Monticello Live

The sky was the limit for approximately 30 aspiring scientists and engineers who participated in the 2nd Arkansas High-Powered Rocket Workshop, held from June 9 to 12 at Southern Arkansas University, culminating in the successful launch of nine high-powered rockets.

Sponsored by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) through a $30,000 grant secured by Dr. Abdel Bachri, the workshop brought together high school students, college undergraduates, teachers, and professors from across the state for an intensive, four-day, hands-on aerospace experience all while residing on SAU’s campus.

Participants were grouped into interdisciplinary teams and worked through the entire engineering design cycle—from conceptual planning to rocket launch. Over the week, students engaged in a hands-on rocketry experience using OpenRocket software to simulate their own rocket designs. They machined parts in SAU’s engineering machine shop, cut fins using CNC and laser etching, and 3D-printed camera bays. Participants assembled parachute recovery systems, installed rocket motors, tested stability, and integrated payloads—including onboard video cameras and a Rocket Recovery Controller with a flight recorder and a barometric dual-deploy altimeter. Throughout the program, students learned rocket safety and propulsion principles, earning progress toward Level 1 certification.

“This workshop represents the very best of STEM education—bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and giving them the tools, mentorship, and opportunity to do something extraordinary,” said Dr. Abdel Bachri, workshop organizer and dean of SAU’s College of Science and Engineering. “Thanks to support from ASGC and NASA, we’re not just inspiring the next generation of engineers—we’re launching them.”

The event concluded with a thrilling launch day, where all teams successfully deployed their rockets in the open fields of the SAU Laney Farm. For many, it was their first time witnessing—and engineering—a rocket launch. Participants could take home their rockets after the projectiles returned safely to Earth.

Special thanks go to Jeff Sumner, SAU’s engineering machinist, and to Frankum Royce of Frankum Performance Rocketry Products, who helped guide teams through safe fabrication techniques and ensured all rockets met critical safety standards.

About SAU College of Science and Engineering:

Southern Arkansas University provides students with the complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees in four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to fit the needs of career and professional trends of today. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu. SAU College of Science and Engineering is committed to excellence in hands-on STEM education, research, and outreach, providing transformative opportunities for students across the region.

About Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC):

Funded by NASA, ASGC aims to promote aerospace-related research, education, and workforce development in the state of Arkansas through partnerships between academic institutions, industry, and government agencies.

Seventeen third through eighth grade students from Drew Central and Monticello schools competed in the Drew County Spelling Bee on February 4. Dr. Kay Walter of UAM served as the pronouncer, and Belinda Carpenter, Ashley Griever, Trudy Jackson, and Brandon Weekley were the judges.

After 33 intense rounds, the bee ended with Mackenzie Hawkins (DC) in 3rd place, Ralph Cuadras (MMS) in 2nd place, and Lily Copico (MMS) as Champion. Commercial Bank awarded $100 and a goody bag to the Champion, and 2nd place and the Champion both received a year’s subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Lily will go on to represent Drew County in the Arkansas State Spelling Bee on March 8 in Little Rock. The state bee is hosted by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and is a preliminary for the Scripps’ National Spelling Bee in Washington D. C. Lily is the daughter of Ryan and Rebecca Copico.

Jacob Oliva (center), secretary for the Arkansas Department of Education, speaks Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Hermitage School District January Back to School Professional Development inside the Hermitage High School Cafeteria at the Hermitage School District in Hermitage, AR.Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva visited the Hermitage School District on Monday, January 6, 2025, as a special surprise guest to speak to the educators while they were learning about key Literacy strategies to implement across the curricula, student character-building principles, and the enhancement of the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) processes.

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Drew Huffman of Hamburg High School receives scholarship from University of Arkansas at Monticello Choir. Drew the son of MonticelloLive.com’s A.J. Huffman he is pictured with Hamburg High School Choir Director Leigh Rice and UAM Choir Director Dana Ihm.

Congratulations to these amazing choir students for their outstanding achievement in making the 2022 Region 3 All Region Choir.

MHS – Brett Birch earned 5th chair, Bass 1 mixed choir. This rating qualifies him for all state tryouts in February.  The Sr. High Region 3 concert will be Saturday, November 12 @ 4:00 p.m. in the Bryant High School auditorium.

MJHS – Shakira Walton , Chair 5,  Alto 1   Eddy Grace Birch, Chair 17,  Soprano 2

Congratulations to these amazing choir students for their outstanding achievement in making the 2022 Region 3 All Region Choir.

MMS – Students pictured left to right.    Sophie Barrillieux, Ja’Niyah Goodman, Emily Castillo, Cynthia Walton, Laila White, Malea Phillips, not pictured Emma Ellis

The Jr. High Region 3 concert will be Friday, November 11 @ 4:00 p.m. at the Magnolia Performing Arts Center.

South Arkansas Community College has released its Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the semester, and be classified as full-time.

