Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
2010-2011 Mulerider Yearbook
Citation preview
Fall 2010 - Spring 2011 MULERIDER VOL. LXXXI
Southern Arkansas UniversityEnrollment 3,379
100 East UniversityMagnolia, AR 71753
(870) [email protected]
Produced by Southern Arkansas University
Communications Center
EditorsAaron Street
Jeremy Langley
Page designAaron StreetBekah Kee
PhotographyAaron Street
Jeremy LangleyJessica MerrittToni Walthall
Photo illustrationsBryce Harman
Athletic photographs provided byMike Jones
Graduate portraits provided byGrisham Photography Studio
Who’s Who students from the 2010-11 academic year are featured throughout the book. All of the Who’s Who inductees were contacted
for participation. Those not pictured include Tyler Burns, Edward Hunter,
Shaniqua Johnson and Megan Phinny.
Organizations were given the opportunity to submit photographs and text from the
2010-11 academic year.
2010-11 MULERIDER
Table of ContentsPrologue
Administration
Faculty/Staff
Academics
Campus Life
Athletics
CommencementsAugust 2010
December 2010May 2011
Organizations
Campus Updates
2
8
11
16
42
74
9696101 108
118
132
Driving through the Southern Arkansas University campus, it is easy to see the progress made on campus improvement proj-ects. New buildings have gone up, and old structures have been removed.
But that external activity is not all that took place at SAU during the 2010-2011 academic year. As you flip through the pages of this book, you will see that it was a very busy year Beyond the Columns – and beyond the boundaries of the campus proper.
The year began with a record enrollment and a record num-ber of students living on cam-pus. With that many people around, they are sure to find themselves in the midst of the Complete College Experience.
Whether studying in the new University Science Center or attending a cultural event on campus, students were sure to find something to do. Some represented the University off campus, competing in events from the Collegiate National Fi-nals Rodeo to the Miss Arkansas scholarship competition.
2
3
Campus life provides something for everyone. Even “Molly B.,” the University’s mule, can attest to that fact.
Providing the Complete College Experience means that no matter the season, there will be exciting things happening on the SAU campus. But don’t get your hopes up; snowball fights are not very common in our southern climate.
Fall brings football season, and with it comes the sounds of fans cheering on the Muleriders in Wilkins Stadium and the SAU marching band entertaining at halftime. Fans also love to cheer on the Lady Mulerider volleyball team, supporting various efforts throughout the season like “Dig for the Cure.”
Spring brings a lot of fun. With spring fling, the spring concert series, Mulerider baseball, awards banquets, and graduation on the mall, excitement abounds.
4
6
What goes on Beyond the Columns doesn’t necessarily stay Beyond the Columns. Every day, students are learning valuable information in the classroom that they will carry with them forever.
During the course of this year, the Department of Nursing was reac-credited by the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission and the College of Business earned continuing accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Colleges and Schools of Business International – the top accrediting agency for business schools in the world.
Students took advantage of ex-panded academic offerings, and the University’s School of Graduate Studies was recognized as the fast-est growing graduate program in the state.
You can see that it was a busy year at SAU. We have included as much as we could get into these pages, but there was just no way to get it all. We hope you enjoy your glimpse at life Beyond the Columns.
8
Jeanie BismarkDirector
Development &Exec. Dir. of SAU Foundation
Vera CampAssistant Controller
Student Accounts
Dr. Pat ClantonInterim Department Chair
Counseling/Professional Studies
Kathy ColeDirector
Online Learning
Sarah AdcoxDirector
Mulerider Activity Center
Mike ArgoDirector
Information TechnologyServices
VICE PRESIDEnT’S COUnCIL
Dr. Donna AllenV.P. for Student Affairs
Dr. David CrouseInterim V.P. for
Academic Affairs
Roger GilesV.P. for Administration
& General Counsel
Jasper LewisV.P. for Facilities
Darrell MorrisonV.P. for Finance
ACADEMIC DEAnS
Dr. Kim BlossGraduate Studies
Dr. Ben JohnsonLiberal & Performing Arts
