UPDATE SPRING 2015 Chang Pleasantly Surprised by Winning T-Shirt Design The Western Arkansas Technical Center began the 2014-15 academic year by welcoming its largest class ever – 582 students. And one thing all of those students have in common is the ownership of a T-shirt designed by classmate Ryder Chang. T-shirt designs are submitted each year by students in the graphic design program. A committee made up of WATC staff members selects four designs that best represent the program. Incoming students who attend orientation in May view those four designs and cast their votes. The winning design is revealed on the first day of school when students pick up their new WATC T-shirt before they head to class. Chang, a senior at Alma High School, was not aware his design had been nominated until he saw others wearing it. In fact, seeing others wear his design even made him consider a change in his future plans. At the age of 10, Chang taught himself basic drawing techniques after watching his father draw comic book characters. He checked out library books every chance he got and practiced drawing shapes by tracing, until one day the art of drawing clicked for him. As he considers both graphic design and studio art as possible future majors, Chang said he is leaning toward digital art and character development as a primary focus. “I love video games and I’m constantly thinking about different personas and characters in my imagination. I want some of them to ‘be alive,’ meaning to be seen by other people,” he said. A new visual arts building on the UAFS campus, with expected completion by fall 2015, entices Chang to continue his education right where he started. He said he is also looking at universities in the Pacific Northwest region of the country, where he has traveled with his family. One of the three WATC goals is to help students make informed career choices, and Chang is taking full advantage. “Thanks to WATC, I believe I have developed more well-rounded skills,” Chang said. “For example, before WATC, I only thought about drawing, but now I’ve gotten a taste of other types of art, such as 3D sculpting and digital art, and some experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.” Dr. D. Chris Rink, WATC director, encourages students to explore career options during their time in the WATC program. “Being able to try a program of study like graphic design while still in high school is one of the most fortunate opportunities we provide,” Rink said. “Not only will it teach students whether or not it is the right area for them, but it also heightens their awareness of the variety of specialties associated with the field. Ryder is a model example of what we try do, which is help students plan for the future before it sneaks up on them.” Chang will graduate from high school in the spring having obtained more than 30 college credit hours through the WATC program.
WATC students wearing the new WATC T-shirt design.
WATC • SPRING 2015
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Another semester is in the books. The first day of the fall term back in August does not seem that far in the past, and yet here we are! As I reflect on the past few months, several things come to mind that highlight the great students, faculty and staff we have at the Western Arkansas Technical Center. It is my hope that the spring semester brings with it more great things for WATC. First, I am proud of the work done by the vast majority of our students. What a great group of students, faculty, and staff! We are so fortunate to have quality instructors that assist the students, not only in academics, but also their leadership and
collaboration skills. We are proud of the accomplishments of all the students who participated in WATC in the fall. A big “thank you” to the staff of the WATC office for the wonderful work they do behind the scenes. We have a new Partners in Education group: Fort Smith Public Schools Career and Technical Education. We have been honored to work with all the junior high schools. Our integrated instruction, advising, Next Step visits and SkillsUSA, all combine to offer our students the best of academics and student organizations. The WATC staff is the best! Each person in our office strives for what is best for our students. They are great resources for information. If our students are in need, the WATC staff works hard to help them. The Next Step visits are coming up in the spring 2015 semester. In addition to bringing 10th grade students to the UAFS campus for them to see firsthand the WATC experience, this year we will continue to have open houses to coincide with the Next Step visits in order to get parents on campus in the evening hours after their students have been here during the day. We have started receiving and processing applications for admission into WATC, and these visits and open houses will surely help generate interest in WATC across the area we serve. Finally, I am also proud of the students who completed the guitar building class. While building unique, one-of-a-kind guitars, the students learned valuable lessons in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And the best part: They all scored high enough in their classwork in all these areas to be able to take their guitars home! We are already planning another guitar building class for fall 2015. As we begin spring 2015, I continue to see a great future for WATC and the students who attend classes. What a wonderful opportunity the students have to receive both college credit and high school credit for college-level work completed during their junior and senior years of high school. It is my hope to be a part of that future for many years to come.
