GEORGE HARRIS
JIM NEELEY
ANNA & KELLY KOONCE
CH A NCELLOR ’S | MESSAGE
Welcome
to the autumn edition of UAM Magazine. For those of us in
higher education, this is one of our favorite times of the year as the upper classmen return to campus and we welcome a new group of freshmen ready to begin an exciting chapter in their lives. One of our priorities in the coming year is to improve student retention, particularly in the freshman class, with a goal of raising our graduation rates. This year we are engaging in an aggressive and comprehensive campus-wide effort to ease the transition from high school to college and promote student success. We are instituting a program in e-mentoring to improve students’ online learning skills, launching “The First Four Weeks” initiative to help freshmen through the critical first weeks of college, and enhancing our first-year experience program to better provide the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college. As UAM Magazine goes to press, the search for a new chancellor continues. I commend Mary Whiting, chair of
the search committee, and the committee members for their efforts on behalf of the institution. Please make plans to join us as we celebrate Homecoming October 8-10. On October 8, we will induct five new members into the UAM Sports Hall of Fame. On October 9, you are invited to the Alumni and Friends Party at the chancellor’s home, and on October 10, during halftime ceremonies at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium, we will retire jersey number 14 worn with distinction by former Weevil quarterback Sean Rochelle. For a complete schedule of Homecoming events, see page 2 in this magazine. I invite you to visit your campus and see the great things going on at UAM.
ON THE COVER: Alumni honorees George Harris, Jim Neeley and Kelly and Anna Koonce grace our autumn cover with the library as backdrop. For information, you may contact: Linda Yeiser, Vice Chancellor for Advancement and University Relations (870) 460-1028 (office) (870) 460-1324 (FAX) yeiser@uamont.edu Lisa Jo Ross, Director of Alumni Affairs (870) 460-1028 (office) rosslj@uamont.edu If you want to find out what’s happening on campus, or want to contact us about something significant that’s happened in your life, check out our website at www.uamont.edu. Parents, if your son or daughter attended UAM and is no longer living at this address, please notify our office of his or her new address. Thank you.
#BEaWeevil
Jay Jones Interim Chancellor ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Paul Griffin ‘95 / Monticello Vice Chair Beverly (Holloway) Reep ‘81 / Warren Secretary-Treasurer Amanda (Abbott) Ware ‘84 / N. Little Rock
Directors Angelia Clements ‘96 / Little Rock Jennifer (Mann) Hargis ‘07 / Monticello Jerrielynn (Moore) Mapp ‘75 / Monticello Randall Risher ‘89 / Houston, Texas Steve Rook ‘86 / Mena
Get your UAM News on Twitter (@UAMNews) and on Facebook (UAM News and University of Arkansas at Monticello Alumni & Friends)
FEATURES AU T U M N 2 0 1 5
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ALUMNI HONORS
George Harris, Jim Neeley and Kelly and Anna Koonce will be honored at the Alumni and Friends Party on October 9.
THIS ISSUE
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Chancellor’s Letter | Homecoming |
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UAM Night at the Travs | Campus News | Sports |
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21 Foundation | 22 Alumni News | 28 Technology |
Friends We’ll Miss |
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UAM MAGAZINE is published three times a year by the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the UAM Alumni Association, and the UAM Foundation Fund.
An Accomplished Class
He Loves A Challenge
Jim Brewer, Editor
From one of the state’s top high school coaches to record-setting players in three sports, the UAM Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015 is a class of distinction and accomplishment. They’ll take their place alongside other legends on October 8.
Dr. Jeffrey Taylor struggled with chemistry as a college freshman, so naturally he changed his major from English to chemistry. Now he is one of UAM’s most decorated professors and this year’s Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award winner.
Director of Media Services (870) 460-1274 (office) (870) 460-1974 (fax) brewer@uamont.edu
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Homecoming Schedule 2015 The 2015 Homecoming celebration has something for everyone, from a parade to bed races to football
T Thursday, October 8
contact the Department of Athletics at (870) 460-1058.
Friday, October 9 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – A&M/UAM Alumni and Friends Party, Chancellor’s Home, 471 University Drive Free of charge. Join us for food, fun, and music as we honor the newest alumni award recipients. For information, contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at (870) 460-1028.
4:00 p.m. – Bed Races and Pep Rally, Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium Join the fun with bed races and the annual Homecoming pep rally. 5:00 p.m. – UAM Sports Hall of Fame Reception, Chancellor’s Home, 471 University Drive All alumni and friends are invited to meet the newest members of the Sports Hall of Fame.
Saturday, October 10
6:00 p.m. – UAM Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, University Center Green Room Join us as we celebrate five former athletes as they are officially inducted into the UAM Sports Hall of Fame. Tickets are $35 per person. Proceeds benefit the UAM Sports Hall of Fame. For tickets,
9:00 a.m. – Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority (Gamma Zeta Chapter) Reunion Breakfast, University Center Gallery Room There will be a silent auction to raise money for the Special Olympics. Contact Julie Barber, Alpha Sigma Alpha representative (870) 329-6754.
8:30 a.m. – A&M/UAM African-American Alumni Reunion Breakfast, University Center Capitol Room Alumni and friends are invited to attend this traditional celebration to reminisce with A&M/UAM African-American alumni. Tickets are $20 per person. Contact Classie Jones-Green at (870) 5560527 or Shay Gillespie at (870) 723-3582.
ALWAYS A WEEVIL! Lisa Jo Ross (B.S. ‘94) is UAM’s new alumni director UAM has a new alumni and development officer. She is Lisa Jo (Winningham) Ross, class of 1994. As an undergraduate, Ross was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and a Kappa Alpha Order Daughter of Lee before graduating with a degree in marketing. Her professional experience includes working as marketing director for Lindsey and Company in Searcy and as a self-employed tax professional for Tax Centers of America in Star City. She is married to Dr. Jason Ross (UAM ‘90-’94 and LSU ‘94-’98), a veterinarian and owner of Star City Animal Hospital. The Ross’s have two sons, Max, a sophomore at UAM, and Garland, a freshman at Star City High School. To contact Lisa Jo, call (870) 460-1028 or you can send her an email at rosslj@uamont.edu. 2 UAM Magazine
11:00 a.m. – Weevil Tailgate Parties, Commercial Bank Employees’ Tailgate Row adjacent to Weevil Pond All A&M/UAM alumni and friends are invited to participate in pre-game tailgating. • 11:00 a.m. – “Welcome UAM Alumni” Tent. Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs (870) 460-1028. • 11:00 a.m. – Kappa Alpha Fraternity Reunion. Contact Carson Turner, KA representative (870) 484-1472. • 11:00 a.m. – Retiring #14 Tailgate Tent, UAM Athletics. All former teammates, players, and friends of Sean Rochelle are invited to this special gathering. Contact Matt Whiting, Department of Athletics (870) 460-1758. • 11:00 a.m. – 1960’s Athletes Reunion. All former athletes from the 1960’s are invited to join us. Contact Bill Lawrence (479) 857-2553. 12:30 p.m. – Weevil Walk of Champions and Homecoming Parade Commercial Bank Employees’ Tailgate Row adjacent to Weevil Pond All alumni and friends are invited. 2:30 p.m. – Pre-Game Ceremony, Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium The pre-game show will feature the 2015 Homecoming Court and coronation of the Homecoming Queen. 3:00 p.m. – Homecoming Football Game Kickoff, Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium Come support the Fighting Boll Weevils as they take on the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. Halftime – Retiring Sean Rochelle’s Jersey and UAM Marching Band, Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium The Department of Athletics will retire the football jersey #14 worn by Sean Rochelle (’85-‘89). Plus, the Pride of Southeast Arkansas Marching Band will perform.
PLAY BALL! Alumni and friends from central Arkansas gathered at Dickey-Stephens Park June 23 for food, fellowship and Arkansas Travelers’ baseball. Bob Ware, vice chancellor of the UAM College of TechnologyMcGehee got the evening started right by throwing out the first pitch in honor of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the McGehee campus.
(Above) Amber Terry (B.S. ‘05) of Hensley, samples the food in the buffet line in the right field pavilion with her son, Blake, and father, Fred Cooper. (Top right) Phillip Herring (B.A. ‘77) of Little Rock was all smiles. (Middle right, from left) David Dail (B.S. ‘70), Bill Lawrence (B.S.E. ‘67) and Richard Sands visit before the game. (Bottom right) Harold Steelman (left) and Joyce Brown of Little Rock enjoy the fellowship.
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Research On A “Small” Scale School of Forestry and Natural Resources joins statewide research in nano- and micro-technology
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THE UAM SCHOOL OF FORESTRY and Natural Resources will become part of the new statewide Center for Advanced Surface Engineering (CASE) thanks to a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Science and Technology. Forestry researchers and agricultural engineers will be working together at the nano- and micro-levels to develop lubrication materials, permeable food packing materials and other novel surfaces that can be fine-tuned for specific applications, such as selective filtration, according to a news release from the UA Division of Agriculture. Over five years, about $1.7 million will go to researchers working in partnership from the UA Division of Agriculture, the Arkansas Forest Resources Center (AFRC) located on the UAM campus, and the UAM School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “This is an incredible research opportunity for us,” said Dr. Phil Tappe, dean of forestry and natural resources and director of the AFRC, which is a collaborative partnership between the school and the UA Division of Agriculture.“The potential applications for the cellulose-based materials that we expect to develop could open new horizons for engineering and medicine at the nano- and micro-levels.” According to the UA Division of Agriculture, forestry in Arkansas accounts for
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GRADUATE RESEARCH
Alex Hoffman, a graduate student from Chanhassen, Minn., uses a portable photo-synthesis system to investigate tree physiology.
more than 24,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in wages annually, with products including pulp and paper, solid wood products and furniture. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our campus to be part of cutting-edge research that will have a positive economic impact on the state,” said Jay Jones, UAM’s interim chancellor. “I know for Dr. Tappe and for the research scientists who work in the School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, this is an exciting opportunity to develop technologies that can be useful to the state’s most important industries.” Two faculty members from the School of Forestry and Natural Resources will be part of a five-person team conducting research for CASE. Representing UAM are Dr. Ben Babst, assistant professor of ecophysiology, and Dr. Bill Headlee, assistant professor of biometrics. Other members of the research team are team leader Dr. Julie Carrier and Dr. Jin-Woo Kim, professors of biological and agricultural engineering at the UA Division of Agriculture, and Dr.
Steve Ricke, professor of food science with the UA Division of Agriculture. Ten Arkansas institutions of higher education are collaborating on CASE work to enable discovery, design, fabrication, and testing of multi-functional surfaces. The CASE research and educational activities encompass needs in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Applications include manufacturing, food packaging, and healthcare industries. The funds will be used to support the ASSET project, Arkansas Advancing and Supporting Science, Engineering and Technology, a multi-institutional statewide program with research areas that impact education and workforce, cyberinfrastructure, and engineering research.
WHAT IS NANO-TECHNOLOGY? The branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers; especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. (A nanometer is one billionth of a meter).
Master’s Degree Another First For The UAM Jazz Program THE FIRST COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY in Arkansas to offer a bachelor’s degree in music with an emphasis in jazz is now the first to offer a master’s degree in the same subject. The University of Arkansas at Monticello, whose jazz ensembles have attracted national attention in the jazz community, is now offering a master of music degree in jazz studies. The first 10 students began the program July 6 with an intense two-week on-campus program called Gateway, which accounts for six of the program’s 30 academic hours. The two-week session included a week-long jazz camp and playing lessons from five world-class jazz musicians brought to campus by UAM jazz faculty Claude Askew, Les Pack and Gary Meggs. The guest artists for the first summer program included Mike Williams, lead trumpeter for the Count Basie Orchestra, Alex Norris, a freelance jazz trumpeter based in New York City, David Kane, a pianist who performs out of Washington, D.C., Paul Henry, bassist for the U.S. Air Force jazz band Airmen of Note, and Harry Watters, trombonist for the U.S. Army Blues.