Dr. Zaidy MohdZainEducation
Dr. Lisa TomsBusiness
Dr. Joe WinsteadScience & Technology
Steve DingmanDirector
Online M.S. in KinesiologyDepartment Chair
HKR
Jan DukeDepartment Chair
Behavioral & Social SciencesCoordinatorTitle IV-E
Dr. Roger GuevaraDirector
Education Renewal Zone
J CoursonAssociate Dean
Housing &Special Projects
Alan DavisPurchasing Agent
Kandice HerronDirector
Campus Activities
ADMINISTRATION
9
Dr. Elizabeth DavisDistinguished Prof. of
English
Kyle GallagherDirector
Reynolds Center
Dr. Ed KardasDirector
Honors College
Deborah LewisCoordinatorGolden Triangle
Economic Development Council
Claudia LyonsDirector
International Student Services
Eric PlummerSystem Chief
Police
Jennifer RowsamDirector
Advising Center
Sandra SmithDean
Students
Stephanie ManningDirector
Educational Talent Search
Dr. Don NelsonInterim Department Chair
Teacher Education
Bronwyn SneedDirector
Financial Aid
Aaron StreetDirector
Communications Center
Cledis StuartAssistant Dean
Multicultural Affairs & Student Advancement
Jerry ThomasDirector
Upward Bound
Eunice WalkerDirector
Student Support Services
Sandra WalkerDirector
Continuing Education
Paula Washington-WoodsDirector
Counseling & Testing Center
Shelly WhaleyAssistant Dean
Enrollment for Advising, Recruitment & Transfers
Dr. Scott WhiteDepartment ChairChemistry & Physics
Wilma WilliamsDirector
Employment Resource Center
Dr. Limount ZhaoDepartment ChairAccounting, Finance
& Economics
Jay AdcoxDirectorAthletics
Sam BileyAssistant DirectorMulerider Activity
Center, Athletics Game and Facilities
Management
Jamie BoydDirector
Admissions, Field Experience and Licensure
Felicia BozemanDirector
Small Business and Technology Development
Center
Ceil BridgesDirector
Alumni Relations
Kaye BurleyAssistant Controller
Finance
Dan DykemaChairMusic
2010-11 Administration
not pictured
Sarah JenningsDean
Enrollment Services
ADMInISTRATIOn
Bernadette FincherChair
nursing
Jeffry MillerChair
Agriculture
David MurphyChair
Theatre and Mass Communications
Edward NipperRegistrar
Daniel PageDirectorLibrary
James RasmussenChair
Biology
Anne Marie SandsDirector
Donald W. ReynoldsCampus and
Community Center
Yujiang ShanChair
Math and ComputerScience
Dan MayDepartment Chair
Art & Design
J.P. WilsonDir. of Bands; Asst. Prof.
of Music
Claudell WoodsAssoc. Prof. of
Government and History
Dr. Timothy WiseProf. of Management and
Marketing
Judy HinesDirector
Health Services
Dr. Abdel BachriAssoc. Prof. of Physics
Vikram BhadauriaAsst. Prof. of
Management Information System
Jane BecnelInstructor of Writing
Cynthia BlakeEducation Renewal Zone
Admin. Spec.
Dr. Pierre BoumtjeAssoc. Prof. of
Agriculture Economics
Ann BridgesPresident’s OfficeAdmin. Spec.
Michael BrittInstructor of Music; Assistant Director of
Bands
Christa BrummettAsst. Prof. of Biology
Gaye CalhounGraduate Studies
Admin. Spec.
Mary Ann ColenAccounting Tech; Cashier
Phyllis AustinFinancial Services
Admin. Spec.
Whitney BlackAdmissions Counselor
Dr. Claude BakerProf. of Biology
Mary ArmwoodAsst. Prof. of Nursing
Dr. Sheri Baggett-McMinn
Assoc. Prof. of HKR
Colana BatesFinancial AidAdmin. Spec.
Dr. Lynne BelcherProf. of Composition
Rhetoric
Ashley CarringtonUpward BoundAdmin. Spec.
Kathy CarrothersHuman Resources
Admin. Spec.
Amy ThomasInstructor of Agriculture
Mary BradshawAccounting Tech II
Dr. Paul BabbittAssoc. Prof. of History
Dr. Hong ChengAssoc. Prof. of
Mathematics and Computer Science
Dr. Linda BlakeAsst. Prof. of
Public Administration
FACULTY/STAFF
11
Kendra CopelandAccounting Tech; Cashier
La’Tricia DavisAdmin. Spec.
Academic Affairs
Dr. David DeSeguirantAssoc. Prof. of Music;
Dir. of Choral Activities
Dr. Patrick EdgarAssoc. Prof. of Public
Administration; Director of MPA Program
Whitney MatthewsGass
Instructor of Criminal Justice
Clayton GuiltnerAsst. Prof. of Theatre - Acting and Directing
Dr. Sam HeintzAssoc. Prof. of Physical Sciences/Engineering;
BSIT Prog. Dir.
Josh KeeAssoc. Dir. of Development
Dr. Margaret “Debe” Kincaid
Assoc. Prof. of Math Education
Sheryl EdwardsInstructor of Economics
and Finance
Tim DanielsAssoc. Prof. of Biology
Pam FulksAsst. Prof. of Nursing
Brenda GarrettAccounting Tech II
Porchia GilmoreAccounting Tech
Raishad GloverAsst. Prof. of
Art and Design
Barbara HowellAsst. Director of Upward Bound I
Faye HughesInstructor of Nursing
Traci HughesInstructor of Business
Josie JacksonAsst. Prof. of Nursing
Teresa JamesAdmin. Spec. Teacher Ed.
