UAMS College of Pharmacy Awards Scholarships to Record 181 Students

By Benjamin Waldrum

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) College of Pharmacy awarded nearly 200 scholarships to a school-record 181 students at a Sept. 20 ceremony. The college also announced the creation of three new scholarships.

“This year is especially significant, as we celebrate recognizing over 180 students, which is a record for the College of Pharmacy,” said Brendan Frett, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the College of Pharmacy Awards Committee. “This remarkable milestone is a testament to the dedication of our students, the generosity of our donors, and our ever-growing impact within the pharmacy community.”

The annual ceremony, held at the UAMS Little Rock campus, recognizes pharmacy students for their hard work and allows some the chance to meet the donors supporting their education. Donor contributions through scholarships and awards help pharmacy students continue their education and provide financial assistance during their time in school. Students fulfill various criteria to be considered for scholarships, including submitting applications and letters of recommendation, writing essays and meeting in-person with the awards committee.

UAMS College of Pharmacy Awards Scholarships to Record 181 Students

Jon Wolfe (far left) and Donna Wolfe (far right) flank students (from left) Ciarra Helms, Tykiya Rankin, Marissa Bones, Ma'Kyah Goodlow and Addyson Schwartz, who were awarded this year's Robert N. and Robert H. Manley Endowed Scholarship. The College of Pharmacy awarded scholarships to 181 students this year. Image by Evan Lewis

College of Health Professions Celebrates Students, Donors at Scholarship Reception

By Ben Boulden

The UAMS College of Health Professions brought together and celebrated both the students who recently received scholarships and many of the donors who support them.

At the Sept. 5 reception, College of Health Professions Dean Susan Long, Ed.D., said the average debt of an in-state undergraduate student is $35,000, while an in-state graduate student’s debt is more than twice that at about $75,000.

“Because of the generosity of our donors, we have been able to award over $100,000 in student scholarships to 57 students this year,” Long said. “However, with increasing enrollment, this equates to only 3% of our students. Obviously, there is more work to be done to help students afford a higher education.”

College of Health Professions Celebrates Students, Donors at Scholarship Reception

College of Health Professions students hold certificates of scholarship while gathering on the lobby stairs in the Rahn Education Building after a scholarship reception that recognized scholarship donors and student recipients. Image by Andrew Vogler

March 17: Giving of the green for Arkansas 4-H

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FERNDALE, Ark. — Arkansas 4-H, the state’s largest youth program, could use your help on March 17, a day when people are thinking about all things green.

“Green is our color,” said John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation. “Having March 17 as our fourth annual ‘giving of the green day’ seemed to be a great reminder that we need your support.

“Each year, Arkansas 4-H distributes more than $150,000 in college and activity scholarships,” he said. “You can be sure your donation goes to a good cause. Please support us.”

Thomas said donations can be made online, or donors may text AR4H to 44321. He notes that when texting, donors will be asked to give a $44 default gift or donate a custom amount.

Arkansas 4-H members can attest to the personal growth opportunities the organization offers. There are some 130,000 youth involved with 4-H in Arkansas.

Arkansas 4-H awwards some $150K in scholarships each year.

“My experiences taught me a lot about seeing the whole picture and really understanding other perspectives,” said Jack Berryhill, a past Arkansas 4-H president. 4-H “gave me great insight into how others think and feel and how things affect them. That gave me understanding and compassion for wanting to work with others”

Diamond Jones, the current Arkansas 4-H president, said, “If you want a group of people who believe in you, who back you up, and who offer to teach you, I say join Arkansas 4-H. It’s definitely left a huge impact on the way I socialize with others, and I’ve learned so many skills that I wouldn’t have before."

Learn more about the Arkansas 4-H Foundation at arkansas4hfoundation.org.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

UA announces $10M donation to College of Engineering

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

University of Arkansas alumnus Rick Moore has gifted $10 million to the university’s College of Engineering.

Moore was president of the Baton Rouge, La. firm Ford, Bacon & Davis, an affiliate of S&B Engineers and Constructors, for 29 years. He retired in 2020. Moore died this past summer.

According to a UA news release, Moore’s $10 million planned gift will endow funds for scholarships, a professorship, faculty recruitment and provide additional funds to benefit the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/09/ua-announces-10m-donation-to-college-of-engineering/

Rick Moore

Dr. Randy Walker Clinic to Sponsor Clinical Medical Assistant Students

June 12, 2023

The Dr. Randy Walker Family Practice and Allergy Clinic has partnered with UA Cossatot to offer full sponsorships for the college’s Clinical Medical Assistant Program. Walker will award over $25,000 in sponsorships for the 160-hour workforce development program designed to prepare students to function as professionals in multiple healthcare settings.