“These guys are all people Les, Gary and I have met through the years,” said Askew. “We were incredibly lucky to get musicians of this caliber to come here.” Also assisting with the program are two of UAM’s most accomplished student musicians, graduate assistants Bass Deese and Jake Miller. Both are members of Jazz Band I, the school’s premier jazz ensemble. The low-residency program requires 18
hours to be completed online – nine hours in the fall semester and another nine in the spring. The final six hours will be completed during a second two-week summer session called Capstone, which requires a jazz recital or special project. “The program is designed for band directors and educators,” said Pack. “It’s not a performance-based program. That’s how we’re able to offer so much online.” UAM has three jazz bands, led by Jazz Band I, which won the prestigious Elmhurst Jazz Festival in suburban Chicago last winter. Gary Meggs, a world-class saxophonist, created the program and conducts Jazz Band I. Meggs recently retired from the active faculty to spend a year touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, but will return to campus as an adjunct faculty member. Meggs will teach one class online each semester while touring. “Having a graduate program in jazz studies will only strengthen what is already a nationally-recognized program,” said Dr. Jimmie Yeiser, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.“Claude Askew, Les Pack and Gary Meggs are world-class musicians in their own right and their connections in the jazz world will allow us to bring some incredible musical talent to our campus.”
SAYING GOODBYE TO A “MAGNIFICENT SEVEN” In the past year, UAM has marked the retirement of seven long-time faculty members who have served the institution a combined 190 years, led by Dr. Betty Matthews, professor of English. Matthews joined the faculty of what was then Arkansas A&M College in 1967. The other retirees are Dr. Jim Edson, professor of geology (19772015), Linda Chapman, instructor of mathematics (1986-2015),
EDSON
CHAPMAN
GUENTER
Helen Giessen Guenter, associate librarian (1982-2015), Jean Hendrix, associate professor of computer information systems (2000-2015), Gary Meggs, associate professor of music and director of bands (2002-2015), and Dr. Gene Gulledge, professor of accounting (2001-2015). On behalf of multiple generations of UAM students, we wish them all the best in their retirement.
HENDRIX
MEGGS
GULLEDGE
MATTHEWS Autumn 2015 5
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Facing The Challenge Improving retention and graduation rates are keys to the institution’s continued growth
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IMPROVING RETENTION AND graduation rates is a challenge faced by all colleges and universities, particularly those with open admissions policies. The University of Arkansas at Monticello does not require a minimum ACT score for admission, making it open to all high school graduates regardless of their preparedness. This makes the challenge of increasing retention and graduation rates a daunting task, according to Dr. Jimmie Yeiser, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. To improve both, UAM has recently begun a three-part program to identify atrisk students and risk factors contributing to student failure and to institute programs to assist those students. The program, which focuses primarily on first-time freshmen and transfer students, includes E-Mentoring to teach students how to use campus computer resources; The First Four Weeks to capture student interest and engage them in learning; and The First-Year Experience to identify the skills all incoming freshmen need to succeed. “Retention is vital to the university’s ability to meet its mission,” explains Yeiser. “It is vital in terms of our ability to meet the expectations set forth by the state, to fund the various programs here on campus, and to promote the socio-economic health of southeast Arkansas and beyond.” Improving retention and graduation
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STAYING ON TRACK
Keeping students on track to graduate with a baccalaureate degree is the focus of new retention efforts.
rates was at the top of Yeiser’s agenda when he became UAM’s chief academic officer in October 2012. He began by talking to the deans to discover what the institution was doing to attract and retain students. “It was an educational exercise for me,” he says. “What I was able to gather from that experience was that we had a lot of efforts in both of those areas that were meeting with success, but there was no general coordination of these efforts at the campus level. Everybody was doing their own thing. It was an opportunity to share the successes and failures and get a feel for what we needed to be doing as an institution.” One of the biggest obstacles to retention, Yeiser discovered, was underprepared students who were not using the campus computer resources available to them.“We assume that today’s students are all computer savvy because they come to campus with a smart phone, and we think because they can surf the web that they know how to use our computer resources. But that is not true.” To correct that deficiency, UAM began a program last fall called E-Mentoring, which teaches incoming freshmen and
transfer students how to do simple things, such as how to log on to the campus computer system and how to access their university e-mail accounts. The program is open to anyone but is required for students taking online courses. UAM also hosts a technology fair each semester, providing hands-on instruction in Blackboard, the university’s online instruction interface, as well as how to use electronic library resources, and more. The second component to improving retention and graduation is a program called The First Four Weeks. “From the literature we know that the first four weeks of a semester is a very critical time for engaging students and contributes greatly to a student’s success or failure,” says Yeiser. “What we’re trying to do is target the things that we can do during the first four weeks to keep students in school.” Some of the ideas are simple, says Yeiser.“A lot of it is one-on-one encouragement,” he explains. “Show that you care, raise their expectations, help students understand where they stand and promote active, engaged learning. We are asking ourselves what we can do during the first four weeks to get that student to want
to attend, to get that student mentally engaged. How can we show him or her that we do care? What support resources are available to help that student succeed? That’s what The First Four Weeks initiative is about.” According to Yeiser, students at the greatest risk of leaving school in the first four weeks are those with low ACT scores and low high school GPAs. He stresses the importance of good academic advising for these students and getting them placed in classes where they have a chance to succeed. Yeiser wants to study each academic major over a four-to-six year period to determine whether there is a course in each major that is an indicator of probable graduation. “Let’s take business, for example,” he says. “Let’s assume you take Accounting I and make a D. What is the likelihood that you’re going to graduate with an accounting degree? I can tell you it’s not very good. So at that point, if we know that course is an indicator for success or failure, we should be able to advise that student that it really doesn’t look promising for them in accounting and ask if they have considered something else?” The third component to improving retention and graduation is The FirstYear Experience, which is designed to identify the necessary skills for incoming freshmen to be successful. Yeiser and members of the UAM faculty compiled a list of courses all freshmen are likely to take with plans to build into those courses the skills and knowledge to stay in college and succeed. “When E-Mentoring, The First Four Weeks and The First-Year Experience are considered collectively as a retention program, then The First Four Weeks establishes the faculty-student relationships needed to keep students in class long enough for E-Mentoring and The First-Year Experience to provide the fundamental skill sets needed for success,” Yeiser says. The program has a social component as well. Jay Hughes, vice chancellor for student affairs, and his staff are meeting
with social organizations to survey students about what they want in the way of social experiences. “We’re taking both a curricular and non-curricular approach,” says Yeiser. One of the misconceptions concerning retention and graduation is that only weak students are at risk. Yeiser says UAM loses nearly half of its freshmen institutional scholarship recipients annually because of low grades. “Maybe high school was easy for them and they didn’t develop the study and organizational skills to succeed in a more rigorous academic environment,” he
explains. “They had enough natural ability to get through high school but now they’re being challenged at a different level and don’t know how to respond. Therefore, UAM’s retention efforts will also focus on helping institutional scholarship recipients succeed.” Yeiser believes that improved retention and graduation rates are essential to the continued health of the university. “I am convinced this is very important to our future and it is necessary,” he says. “You’ve heard it said that recruiting is everybody’s job. Well, retention is everybody’s job, too.”
Higher Learning Commission Extends Accreditation A process that began three years ago has been completed with the formal announcement that the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission will be continued. Open Pathway, the accreditation process for the next HLC cycle, includes assurance reviews in years 4 and 10, a major improvement project in years 5-9, as well as annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators and adherence to HLC policies, according to Dr. Jimmie Yeiser, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. HLC accreditation means that the university adheres to rigorous academic standards that assure the value of all degrees granted by the institution. “This is wonderful news,” said Interim Chancellor Jay Jones. “I commend the faculty, staff and administration for their hard work in the reaccreditation process. Accreditation is absolutely vital to the continued success of the university, and I’m not sure anyone outside of higher education understands the amount of work involved in preparing for an accreditation visit.” Faculty and administrators began work in 2012 to prepare for a visit from an HLC accreditation team last October. That preparation included the completion of an in-depth written self-study examining all aspect of the campus. “I want to thank, especially, the faculty for their diligence and hard work in the accreditation process,” said Yeiser. “This was a team effort on their part and I couldn’t be more pleased by the outcome.” According to University catalogs, UAM received its first accreditation in 1928 when the North Central Association (now the HLC) recognized the institution’s junior level classes in 1928 under President Frank Horsfall when the school was known as Arkansas A&M. Full accreditation of senior college work culminating in a bachelor’s degree was achieved April 14, 1940, under President Marvin Bankston. Following Arkansas A&M’s merger with the University of Arkansas in 1971, President Claude Babin led the institution through an accreditation visit in 1976. In August 1980, UAM was accredited for five years and in 1985, received a 10-year accreditation which was renewed in 1995 and 2005. UAM also holds accreditation for a number of individual academic programs, including teacher education (the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation), forestry and natural resources (the Society of American Foresters), music (the National Association of Schools of Music), nursing (the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing), and social work (the Council on Social Work Education).
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Interns In The Classroom An agreement between UAM and the Arkansas Department of Education helps the delta
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KELVIN GRAGG FACES A PROBLEM shared by other school superintendents in southeast Arkansas – how to recruit and retain qualified teachers in an impoverished area of the state. Gragg is superintendent of the Dumas School District, one of 15 districts in the southeast part of the state that will benefit from a recently executed agreement between the Arkansas Department of Education and the School of Education at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. In brief, the ADE has agreed to waive rules for public schools designated as highminority or high-poverty that prohibit a clinical internship student from serving as a long-term substitute, and that prohibit a clinical intern who does not have a bachelor’s degree from serving as a long-term substitute teacher. “The impact of the state’s decision to allow my district to use student-interns is critical to educating our students,” said Gragg. “In years past, our district, like many others in southeast Arkansas, has struggled to complete our staff. This agreement is a win for all involved. It provides superintendents of high-minority or high-poverty schools with an additional avenue for hiring qualified teachers. It also provides student interns with the ability to earn extra income during their student teaching. With the current teacher shortage in Arkansas, we must begin to think outside the box in addressing our needs.”
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DR. PEGGY DOSS
Dean, School of Education
The Memorandum of Understanding between UAM and the ADE is called “Bridging the GAP Clinical Experience Initiative,” and opens the door for UAM education majors in their final semester of a supervised two-semester internship to serve as long-term substitute teachers in one of 15 school districts in southeast Arkansas designated by the ADE as highminority or high-poverty under its Equitable Access to Excellent Educators Plan recently filed with the U.S. Department of Education. The teacher candidates will be able to serve as long-term substitutes for highneed licensure areas and for licensure levels or content areas for which the district has been unable to successfully recruit a qualified licensed teacher. Each clinical intern II will have completed the Praxis Core and Praxis II Content Exams, all coursework, and 13 weeks in a clinical intern I experience prior to the clinical internship II. All UAM clinical interns must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. “This will benefit our program, the university as a whole, but more importantly, will have a positive impact on the surrounding school districts,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, dean of the UAM School of Education. “I am aware of the challenges faced by area school superintendents in attracting qualified teachers and hopefully this agreement will provide some relief as well as provide employment opportunities
for our students.” The school districts eligible to participate are Cleveland County, Crossett, Dermott, DeWitt, Drew Central, Dumas, Hamburg, Hampton, Hermitage, Lake Village, McGehee, Monticello, Star City, Warren, and Woodlawn. The Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative in Monticello will also participate. Tammy Healey has served as a principal in the Dumas School District for 14 years, the last four at Dumas Elementary School. “The simple fact is we’re a low paying district and our first-year teachers don’t stay,” she said. “Having interns come in as long-term substitutes is ideal for us. Many of them are local, they have ties to the community, and they’re going to stay with us once they graduate.” Ivy Pfeffer, assistant commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education, said the ADE hopes that the agreement “will support one of our key strategies under the Equitable Access to Excellent Educators Plan – that of helping high-minority and high-poverty schools recruit and retain excellent teachers and leaders.” According to Pfeffer, research and reporting from the agreement will provide important data for the plan. Clinical interns hired as long-term substitutes by one of the school districts listed in the agreement will be closely supervised and supported by their UAM faculty supervisors. Additional support to the public schools will be provided by the UAM School of Education Partnership Coordinator, the director of the UAM Education Renewal Zone, math and science specialists from the UAM STEM Center, literacy specialists and special education faculty from UAM’s School of Education. The job performance of each long-term substitute will be reviewed by UAM, the public school and school district with reports provided to the ADE.