& VPAACounseling and
Professional Studies
Charles KellerAssoc. Prof. of History
Jan HerrenAsst. Prof. of Nursing
Mary IversonStudent Dev. Coordinator
for Upward Bound
Kathy GriffethAssistant Director of
University Health Services
FACULTY/STAFF
Allen LachutAsst. Director of
Counseling
Dr. Shari KistAsst. Prof. of Nursing/
BSN Dir.
Brian LoganInstructor of Economics
Jennifer LoganAsst. Professor of Economics
Dr. Ganna Lyubartseva
Asst. Prof. of Chemistry
Shalonda McCoyStudent Activities
Gerald PlumleeAsst. Prof. of
Management Information Systems
Donna McCloyAsst. Librarian for
Reference
Beth McDowellInstructor of Mathematics
Sarah MickeyInstructor of Music; Asst.
Dir. of SAU Bands
Steven OchsProf. of Art
Sheila PearsonAssoc. Prof. of
Management Information Systems
Dylan McLemoreInstructor of Mass Media
LaJetta McDanielAsst. Prof. of Nursing
Beverly McIntyreOutreach Counselor for
Talent Search
Linda MullinsLibrary Technician
Caroline NeeleyInstructor of Mathematics
Julie MetroElectronic Resource Manager for Magale
Library
Dr. Copie MooreAsst. Prof. of Agricultural
Science
Japhet MakiaInstructor of Writing
Dr. H. “Mark” ParkAssoc. Prof. of Mathematics
Marcela McRae-Brunson
Financial Aid Coordinator
Judge Larry, Jr.Instructor of Curriculum
and Instruction
Tiffany McLauryAdmin. Spec.Financial Aid
FACULTY/STAFF
Jeremy LangleyAsst. to the President;
University Editor
James ReppertAssoc. Prof. of Mass
Communication
Peggy RogersPublic Service Librarian
Timothy ServisAdmissions/
Cross Country Coach
Dorothy StandoakAdmin. Spec.
Student Support Services
Dr. Terrye StinsonProf. of Accounting
Dr. Kim ShireyAsst. Prof. of Music
Peter SitumeangInternational Student
Database Spec.
Tammy SimsHuman Resource
Coordinator
DeMarcus SolomonAdmissions Counselor
Becki TalleyCollege of Business
Houston TaylorSports Information Dir. and Asst. Athletic Dir.
Jamie SmithOutreach Counselor for
Upward Bound
Matt SutherlandInstructor of Mathematics
Steve SuttonAsst. Dir. of Admissions;
NCAA Compliance Coordinator
Scotland StoutAssoc. Prof. of Art
Patty StricklandTutor Coordinator
Amber SharpAdmin Spec.
Human Resources
Dr. Donnis TaylorAssoc. Prof. of
English
Angela StoneInstructor of
Chemistry Laboratory
FACULTY/STAFF
Dr. Linda SelmanAssoc. Prof. of English
14
Debbie SehonAdmin. Spec.
Magale Library
Tia SargentAdmin. Spec.
College of Education
Dr. Tim SchroederAsst. Prof. of Chemistry
Dr. Viktoriya BlackAssoc. Prof. of Biology
Sarajane TelfordAdmin. Spec.
College of Science and Technology
Jeff VickersAsst. Prof. of Music
Judy VasserAsst. Prof. of Theatre and
Mass Communication
Dr. James WillisUniversity Historian
Deborah WilsonAsst. Prof. of Psychology
Krista WilliamsonAdmin. Spec.
Employment Resource Center
Lillie WrightAdmin. Spec.Student Life
FACULTY/STAFF
Carla WilliamsonTutor Coordinator for
Upward Bound
Dr. George WhiteAsst. Prof. of HKR
15
Toni WalthallProj. Coordinator for
Communications Center
Shane WarrickInstructor of Accounting
Ronnie WatsonAsst. Prof. of Management
16
18
19
20
21
There is no doubt that the 2010-2011 academic year was filled with excitement in the College of Business.
Beyond their work in the class-room, students, faculty and staff were busy throughout the year preparing to host a state conference, meet with area business executives, and start a food pantry on cam-pus. And that is just the begin-ning.
The fall semester brought more than 100 members of Phi Beta Lambda from across Arkansas to campus as SAU’s PBL chap-ter hosted the 2010 PBL State Fall Leadership Conference on Oct. 22. The two-day con-ference included several pro-fessional development work-shops led by members of the SAU staff and faculty. State officers were also elected dur-ing the conference.
Sheila Pearson helps a student.
Shane Warwick on accounting.