Angie Walker, with Dr. Randy Walker Family Practice and Allergy Clinic, said, “Our goal is to expand access to training and grow the workforce for healthcare employers in the region.”

The program will prepare learners to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. Instruction includes preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, taking and documenting vital signs, technical aspects of phlebotomy, the 12-lead EKG and the cardiac life cycle. The purpose of the Clinical Medical Assisting program is to prepare learners to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office.

Training is open to candidates with a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) Certification and will be delivered in a hybrid format consisting of a combination of instructor-led online sessions and hands-on lab sessions August 14 – December 7, 2023. Classes will meet Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 – 9:00 PM.

Graduates will be awarded a Career Training Certificate and 16 Continuing Education Units. Successful completers will also be eligible to take the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Clinical Medical Assistant (CMAC) and National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exams.

UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “Partnerships between higher-education institutions and employers, like Dr. Walker, improve the prosperity of individuals, businesses, and communities. UA Cossatot will continue to look for and offer short-term certificate training that will lead to jobs, good jobs in our region that students can train for in a very short time.”

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or enroll, contact Continuing Education at 870-584-1178 or ContinuingEducation@cccua.edu. Employers interested in sponsoring additional students may contact Workforce Development at 870-584-1136 or Workforce@cccua.edu

Arkansas Community Colleges announce scholarships for 22 academic all-star students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
October 11, 2022 

For questions or more information, please contact: 

Collin Callaway, Senior Policy Director 

Arkansas Community Colleges 

Cell: 501-554-2146 

ccallaway@arkansascc.org 

HOT SPRINGS (October 11, 2022) – Winners of the Academic All-Star Scholarships were announced today in Hot Springs at the Arkansas Community Colleges annual conference (ACC).  

Governor Asa Hutchinson presented the keynote address at a brunch honoring the 22 student scholarship winners. The students were awarded a full-tuition transfer scholarship to any Arkansas public, four-year university to complete their bachelor’s degree. The combined total for the scholarships are estimated to be more than $500,000.  

“These scholarships will enable our highest-achieving students to reach for their dreams at any of Arkansas’s public, four-year universities,” said Andrea Henderson, ACC Executive Director. “Many of these students are not only working hard to maintain excellent grades but are also adding jobs and parenthood to their list of responsibilities, which makes their accomplishments even more impressive. These students deserve our recognition, and these scholarships are a fantastic way to help them achieve their goals.”  

Each of the 22 public two-year colleges names one student as an “Academic All-Star.” These students maintain a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.25 out of a possible 4.0 and are outstanding campus and community leaders.  

The 22 member institutions of ACC, located throughout the state, serve more than 60,000 Arkansans per year through educational programs, technical training, continuing education, and customized workforce training for today’s businesses and industries.  

Here are the Academic All-Stars and their respective colleges:  

Arkansas Northeastern College 

Maddie Treece 

Arkansas State University  Beebe 

Steven Winchell 

Arkansas State University Mid-South 

Jayden McNair 

Arkansas State University Mountain Home 

Elsie Clark 

Arkansas State University Newport 

Dustin Mars 

Arkansas State University Three Rivers 

Kevin Nard 

Black River Technical College 

Kimberly Stokes 

East Arkansas Community College 

Megan Sullivan 

National Park College 

Tyanna Lindsey 

North Arkansas College 

Marie Kershaw 

Northwest Arkansas Community College 

Lizbeth Cenobio  

Ozarka College  

Sarah Kirby 

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas 

Ashlynne Jenkins 

South Arkansas Community College 

SaKiya Gill 

Southeast Arkansas College 

Verdia Mays 

Southern Arkansas University Tech  

Brooke Avant  

University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville 

Samantha Wilson 

University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton 

April Brown  

University of Arkansas Cossatot 

McKenzie Simpson 

University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana 

Allison Bonner 

University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College 

Chacall D Charles 

University of Arkansas Rich Mountain 

Mary Kate Duncan 

UA Cossatot Athletics Department to Add Competitive Shooting Sports for 2022-23; A Visit With Coach Brett Blackburn

Colts' shooting sports coach Brett Blackburn visited our De Queen studios on Monday to talk about the new program.

UA Cossatot will be adding another team sport in the coming school year. The Colts will compete at the NJCAA Division II level in men’s and women’s clay target shooting beginning in the fall of 2022. Brett Blackburn will serve as the shooting sports coach.

UA Cossatot’s Athletic Director Robert Byrd announced, “UA Cossatot Athletics is excited to expand our sporting options with the addition of clay target shooting in the fall of 2022. Coach Blackburn is eager to begin the recruiting process, and we are looking forward to competing this upcoming fall.”

UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole added, "Shooting sports has become mainstream, especially in our area, and with the incredible interest from our local high school student-athletes, it just made sense for UA Cossatot to offer this sport for all men and women with interest in shooting sports.”

UA Cossatot has competed as a member of NJCAA Division II Region 2 in men’s and women’s basketball for the past three seasons. Clay target shooting is the first sport added to the UA Cossatot athletic department since joining the NJCAA with preliminary plans for future sports under consideration. Coach Blackburn will be visiting the regional and state tournaments.

UA Cossatot Clay Shooting Coach Brett Blackburn said, “The shooting program will build on the foundation started by high school and Jr high students of the AYSSP program from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. We look forward to building on these skills as the student-athletes grow as citizens and competitors at the collegiate level. Go Colts!”

For more information, contact Coach Blackburn at 941-726-2245 or bblackburn@cccua.edu.

Jimmy Carvers’ Refrigeration Heating & Air Donates to Support Athletic Scholarships

Dustin Roberts of UA Cossatot Foundation and Jimmy Carver of Carver’s Refrigeration Heating and Air in Lockesburg

UA Cossatot Student Athletes Scholarship Benefit Golf Tournament Saturday, August 14th

Colts Golf Tournament will present plaques to the winners of each flight (3 flights). The tournament will include smoked chicken and fried fish dinners by donation, goodie bags from De Queen Auto Group, giveaways, hole-n-one chances at $50,000 toward the purchase of any new vehicle, a one year supply of Bridgestone Golf Balls, Cuater by TravisMathew, and a Prize Package and $500 shopping spree all sponsored by Gentry’s Chevrolet, Longest Drive Prizes sponsored by Bush Tractor & Seth Tollett Farms, Closest to Hole 1 Free Year Club Membership, and Putting Contest Prize.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week, we would like to remind families of an upcoming scholarship deadline. July 1 is the deadline to apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

The scholarship provides tuition assistance to traditional and non-traditional students attending universities and two-year colleges – both public and private – in the state.

Freshman students at four-year colleges receive $1,000 from the scholarship. Second- and third-year students receive $4,000, and senior-level students are awarded $5,000 per year.

At two-year colleges, first-year students receive $1,000 annually, while second-year students are awarded $3,000. To maintain eligibility, students must keep a 2.5-grade point average.

Traditional students must score at least 19 on the ACT to qualify for the scholarship. The latest ACT score accepted by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education will be from the June testing. Students who have yet to achieve a score of 19 make take the Accuplacer test as a substitute.

Since its inception in 2009, the Arkansas lottery has helped raise more than $1 billion in scholarship proceeds and awarded more than 650,000 Academic Challenge Scholarships to students.

The lottery also funds the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship and the Arkansas Concurrent Challenge Scholarships.

Students seeking certification for high-demand occupations in healthcare information technology and industrial manufacturing may apply for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship.

And funding is available for high school students who wish to start early on receiving credit for college courses through the Arkansas Concurrent Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you'll earn good pay. Most college graduates earn more money during their working years than people who stop their education at high school earn. The more education you get, the more likely it is you will always have a job.

For more information and to apply, visit scholarships.adhe.edu.

School Voucher Bill Passes Arkansas House Committee

By DANIEL BREEN

Following hours of debate, members of the Arkansas House Education committee narrowly passed a bill that would provide private school scholarships for low-income students.

Lawmakers on Tuesday voted 11 to nine in favor of House Bill 1371, sponsored by Republican Rep. Ken Bragg of Sheridan.

The bill would create a tax credit for individuals and businesses to donate to two funds, which would be run by a private nonprofit. One would provide up to $6 million in credits for donations to provide grants to public schools, while the other would provide $4 million in credits for donations to a fund for low-income students to attend private schools.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/school-voucher-bill-passes-arkansas-house-committee

Arkansas Education Association President Carol Fleming speaks against House Bill 1371 as the bill's sponsor, Rep. Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan, looks on.

CREDIT ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE

Scholarship Application Deadline Approaching!

There are some open scholarships for this semester! Applications and details can be found here: https://www.cccua.edu/pay-for-college/scholarships. Deadline to apply is Friday, March 12.

Also, the 2021-2022 Online Scholarship Application is open now until April 1. Now is the best time for students to apply for scholarship for the upcoming semesters. Many students have started the application but need to finish. The Online Scholarship Application can be found here: https://cccua.awardspring.com/

Apply Now for UA Cossatot Scholarships

The 2021-2022 UA Cossatot Online Scholarship Application is open! The scholarship application can be found here: cccua.awardspring.com

We currently have a variety of scholarships open for spring 2021! Check them out here: https://www.cccua.edu/pay-for-college/scholarships

Scholarship Opportunity is Available for High School Students Taking Classes at UA Cossatot