Finding Her Niche As A Volunteer IN NOVEMBER 2013, JESSICA Green of White Hall was a first-semester sophomore at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and in her words, “a flat broke college student who needed a job.” A friend told her about AmeriCorps, which provides a living stipend in exchange for volunteer hours. Green went to the AmeriCorps office housed in the Southeast Arkansas Education Service
JESSICA GREEN
Arkansas Community Service Award recipient
Cooperative in Monticello and volunteered her services. Two years later, she was honored as the national service honoree at the 38th annual Arkansas Community Service Awards. Green and nine others received individual awards during a reception and gala at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock on June 12. The event was hosted by Governor and Mrs. Asa Hutchinson as well as KARK-
TV and the Duncan Law Firm. The event marked the culmination of two years hard work by Green, who contributed more than 2,000 hours of volunteer service working for AmeriCorps’ Coordinated School Health Program. Green went to six second and third grade classrooms at Monticello Middle School one to two times a week to promote healthy lifestyles in an effort to reduce childhood obesity. “Some kids think eating an apple Danish is just as good as eating an apple,” she says. “Or they think you should only wash your hands once a day, or see a dentist every two years. They just don’t know some of the things we take for granted.” When Green graduated from White Hall High School in 2012, she wanted to get through UAM as quickly as possible, then enter the workforce. She joined a sorority, became active in Alpha Chi national collegiate honor society, and Kappa Delta Pi, the national honor society for education majors. But something was missing. “When I started with AmeriCorps, I was not really motivated,” says Green. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I was in a hurry to get through. AmeriCorps made me slow down and realize how much influence I could have on kids, that I could make their lives better.” Green won’t be able to work for AmeriCorps in 2015-16. As a senior middle level education major with specialties in mathematics and English, she will spend much of the next year in a Monticello Middle School classroom student teaching under the direction and guidance of a mentor teacher. Following graduation next May, she hopes to work in central Arkansas. “I’m going to make a list of whatever schools in central Arkansas are hiring, then throw a dart and wherever it lands, that’s where I’m going,” she says, laughing. “I do want to work somewhere that needs quality teachers.” With Green’s resume, that won’t be a problem. Autumn 2015 9
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UAM SPORTS HALL OF FAME
ONE OF ARKANSAS’ MOST SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL football coaches and four All-Americans in three different sports have been selected for induction to the University of Arkansas at Monticello Sports Hall of Fame. The inductees are former Boll Weevil offensive lineman and long-time high school coach Buck James, softball outfielder Jenny Dunn, basketball star Kenneth Jones, record-setting wide receiver Lance Gasaway, and former All-American defensive back Jerry Johnson. The Hall of Fame class of 2015 will be inducted during a dinner October 8 at 6 p.m. in the John F. Gibson University Center on the UAM campus. A reception for the inductees will be held at 5 p.m. in the chancellor’s home. The reception is open to the public. Tickets to the banquet are $35 and may be purchased by contacting the Department of Athletics at (870) 460-1058.
Buck James In 1987, Buck James was the starting right tackle on a UAM offensive line that paved the way for the most prolific rushing offense in school history. James, along with John Augman, Charles Bell, Anthony Brown and Brad Bradshaw helped the Boll Weevils pile up 2,882 yards on the ground while averaging 5.6 yards a carry. Only one member of that line – Bell – earned all-conference honors so it came as something of a shock to James when he was notified of his selection to the UAM Sports Hall of Fame. “Offensive linemen don’t get much hype,” James said. “I played on a great team but I was just part of a group of really good players.” James may not have grabbed headlines as a player at UAM, but he’s had his share in recent years as one of the winningest high school football coaches in the state. Beginning in 2000, James led Star City and Camden Fairview High Schools to a combined record of 132-28. After serving as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach at Monti-
cello High School, James became the head football coach at Star City in 2000 and led the Bulldogs to a five-year record of 42-16, winning the school’s first-ever outright conference championship and posting three consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins. In 2005, James accepted the head coaching position at Camden Fairview and led the Cardinals to eight conference championships in nine seasons while posting a record of 90-12. He took Fairview to three state championship games, winning the title with a 28-10 victory over Batesville in 2012. Along the way, James has won numerous coach of the year awards, including the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s Arkansas Coach of the Year Award in 2010. He is currently the assistant athletic director and offensive line coach at Little Rock Christian High School. “This means the world to me,” said James. “I’ve always been taught it’s about team first and I’ve never been about individual awards, but this is the best award I’ve ever received.” Jenny Dunn Jenny Dunn came all the way from Adelaide, Australia to play softball for Alvy Early’s Cotton Blossoms and became a first-team All-American outfielder. But there were a few bumps along the way. “I had always dreamed of playing softball in a college system,” said Dunn. “I have very supportive parents who signed
me up to a recruiting agency to find the right fit. I’d never heard of Arkansas before, let alone Monticello. Luckily, coach Early took a chance on me.” After a misunderstanding with the NCAA Clearinghouse that left her ineligible her first semester on campus, Dunn was cleared to play and won a starting job in the outfield as a freshman. She batted .316 her first year, dropped off to .243 as a sophomore, then blossomed as a junior in 2007. Dunn batted .401 with 16 home runs, 68 runs batted in with a slugging percentage of .736. That performance resulted in a host of honors, including first team Daktronics All-American, Daktronics All-South Region, first team All-Gulf South Conference, ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-District second team, and Academic All-America Scholar-Athlete from the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association. Dunn was a member of the 2008 GSC All-Academic Team. A career .318 hitter, Dunn is among the UAM career leaders in four different categories – sixth in career runs batted in (134), eighth in doubles (39), seventh in home runs (23), and ninth in total bases (310). Dunn is back in Australia working as a chartered accountant and manager of Perks Integrated Business Services but is still playing softball for the Seacombe Tigers and in national competitions for the state of South Australia. Kenneth Jones It didn’t take Kenneth Jones long to make an impact on what was then the Arkansas A&M basketball program. After working his way into the starting lineup seven games into his freshman season, Jones helped lead the 1959-60 Weevils (Continued on page 12) Autumn 2015 11
UAM SPORTS HALL OF FAME
to their first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City. It was Jones’ 15-foot baseline jumper with one second left on the clock that sent the Weevils to Kansas City with a 46-44 win over Arkansas College in the finals of the NAIA District 17 Tournament. “We had called timeout with about 30 seconds left and the play was supposed to go to Harold Mobley,” Jones remembered.“Harold missed, the ball came to me on the baseline and I was able to hit the shot.” PASS THIEVES EXTRAORDINAIRE The Boll Weevils enJerry Johnson (left) made up one fourth of the best joyed four consecutive windefensive secondary in school history, along with Mac Newcomb (9), Gvona Turner (6) and Craig Jones (not ning seasons with Jones in pictured). the lineup. Along the way, Jones became the third basketball player in school history to surpass number of years as both a coach and a 1,000 points for his career, amassing 1,190 public school administrator. points from 1959-63. He still ranks 19th Lance Gasaway in career scoring 52 years after his last Lance Gasaway has fond memories game. of his greatest game as a Boll Weevil – a Jones was an honorable mention NAIA 36-31 victory over Henderson State that Division I All-American as well as a first many long-time UAM observers consider team All-AIC and All-NAIA District 17 the most exciting game in school history. selection in 1963. During his career, the Gasaway set school and AIC records that Boll Weevils were 68-39 with records of afternoon by catching 16 passes for 196 18-8 in 1959-60, 17-11 in 1960-61, 15-11 yards against a Reddie pass defense that in 1961-62, and 18-9 in 1962-63. came into the game ranked among the Jones’ best season was 1962-63 when he best in the nation. The game was played on averaged 16.8 points a game while shooting the first day of deer season so the crowd .492 from the field and .820 from the free was sparse, but Gasaway still remembers throw line. a group of hunters still dressed in blaze “This honor means a lot to me,” said orange standing in a knot under the oak Jones. “When you’re playing, you don’t tree that used to be located inside the think about things like this. I’m just very track outside the northeast corner of the proud to be selected.” end zone. “I caught a touchdown pass Jones lives in Hampton and is retired over there, and I can still remember them from private business after spending a hollering,” Gasaway said. 12 UAM Magazine
Gasaway finished his career as one of the most prolific wide receivers in school history with 113 receptions for 1,605 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was an honorable mention NAIA Division I All-American in 1985 and a two-time first team All-AIC selection in 1984-85. The fourth Gasaway to don a Boll Weevil jersey – he followed cousins Byron and Brannon and brother Greg to UAM – Lance enjoyed a special rapport with his quarterback, Joe Don Samples. “Joe Don and I always had a connection,” said Gasaway. “He knew where I’d be and I always knew when he was coming to me. That bond that you share with your teammates is what you remember. Joe Don and I are still friends today. We still see each other once or twice a year.” Gasaway lives in Star City where he farms with his brother and sons, manages an 18,000-acre farm for a group from Utah, manages an agricultural flying service with six locations in southeast Arkansas, and owns two businesses in Pine Bluff – Pine Bluff Blueprint and Sunkist Tanning. Jerry Johnson Jerry Johnson was so excited by his selection to the Hall of Fame he initially told no one but his fiance, Kiki Tate. “I was so excited I had to take it all in,” said Johnson. “My mind was all over the place.” Johnson, who lives in his hometown of Monroe, La., and works as a systems operator monitoring residential water systems, was part of the best defensive backfield
in UAM history. In 1988, Johnson and teammates Mac Newcomb, Gvona Turner and Craig Jones combined to intercept 22 passes and hold opposing quarterbacks to a completion percentage of .372. Johnson, a cornerback, earned second team NAIA All-America honors that season on what was arguably the best football team in school history. The Boll Weevils posted a 10-2 record and reached the NAIA Division I playoffs for the first time in school history. Johnson intercepted eight passes, returning one for a touchdown. He finished his career with 16 interceptions, a school record he shares with Shelby Lowery, who set the mark in 1968. Not bad for a guy who was lightly recruited. As a senior at Monroe (La.) Neville High, Johnson was getting calls from junior colleges and receiving passing interest from four-year schools asking him to walk on. Johnson determined to sign with the first school that showed genuine interest. Tommy Barnes, at the time an assistant on Harold Tilley’s UAM staff, was recruiting the Monroe area and called Johnson during his senior year to tell him the Boll Weevils were interested. Johnson stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman in 1985, picking off two passes. He made two interceptions as a sophomore, grabbed four more as a junior and set what was then a single-season school record with eight interceptions in 1988, including two in a playoff victory over Washburn. The Boll Weevils were 29-11 during Johnson’s four-year career. In addition to being named a second team All-American, Johnson was a twotime first team All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and All-NAIA District 17 selection. “My best memories will always be the camaraderie and friendship I had with Mac, Gvona, Craig and the rest of my teammates,” said Johnson.“That was special.”