Another big moment for the College of Business came when the University signed a memorandum of understanding with Rich Mountain Community College. The agreement allows RMCC graduates to easily complete the Bachelor of Business Administration degree at SAU in person or online. “Basically this means that the students (at Rich Mountain) can earn their associate’s degree in Mena and then transfer here to complete their B.B.A.,” said Dr. Lisa Toms, dean of the College of Business. “It’s making the best use of the students’ time and money.”
Ruben Zamora, president of OpTech Healthcare Solutions, served as the College’s executive in residence during the fall semester. While on campus he spoke to stu-dents and faculty about his experiences of coming from a small town and lower income, single-parent family to becoming a regional vice president for Bristol -My-ers Squibb. He also took time to meet with students to discuss the challenges in today’s job market.
An annual tradition, the “Classroom to Careers Conference” continued in the Col-lege of Business. The program has been running continuously since 1978. This year 14 guest speakers took part in the event.
The College of Business is accredited by AACSB International – the top accrediting agency for colleges of business in the world.
23
The Southern Arkansas University PBL chapter celebrated National FBLA-PBL Week February 6–12.
Magnolia Mayor Parnell Vann visited the SAU campus and signed a proclamation proclaiming “the week of February 7 through February 11, 2011, as Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Week in the City of Magnolia.” He urged all citizens to celebrate this week by sup-porting FBLA-PBL efforts to promote business leadership development.
Among the many activities scheduled for this special week were presentations to the American Enterprise classes, a faculty/staff appreciation lunch on Wednesday for College of Business fac-ulty and staff members, PBL competitive event signup, and several financial planning seminars.
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) student busi-ness organization with nearly a quarter million members and advisers in 6,000 chartered high school and college chapters worldwide. Its mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development pro-grams. The association is headquartered in Reston, Va.
More than 4,200 diapers were collected in October by the Southern Arkansas University Phi Beta Lambda chapter as part of the “Every Little Bottom Diaper Drive.” Students collect diapers for local families in need. The drive was sponsored by SAU PBL which held a competition between other campus organizations to donate diapers.
“This is the first year we’ve been involved, and we sponsored a competition on the SAU campus to recognize the organization who donated the most diapers,” said Traci Hughes, SAU PBL ad-viser. “We also competed against other PBL chapters across the state at the Arkansas PBL State Fall Leadership Conference that was hosted on our campus. But the real reason for the drive is to get diapers to people who really need them.”
According to Hughes, one in three American moms struggle to provide their babies with diapers. There is an estimated 1.2 million diaper shortage in Arkansas alone, and there are no assistance programs that help with the need.
(BOTTOM LEFT) Mayor Vann signed a proclamation proclaiming “the week of February 7 through February 11, 2011, as Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Week in the City of Magnolia.” (BOTTOM RIGHT) Students collect diapers for local families in need.
24
Other organizations are taking part in meeting the need as well. The Arkansas Rice Depot is well known for its mission to drive out hunger in the state, but the orga-nization recently launched its latest initiative to serve Arkansans in need through the Arkansas Diaper Depot. The Depot opened Oct. 7 in Little Rock. The Arkansas Diaper Depot has distribution points in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties. The diapers collected during SAU’s campus-wide Diaper Drive will stay in Columbia County.
SAU PBL’s Diaper Drive started on Oct. 1 and culminated with a Diaper Drop-off Day on Oct. 20. During drop-off day the SAU Students Activities Board gave out free popcorn, provided music, and sponsored the “Guess what’s in the baby’s diaper” game. SAU cheerleaders helped draw attention to the drive by working the donation table.
In the College of Education, 2010-2011 was a very busy year beyond the columns.
One of the most important events of the academic year was a site visit by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Educa-tion to consider a renewal of the College’s accreditation. NCATE accreditation is required for any college or university in Arkansas that produces licensed teachers.
Faculty and staff from the College of Education worked hard to pre-pare for the site visit. Although the results of the visit were not avail-able by the end of the year, ev-eryone remained hopeful for a positive report.
The boundaries of the College of Education continue to expand beyond the borders of the SAU campus. In May, faculty members from the College traveled to the Philippines to make presentations at an international conference. While there, the group hoped to explore the possibility of a relation-ship between SAU and the Filipino universities.
The SAU delegation included Dr. Zaidy MohdZain, dean of the College of Education, and Dr. Mike Rippy, director of the Edu-cational Leadership program. Rippy also provided a workshop for teachers and administrators while abroad.
“Some of the teachers and ad-ministrators there have never met an American, so this proj-ect should be helpful in sharing ideas,” said Rippy.
Rippy and MohdZain hoped to establish a relationship that not only would bring Filipino students to SAU, but would also allow SAU students to study in the Philip-pines. “It gives us the first oppor-tunity for the College of Educa-tion to reach outside the United States for international programs. It’s a way for Southern Arkansas University to reach outside south Arkansas and bring a global per-spective to our classes,” he said.
