4A News UAPB celebrates spring commencement The Arkansawyer
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023
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286 undergraduate and 25 graduate students honored for their achievements. Philanthropist William F. Pickard shared knowledge, and outstanding students received the Chancellor’s Medallions. By Gia Turner Staff Writer
On May 6, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) held its 167th Commencement ceremony, where 286 graduates were recognized for their hard work and dedication. The ceremony was held at Simmons Bank Field, and it was a colorful event, with families and friends dressed in their best attire to celebrate their loved ones. Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander was in attendance reminded the graduates that the ceremony was not just a celebration of their ac ademic achie vements, but that it is the beginning of the rest of their lives. He congratulated the class of 2023 for their hard work and dedication and encouraged them to build a stronger foundation for a better life. During the ceremony, the Chancellor’s Medallion was presented
CHATGPT
> continued from 3A tedious things,” Price said. “We don’t have to do all the tedious stuff. We can let the computer do it. And then we can interpret the answer and think about what it tells us about the decisions we need to make.” Min Sun, a University of Washington education professor, thinks students should u s e c h at b o t s l i k e personal tutors. “If students don’t understand a mathematical operation, they can ask ChatGPT to explain it and give examples,” said Sun. She wants teachers to use ChatGPT as their own assistant to plan math lessons, give students feedback and communicate with parents. Teachers can also ask ChatGPT to recommend different levels of math problems for students with different mastery of the concept, she said. Sun said this is particularly helpful for teachers who are new to the profession or have students with diverse needs. “It gives you some initial ideas and possible problem areas for students so I can get myself more prepared before walking into the classroom,” Sun said. A year ago, if you asked Daniel Zingaro how he assesses his introductory computer science students, he would say: “We ask them to write code.” But if you ask him to d ay, t he ans we r would be more complex, said Zingaro, an associate professor at the University of Toronto.
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Graduating students are recognized for their achievements during the in-person, outdoor commencement ceremony on May 6, at Simmons Bank Football Field. (Arkansawyer/Staff photographer)
William F. Pickard Keynote speaker
to seven outstanding students who demonstrated exceptional academic excellence. Zingaro and Leo Porter, a computer science professor at the University of California San Diego, co-authored the book L e ar n A I - Ass i ste d Python Programming with GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT. They believe artificial intelligence w i l l a l low introductory computer science classes to tackle big-picture concepts. Ma ny b e g i n n e r students need help with writing simple code, Porter and Zingaro said in the book. They never move on to more advanced questions, and many still can’t write simple code after they complete the course. “It’s not just uninteresting, it is frustrating,” Porter said. “They are trying to build something. And they forget a semicolon and lose three hours trying to find that missing semicolon” or some other syntax that prevents a code from running properly. C h a t b o t s d o n’t make those mistakes and allow computer science professors to spend more time teaching higher-level skills. Not all professors in the field think artificial intelligence should be integrated into the curriculum. But Zingaro and Porter argue that reading code generated by artificial intelligence doesn’t feel like cheating. Instead, it’s how a student is going to learn. “I think many programmers read a lot of code, just like how I believe the best writers read a lot of writing,” Zingaro said. “I think that is a very powerful way to learn.”
Each student had the highest grade point average (GPA) in their academic school. These students were Ma’Kyah Goodlow, Samaria Jackson and Gerrod White from the School of Arts and Sciences, Kylan Weatherspoon from the School of Business Administration, Jessica Mitchell from the School of Education, Alexandria Coleman from University College, and Danniel Bailey from the School of Agri-
culture. The recipients were congratulated and applauded by the audience, including their families and friends. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the UAPB Golden Lion Battalion class of 2023, which was the largest graduating battalion class in UAPB history. The battalion was recognized for its hard work and dedication, and they received a great ovation from the audience and staff alike.
Among the spring graduates were six students to receive a master of business administration (MBA) degrees in business analytics since the MBA program began in the fall of 2021. In addition, two students graduated with their master of science degrees in Addiction Studies, the university’s online program and the only graduate program in addiction studies in Arkansas. The guest speaker
for the ceremony was Philanthropist William F. Pickard, Ph.D., who shared his wisdom and experiences with the graduates. Pickard is an entrepreneur and author of the book titled “Surviving The Shift,” which is about networking and building relationships. Pickard has been honored by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the 50 most influential black entrepreneurs over the past 50 years. He is the founder and executive chairman of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management and GAA New Ventures, co-managing partner at MGM Grand Detroit Casino and co-owner of four newspapers, which have evolved into Real Times Media, a media marketing company. In his speech, Pickard emphasized the importance of networking and building relationships, stating that “if you don’t network, you might not work.” He likened relationships to an elevator, stating that they can take you up or down, so it is essential to be careful. The UAPB 167th Spring Commencement ceremony ended with the conferring of 286 degrees to the graduates.
COMMENCEMENT PHOTO GALLERY
Top left photo: Brandi Williams (far left), Briana Dockery (middle) and Zjenaira Rosario (far right). Top right photo: Lynn Duncan (far left), Zharia Fluker (middle) and Cydni Adams (far right). Destiny Kilgore (bottom left), Harli Rodgers (bottom center) and Tyre White with Chancellor Alexander (bottom far right)
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> continued from 1A and look forward to seeing them succeed in their chosen business industry post-graduation.” “Both of my parents have a business background, and I’m honored to follow in my family’s footsteps by earning both my undergraduate and master’s degrees from UAPB,” Alyssa Wesley said. “The university’s MBA program is special in every sense of the word, and I’m proud to have made my mark at UAPB.” Wesley graduated magna cum laude when she received her bachelor of science in business management from UAPB in May 2021. When Wesley learned that UAPB would soon begin the
MBA program, she chose to stay in Arkansas and earn her MBA in the inaugural class of graduates. Po st - g r a du at i on , Wesley aims to work for the National Football League® in either business analytics or operations and front office management capacity. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds
using the knowledge, tools, and business skills I learned through the program,” Wesley said. The MBA program combines a fortified balance of theory and pr a c t i c e, e nabl i ng aspiring business managers to develop strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills that can be creatively deployed to the busi-
ness world. Students can choose from three specializations: gaming and casino management, hospitality management and business analytics. The MBA program, which began in the Fall of 2021 and currently has 24 students enrolled, is expected to expand enrollment next semester and is working to offer online courses to working applicants. MBA graduates at the commencement. From left to right: De’Neshia Nicole Gaines (first), Kaila Janae Robinson (third), Rodney H. Griffin (fourth), Nikita Shante Seahorn (fifth), Alyssa Maria Wesley (seventh) and David Laurence Alexander (far right).
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