In its first team competition of the season, the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Trap Shooting team won second place at the Pink Out Big 50 Shoot “Save a Pair” Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser tournament. The competition, held on October 10, also saw newcomer Ellen Payne claim an individual gold.

Hosted at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation (AGFF)/Jacksonville Shooting Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Arkansas, the American Trap event featured competitors firing at 50 single targets. 

Representing UAM were Brody Little, from El Dorado, Arkansas; Matthew Boyles, from Lonoke, Arkansas; Ace Patrick, from Rison, Arkansas; Ellen Payne, from St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Trey Greeson, from Morrilton, Arkansas. As a team, the group hit 218 out of 250 targets, securing second place at the tournament. 

The competition produced an individual title for Payne, who, along with one other female competitor, hit 47 out of 50 targets. Their tie was resolved in a three-target shootout, during which Payne successfully hit all three targets and claimed the Top Female Shooter award.

The Barbara D. Weaver Family Scholarship was recently endowed in the UAM Foundation Fund to support students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM).

The scholarship will benefit full-time or part-time students pursuing any degree within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at UAM, with preference given to students majoring in social work. Additional consideration may be given to non-traditional students, reflecting Barbara’s own journey at UAM, and financial need will also be taken into account.

Lauren Weaver, Barbara’s granddaughter, established the Barbara D. Weaver Family Scholarship with a $15,000 gift to the UAM Foundation Fund in honor of her grandmother’s life, deep commitment to serving others and love for UAM.

Barbara’s story is one of compassion, dedication and purpose. At 47 years old, she began an extraordinary new chapter when, with encouragement from her eldest son, Jeff, she took a leap of faith and enrolled at UAM as a non-traditional student alongside her youngest son, Nicholas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in social work degree in 2004, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of the Alpha Chi College Honor Society. She immediately continued her education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she earned a Master of Social Work degree.