Monticello Live

The University of Arkansas at Monticello chapter of Alpha Chi, the national collegiate honor society, is one of 25 chapters nationwide to receive Star Chapter status for 2010-11, according to Dr. Kate Stewart, professor of English and UAM chapter sponsor.

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The Weevils’ second upset bid in as many weeks fell short tonight as UAM fell 34-20 at No. 2 Delta State.

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The UAM Debate and Forensics Team (from left, first row) Keith Milstead, assistant coach, Katie Sims, Brittney Halley, Tiffany Reed, Anna-Blace Barron, Bobby Evans, Jessica Thrower, Jim Evans, coach, (second row) Lei Brist, Liz Borse, Meg Ryan, Yvonne Hinshaw, Jessica Pennington, (third row) Zack Tucker, Sam Montgomery, Kelly Reed, Sydney Davis, Justin Walker, (top row) Amanda Thompson, Chris Brown, and Maggie Parrish.

The University of Arkansas Monticello Speech and Debate team finished second in the sweepstakes competition at the Henderson State University Warm-up Tournament September 23-25 in Arkadelphia.

UAM placed ahead of the University of Central Arkansas, Louisiana College and Sam Houston State University, competing in both the varsity and professional debate divisions. (more…)

What was an interim position became official this week, as Athletic Director Chris Ratcliff has announced the promotion of Coach Casey Shingler to permanent head coach of the UAM Volleyball team.

Ratcliff initially promoted Shingler to interim volleyball coach on January 25, 2011 after the departure of Nicole Smith. Shingler had served as the program’s graduate assistant under Smith for one season. He becomes just the second head volleyball coach in the program’s six-year history. (more…)

Small business owners and individuals interested in starting a new business can receive free assistance on any aspect of business management from the staff of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

“In the current economy, staying in business or starting a business can be very challenging,” said Lindsay Henry, center director. “We can help businesses succeed and grow.”

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The Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program has given the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Drew H.E.A.L.T.H. Coalition $53,372.68 to continue efforts to decrease and eliminate tobacco use in Drew County.

“Coalitions and other grantees are an important part of TPCP’s tobacco control strategy,” said Carolyn Dresler, M.D., TPCP’s medical director. “They act as our hands and feet in local Arkansas communities, interacting with citizens and providing feedback on how we can improve our efforts statewide.” (more…)

An aeronautics engineer and decorated civilian veteran of Desert Storm, a leader in the health and fitness industry, an award-winning teacher, a successful insurance executive, and the president of a preventive health and wellness company have been selected to receive the 2011 Alumni Awards for Achievement and Merit from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Dale Burton of Melbourne, Fla., vice president of programs for Northrup Grumman Corporation; Randy Risher of Houston, Tex., president and founder of The Risher Companies specializing in fitness and wellness; Ginny Chambliss of Rison, the 2010 Arkansas Rural Teacher of the Year; William “Bud” Bulloch of Monticello, owner of Bulloch Insurance Agency, Inc.; and Dr. Larry Proctor of Ruston, La., chief executive officer of B.E.A.M. Preventive Health and Wellness Company, will be honored at a dinner October 28 as part of UAM’s homecoming celebration.

Monticello businessman P.Q. Gardner will receive the Continuing the Connection Award presented annually to the individual who best keeps alive the connection between Arkansas A&M and UAM.

“This is an outstanding group of individuals who have distinguished themselves in education and business,” said UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter. “We are pleased to honor them for their accomplishments.” (more…)

Registration for the 19th Annual UAM Golf Classic has begun.

The four-man scramble to benefit the UAM Golf programs will be held on Monday, October 3 at Harbor Oaks Golf Club in Pine Bluff. Registration is $80 per player or $320 per team.

Teams will be flighted after the tournament into three flights. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in each of the three flights as well as an additional “closest to the pin” award.

Tee time is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Harbor Oaks. Refreshments and a post-play meal will be provided to all participants, as well as a UAM Golf T-shirt.

Teams or individuals may register at anytime prior to the start of play on October 3. For more information, or to register your team, contact Chris Ratcliff at (870) 460-1058.

The Boll Weevils took their first loss of the 2011 season tonight in the Boomtown Classic against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers, 38-20.

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The University of Arkansas at Monticello has been designated a “Military Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs, the magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.

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Dr. Robert Weih (center), professor of spatial information systems in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, recently became the fourth recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Arkansas GIS Users Forum.

A pioneer in spatial information systems education in Arkansas, Weih was recognized for his “outstanding contributions and long-standing commitment to the Arkansas geospatial community. Candidates for this award include those whose pioneering spirit and demonstrated dedication have contributed greatly to GIS in Arkansas and whose example serves as an inspiration to others.” Weih joined the UAM faculty in 1994. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Northern Arizona University, a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. Pictured with Weih are (left) Jonathan Bailey, a senior SIS major from Malvern, and (right) Auddy Doss, a senior SIS major from Monticello.