The College of Education also expanded globally by offering students the opportunity to par-ticipate in a tour of China during the fall.
27
For nearly 30 years, students from Southern Arkansas University’s health, kinesiology and recreation depart-ment have been taking the message of fitness and health to area elemen-tary-age students with fun activities like the annual fishing derby and the fall festival.
“Dr. Margaret Downing started get-ting her students involved in the com-munity by planning fall carnivals in cooperation with the Magnolia Boys and Girls Club and Waldo schools,” said Steve Dingman, HKR depart-ment chair.
“I got involved in the fall fests from 1997 to 2008,” he said. “Since then, we’ve also started doing them in elementa-ry schools in Magnolia and Stephens. This year, we have one planned for Lafayette County schools.”
Each year, between 250-350 area children and parents attend the fall festivals.
Students in the School and Communi-ty Recreation class are put in groups and are charged with the task of cre-ating an age appropriate game or activity.
“They are graded on their deco-rations and evaluated on the flow and arrangements they’ve made to adapt each activity to the needs of the children,” said Justin Pettigrew, assistant baseball coach and instruc-tor for the HKR course. “Group leaders rotate and are graded individually.”
28
This fall, course participants cre-ated activities which included a Plinko station, putt-putt golf, base-ball throw and bobbing for apples.
“Preparing for the fall fest takes all of the elements involved in creat-ing and administering recreation-al programming,” said Dingman. “SAU students learn to adapt activ-ities based on age and motor abil-ity and to properly communicate with the varying ages while prac-ticing positive reinforcement. The kids love it. It’s always great fun.”
Though the class does other proj-ects during the fall course, this is the only one that involves community collaboration, according to Petti-grew. “We love doing this,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to get SAU out there in a good light.”
29
Theatre productions, art exhibits, concerts, lectures, and a score of other special pre-sentations took place beyond the columns in the College of Liberal and Performing Arts during the 2010-2011 academic year. It was also the final year for Dr. Ben Johnson to serve as the College’s dean, returning to his passion of teaching history.
The Department of Theatre and Mass Com-munication produced various plays and theatre productions throughout the year. Among the most popular were “Lend Me a Tenor” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” The productions took place in Harton Theatre and included student ac-tors and directors.
Faculty, staff, and area residents were treated to numerous art exhibitions in the Brinson Gallery. Student art as well as exhi-bitions from outside artists was on display.
One artist with work on display in the Brinson Gallery was 1980s rock star Mark Mothers-baughs. Titled “We must repeat,” his work was widely viewed. The artist appeared via Skype before an opening reception.
For the second consecutive year, faculty in the Depart-ment of Behavioral and Social Sciences conducted a canned food drive service project. Though the faculty of the department are involved in many community-related projects, one that is close to their heart is the monthly food drive to benefit Asbury Methodist Church’s food pantry, Body and Soul Cupboard. “Thanksgiving hits us really hard,” said Merilyn Jones, who along with Dot Penning-ton, oversees the Asbury food pantry. “November and December are our heaviest months. We normally give out food to 200-250 families.”
According to Dr. Chrisanne Christensen, associate profes-sor of Psychology, the church provides a list of needs each month. “This month (October) they asked for canned fruit and pumpkin,” said Christensen, pointing to a board in the hall-way across from her Peace Hall office where the needs are posted. “Other months, it’s vegetables, or whatever they need. We try to collect what-ever we can.”
Scotland Stout assists student in drawing class
31
Each month, students in behavioral and social science classes at SAU voluntarily bring canned items to class. Some in-structors, like Jennifer Rowsam, adjunct professor and director of advising, give participating students bonus points. “I do it – not because I don’t think they would still bring food – but, the small bonus gives them a little incentive to re-member it,” she said.
On average, the department collects 150 to 250 cans of food, but accord-ing to Jones, there has been a slight increase that she believes is tied to a higher enrollment at SAU.
Steven Ochs demonstrates how to fire pottery in a ceramics class.
J.P. Wilson directs his band students at the spring concert.
32
The Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Southern Arkansas University hosted “The Clothesline Project: Break the Silence” on Wednesday, April 13, on the mall area of the SAU campus.
“The Clothesline Project” is a traveling exhibit of approximately 300 hand decorated items of clothing, each representing a life lost due to domestic violence in Arkansas over the past 10 years. This was the fourth year that the project has traveled to the SAU campus.
April is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to sta-tistics, an average of 30 Arkansans are killed each year as a result of domestic violence. This exhibit helps to remember the victims while raising awareness about domestic violence.
