Alumni – Bear Blog

UCA Alumna Opens Branch of Arkansas Families First in Conway

Web — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:37:49 +0000

Congratulations to 51��¥ alumna, Dr. Laura Horton, for opening a branch of Arkansas Families First in Conway!

Arkansas Families First is a multidisciplinary behavioral health care group that offers a variety of health services for children, teens, and families in Central Arkansas.

UCA Hosts 7th Annual Night of Distinction

Web — Mon, 01 May 2017 14:14:27 +0000

The 51��¥ hosted its seventh annual Night of Distinction Saturday, April 29th, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the McCastlain Ballroom.

Night of Distinction is the awards gala honoring past and present recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Alumni Service Award. Proceeds from the event benefit student scholarships.

2017 Alumni Honorees:

Herby Branscum, Jr. ’63 Distinguished Alumnus

Charlie Strong ’92 Distinguished Alumnus

Sue Voegele ’62 Alumni Service Award

Branscum practiced law in Arkansas for more than 50 years and served eight years as District Judge of Perry County, as well as 11 years on the Arkansas State Claims Commission, during which he served his last 6 years as Chairman. He served 10 years on the Arkansas Highway Commission.

Strong was the head football coach at the University of South Florida, two-time conference coach of the year and was later inducted into the 51��¥ Hall of Fame in 2009. Since 1995, Strong has coached 15 players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and had 37 taken in the first four rounds.

Voegele is currently in her second term on the Alumni Board of Directors where she serves on the scholarship committee. She also served as the chairman for the Class of 1962 Half Century Club Induction as well as the Alpha Sigma Tau Housing Committee.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award presented to UCA alumni. It is given to alumni to recognize outstanding contribution to the university, community, state or society; outstanding achievement in a particular field of endeavor; or a reputation that enhances the reputation of the university. Recipients also serve as an example to students and contribute to the goals or welfare of the university.

The Alumni Service Award was established in 2007 to honor an individual or couple, who, through their deeds or actions, reflect and recognize the importance of the UCA Alumni Association and demonstrate extraordinary commitment, dedication, service, and loyalty to the UCA Alumni Association.

UCA Library Supervisor Writes Award-Winning Manuscript For Arkansas Historical Association

Web — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 20:54:33 +0000

Daniel Klotz, overnight library supervisor at Torreyson Library at the 51��¥, recently won an award for his paper, “State Power and School Reform in Faulkner County, 1873-1931” in the Arkansas Historical Association’s James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award competition.

Klotz at his spring 2016 graduation earning his Masters in History at UCA.

Klotz was invited to accept his award of $250 and certificate and be a guest of the Association at their annual banquet on April 21, 2017, in Pocahontas.

Congratulations!

Alumna of Upward Bound at UCA Passes Bar and Receives MBA/JD

Web — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:29:41 +0000

Delayna Griffin, a 2008 graduate of Morrilton High School, participated in Upward Bound at UCA throughout her high school years. She earned her BA in Political Science from UCA in May 2011 before enrolling at Texas Southern University in Fall of 2012. In August of this year, Griffin earned her MBA in Business Administration and Juris Doctor in Law. Having passed the Texas Bar Exam in July 2015, Griffin was sworn in as a licensed attorney on September 13 and is now working as the judicial law clerk for Judge Mike Engelhart of the 151st District Court of Harris County, Texas.

Petit Jean Headlight in Morrilton, AR.

Griffin said, “I cannot reflect on my success and what I have accomplished thus far without crediting Upward Bound for laying the foundation and framework for me. The program, as well as the coordinators and staff, have always played a big role and influence in my life, without which I don’t know where I would be.”

Upward Bound at UCA has recently submitted its fourth grant proposal for possible renewal into the 2018-2023 grant cycle. The program would like to extend many thanks to everyone who provided letters of support to demonstrate the institutional commitment to the program’s success in serving low-income, first generation students in our surrounding communities of Bigelow, Mayflower, Morrilton, Nemo Vista, and Perryville.

The commitments and contributions made by individuals and departments on this campus play a big part in ensuring the success of students like Delayna Griffin who pass through the program and are beneficiaries of the time and resources invested.

UCA Women’s Giving Circle Awards 2016 Grants

Web — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 17:00:21 +0000

The Women’s Giving Circle at the 51��¥ awarded five grants that focus on development opportunities for women and girls.

Established in 2014, the Women’s Giving Circle is a group of alumnae and who accept annual grant applications to benefit areas that provide unique learning and leadership development opportunities that will enrich the lives of women.

The Women’s Giving Circle received nine applications and awarded five grants for the 2016-2017 academic year. The grants range from $500 to $1,700.

For more information or to join the Women’s Giving Circle, visit www.uca.edu/go/WGC

2016-2017 WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE GRANTEES

Dr. Pat Cantrell, associate professor
Women in Business Luncheon
$500
The grant will be used to host a lunch for senior female College of Business students. They will be matched to a female community leader by based on their department and/or disciplinary field for one-on-one and panel discussions.

Sandy Longhorn, assistant professor
Establishing the C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference
$1,700
The grant will be used to host the C.D. Women Writers Conference with the focus on female writers from all genres and experience levels and from journalism to mass market books and beyond.

Anita Sego, assistant professor
Start Where You Are: Increasing UCA Sexual Violence Prevention and Safety Awareness
$1,500
The grant will be used to develop a peer educator program between the Department of Health Sciences, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and the UCA Police department to develop student leaders on campus to increase knowledge and awareness about sexual violence prevention and personal safety.

Dr. Azida Walker, associate professor
A Celebration of Women in STEM
$800
The grant will be used to host a day of celebration of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) where students will have one-on-one discussion with professionals with various STEM backgrounds.

Li Zeng, assistant professor
UCA Women’s Service Learning Mentorship Project for Young Women in Poverty
$500
The grant will be used towards hosting the “Each One Reach One” Mentorship Academy designed to help state-wide mentors give young women in poverty the encouragement to not only recognize their potential, but to also fulfill their potential through the development of life-skills necessary for success.