2017
MONTH November/December
REVIEW ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY-NEWPORT
Marked Tree Celebrates 50 Years Arkansas State University-Newport celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its Marked Tree campus with a public celebration on Friday, November 3, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Founded in 1967 as Delta Vocational Technical School, the Marked Tree campus initially offered seven vocational programs, maintained a staff of 17, and enrolled 71 students. Today, 50 years later, the campus boasts 25 full-time staff members and faculty, 30-40 parttime employees, serves an average of 250 students a year, and offers seven in-demand technical programs including Automotive Service Technician, Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology, Energy Control Technology, Computer and Networking Technology, Cosmetology, Surgical Technology, and Practical Nursing. “Over the last 50 years, the Marked Tree campus has seen over 11,000 full-time students graduate and make better lives for themselves and their families,” stated ASUN Chancellor Dr. Sandra Massey. “We celebrate this important milestone with the local community, and look forward to the positive economic, social, and cultural impact the campus will continue to have on its students, the local community, and its residents.” In addition to offering associate degrees, technical certificates, and certificates of proficiency, the Marked Tree campus also offers an Adult Education GED program. Since 1970 more than 4,000 students have successfully completed this GED program.
More Photos from the Marked Tree Event
Joining Us In Celebration Trey Stafford: “Got to see some amazing things today celebrating the 50th anniversary of ASU-Newport’s Marked Tree Campus (formerly Delta Vo-Tech). Surgical Tech students were practicing an open appendectomy. Also saw the auto mechanic, body work, Energy (HVAC and Refrigeration), Cosmetology, Nursing. There are a lot of opportunities for someone to learn a great skill. Some students are right out of high schol...some are nontraditional or in-between! Thanks to ASU-Newport Marked Tree campus for inviting The Fox!”
News and Happenings Around ASUN Congratulations to this year’s Phi Theta Kappa Inductees!
ASU-Newport Surgical Technology students who attended the Arkansas State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists workshop received a $50 pizza party for their donation to Toys For Tots!
News and Happenings Around ASUN
Current and former members of all branches of the military were invited to attend ASUNewport’s Veterans Appreciation Day on each ASUN Campus! Refreshments as well as helpful information for any active duty military or veterans were available at each event.
Local artist Julie Reardon provided a fascinating and fun lesson on how to repurpose shattered glass into beautiful Christmas trees! Each of the eleven participants had a different and inspired idea of how their artwork should look and enjoyed a wonderful time assembling it! Their glass art was on display in the ASUNewport Library.
News and Happenings Around ASUN Congratulations to ASUN Student Meghan Cantara for being elected Director of State Programs for Arkansas PBL! Meghan will assist the state advisers with planning state conferences, assist with competitive event guidelines and coordinate chapter involvement with national and state approved charitable organizations. Congratulations Meghan! Phi Theta Lambda (PBL) is a student business organization that focuses on building essential soft skills, networking with accomplished business professionals and providing students the opportunities to participate in state and local charity events, skill building workshops & state and national competitions.
ASUN’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society sponsored a FOOD DRIVE November 13-17, 2017. With help from the ASUN community, they were able to collect and donate 125 pounds of food! Thank you to everyone that contributed to the PTK Food Drive benefitting local food pantries in Newport, Jonesboro and Marked Tree!
Phi Theta Kappa announced in November that Arkansas State University-Newport Nursing graduate Kiana Bolden was one of 10 society members to receive a Hurst Review National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) Scholarship. The scholarship, funded by National Nursing Exam Prep Company Hurst Review Services, is given exclusively to Phi Theta Kappa Nursing majors to help cover the NCLEX® exam fee and the cost of study materials. All scholarship winners will receive a passcode to use the Hurst Review study materials and a $250 scholarship to pay for the exam. Ms. Bolden is a recent graduate of the ARNEC program at ASUN. “We are so proud of Kiana and how hard she has worked,” said Dr. Sandra Massey, Chancellor. “She is well-deserving of this scholarship and is a great representation of the ASUN Nursing program. The nurses we are training at ASUN will have a significant and lasting impact on the communities they serve.”
Congratulations to these 40 students who were selected to be the 2018 ARNEC class at ASU-Newport!
A Tasty Competition Truly Asian Restaurant hosted a COOKING COMPETITION Saturday, November 18th featuring 3 top ASU-Newport Hospitality Services students. Each student served 3 of their best dishes (appetizer, entree and dessert) to 7 judges (Dr. Jason Brandt, Jana Brandt, Gale Markley, Heather Short, Chef Dennis Wijaya, Lana Holt and Chef Kevin Gee), as well as 32 customers. The judges and customers were the final decision for the competition and selected Bryan Hernandez as the winner! Hernandez received $250 plus an opportunity to showcase his winning dish at Truly Asian Restaurant. Second and third place winners, Ashtyn Hayse and Shyann Sing, each received $100. Special thanks to Truly Asian Restaurant for hosting this amazing event!
Honoring Lt. Patrick Weatherford The Criminal Justice program at Arkansas State University Newport was rededicated Thursday, November 3, 2017, commemorating its new name that honors a fallen officer. The college is now home to the Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford Criminal Justice Department. Weatherford was killed in the line of duty earlier this year. “On June 12, this community suffered one of it’s most tragic moments,” Arkansas State University Newport Chancellor Dr. Sandra Massey said during the ceremony. “Along with many others who loved and respected Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford, the ASUN campus was devastated by this loss.” Dr. Massey stated she was thankful that their board of trustees chose to honor Weatherford’s legacy. “It’s really nice to be able to come together and actually celebrate the contributions that he made, not just at the college, but in the community,” Massey said. She believes Weatherford is a great role model to other officers, community members, and future students who will pursue a career in law enforcement. “He loved education. Once he began, he didn’t stop. It was that important to him,” she said. “And I’m sure he made an impact on other law enforcement officers and others who wanted to go into that field.” The chair of the ASU - Newport Criminal Justice Advisory Board is Weatherford’s colleague and friend, Captain Ricky Morales with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. “Prior to Patrick’s death, he was offered an opportunity to leave Newport,” Morales said. “He declined because his heart was here in Newport.” Morales said that they could never thank Weatherford enough for his sacrifice. Article courtesy of KAIT-TV
Honoring Lt. Patrick Weatherford
Many friends and colleagues attended the ceremony and provided comments to praise Weatherford’s selfless dedication to students, faculty, and staff of ASUN as well as the Newport community. “We honor his memory with this enduring recognition as a testament to his integrity and service.�
ASUN Celebrates the Holidays The Faculty and Staff of Arkansas State University - Newport paused during December to celebrate the holiday with good food and fun fellowship. December 6 was the date of the ASU-Newport Marked Tree Christmas gathering, the Jonesboro Campus celebrated on December 8, and festivities were enjoyed in Newport on December 13.
Marked Tree Campus
ASUN Celebrates the Holidays
Jonesboro Campus
ASUN Celebrates the Holidays
Newport Campus