The exhibit has been described as being a “powerful, unforget-table display.” In years past, the display has even included shirts in memory of domestic violence victims from Magnolia.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Arkansas Coalition Against Do-mestic Violence (ACADV). It is free and open to the public. SAU students and faculty assisted in arranging and repacking the display both days. Dr. Chrisanne Christensen, associate profes-sor of psychology, said that the Clothesline project is an edu-cational presentation, allowing the students and others to learn about issues related to all types domestic violence.
33
Beginning the 2010-2011 academic year may have felt like win-ning the lottery for faculty and students in the College of Science and Technology. The start of the new year brought the opening of the College’s new home – the University Science Center.
Constructed at a cost of $17.2 million, the 60,000 square foot facility is the newest academic building on the campus. The Center houses classrooms, laboratories, and faculty office space for the departments of biology, chemistry and physics. A large lecture hall, student lounges, and the office of the dean of the College of Science and Technology are also included.
John Allen Lee at Lake Columbia.
34Botany LabDr. Abdel Bachri’s
Physics Lab
A dedication ceremony and open house were held on April 5, with Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe as the keynote speaker.
“We really almost doubled in the space that we had before,” said Dr. Joe Winstead, dean of the College of Science and Technology. “The labs are much larger overall than we had before. In the past we had to break down labs to make room for the next class. Now we can set up experiments in labs and they can be continual.”
The departments of biology and chemistry had previously been located on the second and third floors of Overstreet Hall since its completion in 1945, and physics classes had been held in Wilson Hall since the 1970s.
Planning for the University Science Center began in 2003 when the Arkansas
35
General Assembly appropriated $240,000 to SAU to prepare a proposal for a science and technology building. During the next two bienniums, the University received additional funding, and in 2006, Governor Mike Huckabee awarded $601,747 to the project. Beebe followed with a $1 million award in 2007.
As a result of a special election and the passage of the Higher Education Tech-nology and Facility Improvement Act, SAU received $1,432,980 for the project. The University has also issued bonds in the amount of $14 million, and private funds have been raised by the SAU Foundation.
The College is also benefiting from the completion of the Natural Resource Re-search Center, a $2 million research facility focusing on lignite and other south Arkansas natural resources. The NRRC was constructed with funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and the Uni-versity.
The College of Science and Technology also benefitted from a new program funded by Aerojet Corporation. The program provided $17,000 to provide pre-ceptors – or tutors – for University-level science courses. The goal of the program is to increase students’ success rates in these courses to make them better students in advanced science courses.
The Department of Agriculture will be one of the College’s largest benefactors over the next year. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the SAU System Board of Trustees approved a bond issue to construct a new Center for Agricultural Studies. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in late 2011 and will move the Department from its current home in Childs Hall.
Christa Brummett assists a lab student. DNA analysis
36
Brant Roberts, from left, Colton Mullins with Dr. Tim Schroeder and Nitish Narula work in the nRRC.
37
Dr. Alec Testa, from left, Haley Burrows and Aimee Mullins in a graduate-level couseling class.
SAU graduate students work in the library at the Arkansas School for the Blind.
The School of Graduate Studies con-tinued to grow and expand during the 2010-2011 academic year.
Several graduate degrees were mod-ified to be offered 100 percent online, according to Dean Kim Bloss. Among those online degrees were the master of science in agriculture, the master of education in elementary educa-tion (gifted and talented), the master of education in secondary education (gifted and talented), and the master of arts in teaching. The MAT degree is unique in that a person with a non-ed-ucation related undergraduate de-gree can earn the MAT degree and become a certified teacher.
38
The master of science in kinesiology-coaching was added as a new degree and is offered completely online. The de-gree was found to be so popular that the maximum number of students were ac-cepted for the initial year.
“Graduate student enrollment continues to increase because graduate cours-es are offered in formats that meet the needs of adult students that work and have families,” Bloss said.
One project that brought attention to the School of Graduate Studies was the renovation and reorganization of the li-brary at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The project was part of course work for students working towards a degree in library media and information science.
“There is no other way to learn how to manage their own libraries other than to roll up their sleeves and take on a project like this,” said Peggy Walters, instructor for the course. “It gives them the knowl-edge and ability to make things happen when they get their own libraries.”
Nechele McClinton, from left, Amy McLarren and Paige Burkham work together on a class project.
Shalonda McCoy, left, and Deborah Wilson share a laugh.
As the ASBVI project took shape, the graduate students partnered with undergraduate students living in SAU’s Fincher Hall for fundraising efforts. Through multiple fund-raisers, the Fincher Hall Project raised more than $32,000.
“The initial reaction (to the work) – to put it in simple terms – was ‘Wow! Wow! Wow!’ It absolutely has transformed the atmosphere in the library and provided the new li-brarian motivation,” said ASBVI Superintendent Jim Hill. “She is continuing to go above and beyond with what the students started and is carrying it forward to the benefit of our kids. We now have a facility that provides greater utility and access to the materials. It’s fantastic!”