Jay Jones, vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has been named the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus of Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas.

Jones will be recognized at a formal reception during the fall conference of the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges October 16-18 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. (more…)

Dr. Philip A. Tappe has been named dean of the School of Forest Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center (AFRC) of the UA System’s Division of Agriculture.

The announcement was made today by UAM Provost David Ray and Dr. Mark Cochran, UA System vice president for agriculture. (more…)

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Video gaming is the new language that crosses age and cultural barriers, says Bryan Fendley, director of academic computing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. “It’s how many people already interact, communicate and relate to each other; it’s really not about playing games – it’s a culture shift.”

With that in mind, Fendley has developed and will teach an online course in video game development this fall. The course, which has no prerequisites and is open to students in all academic disciplines, is designed to teach the fundamental concepts of programming to create animated movies and simple video games.

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Dr. Marvin W. Fawley, assistant dean for science and research in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has been selected to receive the Luigi Provasoli Award for authoring the outstanding paper published in the Journal of Phycology in 2010.

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The concert choir of the University of Arkansas at Monticello will give three performances in Little Rock next spring.

The choir will appear with other university choirs from across the state in a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Robinson Center Music Hall on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, February 26 at 3 p.m.. The choirs will perform with nationally known soloists as well as Maestro Philip Mann and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Sometimes called the “Ode to Joy,” Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is one of the best-known and best-loved works ever composed.

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With the season-opener just two-and-a-half weeks away, the Boll Weevils are hard at work preparing for the 2011 season.

The 2011 UAM Offensive Line will be lead by a group of five seniors, including returners Jeff Cooper, Laijia Lesu, and Johnnie Sellers. Joining them will be Wendell Clark and University of Arkansas transfer, Seth Oxner.

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Finding better methods of carbon management and optimal use of forest biomass are the subjects of four research projects currently being conducted by scientists in the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s School of Forest Resources.

The projects include a study of agroforest systems for bioenergy crop production by Hal Liechty, Matthew Pelkki and Donald White; a comparison of feedstocks grown with and without fertilization by Jamie Schuler; the characterization of in-forest woody biomass by Pelkki; and an evaluation of carbon market financial returns by Pelkki and Schuler.

All four projects were recently recognized by the Southern Forest Research Partnership’s “Forestry Research In The South” newsletter. (more…)

The University of Arkansas at Monticello awarded degrees to the following students at May commencement exercises: (more…)

Officials at the University of Arkansas at Monticello are hoping a grant from Connect Arkansas will help lift the state from its current rank of 49th in the deployment and accessibility of broadband high-speed internet. Scott Kuttenkuler, dean of students, and Bobby Hoyle, director of information technology at UAM, began work on a grant proposal a year ago focused on increasing awareness of the importance of high-speed internet. The original proposal was confined to southeast Arkansas, but after submission to Connect Arkansas, was expanded to include 57 of the state’s 75 counties. (more…)

4 Generations of the Pevey Family are pictured here:

From l-r: Christopher Pevey, Jerry Pevey, Blayze Pevey and Mark Pevey

The School of Education at the University of Arkansas at Monticello will host its third annual “Read-Write-Paint A Lot Summer Day Camp” for third and fourth graders August 4-5.

The two one-day camps are being conducted in partnership with the Monticello and Drew Central School Districts. The camp for third graders is scheduled for August 4 while fourth graders will meet August 5. Both sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m . in the Drew Central High School art room.

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The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team had three of its players recently earn spots on the 2011 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region Team.

Junior pitcher Kayla Jackson and senior right fielder Sarah Hayslip earned spots on the first team, while freshman second baseman Summer Huddleston was voted to the second team. Jackson and Hayslip were recently named to the Daktronics All-Region First Team. Both were honored with the same awards last season.

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The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team recently donated $750 to the American Breast Cancer Society. The Cotton Blossoms raised the money through t-shirt sales and donations received at UAM’s Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone game against Harding this past February. The team recently presented the check to Brandy Hampton, the American Breast Cancer Society representative for Southeast Arkansas.

Photo – First Row (L to R): Jerica Hubbard, Brandy Hampton, Chelsea Johnson, Katie Choate. Middle Row (L to R): Assistant Coach Kaci Bailey, LaChasity Seale, Emili Slamons. Back Row (L to R): Alex Hart, Taylor Clark.

Members of the UAM School of Nursing’s 2011 graduating class were honored at a pinning and capping ceremony last week at the Fine Arts Center. (more…)

Junior Kayla Jackson has been named the 2011 Gulf South Conference West Division Player and Pitcher of the Year, becoming just the second player in league history to earn both awards in the same season.