A Man With Spirit
Dr. Walter Godwin When Walter Godwin joined the chemistry faculty at UAM in 1974, he quickly became a fan of the Boll Weevil basketball team and established a reputation as the “loudest mouth in the gym. I was a fan,” he says, laughing at the memory. “I yelled at the referees constantly.” Two years later, when new basketball coach Doug Barnes was looking for someone to serve as official scorekeeper at home games, he asked Godwin if he was interested. Godwin accepted and 39 years later, when UAM opens the 2015-16 basketball season, he’ll be in his familiar position at the scorer’s table keeping the official book. For his service to UAM athletics, Godwin is the 2015 recipient of the UAM Spirit Award. “I was absolutely thrilled when I heard,” Godwin says. “I never thought this was something that I would receive.” In addition to working every home men’s and women’s basketball game, Godwin has worked in the pressbox at Boll Weevil football games since 1979, first operating the play clock and now the scoreboard. As official scorer at basketball games, Godwin is not allowed to cheer and berating an official is out of the question. “I had to make myself calm down and be quiet,” he says. “Once in a while, I still have a little problem, but I’ve never lost control and I’ve never had an issue with a referee.” Godwin’s biggest thrill in UAM athletics came in 1990 when the women’s basketball team, led by All-Americans Tina Webb and Rose Avery, reached the championship game of the NAIA Division I National Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. “I went to that game as a fan and got to scream my head off,” he says. Godwin retired from the UAM faculty in 2007 but has no plans to walk away from his passion — Boll Weevil and Cotton Blossom athletics. “I’ll keep doing this until they tell me to stop,” he says. “I love it.”
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Classroom Excellence
Jeff Taylor has never been one to back down from a challenge. It’s what’s made him a great teacher and this year’s winner of the Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award
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JEFF TAYLOR LIKES A CHALLENGE. AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD freshman at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Taylor flunked his first three chemistry exams, not terribly surprising for an English major who had no chemistry at Mountain View High School. So what did Taylor do? He changed his major from English to chemistry. “English was boring,” says Taylor. “I was good at it, but I wanted a challenge.” Three years later, Taylor showed so much promise in his chosen field that he became a lecturer on the UALR chemistry faculty while still an undergraduate, teaching a laboratory class before earning his degree. Taylor was the instructor of record, left completely on his own to sink or swim, teaching students his age or older. “They had to create a position for me,” he remembers. “They couldn’t call me an instructor because I didn’t have a degree, so they made up a title for me. They called me a lecturer.” Today, Taylor is an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Arkansas at Monticello specializing in biochemistry. He is also the 2015 recipient of the Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award, presented annually to UAM’s outstanding faculty member. “This award isn’t for me personally,” he says. “It’s really for the entire faculty in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. I think it speaks to the success our graduates have had and to the overall quality of the academic program.” Taylor graduated magna cum laude from UALR in 1984, earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and a Ph.D. from the University
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of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1992 before completing a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994. He was an adjunct assistant professor of chemistry at Lyon College in Batesville in 1994-95 before joining the faculty at the University of Louisiana-Monroe as an assistant professor of chemistry. Taylor was hired at UAM in 2006 and immediately identified with his students. “I worked my way through college,” he says. “ I relate to these kids that are not financially advantaged. I worked full time and went to school full time and completed my degree in four years.” Taylor acquired his work ethic at a young age. His father owned an auto parts store in Mountain View and put a broom in his hand by the time he was five years old. At UALR Taylor had a federal college work-study job in the biology stock room, was a lab assistant and worked at a restaurant after hours during the school year. His summers were spent working at auto parts stores in Little Rock. “My first day in the biology stock room, they brought me 500 jars of nasty, maggot-growing fruit flies for me to clean,” he remembers, laughing. “After I finished, I washed my hands and went to work in a pizza restaurant.” At UAM, Taylor has taught as many as 13 different classes but his primary focus is biochemistry, organic chemistry, and
their corresponding labs. He also teaches pharmacology and advanced laboratory techniques and engages his students in research when he has time. “I used to think I was the best chemistry teacher on the faculty,” says Dr. Morris Bramlett, dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. “Since Jeff got here, I strive to be the second best.” “Jeff is the best thing to happen to our biology program in the last 10 years,” adds Dr. John Hunt, a professor of biology and last year’s Hornaday Award winner. “His expertise in biochemistry has been a huge benefit to our biology program.” Taylor didn’t know he wanted to be a biochemist until he took his first biochemistry class and found out what a challenge it was. “It’s the things that have really challenged me that I’ve pursued,” he says. “It’s the same as working on cars. The work is not fun. It’s the accomplishment of overcoming a challenge. It’s the same way with research. Nothing ever works in research. You deal with failure over and over until you figure out how to make it work.” Taylor doesn’t view himself as a teacher only in the classroom. To him, a teacher is a teacher regardless of the setting. “I don’t define myself by my career,” he says. “I get just as much enjoyment teaching one of my friends to repair something on their vehicle – how to adjust a set of points or brake drums. I enjoy teaching people to do anything. A person who’s a natural-born teacher just wants to share what they know if someone is willing to learn. If they’re willing, I’m willing to share.” And that’s why Taylor is the 2015 Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award winner.
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ALUMNI AWARDS
Alumni Honors
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EACH OF THE FOUR INDIVIDUALS TO BE honored by the University of Arkansas at Monticello at the university’s homecoming celebration in October share something in common. All were surprised to be recognized by their alma mater. “Did you run out of people to honor,” said George Harris, president of Commercial Bank and Trust Company of Monticello and one of two recipients of the 2015 Alumni Award for Achievement and Merit. Harris was laughing as he posed the rhetorical question, but was clearly pleased to be chosen for the award. “I know so
many people who have done so much more than me that I’m not sure I’m worthy,” Harris said. “I’m very appreciative of this because UAM means so much to me.” Harris and Camden forestry pioneer Jim Neeley will receive the Alumni Award for Achievement and Merit while Kelly and Anna Autumn 2015 17
ALUMNI AWARDS Koonce of Monticello will be honored with the Continuing the Connection Award for best keeping alive the connection between UAM and Arkansas A&M. The awards will be presented at the Alumni and Friends Party at the chancellor’s home on Friday, October 9 from 6-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. “Each of these individuals has a special place in the history of this institution,” said Interim Chancellor Jay Jones. “George Harris is one of our biggest boosters and is always there when we need him. Jim Neeley established one of the first endowments in the Foundation Fund, was the first contributor to The Centennial Circle, and helped the forestry program achieve its first accreditation from the Society of American Foresters. And Kelly and Anna Koonce have been loyal supporters of the university, especially our student-athletes. This is a wonderful group and very deserving of these honors.” George Harris grew up in Monticello and never considered attending any college other than Arkansas A&M, graduating in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He spent the next five years working for accounting firms in Little Rock and Dermott, becoming a certified public accountant along the way. In 1971, the 28-year-old Harris was named president of First National Bank of Dermott, becoming the youngest bank president in Arkansas. Harris initially struggled as a banker. “I was the world’s worst loan officer,” he admits. “I let my heart get in the way of my head.” In 1981, Harris left banking and enrolled in graduate school at UA-Fayetteville intending to become an accounting teacher. He returned to Monticello in the fall of 1982 with master’s degree in hand and accepted a position on the UAM faculty. Less than six weeks on the job, Harris received a phone call from Bennie Ryburn, Sr., the persuasive chairman of the board of Commercial Bank. Ryburn wanted Harris to work for the bank. “I said Mr. Ryburn, I’m trying to get out of banking,” Harris recalls.“He said come work for me part 18 UAM Magazine
time. Of course, part-time to Mr. Ryburn was 40 hours a week. I told him I would do it if I didn’t have to make loans.” Harris left teaching, joined the bank full time as executive vice president and never had to make a loan. “Mr. Ryburn was true to his word,” says Harris. Harris became Commercial Bank’s president in 1998, a position he’s held for 17 years. Jim Neeley was one of Hank Chamberlin’s “boys,” a tight-knit fraternity of forestry graduates who studied under the legendary father of forestry education in Arkansas. Forestry runs deep in the Neeley family. Jim’s father, Floyd, was what Jim calls a “practical forester” who had no formal forestry education but made a living buying and selling timber. Jim Neeley earned his forestry degree from Arkansas A&M in 1956 and founded Neeley Forestry Service in Camden in 1972. Jim’s son, J.D., is a 1985 UAM graduate and is now president of the company. J.D.’s son, Daniel, a 2012 UAM graduate, also works for Neeley Forestry as a GIS specialist. “I’ve always loved the school,” says Jim Neeley. “I’ve always been interested in the forestry program. It’s a part of our family.” Neeley began his career working in the land owner assistance program for International Paper. After a two-year hitch in the Army, Neeley returned to IP and stayed there until 1963. After a few years consulting and four years working for Georgia-Pacific, Neeley decided to form his own company. Neeley Forestry Service grew from managing 20,000 acres the first year to more than 200,000 acres, most in south Arkansas and spilling into northeast Texas and north Louisiana. Along the way, Neeley developed a reputation as someone his clients could trust. “Dad has always had a passion for helping people,” says J.D. “That’s what has driven the success of our business. He’s always looked out for his clients’ best interests. Dad’s reputation is what’s made the company successful.” Now 81, Jim Neeley has no plans to retire. He still comes to the office and puts in a full
day. “I’d be bored to death if I wasn’t doing this,” he says with a smile. Kelly and Anna Koonce have a long history with Arkansas A&M and UAM. Both are Monticello natives – Kelly is a Monticello High graduate while Anna attended Drew Central. Both graduated from UAM, although the school’ss name on their degrees is not the same. Kelly received his forestry degree from Arkansas A&M in 1959. Anna started at A&M in 1957, dropped out in ’59 to marry Kelly and didn’t go back until 1978, earning a degree in accounting a year later from UAM. Kelly, who joined the Army National Guard in 1959, worked as a consulting forester, first in Oakdale, La., then in Greenville, Miss., until 1968 when he decided to make the military his full-time career. Kelly became a training officer for a tank battalion. When he retired from active duty in 1989 as a lieutenant colonel, Koonce commanded the largest reserve battalion in the U.S. Army. Kelly and Anna became active in the UAM Alumni Association in the 1980s with Kelly serving as the organization’s president. He worked closely with former Chancellor Fred Taylor to organize local alumni gatherings and pushed the idea of alumni association dues to be used for scholarships. After earning her degree in ’79, Anna built a successful career in accounting, working for Murphy Oil in El Dorado and a CPA firm in North Little Rock before forming her own accounting company, Koonce & Associates, in Little Rock. Kelly went back into forestry after retiring from the military, working for the Soil Conservation Service, first as state forester and later as a trainer on the SCS national staff. Now retired, Kelly and Anna are avid supporters of the Boll Weevils and Cotton Blossoms, frequently hosting the softball and basketball teams for cook-outs at their Monticello home. “We have really enjoyed getting to know the players,” says Anna. “They’re a really, really special group of people.”
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Academic Honors 27 student-athletes receive honors from the Division II Athetics Directors Association
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THE NCAA DIVISION 2 ATHLETICS Directors Association announced its 201415 Academic Achievement Award winners recently with 27 student-athletes from the University of Arkansas at Monticello making the list. A total of 147 institutions and a record number of 7,320 student-athletes are being recognized for the 2014-15 Academic Achievement Awards. UAM is one of three member institutions of the Great American Conference to have honorees for this past sea-
son. Minimum requirements for recognition are active membership in the D2ADA from the nominating institution’s director of athletics as well as a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher for student-athletes that have completed at least four years of college level classes. “The D2ADA strives to recognize the outstanding student-athletes in our division, and we would like to thank and congratulate the institutions that took part in honoring the 2014-15 Academic Achievement Award winners,” stated D2ADA President Fran Reidy, director of athletics at Saint Leo University. “As an additional platform to showcase outstanding student-athletes, this award allows the D2ADA to highlight the efforts in the classroom, as well as on the playing field.” “We are always excited to recognize the academic achievements of our studentathletes,” said UAM Athletic Director Chris Ratcliff. “They have all worked very hard both on and off the field.”
UAM’s 2015-14 D2ADA Academic Achievement Award winners are: Ben Aldridge (baseball) , Evan Comeau (baseball), Kregg Snook (baseball), C.J. Womack (baseball), Sharif Hudson (men’s basketball), Vivianna Carter (women’s basketball), Nikki Mullen (women’s basketball), Matthew Young (men’s cross country), Valeria Johnson (women’s cross country), Julia Martin (women’s cross country), Hunter Darby (football), Marquis Rogers (football), DeAdrian Terry (football), Hunter Smith (men’s golf ), Lauren Johnson (women’s golf ), Lacy Blanchard (softball), Briana Daugherty (softball), Elizabeth Delafield (softball), Katie Koen (softball), McKenzie Rice (softball), Allison Stipes (softball), Kayley Willingham (softball), Holly Wilmarth (softball), Tasha Evans (volleyball), Lani Kaiwi (volleyball), Kaila Kikugawa (volleyball), and Sydni Schulz (volleyball).