40
Kallie Epperson, from left, Dallas Black, Jill Finnel, and David Noble.
Joseph Haley rides the bull
at Spring Fling.
42
Ashley Jaggers cheers at the Family Day pep ralley.
Alicia Robinson yells in excitement at a close canoe race for her Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.
family dayOn September 25, 2010, SAU celebrated the 30th anniversary of Family Day, and the morning rain from the previous weekend’s cold front was not going to stop organizers from holding the event.
Despite the rain, this Family Day had a record participation. The Bed Race had the most number of people involved this year than ever before with 16 beds.
The “Most Original Bed” award was given to the Honors College with their Nerds candy-themed bed. The “Best Craftsmanship” award went to the Leadership College, who had a Flintstones-themed bed. The Student Activities Board made a bed that celebrated the Bed Race’s 30th anniversary with presents and a large cupcake, and they won the “Most Creative” award. Greene Hall was the winner of the “Best Decorated” bed, with the theme from the movie “Up,” sporting a miniature, well-constructed house with dozens of balloons attached.
Bussey Hall won first place in the race, Talley came in second, and the LeadershipCollege came in third. The winners of the canoe race were Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Pi.
Story by Melissa Heard, The BrayPhotos by Aaron Street
Michael Davis gets his face painted to blend in with the Rowdy Corral.
Trevor Munn and Jordan Massey lead the colorful Greene Hall “Up” bed in a race. “Live it UP with Greene” won the Best Decorated Award at the Bed Races. 44
Britni Case and the “Bussey Barbies” hoist the champion’s trophy after fighting tooth and manicured nail in the bed races.
Alex Wynn, second from right, shows his school spirit and that use of face paint is not restricted to just the face as he watches the Mulerider Dolls perform at the Family Day pep rally.
(ABOVE) Amanda Thurkill helps paddle her canoe to victory.
(RIGHT) David Cook, left, and Colton Mayfield revel in their incidental dip in the duck pond.
(LEFT) Kaylee Vance laughs as she removes her rider’s helmet after a bed race victory.
(BELOW) Marching Band member Anthony Earl gets a high-five from President David Rankin prior to the football team bridge walk-over.
The 2010 Homecoming week, themed “Fear the Kick,” kicked off Monday night with the announcement of the homecoming court and the coronation of the king and queen. Nearly 500 students voted for king/queen elections. Larry Graham was crowned king while Rianne Herron followed up her Miss SAU victory with the honor of being homecoming queen.
On Tuesday, the Student Activities Board organized the drive-in showing of the movie “Dinner for Schmucks” in the Reynolds Center parking lot. “Tiger Burgers,” named after SAU’s homecoming opponent, were served in the mall for lunch Wednesday.
Street Painting and the bonfire were late Thursday. Painting the streets were 31 teams, and 21 logs were also painted. First place in Street Painting went to Talley Hall; second place was BYX Christian Fraternity; and Bussey Hall took third. The weather was especially cold, but it did not stop the students from celebrating their Mulerider spirit.
When activities started to slow around 1 a.m., students went to the mall area and camped-out in tents. The students only had about four hours of sleep before Daybreak festivities began at 5 a.m.
Lauren Scott, the KATV channel 7 news reporter, came to SAU with cameraman and SAU alumnus Marcus McDonald, who is also the father of SAU’s assistant basketball coach, Tony McDon-ald. Because this year’s homecoming was so close to Halloween, many of the students wore costumes. Ryan Russell’s realistic werewolf costume captured first prize in the costume contest. He received $200 for his authentic costume, which he made himself.
The SAU band played and kept up the energy of the event. At one point, they played Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and the cheer-leaders and news reporter all danced together for the cameras.
Mulegating activities began at noon Saturday with alumni reunions. The lawn of the Welcome Center was covered with grills, tents, and many activities for children. SAU cheerleaders performed and members of the Rowdy Corral served as emcees for the Mulegate Pep Rally. SAU also started a new tradition called the “Mule Race,” in which Muleriders race with a stick horse, or “mule.” The current cheerleaders had a friendly stunt battle with alumni cheerlead-ers from all the way back to 1950’s. The male cheerleaders even lifted an alumnus from the 1950s up in a stunt.
Dr. Rankin recognized the homecoming court before the game at 2 p.m. He gave them roses and introduced previous kings and queens.
The high spirits from the homecoming activities throughout the week led to an SAU 30-27 victory with a 30-yard field goal in overtime against West Alabama.
homecominghomecoming(RIGHT) JP Wilson, right, director of bands, sports prison stripes next to a Rowdy Corral member and a Lady Gaga look-alike. (LEFT) KATV’s Lauren Scott poses with Chewbacca.(BELOW) Students warm near the bonfire.
