wish her the very best!
Celebrating Black History Month ASU-Newport celebrated Black History Month with several events. Starting Monday, February 12, we enjoyed the first of three presentations from Guest Speaker LaTasha Wakefield Robinson. The Lunch-NLearn topic was “Finding Purpose in Your Pain.” Starting Thursday, February 15, students visited A-State Museum’s “Sorting Out Race” exhibit, and students were also invited to take a Virtual Journey of the Civil Rights Movement through Canvas!
Images of Success and Service at ASU-Newport
The first Coffeehouse of the Spring 2018 semester was held at ASUN-Jonesboro on Thursday, February 8th at 5pm in the Fowler Family Hospitality Services Building. The Coffeehouse sessions allow students the opportunity to showcase their wide array of talents, as well as gives an opportunity to sample the delicious treats created by the ASUN Hospitality Services Program.
Check out these ASU-Newport Practical Nursing students! On February 16, they worked with the JCCHC to educate almost 200 families about health related issues in Jackson County!
ASUN culinary students enjoyed hosting Newport High School’s Food Production class on February 13 on the Jonesboro Campus. The class came to us from the Hungry Hound Cafe, a student-run restaurant at Newport High School. Students had the opportunity to tour our kitchen, get insight about the food industry from Chef Kevin, and enjoy homemade pizzas.
Another great day at Newport High School on February 16 with the ASUN Enrollment Services team assisting seniors with the ASU-Newport admission application, the Arkansas Higher Education YOUniversal app & the FAFSA!
The fun times kept coming as ASUNewport staff went to McCrory School District on February 28 to help High School students complete their FAFSA and ASUN college application!
Scholarship On February 15, ASU–Newport announced the inaugural recipient of the Three Rivers Healthcare & Rehabilitation Scholarship as Jacob Breytspeak. According to ASUN’s Director of Nursing and Allied Health Christopher Hicks, Breytspeak was chosen among the qualified applicants for his essay, which stood out within the field of scholarship candidates. “All of the applicants academically were fairly equal,” said Hicks. “So, that left the essay portion of the application. I read each applicant’s essay and when I read Jacob’s, I knew he was Above, left to right: Teriann Turner (ASUN), Jacob Breytspeak, Tara Dunnick (Three Rivers), Brittney Ward (Three Rivers) deserving of this scholarship.” Breytspeak’s essay delved into his own medical struggles and his candid paper showed his exemplary dedication to achieving his career aspirations. “In his essay, Jacob openly talked about a medical condition that he has had since he was a teenager and how that has driven him to enter a career in healthcare. He wants to take his experience and help others, so they do not have similar problems. He plans on working with geriatric patients while continuing his nursing education.” Breytspeak, who will receive a $1,000 scholarship, will complete his Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) training at ASUN before transferring to Arkansas State University where he intends to obtain his bachelor’s degree in nursing. The $1,000 Three Rivers Healthcare & Rehabilitation Scholarship is awarded twice a year to students enrolled in an LPN or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. To be eligible, a student must have a minimum cumulative high school or college grade point average of 2.5, be enrolled in a minimum of six units at the Marked Tree campus and be a resident of Poinsett County, Arkansas. Scholarship awards can be applied toward tuition, class fees and textbooks.
ASU-Newport Patron Series - Jack Wright Thanks to everyone who came to ASU-Newport on February 16 for the second concert in our Patron Series, Jack Wright: The Songs and Stories of Neil Diamond! Jack Wright gives his audiences a sophisticated, authentic performance of the hit songs that have kept Neil Diamond in the hearts of his fans for more than five decades. He captures Neil’s poetic expressions of wide-ranging emotions, and the eclectic mix of his varied musical styles. He also shares stories about Neil’s life, and explanations of his sometimes complex and complicated lyrics. Jack connects with his audiences the way Neil always has, while making the songs his own.“Being able to sing Neil Diamond songs with a voice that sounds a lot like his is a gift -- not an effort. ... If people can connect to Neil, and to each other through me, I’ve accomplished something that’s fulfilling and rewarding.”