D. Chris Rink, Ed.D. Director
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WATC Staff
D. Chris Rink Director 788-7701
Savanna Knight Program Coordinator 788-7122
Sarah Green Academic Advisor 788-7726
Jamie Pair Assistant Director 788-7713
Jean Jackson Integrated Instructor 788-7403
Nita Prock Administrative Specialist II 788-7403
Questions?
Please contact our WATC staff with questions about the WATC program in general or for more information on a specific career training path.
2013-2014 WATC Students
Outstanding
For each WATC program, an outstanding student is recognized for demonstrating honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic above and beyond the instructors’ expectations. Outstanding WATC students receive a $500 scholarship to continue their education at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. To be nominated for the scholarship, a student must be a high school senior who has a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at UAFS, has completed one semester in the WATC program for which he or she is nominated, is enrolled in the program currently, and is in good standing with the program.
Automotive Technology Nathan Kasper Ozark High School
Computer Graphic Technology Matthew Musquiz Alma High School
Computer Graphic Technology Charles “TJ” McGowan Alma High School
Criminal Justice Ashton Pullen Greenwood High School
Early Childhood Education Elaine Pigeon Southside High School
Electronics Technology Zachery Teague Alma High School
Pre-Engineering Logan Neel Southside High School
Graphic Design Britany Forbis Southside High School
General Health Eliseo Diaz Northside High School
Advanced Health Veronica Tristan Hackett High School
Information Technology Grayson Goodwin Greenwood High School
Welding Technology Austin Drackett Greenwood High School
Health Science (Waldron Campus) Megan Bottoms Waldron High School
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WATC • SPRING 2015
Bethanny Barkley Explores Art in Paris Bethanny Barkley of Hackett – a UAFS freshman and former WATC student – has always been intrigued by art from around the globe, and she dreamed of traveling to gain exposure to what many people only read about. Thanks to a class offered at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, she lived her dream and explored a major international art destination for herself. As a student in the WATC graphic design program, Barkley enrolled in a study-abroad course called Art in Paris. She was responsible for raising money for her trip. Barkley and her classmates, along with UAFS art history professor Mary B. Shepard, spent 10 days exploring the art and architecture of Paris, France. “Each day we covered a different time period and made our way through chronologically. It was a fabulous experience, and hopefully UAFS will be doing this class again. It’s so great to see people living with art as a part of their everyday life,” Barkley said. Highlights of the trip included visits to the Louvre, the royal medieval chapel Sainte-Chapelle, the Palace of Versailles, Luxembourg Gardens, and the Catacombs of Paris. Barkley’s future ambition is to remain at UAFS to continue studying studio art. After she completes her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to pursue a doctorate. She would like to use that to specialize in art therapy for children dealing with trauma or disabilities.
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Solar Energy Wows Area Students Ninth graders at Ramsey and Kimmons junior high schools in Fort Smith learned a valuable lesson about renewable energy during a presentation by Sabrina Gomez of Fort Smith, who is an electronics technology instructor at UAFS and WATC. Students in the engineering technology classes listened for a short lesson about solar technology, then put their new knowledge to work using hands-on kits to create energy.
The winning teams gained bragging rights for the rest of the school day. In its role as a Partner in Education for Fort Smith Public Schools Career and Technical Education, WATC focuses on educating junior high students about making informed career choices as well as the choices they have as WATC students.
Ignacio Quezada of Fort Smith, a senior at Northside High School, assisted students during the experiment and shared information with them about his experience as a WATC student. The object of the lesson was to teach students how to piece together the kits to perform certain functions, such as making a buzzer sound or wheel spin. After learning how to combine the solar cells, cords and other gadgets in various ways, students culminated their lesson with a race. Each team had to form a combination with their materials that would raise a small weight connected by a string and pulley system.