Naming Rights
Commercial Bank of Monticello outbid their competition to win naming rights to Tailgate Row for the 2015 football season. The Monticello bank has decided to honor its employees by officially calling the area the “Commercial Bank Employees’ Tailgate Row, A Tribute to the World’s Greatest Staff.” Pictured from left at the sign’s unveiling were UAM Interim Chancellor Jay Jones, Linda Yeiser, vice chancellor for advancement and university relations, Bennie Ryburn, III, chairman of the board of Commercial Bank, George Harris, Commercial Bank president, UAM Athletic Director Chris Ratcliff, and Matt Whiting, associate athletic director for external relations. Each summer, UAM opens the tailgate area for naming rights. For information, call (870) 460-1058.
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Retiring Number 14 A successful athlete, student and leader, UAM’s winningest signal caller joins an elite group
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DR. SEAN ROCHELLE HAS HAD a distinguished career as a coach, athletic administrator, and as executive director of the Razorback Foundation, which oversees private fund-raising for the University of Arkansas athletics program. But Rochelle is remembered by UAM fans as the quarterback of the most successful team in school history. In 1988, Rochelle led the Boll Weevils to a 10-2 record, the only 10-win season in school history, and was named the AIC offensive player of the year as well as an Academic All-American. In tribute to Rochelle, UAM will retire his number 14 as part of
the Homecoming halftime ceremonies on October 10. Rochelle becomes the fifth Boll Weevil player to have his number retired, joining Kevin McCarn (5), David “Cedro” Anderson (11), Joe Don Samples
(12), and Bill McGowan (27). All former teammates, players and friends of Rochelle are invited to attend a tailgate party prior to the game. For information, contact Matt Whiting at (870) 460-1058.
Sports Briefs North Carolina native Kelly Burdeau is UAM’s new volleyball coach. She took over the program officially on August 3. Burdeau comes to UAM after serving the past two seasons as head coach for Division II Brevard College. Burdeau began coaching in 2005 at West Iredell High School in Statesville, North Carolina, where she was twice named conference coach of the year after winning back-to-back North Piedmont Conference championships in 2006 and 2007. She also led the team to district, sectional and regional titles in 2007, and finished with a combined record of 85-11. Burdeau was a four-year letter-winner at Catawba College, where she was a part of two conference championships and one NCAA tournament berth. She graduated from Catawba in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and later earned a master’s degree in school administration from Liberty University in 2010.
KELLY BURDEAU
UAM’s New Volleyball Coach
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Former UAM basketball player Sharif Hudson has signed a professional contract in Germany. Hudson signed with the BG Aschersleben Tigers. Hudson was All-Great American Conference last season after averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Hudson is a 6-foot-2-inch guard who played two seasons after transferring to UAM.
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Happy Birthday! Crossett and McGehee celebrate 40 years service to southeast Arkansas
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THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED BUT the schools’ missions have not. Those missions – to provide academic, occupational and technical education programs, services and resources for the residents of southeast Arkansas – began 40 years ago when the campuses were known as Great Rivers and Forest Echoes Vocational-Technical Schools. Created by the Arkansas General Assembly, each school became a UAM College of Technology after a merger with the University of Arkansas at Monticello on July 1, 2003. On July 1, both campuses began a year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of their founding. The McGehee campus is planning a special event on Saturday, October 24 at the Delta Resort and Spa in Tillar. All alumni and friends may attend with a minimum gift of $25. The event will include food, live music, and an auction to raise funds for scholarships and program needs. For information, contact (870) 2225360. The man working on the details of that event, who has been part of the McGehee campus for every one of its 40 years, is Bob Ware, the current vice chancellor in charge of campus operations. Ware has seen the campus expand from its original role, which was to provide opportunities to attain a high school diploma, earn continuing education units or acquire either certificates of proficiency or technical certificates.
Like Ware, Linda Rushing, vice chancellor of the College of TechnologyCrossett, has been associated with the Crossett campus since its inception. “This is an important milestone in our history,” says Rushing.“We have been an important part of southeast Arkansas and our mission has broadened with our association with UAM.” Since the merger with UAM, both technical campuses offer the two-year associate of applied science degree in general technology with an emphasis in any technical area as well as non-technical courses that may be used toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. “That’s probably the biggest change I’ve seen in the time I’ve been here,” says Ware. “When we merged with UAM, that
allowed us to do some things we weren’t able to do before. We started offering associate degrees after the merger in 2003. That’s had a big impact on what we do.” Ware was there at the beginning, when state officials, including then-Governor David Pryor, broke ground for construction of the school’s first building. Both Great Rivers and Forest Echoes opened their doors for classes in September 1975. “The thing I still enjoy the most and is the most rewarding is seeing someone come to our campus with no skill, learning a skill and gaining employment,” says Rushing. “Whether our name was Forest Echoes or the UAM College of Technology-Crossett, that’s what this school is about.”
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Remembering Allen Maxwell
A new endowment honors a former mayor, state legislator and long-time friend of the University
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A FUTURE ENDOWMENT IN THE name of the late Allen Maxwell, Jr., has been created within the UAM Foundation Fund to honor the former mayor and state legislator. The Allen Wilson Maxwell, Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established recently by Mr. Maxwell’s daughter, Paige Chase, son-in-law Dr. Tim Chase, and Tommy Maxwell, brother of the deceased. Allen Maxwell was mayor of Monticello at the time of his death on March 10, 2014. He also served in the Arkansas General Assembly as a state representative from 2004 to 2010. A native of Warren, Mr.
Lionell Moss Establishes Omega Psi Phi Scholarship Former track star founded UAM’s Rho Mu chapter in late ‘70s Lionell Moss (BS ’81) of Helena has established a future endowment to be known as the Lionell Moss Omega Psi Phi Scholarship. Once it is fully endowed, the scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior of any major. Mr. Moss founded the Rho Mu chapter of Omega Psi Phi at UAM. Pictured from left are Linda Yeiser, vice chancellor for advancement and university relations, Shay GIllespie, Classie Jones-Green, and Lionell Moss.
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Maxwell was a human resource manager for Southwestern Bell and also served as chief of staff for former U.S. Representative Jay Dickey. Mr. Maxwell attended UAM when it was known as Arkansas A&M College and was a life-long supporter of the institution’s mission and programs. Recipients of the Maxwell Scholarship must be full-time students from Arkansas in good academic standing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. First preference will be given to students in the School of Forestry and Natural Resources, second preference to natural sciences majors in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and third preference to political science majors. Preference will also be given to members of the UAM football team who meet all other selection criteria. Mr. Maxwell lettered two years for the Boll Weevil football team in 1961 and 1962. “Allen Maxwell meant so much to UAM and to all of southeast Arkansas,
and it’s only fitting that he be honored this way,” said Linda Yeiser, vice chancellor for advancement and university relations.“He did much for the people of this region and he cared deeply about the university..” Persons wishing to contribute to the Maxwell Scholarship may call the Office of Advancement at (870) 460-1028.
Lloyd and Peggy Crossley Family Education Award Drs. Lloyd and Peggy Crossley have established the Lloyd and Peggy Crossley Family Education Award. The award recipient may be any major within the School of Education and be an Arkansan, with preference given to a student from southeast Arkansas. The Crossley family has a rich history with UAM. Drs. Lloyd and Peggy Crossley were long-time faculty members in the School of Education. Additionally, their sons, Mark and Jim, attended UAM, and daughter, Pam, graduated from UAM.
CLU B D O N O R S | F O U N DAT I O N
INDIVIDUAL DONORS The UAM Foundation donors list includes alumni, friends and other contributors whose gifts were received January 1 – August 15, 2015. Please report any corrections to Linda Yeiser at (870) 460-1128 or yeiser@uamont.edu
Unity & Movement Club $2,500 or more Mrs. Debby Bland Mr. and Mrs. William C. Bulloch Mrs. LeAnne Burch Mr. and Mrs. Brian Carroll Dr. and Mrs. Timothy D. Chase Drs. Lloyd and Peggy Crossley Mr. William B. Harrod Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Lee, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. Mann Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Maxwell Mr. and Mrs. Lamar G. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Wayne L. Owen, Jr. Mr. Lester Pinkus Mr. and Mrs. Randall S. Risher Mr. Thomas M. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Scotty D. Watkins Dr. and Mrs. Jimmie L. Yeiser
Galaxy Club $1,000-$2,499
Mr. Jay P. Bernard Mr. Darold Dickerson Mr. and Mrs. William Dickey Mr. and Mrs. Alvy Early Dr. and Mrs. Michael Fakouri Dr. Dexter E. Gulledge Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hughes Mrs. Jane Lucky Ms. Angela J. Marsh Mr. Bryan and Dr. Sue Martin Mrs. Pat A. Matthews Mr. and Mrs. John S. McClendon Mr. Zach McClendon, Jr. Ms. Debbie McKnight Mr. Kent L. McRae Dr. and Mrs. Steve Morrison Dr. Julia Nicholson Mr. Floyd Pittman Mr. and Mrs. Curtis W. Preston Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reinhart Dr. and Mrs. Sean C. Rochelle Dr. James F. Roiger Mr. and Mrs. Bennie F. Ryburn, Jr. Mr. Robert A. Srygley Mr. Frank H. Wilson
Emerald Club $500-$999
Dr. Joseph M. Bramlett Mr. and Mrs. Kelton Busby, Jr. Ms. June Carter
Mr. Benny Dunlap Mr. and Mrs. Ricky D. Futrell Drs. Glen and Mary Jane Gilbert Dr. Bettye and Mr. Larry Gragg, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. H. Randall Green Mr. William “Hud” Jackson Mr. and Mrs. W. Brad Koen Dr. and Mrs. Jack Lassiter Mr. Andre L. Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Jim Manning Mr. Thomas Wil Maxwell Mr. and Mrs. Phillip May Hon. and Mrs. Eugene J. Mazzanti Ms. Patricia A. Nicholson Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. Owyoung Mr. Donald S. Pearson Mr. Carl C. Roebuck Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Ryburn III Ms. Patty Shipp Ms. Carol B. Slaughter Mr. and Mrs. Timothy H. Smith
Loyalty Club $200-$499
Ms. Cynthia L. Adair Mr. Kenneth Aspinall Mr. and Mrs. Glen R. Bashaw Dr. Gregory A. Borse Ms. Brenda E. Boudreau Mr. James L. Brewer Ms. Jacqueline D. Bryant Mr. and Mrs. Tim Cornelius Maj. James Crossley Mr. and Mrs. Andy Davis Mr. and Mrs. Barry Davis Mr. and Mrs. Kent Davis Ms. Memorie S. Dickson Ms. Christine L. Felts Mr. Jeff Felts Dr. Robert S. Graber Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Halstead Mr. John Harmon Ms. Christine L. Harris Mr. and Mrs. Don Hartley Mr. and Mrs. Hugh L. Heflin, Sr. Ms. India N. Holt Dr. and Mrs. John L. Hunt Dr. Louis J. James Mr. and Mrs. Lee Johnson Dr. Carl B. Johnston Mr. Jay S. Jones LTC (Ret) and Mrs. Kelly Koonce Mr. Scott R. Kuttenkuler Mr. and Mrs. Chris Loyd Mr. M.L. Mann Mr. Mar Miles Mr. and Mrs. Gary Orr Mr. Gary W. Parrish Mr. Adam Patrick, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Potter Mr. Matthew S. Rice Mr. and Mrs. Don. R. Rodgers, Sr.