ASU-Newport Hosts Energy Control Competition On Tuesday, February 20 nineteen students from six area high schools converged on the Marked Tree campus of Arkansas State UniversityNewport for the annual Energy Control Competition. This event was hosted by ASU-Newport’s Energy Control Technology program, and a total of $12,000 in scholarships was awarded to the winning participants. The purpose of the contest was to provide the competitors with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the industry relevant to safetyoriented procedures and hands-on applications, both through practical and theoretical application. The competition included tests on safety From left: Michael Nowlin, ASUN Interim Dean of Applied Science, Cory Fuller and skills in hard wiring, schematic (Second Place), Michael Gann (First Place), Alex Gibson (Third Place), and Dr. drawing, tool identification and an Ashley Buchman, ASUN Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs electrical written test. Taking first place was Michael Gann of Valley View High School. Gann received a $1,500 scholarship, renewable for up to four semesters at ASU-Newport. Second place went to Cory Fuller of Piggott High School. Fuller received a $1,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four semesters at ASU-Newport. Finishing third was Alex Gibson of Piggott High School. Gibson received a $500 scholarship, renewable for up to four semesters at ASU-Newport. “We’re pleased with the turnout and participation in the Energy Control Competition and look forward to hosting the event every year,” said Mark Constant, Advanced Instructor for Energy Control Technology at ASU-Newport. “We’re grateful to all the participating schools for allowing their students and instructors to attend the competition. Our ASUN students did another great job judging the competition, and we’d like to thank our industry partners who help make our competition successful.”
From Left: Matt Getman, Instructor of Energy Control Technology, Mark Constant, Advanced Instructor of Energy Control Technology, Michael Gann (First Place), Caliem Morris, Valley View HS FFA Sponsor
From Left: Matt Getman, Instructor of Energy Control Technology, Mark Constant, Advanced Instructor of Energy Control Technology, Alex Gibson (Third Place), Cory Fuller (Second Place), Casey Simpson, Piggott HS FFA Sponsor
ASU-Newport Hosts Energy Control Competition
ASUN-Jonesboro Holds Ninth-Annual Weldathon More than 51 students from 17 area high schools converged on the Jonesboro campus of Arkansas State University-Newport Feb 22 for the ninth-annual Northeast Arkansas Weldathon, hosted by ASU-Newport and Ozarc Gas. Over $30,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded to the schools and team members who participated. The purpose of the contest was to provide the competitors with the opportunity to demonstrate practical and theoretical application, and showcase their skills and knowledge in the industry as it pertains to safety-oriented welding and metal fabrication. Competitors were tested on safety and skills in print From left: First Place Winners from Paragould High School, Elijah Williams, Zack reading, welding knowledge, MIG Williamson, Bruce Ratliff and James Potter welding and fabrication. First place in the high school division went to Paragould High School. Team members, under the direction of advisor James Potter, were Zack Williamson, Bruce Ratliff and Eli Williams. Team members received renewable $1,500 scholarships to ASU-Newport, first-place medals and Fronius gear packs. Paragould High School was awarded a Fronius Transsteel welding system. Second place went to Rivercrest High School, represented by Tanner Austin, Chance Ainsworth and Aaron Sherrill and advisor Dave Diagostino. In addition to a $1,000 renewable scholarship to Arkansas State University-Newport, the team received second-place medals and Fronius gear packs. Rivercrest High School was also presented with a Fronius Transsteel welding system. Finishing third was Cross County High School, represented by students Dakota Moore, Bradley Karnes and Matthew McGinnis and advisor Henry Laxton. In addition to a $500 renewable scholarship to Arkansas State UniversityNewport, each student received third-place medals and a Lincoln student gear pack. Cross County High School was awarded an ESAB Cutmaster 82 plasma welding system.
From left: Second Place Winners from Rivercrest High School, Chance Ainsworth, Aaron Sherrill and Tanner Austin
From left: Third Place Winners from Cross County High School, Dakota Moore, Henry Laxton, Matthew McGinnis and Bradley Karnes
ASUN-Jonesboro Holds Ninth-Annual Weldathon
ASUN-Jonesboro Holds Ninth-Annual Weldathon
Diamond sponsors for the Weldathon were Arkansas State University-Newport, Ozarc Gas and Equipment, American Railcar Industries, Fronius USA, Hytrol Conveyor and the Workforce Training Consortium. Platinum sponsors were Ace Industrial Products, Bohler UTP, Nucor Steel, Pferd Incorporated and Trinity Industries. Gold sponsors were Anchor Packaging and Lincoln Electric.  Silver sponsors were American Torch Tip, Employee Solutions, ESAB/Victor and Great Dane Trailers. Bronze sponsors were Bernard Welding, Industrial Sales and Marketing, Hypertherm, Riceland and Weldsafe Inc.