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WATC • SPRING 2015
Students Represent Arkansas at SkillsUSA Twenty-two students represented the University of Arkansas Fort Smith and the Western Arkansas Technical Center at the 50th Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in June 2014. UAFS student and former WATC student Jarrod Ramsey of Lavaca was awarded a skill point certificate in advertising design. Skill point certificates indicate participants achieved national industry-defined scores in knowledge and hands-on examinations. Additionally, Ramsey placed in the top 10 of the advertising design competition. UAFS students and former WATC students David Havel of Greenwood and Morgan Godfrey of Cedarville finished in the top 10 in the 3D visualization and animation competition. Other participants and the events they competed in included: Alma: WATC students T.J. McGowan and Matthew Musquiz, 3D visualization and animation; Brandon Gregory and J.R. House, welding fabrication; all of Alma High School. Charleston: UAFS student and former WATC student Robert Moore, prepared speech. County Line: WATC student William Randolph of County Line High School, health knowledge bowl. Fort Smith: UAFS student and former WATC student Benjamin Truong, health knowledge bowl; WATC students
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Elizabeth Crowley and Micah Galvan, health knowledge bowl; Elaine Pigeon of Southside High School, early childhood education; Crystal Porter of Northside High School, health knowledge bowl; and Ignacio Quezada of Northside High School, electronics technology. Greenwood: UAFS student and former WATC student Gavin Comer, first aid/CPR. Lavaca: UAFS student and former WATC student Daniel Romo, health knowledge bowl. Mountainburg: WATC student Tyler Drummond, welding fabrication. Van Buren: UAFS students and former WATC students Dakota Amos, health knowledge bowl; Zackary McClain, diesel equipment technology; and WATC student Sarah Barnice, technical computer applications. Waldron: UAFS student and former WATC student Taylor Isham, medical terminology. About 16,000 people participated in the weeklong event in Kansas City. The SkillsUSA Championships are a way for students to showcase their technical skills on a national stage. Students qualified to compete at the national level by receiving a gold medal at the state competition in April. The SkillsUSA mission is to help its members become world class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
What Is WATC Open House? WATC Open House was initiated in December 2012 to create an open line of communication with parents of prospective students. We appreciate when parents are involved in their student’s education and want to provide them with as much information as possible. Three WATC Open Houses are scheduled during the Spring 2015 semester, and we welcome students and their parents to come learn more about WATC by visiting with our faculty and staff. This year, we plan to add current students to the event so they can showcase their work in a student-to-student atmosphere.
The goal of WATC Open House is to educate parents of students in 9th to 11th grades about the free concurrent credit we offer, as well as the benefits of career readiness upon high school graduation. Opportunities to attend a WATC Open House in the spring are Tuesday, Feb. 3, Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Monday, March 2. Call 479-788-7720 to RSVP. Although calling ahead to RSVP is not mandatory, we recommend doing so because we want to provide pizza and drinks for everyone.
Open House begins with a brief overview of WATC and our 10 programs of study. After that, guests are free to walk around and ask questions with the faculty, who are experts in their field.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 479 Fort Smith, Ark.
5210 Grand Ave. P.O.Box 3649 Fort Smith, AR 72913-3649
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Congratulations, Dr. Rink!
IMPORTANT DATES
WATC Director D. Chris Rink successfully presented his doctoral dissertation in Human Resources and Workforce Development at the University of Arkansas — “Educator Perceptions Regarding Mandated Professional Development” — on November 13. The WATC staff would like to extend our most sincere congratulations to Dr. Rink!
JANUARY
12 – Classes begin 19 – No classes, MLK Day 30 – Deadline to join SkillsUSA
FEBRUARY
3 – WATC Open House 24 – WATC Open House
MARCH
APRIL
13-15 – Arkansas SkillsUSA Championships 29 – WATC Awards Ceremony
MAY
1 – Last day of classes 2-8 – Final Exam Week
JUNE
22-26 – National SkillsUSA Championships
2 – WATC Open House 23-27 – Spring Break
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