Ms. Linda F. Rushing Mr. Danny M. Shedd Dr. Christopher Sims Ms. Sylvia Smykla Dr. Max Terrell Ms. Shela F. Upshaw Ms. Mary M. Whiting Mr. and Mrs. F. Harrell Wilson
Century Club $100-$199
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Akin Mr. Jonathan Barnard Mr. and Mrs. John Belden Mr. and Mrs. John D. Bliss Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Boyd Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Boyd Mr. J. Blair Brown Mr. Ted Carmical Ms. Margaret K. Carson Ms. Patti J. Carter Mr. Michael E. Cockrell Mr. Joe Cordi Mr. Peter Cruz Mr. Al Danielson Mr. and Mrs. J. Alan Day Mr. Richard Dreshfield Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Evans Dr. Laura K. Evans Mr. John W. Free
Mr. Stephen R. Frost Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Gibson Ms. Pam Goforth Ms. Jennifer Cordi Haden Mr. C. Barry Hall Mr. and Mrs. Pat Hammons Mr. Werner L. Haney Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Harris Ms. Sherry M. Harris Ms. Deborah A. Hazard Mr. and Mrs. James Hensley Mr. Bertram G. Hopgood Ms. Charlotte Hutchins Dr. and Mrs. B.J. Jordan Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kelnhofer Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Lee, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell May Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Meier Ms. Annie Moore Mr. Quinton L. Morgan Mr. and Mrs. James O. Nixon Ms. Emily Oakes Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy D. Orrell Mr. and Mrs. Rick G. Owens Ms. Margaret O. Panther Mr. and Mrs. Edward Parham Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Pennington Mr. and Mrs. Richard Powell Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Pritchard Ms. Kimberly D. Ray Mr. Henry J. Richter
Mr. Paul F. Riviere Mr. and Mrs. David G. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Robbin Rodgers Ms. Kimberly Rogers Mr. and Mrs. James A. Ross, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joey Ryburn Mr. Scott Saffold Mr. Charles Savage Mr. and Mrs. Trent L. Scogin Mr. Thomas Sears Ms. Marla L. Shapiro Mr. and Mrs. Garrison Smith Ms. Katie Sollars Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stark, Jr. Dr. Kate Stewart Mr. and Mrs. Ron Thielman Mr. Ted D. Thompson Ms. Elizabeth P. Thurman Mr. and Mrs. Samuel W. Vittitow Ms. Heather Wall Mr. and Mrs. William M. Walls Ms. Florence Watson Mrs. Sandra D. West Mrs. Karen K. Wisener Mr. and Mrs. Randy Womack Ms. Terri Wolfe
Business / Corporate Donors Acxiom American Legion Post III Arkansas Community Foundation Arkansas Seed Dealers Association Arkansas Superior Federal Credit Union Bank of Lake Village Beautiful Feats Ministries Clearwater Paper Commercial Bank & Trust Co. Community Communications Co. Deltic Timber Corporation Desha County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Dolores’ Family Pharmacy Drew Central High School Class of 1961 ExxonMobil Foundation M & J Farms Mangum Construction Manchester Industries Monette Manor, LLC. Monticello Rotary Club
Morrison – Shipley Engineering Murphy Oil Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation Orrell Auctions Paradise Villa, Inc. Price Services, Inc. Ralph McQueen and Company, Ltd. Reinhart Farms Risher Fitness Management Ryburn Motor Company Searcy & Associates, LLC Southern Ag Resources, LLC State Farm Insurance UAM African American Alumni Association UAM Institute of Management Accountants Union Bank & Trust Co. Wells Fargo Foundation Wilson Brothers Lumber Co. Woodbriar Nursing Home
Autumn 2015 23
EN D OW M EN T S | F O U N DAT I O N
ENDOWMENTS (Endowments as of Aug. 15, 2015) Weldon B. Abbott Endowed Scholarship / Mrs. Betty S. Abbott, Dr. and Mrs. Weldon S. Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. H. Lavon Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Howard P. Taylor, and Ms. Mary Ross Taylor James Edward and Joy Dell Burton Akin Award / Mrs. Joy Dell Burton Akin Alumni Achievement and Merit Scholarship / Recipients of the Alumni Achievement and Merit Award Alumni Association Scholarship / Alumni Association Board of Directors Hoyt and Susan Andres Endowed Scholarship / Hoyt and Susan Andres Arkansas Seed Dealers Association Scholarship / Arkansas Seed Dealers Board of Directors William R. and Katie B. Austin Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. William R. Austin, Jr. Barbara Murphy Babin Scholarship / Dr. Claude Babin and Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Babin Dr. Claude H. Babin Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Babin, Former Students, Faculty and Friends Baker Family Natural Resources Scholarship / Terrell and Sheila Baker K. Michael Baker Memorial Scholarship / School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Former Students, Family and Friends Marvin and Edna Moseley Bankston Scholarship / Bob and Louine Selman Leech C.H. Barnes, Jr. Football Scholarship / Tommy Barnes, Family and Friends Robert Orum and Fernande’ Vicknair Barrett Scholarship / Family Kelly Bashaw Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Earl and Kathleen Baxter Memorial Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Earl Baxter Beard Nursing Scholarship / Mr. Arthur R. and Mrs. Bettie Beard Pate Leslie and Faye Beard Scholarship / Mr. Paul R. and Mrs. June Webb Carter Major Thomas E. Bell, Jr. Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Coker and Coker Book Account Fred K. Bellott Music Gift Fund / Dr. and Mrs. Fred K. Bellott Fred and Doris Bellott Music Endowed Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Fred K. Bellott *Henry (Mike) Berg Scholarship / Mrs. Helen Berg Dr. Van C. Binns Scholarship - Nursing / Mrs. Evelyn Hogue Binns
24 UAM Magazine
Dr. Van C. Binns Scholarship - Pre-medicine / Mrs. Evelyn Hogue Binns Birch-Johnson Endowed Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. J. Chester Johnson Greg Bland Memorial Scholarship / Mrs. Greg Bland, Family and Friends John Falls Bowen Scholarship / Mr. Bill Bowen and members of Battery B of the 206th Coast Artillery C. Alton Boyd Jr. Memorial Scholarship / Barbara Boyd Ruth G. Boyd Scholarship / Dr. Scott Boyd Dr. Scott Boyd Memorial Scholarship / Friends and Former Students Fay Brann Accounting Scholarship / Mrs. J. F. Brann Richard “Dick” Broach Wildlife Management Scholarship / Southern Pulpwood Co., Mrs. Nancy Clippert Broach, Mrs. Maxine Clippert and Mr. David Clippert B. R. “Bobby” Brown Scholarship / Mr. B. R. “Bobby” Brown and Consol, Inc. Gene Brown Memorial Baseball Scholarship / Family and Friends George R. Brown Professorship / The Brown Foundation, Inc. George R. Brown Graduate Assistantship - Fellowship in Forest Resources / The Brown Foundation, Inc. Joe Brown Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Marty and Erma Brutscher Debate/Forensics Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Brutscher Mary Claire Randolph Buffalo Scholarship / Mr. Harvey Buffalo Jimmy Lee Buford Memorial Scholarship / Agriculture Technology Dept. Advisory Committee, UAM College of Technology - McGehee Montre Bulloch “Angel” Endowed Nursing Scholarship / William C. Bulloch and Family Robert H. Burch, Jr. Waterfowl Research Endowment / Family and Friends Eugenia H. (Moss) Burson & Jack D. Burson Scholarship / Family and Friends Jeff Busby Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Verna Hobson Cahoon, Elizabeth Coleman Cochran and Cornelia Coleman Wright Scholarship / Tom and Julia Coleman Family G. William and Verna Hobson Cahoon Scholarship / Tom and Julia Coleman Family Alvin and Raye Carter Education Scholarship / Mr. Dale W. Carter and Mr. Robert Ira Carter
Paul R. and June Webb Carter Scholarship / Mr. Paul R. and Mrs. June Webb Carter Paul R. and June Webb Carter - Drew Central High School Scholarship / Mr. Paul R. and Mrs. June Webb Carter James P. Cathey Endowed Business Scholarship / Brooks and Lesa Cathey Handly Centennial Circle / 100 Special Friends Chair of the Division Scholarship - Nursing / Dr. and Mrs. Richard Kluender Chamberlin Wildlife Scholarship / Mr. H. H. Chamberlin Hank Chamberlin Memorial Scholarship / Family, Friends, Former students, Associates and Colleagues Marjorie Lamb Chamberlin Music Scholarship / Family and Friends Anthony T. and Faye Chandler Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Anthony T. Chandler, Family and Friends George H. Clippert Endowed Chair in Forestry / Mr. and Mrs. George H. Clippert; Mr. David H. Clippert; and Mrs. Nancy Clippert Broach George H. Clippert Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. George H. Clippert Coker Alumni Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Coker and Coker Book Account Ernestine Coker Endowed Music Scholarship / Dr. Jesse M. Coker Jesse and Ernestine Coker Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Coker Dr. Jesse M. Coker Distinguished Service Scholarship / UAM Foundation Fund Board of Directors Thomas C. and Julia Hobson Coleman Scholarship / Tom and Julia Coleman Family Suzanne Cooke Memorial Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cooke Lloyd and Peggy Crossley Family Education Award / Drs. Lloyd and Peggy Crossley Steve Crowley Forestry Scholarship / Mr. James H. Hamlen Van and Eula Mae Cruce Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday James Gordon Culpepper Scholarship / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Former Students and Friends Hazel Owen Dahms and Angie Faye Owen Waldrum Nursing Scholarship / Estate of Hazel O. Dahms O. H. (Doogie) and Patsy Darling Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Darling Boyce Davis Award / Mr. Randy Risher
EN D OW M EN T S | F O U N DAT I O N
Troy and Betty Davis Endowed Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Andy Davis and Mr. and Mrs. Kent Davis C. W. Day Scholarship / Day Farms, Inc., Danny Day, Sr. Family, Raymond Day Family, Rickey Day Family, Sue Day Wood Family, William Day Family Dean’s Scholarship - Forest Resources / Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Kluender Harry Y. Denson Scholarship / Family, Friends and Former Students Gregory Alan Devine Memorial Scholarship / Marion and Fern Devine Dr. Gene R. Dillard Education Scholarship / Mrs. Gerry Dillard, Family and Friends Peggy Doss Endowed Education Scholarship / School of Education Faculty/Staff and Mr. D. John Nichols John Dougherty Choral Scholarship / Senator Jimmy Jeffress, Senator Gene Jeffress, Former Students and Friends Drew County Extension Homemakers Endowed Scholarship / Drew County Extension Homemakers Council Drew County Extension Homemakers Endowed General Award / Drew County Extension Homemakers Council David B. Eberdt Scholarship / Mrs. Nancy Eberdt Susan Phillips Echols Memorial Endowed Scholarship / Ronald K. Echols, Family and Friends Vance W. Edmondson Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Vance W. Edmondson Dr. Albert L. Etheridge Scholarship / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Former Students and Friends Hampton and Minnie Etheridge Scholarship / James and Mary Sawyer, Stacey and Helen Toole, T. D. and Joy Howell, R. M. and Rose Etheridge, Hampton and Marie Etheridge Jennifer and Rick Futrell Endowment for Football Student Athletes / Jennifer and Rick Futrell Drs. Glen and Mary Jane Gilbert Endowed Scholarship / Drs. Glen and Mary Jane Gilbert, Family and Former Students Wayne Gilleland Golf Scholarship / Dr. Diane Suitt Gilleland and Friends Shay Gillespie Phi Beta Sigma Leadership Scholarship / Family and friends of Mr. R. Shay Gillespie Gilliam Family Farm Scholarship / Barbie Gilliam Johnson and Lou Ann Gilliam Sales Classie Jones-Green African-American Alumni Scholarship / UAM African-American Alumni Association, Family and Friends Harold J. Green Scholarship / Harold J. Green Bill Groce, Jr. Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Willie Katherine Coody Groce Scholarship / Estate of Willie Katherine Coody Groce
Edward & Veronica Groebner Computer Information Systems Operations Support Endowment / Dr. James F. Roiger Joseph Martin Guenter - Sigma Tau Gamma Scholarship / Sigma Tau Gamma Alumni E. Shermane Gulledge Non-traditional Scholarship / Dr. Dexter E. and Mrs. E. Shermane Gulledge Izella Ruth Gulledge Scholarship / Dr. Dexter E. and Mrs. E. Shermane Gulledge Annette K. Hall Scholarship for Music / Mr. Barry Hall Annette K. Hall Graduate Studies in Education Scholarship / Mr. Barry Hall Barry Hall Endowed Scholarship / Mrs. Annette Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Cleatous J. Hall and Mrs. Audrey Blasingame James S. Hancock Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship / Mrs. Carolyn Grubbs Hancock, Mrs. Hilda Hancock Malpica and Mrs. Becky Hancock Crossett Lesa Cathey Handly Trust Endowment for Business Excellence / Brooks and Lesa Cathey Handly Susie Hargis Nursing Endowed Scholarship / Charles Hargis Arthur A. Harris Vocal Endowed Scholarship / Mrs. Annette Hall, Family and Friends Helen Harris Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Harris, Division of Music, and Friends Hani and Debra Hashem Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Hani Hashem Charles G. Hawkins Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Dr. Ann Haywood Scholarship / Dr. Cecil Haywood, Former colleagues, Friends and Students of the School of Education Cecil C. Haywood Scholarship / Dr. Ann Haywood, Friends and Former Students of the School of Education Henry G. Hearnsberger, Sr. Forest Resources Scholarship / Mrs. George H. Clippert Mrs. Henry G. Hearnsberger, Sr. Nursing Scholarship / Mrs. George H. Clippert Paul and Leone Hendrickson Endowed Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Paul G. Hendrickson, Sr. Frank D. Hickingbotham Scholarship / Mr. Frank D. Hickingbotham William and Anna Hill Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. William T. Hill Iris Sullivan Hipp Nursing Scholarship / Ms. Sally Hipp Austin, Ms. Sheila Nichole Austin, and Mr. Hank E. Williams Robert L. Hixson Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Wilburn C. Hobgood Scholarship / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Former Students and Friends Benjamin and Jerri Whitten Hobson Scholarship / Tom and Julia Coleman Family
Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Hornaday Unrestricted Endowment / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Charlotte Cruce Hornaday Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Dan and Charlotte Hornaday Agriculture Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Dan and Charlotte Hornaday Computer Information Systems Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Dan & Charlotte Hornaday Debate & Forensics Endowment / Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hornaday Dan and Charlotte Hornaday Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Dan and Charlotte Hornaday Music Excellence Fund / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday Dan and Charlotte Hornaday Residence Life Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hornaday James A. Hudson Scholarship / James A. Hudson Memorial Foundation Mr. Jim Huey Scholarship / Family, Friends and Colleagues Henry B. Humphry Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Lamar Hunter Scholarship / The Reinhart Family Lamar Hunter Veterans and National Guard Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Coker and Coker Book Account Dean and Mrs. James H. Hutchinson Endowed Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jackson James H. and Elva B. Hutchinson Scholarship / Estate of Dr. James H. Hutchinson, Jr. Dr. C. Lewis & Wanda W. Hyatt Endowed Scholarship / Mrs. Charlotte Hyatt McGarr & Mr. C. Lewis Hyatt, Jr. Indoor Practice Facility Endowed Maintenance Fund / Estate of Mr. Quintus Crews Brigadier General Wesley Jacobs Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Coker and Coker Book Account Veneta E. and Louis Richard James Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Louis J. James Loran L. Johnson Endowed Scholarship / Mississippi Marine Corporation and other individuals known as “Loran’s Boys” Virginia M. Ryan Jones Memorial Nursing Scholarship / Dr. C. Morrell Jones and Family and Friends Jack Jordan Golf Scholarship / Friends Donnie D. King Endowed Scholarship / Donnie D. King Kingwood Forestry Scholarship / Proceeds from sale of Lake Monticello maps Robert C. Kirst Agriculture Scholarship / University of Arkansas at Monticello Agriculture Alumni Society Grady and Myrtle Burks Knowles Scholarship / Mrs. Myrtle Burks Knowles Autumn 2015 25
EN D OW M EN T S | F O U N DAT I O N
Krevack Athletic Discretionary / Coaches and Friends of Mike Krevack Timothy Ku Scholarship / Mr. Lawrence A. Ku and Mr. Albert Ku Victoria Ku Scholarship / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Former Students, Friends and Family Curtis W. Kyle Family Scholarship / Mr. Curtis W. Kyle, Jr. Curtis W. Kyle, Sr. Forestry Scholarship / Mr. Curtis W. Kyle, Jr. Fred H. Lang Forestry Scholarship / Mrs. Elizabeth S. Lang Leslie Larance Elementary Education Award / Family and Friends Judy and Jack Lassiter Endowment for Students / Mr. Randy S. Risher Randall Leister Scholarship / Friends A.D. and Nellie Leonard Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Leonard Willis “Convoy” Leslie Scholarship / Former Teammates, Former Football Players and Members of the Arkansas National Guard Gerald and Sue Majors Endowed Scholarship / Trinity Foundation Kenneth, Sharon and Jennifer Mann Endowed Business Scholarship / Kenneth, Sharon and Jennifer Mann Robert W.D. Marsh Scholarship / Mrs. Demaris Marsh Gary Marshall ‘Mars Hall’ Award / Alice Guffey Miller Martin -Wiscaver Endowed Scholarship / Dr. Jesse M. Coker Mathematics Scholarship / Anonymous Mathematics-Physics Scholarship / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Former Students and Friends Betty A. Matthews Women’s Athletics Scholarship / Dr. Betty A. Matthews J. M. and Annie Mae Matthews Scholarship / Mrs. J. M. Matthews, Sr., Ms. Jane Matthews Evans and Mr. Jim Matthews Tommy Matthews Athletic Scholarship / Tommy and Pat Matthews, Bynum Matthews and Ann Matthews Jones Virginia Lee Maxwell Memorial Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Maxwell and Family Pauline J. and Zach McClendon, Sr. Scholarship / Union Bank & Trust Company Elizabeth Culbertson McDaniel Scholarship / Mr. Noel Waymon McDaniel and Mr. Noel A. McDaniel Noel Waymon and LaFran H. McDaniel Scholarship / Mr. Noel Waymon and Mrs. LaFran McDaniel
26 UAM Magazine
James and Nellie McDonald Scholarship in Memory of Michael Stapp / Chicot Irrigation, Inc.- Lake Village, James and Nellie McDonald, Glen and Beverly Rowe, Rick and Linda Rowe, Mike and Cindy McDonald Paul C. McDonald Memorial Scholarship and Fund for Academic Excellence / Ms. Betty McDonald, Dr. James McDonald, Mr. Garrett Vogel, and Dr. Betsy Boze Thomas McGill Scholarship / Mr. Thomas W. McGill Thomas McGill Forestry Scholarship / Mr. Thomas W. McGill Cecil McNiece Family Scholarship Fund / Family Willard G. Mears Estate Scholarship / Willard G. Mears Trust Miller Sisters Scholarship - Education / Miss Jessie W. Miller Miller Sisters Scholarship -Science / Miss Jessie W. Miller Minnie May Moffatt Business Scholarship / Ms. Minnie May Moffatt Pattie Phenton Moffatt Vocal Music Scholarship / Trust of Pattie Phenton Moffatt Ruth and Wells Moffatt Forestry Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Wells Moffatt Walter A. and Myrtle Wells Moffatt Scholarship / Family Dr. Walter A. Moffatt, Jr. Scholarship / Ms. Minnie May Moffatt and Ms. Pattie Phenton Moffatt Monticello High School Class of 1965 Endowed Scholarship / The MHS Class of 1965 Monticello Life Underwriters Scholarship / Monticello Association of Life Underwriters William E. Morgan-Weevil Pond Endowment / Estate of William E. Morgan Juanita Louise Moss Scholarship / Family and Friends Kermit C. Moss Scholarship / Family and Friends Robert H. Moss Endowed Scholarship / Family and Friends William D. Moss Scholarship / Dr. Steven C. Moss P. E. and Melba Munnerlyn Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Munnerlyn D. Anita Murphree Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship / Mr. Samuel Light Charles H. Murphy, Jr. Memorial Scholarship / Deltic Timber Corporation Jim Neeley Scholarship / Mr. Jim Neeley D. John Nichols Scholarship / Mr. D. John Nichols and Mississippi Marine Corporation Loyal V. Norman Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sowell Velma Ashcraft Norman Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sowell Dale Oliver Forestry Scholarship / Mr. James H. Hamlen Al Peer Kappa Alpha Psi Leadership Scholarship / Family and Friends
Merle and Deloris Peterson Scholarship / Merle and Deloris Peterson, Friends and Associates in the Dumas, Arkansas, Community Phi Sigma Chi Memorial Award / Phi Sigma Chi Alumnae and friends Earl K. Phillips Math & Sciences Endowed Scholarship / Mrs. Patricia Phillips B. C. Pickens Endowed Scholarship / B. C. Pickens Trust Bub and Beulah Pinkus Scholarship / The Pinkus Family Emeline Killiam Pope, Sally Pope Wood, and Velma Wood Powell Scholarship / Estate of Velma Wood Powell John Porter and Mary Sue Price Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. John Porter Price R. David Ray Debate and Forensics Scholarship / School of Arts and Humanities, Former Students and Friends Russell R. Reynolds Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Russell Reynolds, Family and Friends Randy Risher Fitness Scholarship / Mr. Randy Risher and Friends Raymond O. & Loretta J. Roiger Chi Iota Sigma Scholarship / Dr. James Roiger James Roiger Computer Information Systems Scholarship / Dr. James Roiger James F. Roiger Endowed Fund for Library Acquisitions / Dr. James Roiger Ross Foundation Endowed Scholarship - Forestry / The Ross Foundation Ross Foundation Endowed Scholarship - General / The Ross Foundation James A. & Mabel (Molly) H. Ross Endowed Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Don H. Ross & Mr. and Mrs. James A. Ross, Jr. Calvin V. Rowe Award / Mr. Calvin V. Rowe Bennie F. Ryburn, Jr. and Marion Burge Ryburn Endowed Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Bennie F. Ryburn, Jr., Bank of Star City, First State Bank of Warren and Commercial Bank and Trust Company Bennie F. Ryburn, Sr. Scholarship / Family and Friends Cecil R. Scaife Scholarship / Mrs. Cecil Scaife and Children Thomas Robie Scott, Jr. Scholarship / Mrs. Opal Scott, Mr. Thomas Scott III, Mr. Michael Robert Scott and Mr. Phillip Roland Scott Elwood Shade Forest Resources Scholarship / Mr. Elwood Shade Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas Scholarship / Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas Herman C. Steelman Scholarship / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Former Students and Friends Harry H. Stevens Nursing Scholarship / Bradley County Medical Center
EN D OW M EN T S | F O U N DAT I O N
*Roy and Christine Sturgis / The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust Fred and Janice Taylor Scholarship / Friends of UAM Jack H. Tharp Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Tharp Carolyn Hibbs Thompson Chemistry Scholarship / The Don Thompson Family & Thompson Electric Co. Horace E. Thompson Scholarship / Members of United Commercial Travelers, Family and Friends George and Betty Townsend Journalism Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. George E. Townsend George E. Townsend Mass Communication Scholarship / Mr. George E. Townsend UAM Alumni and Friends Endowed Scholarship / UAM Alumni and Friends UAM Campus Scholarship / UAM Faculty, Staff and Friends UAM Forestry Alumni Scholarship / UAM Forestry Alumni E.R. “Bob” and Sara Wall Scholarship / Mrs. Sara Wall and Family Richard Wallace Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends Lee Wallick Band Scholarship / Dr. Paul A. Wallick, Sr., Friends and Former Band Students Dr. Paul Allen Wallick, Sr. Scholarship / Family and Friends Peggy Wallick Scholarship / Dr. Paul A. Wallick, Sr., Family, Friends and Former Students Webb/Carter Scholarship / Mr. Paul R. and Mrs. June Webb Carter Bill and Marilyn Webb Forest Resources Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Kent Webb and Monticello Church of Christ Maurice and Minnie Chambers Webb Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Bill Webb, Mr. and Mrs. Kent Webb, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Banwarth Robert Weih Family Eagle Scout/Gold Award Endowed Forest Resources Scholarship / Robert and Marilyn Weih West-Walden Family Scholarship / Dr. Louis J. and Mrs. Carol West James George White Golf Award / Family and Friends James M. White Memorial Scholarship / Deltic Farm & Timber, Inc., Family and Friends James M. White Professorship / Deltic Farm & Timber, Inc., Family and Friends John W. White Forestry Scholarship / Estate of Trannye O. White Sara Horn Wigley Memorial Scholarship / Sam Wigley Family and Charles & Donna Bell Family **Larry Willett Scholarship / Family, Co-workers and Friends Samuel A. Williams Scholarship / Mr. Sam W. Denison
Earl Willis Scholarship / Family, Friends and Drew Central Alumni Anne Wilson Scholarship / Family and Friends Dr. George F. Wynne, Sr. Scholarship / Mrs. Matilda Wynne Dr. David M. Yocum Family Endowed Scholarship / Dr. David Yocum, Jr. and Mr. David Yocum, IV Madge Youree Scholarship / School of Education, Family and Friends *Held by UAM
FUTURE ENDOWMENTS Arkansas SAF / Ouachita Society of American Foresters & Arkansas Division of Ouachita Society of American Foresters Dr. Ed Bacon Scholarship / Ms. Isabel Bacon Coach Tommy Barnes Memorial Endowed Scholarship / Dr. Seth and Scarlett Barnes Bramlett Scholarship / Dr. and Mrs. Morris Bramlett Louis Raymond Doyle, Jr. Memorial Award / Mr. John Juneau and Mr. Timothy Pruitt Louis Dunlap Mathematics Scholarship /UAM African-American Alumni Association, Family, Friends and Former Students Pat Grider Southeast Arkansas Veteran’s Scholarship / Maj. Eric Grider Jay and Laura Davis Hughes Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hughes Jo Hutchinson Jackson and Charles E. Jackson Education Endowed Scholarship / Deborah Jackson Thornhill, Jimmie Jo Jackson Leech, Dr. Charles E. Jackson, Jr. and Lucy Jackson Cyphers Dr. Kathy Brown King and Family Endowed Graduate Scholarship / Dr. Kathy Brown King and Family Allen Wilson Maxwell, Jr. Memorial Scholarship / Family and Friends E. Wesley McCoy Scholarship / Ouachita-Saline Surveying and Mr. Mike Miley Ernest and Mary McFarland Scholarship / Mary I. McFarland Arhia Raymond Melton and Mildred Richardson Melton Scholarship / Estate of W. F. Chumney Monticello Rotary Club Scholarship / Monticello Rotary Club Robert S. Moore Scholarship Fund / COT McGehee Single Parents Fund Rison High School Scholarship / Jasper Calaway, Rison Business Community and Friends Robert W. Wiley Endowed Scholarship / Family and Friends Stephenson-Dearman Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. “Chuck” Dearman, Jr. - MOVE HERE
LIFE INSURANCE Christopher L. Johnson / Mr. and Mrs. Christopher L. Johnson Phillip Pierini / Mr. Phillip Pierini Tim Pruitt / Mr. Timothy R. Pruitt Gus “Bubba” Pugh, Jr. / Mr. Gus “Bubba” Pugh, Jr. Guy “Butch” Sabbatini, Jr. / Mr. Butch Sabbatini, Jr.
CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUSTS Mr. and Mrs. Carroll E. Walls, Sr. Mr. Kim L. Mitchell and Mrs. Joyce A. Mitchell
ANNUAL AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS American Legion Post 111 Scholarship / American Legion Post 111 of Crossett Hunter Bell Memorial Scholarship / Mr. and Mrs. Jim Manning Aldo Cingolani Memorial Scholarship / Mrs. Patsy Cingolani Commercial Bank Business Award / Commercial Bank and Trust Company Farmers Grain Terminal Award / Farmers Grain Terminal Georgia-Pacific Crossett Paper Operations Award / Georgia-Pacific Miriam and Norman Graber Memorial Scholarship / Dr. Robert Graber Ralph McQueen Business Award / Ralph McQueen & Co. Jewell Minnis Award / Jewell Minnis Trust Lucille Moseley Memorial Scholarship / Family and friends Linda Pinkus Scholarship / Mr. Lester Pinkus, Lee Pinkus & Ladd Pinkus James & Venie Ann Powell Scholarship / James & Venie Ann Powell Fund A. O. Tucker Memorial Scholarship / Mrs. Glenda Carol Tucker Baker UAM Institute of Management Accountants Scholarship / UAM Student Chapter of the IMA Wallace Trust Scholarship / Wallace Trust Bob White Memorial Foundation Scholarship / Bob White Memorial Foundation
Autumn 2015 27
Class News 1960’s Ronald G. Carter (BSE ’67) of Hot Springs was inducted into the Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame July 10 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
1970’s Jim D. Dickerson (BS ’70) of Russellville was inducted into the Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame July 10 at the Hot Springs Convention Center
2000’s James C. Feazell (BA ’05) of Olive Branch, Miss., appeared as a guest vocalist in an organ recital at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pine Bluff on July 26. Beth Burgess Crawford (BS ’06) of Hot Springs, married Blake Crawford on April 19, 2015, in Savannah, Ga.
Friends We’ll Miss Jerry Wayne Ashcraft of Pine Bluff, June 30, 2015 Billy E. Bodiford, Jr., (TC ’06) of Monticello, August 10, 2015 Marvin Bob Burford (BSF ‘70) of Fordyce, June 30, 2015 Frances Clifton Daniels of Monticello, July 24, 2015 John Stanley Haisty (BSE ‘51) of Springdale, July 4, 2015 Angela Harrod of McGehee, July 20, 2015 Horace Eugene High (BSE ‘54) of Topeka, Kan., May 15, 2015 C. Lewis “Lew” Hyatt (BS ‘69) of North Little Rock, April 30, 2015 Patsy Shell Johnson of Heber Springs, July 28, 2015 Virginia Davis Johnson (BA ’37) Little Rock, July 28, 2015 Anna Lee Wright Kidwell (BS ‘96) of Warren, May 28, 2015 Paul Maxwell of San Diego, Calif., July 10, 2015 David Roland Powell, Sr., (BBA ‘70) of McGehee, June 2, 2015 Robert “Rob” Roy Swiger (BSF ‘49) of Cleveland, TN, May 7, 2014 James Victor Tiner (BSF ‘56) of Little Rock, June 20, 2015
28 UAM Magazine
SP OTLIGHT | A LUMNI NE WS
UAMS Names New Director Shannon Fleming (B.A. ‘82) is the new senior director of development for the Reynolds Institute on Aging
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Shannon Fleming has been named senior director of development for the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He comes to UAMS from the University of Southern Mississippi where he served since 2013 as executive director of the university’s foundation, which had more than $118 million in assets, including $75 million in endowments. Fleming brings 30 years of experience in higher education to his UAMS post. In the last four decades, he has worked at various Arkansas institutions. He spent six years as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at UAM, and two years as chief development officer at Henderson State University. He served three years as associate vice president for advancement at the University of Central Arkansas. During that time, he helped plan a $35 million campaign and assisted in securing the lead gift of $3.5 million. Prior to his time at the University of Southern
Mississippi, Fleming spent seven years as vice president for institutional advancement at Philander Smith College, where his responsibilities included supervision of the college’s fundraising, marketing, public relations and alumni services. “The Reynolds Institute has done, and will continue to do, incredible work to improve life for the aging population in Arkansas and across the nation,” said Fleming. “It is an honor to join the talented staff and help them continue to provide world-class medical care.” Fleming earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1982, and his master’s in business administration from Louisiana Tech University in 1983. He earned his doctorate of education in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1997.
DU HOUSTON WETLANDS SPONSOR OF THE YEAR Randy Risher (B.S. ‘89) honored by Ducks Unlimited Randy Risher has been named the Houston Wetlands Sponsor of the Year by Ducks Unlimited. Risher was honored by the Houston Chapter of Ducks Unlimited at a gala dinner at the Bayou Events Center. A native of Crossett, Risher has over 28 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. In 1994, he began The Risher Companies, providing fitness solutions for clients ranging from in-home fitness studios to large private clubs, corporate fitness centers, non-profit organizations, and professional sports teams. Risher serves on both the Foundation and Alumni Boards at UAM. The Randy S. Risher Fitness Center on the UAM campus is named in his honor.
Jim Ed Brown
Gene Pearce, Jr.
John Rollins
April 1, 1934 - June 11, 2015
February 6, 1938 - May 27, 2015
May 14, 1937 - June 15, 2015
Jim Ed Brown, UAM’s 1977 Distinguished Alumnus, a longtime Grand Ole Opry member who had solo and group hits and was a prominent figure on country music television shows, died June 11. He was 81. In the mid-1950s, Brown and his two sisters, Bonnie and Maxine, formed the trio known as The Browns, and had the No. 1 hit “The Three Bells” on both the pop and country charts in 1959. Brown’s solo career began with the hit “Pop-A-Top Again” in 1967. Others were “Morning” in 1970 and “Southern Loving” in 1973. Also in the 1970s, he teamed up with Helen Cornelius on hits including “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You,” “Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye” and “Lying in Love With You.” Brown and Cornelius were voted the Country Music Association’s duo of the year in 1977. Brown began singing with the Grand Ole Opry in 1963, and was a prominent figure on country music television shows in the 1970s and 1980s. The Country Music Hall of Fame announced in March that Brown and his sisters had been selected for induction along with The Oak Ridge Boys and Grady Martin. The induction ceremony is in October, but Brown received his Hall of Fame medallion early.
Eugene George Pearce, Jr., (BSF ’61) of Morrilton, past president of the Arkansas Forestry Association, died May 27. He was 77. He attended the University of Arkansas for two years, and graduated from Arkansas A&M College (now UAM), with a degree in forestry. Mr. Pearce worked for the Arkansas State Forestry Commission and later for Green Bay Packaging Woodlands as procurement forester. He managed wood yards in Benton and Heber Springs before moving to Morrilton in 1970, and retired as general manager of the Fiber Resource Division. Mr. Pearce was a member of the Arkansas Forestry Association, Forest Resources Association, Society of American Foresters, and Oklahoma Forestry Association.
UAM lost a dear friend with the passing John Rollins on June 15. He was 78. Coach Rollins came to UAM in 1980 after a successful career at DesArc High School, where he coached the Eagles to a state championship. His players included future Dallas Cowboys all-pro safety Cliff Harris. Coach Rollins joined Harold Tiley’s staff as an assistant football coach and later became head baseball coach. In 1985, Coach Rollins became director of the UAM physical plant before returning to his first love, coaching high school football at Des Arc. Coach Rollins is survived by his wife, Barbara Ballowe Rollins, two daughters, Kathy Helmle, Jamie Rayburn, three grandchildren, two great granddaughters, and one sister.
Wee Weevil Bibs Ava Elaine, born August 17, 2015, to Rebecca (Smith) (BS ’11) and Dave Nugent (BGS ’12) of Monticello. Angello, Jr., born May 27, 2015, to Cicely (Greene) (BS ’02) and Angello Simpson, Sr. of Monticello. Chaplin Salinger, born July 13, 2015, to Dean Mark Spencer (Arts and Humanities) and his wife Rebecca of Monticello. Kolbi Shea, born August 12, 2015, to Haley (King) (BS ’12) and Ryan West (BS ’13) of Monticello. Samuel Michael and Wesley Charles Baumgarten, twin boys of Matthew Baumgarten (BS ’06) and Rebecca Baumgarten of Birmingham, Mich. Autumn 2015 29
University of Arkansas at Monticello Alumni Association P.O. Box 3597 Monticello, AR 71656
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