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Ten welding students at the UAM College of Technology-McGehee were recognized by Governor Mike Beebe recently for completing the Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) program, which prepares students for employment. The CRC is a credential sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services and is promoted by Governor Beebe for individuals in the state seeking employment. The CRC credential is based on demonstrated skills in mathematics, reading, and locating information that demonstrates to potential employers that the recipient possesses the basic workplace skills required for employment.

The 10 students earning the credential are seeking either technical certificates or associate degrees in applied science with an emphasis in welding. The students earned the credential through the UAM-CTM Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative, which invested a portion of grant funding into the welding program in 2010-11.

Pictured from left (front row) Bob Ware, UAM-CTM vice chancellor; Adagio Cheeter, Datron Esters, Derrick Devine, Dr. Karon Rose, Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative director; LaWarn Rodgers, director of the UAM-CTM Career Pathways Initiative and a commissioner of the Department of Workforce Services; Governor Mike Beebe, Martha Barrett, UAM CPI counselor, Sharmar Jackson, Javion McGehee, Bryant Spratt, Sharon Cantrell, UAM-CTM assistant vice chancellor; (second row) Brandon Boykin, Nickolas Cole, Brian Hensley, Eric Jefferson, UAM-CTM welding instructor; Terrance Johnson, and Duan Taylor. (Not pictured: Nicholas Bailey, Octavious Brown, and Damion Brown.)

Members of The Voice staff are (from left, seated) Douglas Boultinghouse of Woodlawn, editor-in-chief and a senior journalism and speech double major; Brittany Gilliam Sears of Wilmar, co-editor of arts and entertainment and a senior speech communication major; (standing, from left) Susan Pruitt of Monticello, commentary editor and a senior English major; Joe Hayslip of Star City, staff writer and a junior art major; Dr. Ron Sitton, faculty advisor; and Shane Glass of Monticello, around campus editor and a senior English major.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s online campus newspaper, The Voice, brought home 11 awards from the 2011 Arkansas Collegiate Media Association conference held April 18 in Conway.

The 11 wins, a record for the UAM publication, included a series of firsts for the student staff. The Voice took first and second place in the Best Web Edition category, marking the first time the staff reached the top spot in its eight years of publishing. ACMA also awarded The Voice with the inaugural General Excellence Website award.

The day also marked the first time students competed and won in the individual general excellence divisions. Senior Around Campus Editor Shane Glass took the second place award in the Reporter of the Year category and senior Editor-in-Chief Douglas Boultinghouse received third place in the Editor of the Year category.

“I appreciate the recognition from ACMA,” Glass said. “I feel honored to be awarded as such and hope I continue to hone my skills as I progress.” (more…)

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Department introduced their new women’s basketball head coach, at a press conference, Monday morning.

Tanya Ray received a round of applause from the crowd of approximately 60 local supporters, including several university staff and students.

Ray becomes the seventh head coach for the Cotton Blossoms in the 38-year history of the program.

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Forestry students from the University of Arkansas at Monticello edged Stephen F. Austin and the University of Georgia to win the 54th annual Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave competition held in Athens, Georgia, March 17-19.

UAM foresters have now won the competition of technical and physical forestry skills 31 times, 22 more than their closest rival, Stephen F. Austin. UAM finished first in technical events and second in physical events to win the overall competition.

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Chris Ratcliff has been named the first full-time athletic director at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The appointment follows a five-year tenure as the head women’s basketball coach, the last two years as coach and athletic director.

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The University of Arkansas at Monticello has earned Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation.

The designation was awarded based on UAM’s “dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship,” according to John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.

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University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart is proud to announce the names of the undergraduates who earned a place on the chancellor’s list for the fall 2010 semester. Students must earn a 4.0 grade point average in at least 12 hours of classes during a regular term to be named to the chancellor’s list.

Dean Michael Vayda of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; Dean William Schwab of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; Dean Dan Worrell of the Sam M. Walton College of Business; Dean Tom Smith of the College of Education and Health Professions; Dean Ashok Saxena of the College of Engineering; and Dean Jeff Shannon of the School of Architecture are pleased to recognize the undergraduate students on the dean’s list of their respective colleges and schools. Students on the dean’s list represent the top 10 percent of students in their college, enrolled in 12 or more hours during the semester. All students on the chancellor’s list are automatically on their college’s dean’s list as well.

Dean Cynthia Nance of the School of Law is proud to recognize the law students named to the Law School dean’s list. A law student must earn a 3.0 grade point average for the semester and be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours to qualify for the Law School dean’s list.

Dean’s and Chancellor’s List:

Kelsy Bryant, Animal Science, Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Freshman, Monticello

Commencement List:

Thomas Williams, Music, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Arts, Monticello

Krystal Witcher, Nursing, College of Education and Health Professions, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Monticello