The students are: (more…)

Alayna Holland, a senior at Drew Central High School, has accepted a Freshman Recognition Scholarship to attend South Arkansas Community College this fall. She is the daughter of Terry Holland of Hamburg.

More than two dozen students were inducted into the South Arkansas Community College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa academic honor society recently. (more…)

In conjunction with Education First Tours, The Travel Club logged 9,433 miles during spring break.  First, students flew to London and explored famous sites like Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, witnessed changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, (more…)

Junior and Senior students from Drew Central, McGehee, and Monticello school districts attended a TheatreSquared production of, The History Show, on March 7th at the Drew Central auditorium.  The four actors had one goal: cover the entire timeline of US history in just 45 minutes.  They had to get through all the important dates, names and places from the year 1000 through the most recent events in politics. (more…)

The Travel Club sponsored by group leader Eva Arrington in conjunction with Education First Tours for students will be traveling July 2022 for 9 days to Ireland, England, and Wales. (more…)

South Arkansas Community College has released its Dean’s List for the fall 2021 semester.

To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the semester, and be classified as full-time.

The students are: (more…)

Ciante Gibbs of Monticello, a nursing major at South Arkansas Community College, has accepted a SouthArk Employee Club Endowed Scholarship to attend the school this fall.
The 2013 graduate of Crossett High School is a member of the Dean’s List.
The scholarship is provided through the SouthArk Foundation.

Veronica Spencer of Monticello, a nursing major at South Arkansas Community College, has accepted a Cornerstone General Endowed Scholarship to attend the school this fall.  She is a 2002 graduate of Monticello High School.  The scholarship is provided through the SouthArk Foundation.

More than 20 South Arkansas Community College students were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year college students, recently.

Induction into the Alpha Gamma Iota Chapter requires at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average, and recommendation by a member of the faculty, staff, or administration.

Those students are:

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South Arkansas Community College has released its Dean’s List for the fall 2020 semester. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the semester, and be classified as full-time. The students are:

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Aurayia Simpson of Monticello, a registered nursing major at South Arkansas Community College, has accepted a Receiving Education Achievement Close to Home Scholarship to attend the school this fall.

The member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success is a 1998 graduate of Dumas High School.

D’Arbonee Forte of Monticello, a 2020 graduate of Drew Central High School, has accepted a Presidential Scholarship to attend South Arkansas Community College this fall.

In high school, the daughter of Sharonda Forte was a member of National Honor Society, National Beta Club, the softball team, the cheerleading squad, the yearbook staff and the Big Red Student Advisory Council. She also was senior class president, a Girls State delegate and an All-State basketball selection.

Giovanni Santos Andrade of Monticello, a 2020 graduate of Monticello High School, has accepted a Living the Dream Scholarship to attend South Arkansas Community College this fall.
The son of Maximo Santos Garcia and Veronica Andrade was a member of the art club and Spanish club in high school.

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Students from the Monticello School District, the Drew Central School District, and the Dermott School District toured Greece to discover the answer to this question, “What is it like in a country where classical mythology and ancient history still have a presence in everyday life?”

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South Arkansas Community College has announced its Dean’s List for the 2018-2019 spring semester. To be eligible, a student must be full-time had have at least a 3.0 grade-point average.

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The AHSPLA State Powerlifting Championship  will be held at the Monticello High School Gym (Dan Coston Field House) on Saturday, June 8, 2019.

We would like for everyone to come and support the student-athletes that will be involved.  Schools that are competing will be Monticello, Star City, Hamburg, Drew Central, Camden Fairview, and Parkers Chapel.

South Arkansas Community College has announced its Dean’s List for the 2018-2019 fall semester. To be eligible, a student must be full-time had have at least a 3.0 grade-point average. (more…)

Joe Monticello Automotive Team featured in the January 2019, issue of Job Ready published by the Arkansas Department of Career Education.  Click Here to check them out on page 6.  Go OEC and Hot Rodders.

South Arkansas Community College has announced its Dean’s List for the 2018 spring semester. To be eligible, a student must have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 and be classified as full-time (more…)

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The following students from Monticello graduated from the University of Arkansas at the end of the Spring 2018 semester:

•Elizabeth Inez Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism, summa cum laude, from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. (more…)

Two University of Arkansas School of Law students from Monticello earned 3.0 grade point averages or higher during the spring 2018 semester and were named to the Dean’s list. (more…)

Several students recently accepted scholarships provided through the SouthArk Foundation to attend South Arkansas Community College this fall.

Aurayia Simpson of Monticello, a practical nursing major, accepted an Omazel Lawson Endowed Scholarship. She is a 1998 graduate of Dumas High School.

Monticello Lion’s Club members David Anderson, Harold Mitchell, and Nancy Miller came to Discovery Children’s Center on March 26, 2018, to perform free vision screenings on the children who will be enrolled in Kindergarten in the fall.