Story by Melissa Heard, The BrayPhotos by Aaron Street
QueenKing
Court
The Muleriders blast through the tunnel.
Sunny Wilcox rides Molly B
after a Mulerider touchdown.
Ashley White shows her Mulerider spirit.
Carlos Brown runs through a hole provided by his offensive line after getting the handoff from quarterback Austin Civita.
Amanda Thurkill gives a pie in the face.
Melissa Lambert, left, and Kristen Lambert use a charcoal grill for heat at the homecoming camp-out.
(Back row, from left) Alan Thompson, Zach Prothro, Larry Graham, Mason Belk, “Western” Wu (Xi Wu)(Front row, from left) Caitlin Harrison, Candice Canady, Rianne Herron, Shay Johnson, Morgan McRae
President Rankin congratulates Queen Rianne Herron and King Larry Graham, right. Also pictured is Herron’s father, Ronny Herron.
Spring
Jessica Anderson, left, and Blake Fulenwider race to the top of the climbing wall.
(ABOVE) Cha’Kia “Kilo” Lee struggles
to keep her balance.
(RIGHT) Courtney Fricks, right, is
posing for a photo and has no idea that
a cushy “breaking ball” has been hurled her way by “friend”
Larry Graham.
(RIGHT) Josh Miriter demands attention, but
for a good cause: selling yummy treats, of course, to benefit Heifer
Project International.
48
flingEncore performer Joshua Meadors does the robot.
Director of Campus Activities Kandice Herron smiles at another successful event in the books.
The theme for the day was “Jungle Fever,” and it could be seen on the bright orange t-shirts students received after filling out a quick survey at the tent. There were an assortment of games and activities available for the students to enjoy, including bounce-houses, a mechanical bull, and a recording studio. There was also a mobile blood donation station on hand. The Army National Guard recruiters even set up a climbing wall. The Women’s Crisis Center was there with a “clothesline” display of informa-tion for women.
There were a variety of student groups that participated in the Spring Fling event. The Health, Kinesiol-ogy, and Recreation (HKR) Club had a stand where they were selling goldfish snack crackers, water, and live goldfish too. There were Pi Sigma Tri girls getting pied in the face with whipped cream that smelled a little bit like shaving cream. The Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO) had a table set up where they could give away popcorn and talk to potential members who were interested in joining their organization. The Encore group performed songs and dances in front of Harton Theater. RHA had a housing fair for students who wanted information pertaining to different residence halls for their housing in the coming semester. The Social Problems class was having a canned food drive to replenish local food pantries.
Story by Melissa Heard The Bray
Photos by Toni Walthall and Jessica Merritt
Dee Day, left, and Ashley Walthall smile after getting pied.
Dylan Zepeda reads a shirt at the Women’s Crisis Center display which raises awareness on domestic violence.
Third Annual Spring Concer tThe spring concert series at SAU began during the Univer-sity’s 2009 centennial celebration. Previous performers have included former SAU student and country music star Tracy Lawrence in 2009 and Eric Hutchison in 2010.
(ABOVE) Five female fans were invited to the stage for Kingston to sing his hit Beautiful Girls to.
(RIGHT) Valerie Brown gets serenaded by Kingston’s talented opening act, A.J. Hernz.
50
2010-11 InvolvementSpanish ClubVice PresidentPolitical AffairsSecretaryAsian StudiesFrench ClubChi AlphaWesley FoundationCampus ChurchBetty Blue Award
Miss Southern Arkansas University 2011 Rianne Herron definitely has blue blood in her veins – blue and gold to be particular. SAU has become a bit of a family tradition for the Herron family, of Omaha, Texas. Rianne’s par-ents, Ronny Herron and Perla Varner Herron, met on the Magnolia campus when they were Muleriders majoring in Physical Education in the 1980s. Little sister, Chynna, joined her older sister on campus in 2010.
“My parents always talked about SAU and how much fun they had here,” said Rianne. “My dad always talked about how great and enthusiastic their professors were. My mom always talked about the great family-like atmosphere and fun activities on campus. After hear-ing their stories, my decision to come here was easy. I couldn’t picture myself at any other university.”
BLUE GEnESBY TOnI WALTHALL
Rianne Herron makes Mulerider family proud with two crowns in a monthPhoto by Aaron Street
It’s not often that a girl wins a crown, but winning two crowns within a month is a phenomenal feat for anyone. Such is the case for Miss Southern Arkansas University 2011 and SAU Homecoming Queen 2010 – Rianne Herron, a pre-dentistry major. Perla came to SAU, inspired by her brothers, Kevin and Eddie Randolph. Ronny came to SAU to join his friend, Ricky Ogden, on the Mulerider baseball team. “Having graduated one of 18 students (in Hatfield, Ark.), I looked forward to a larger educational setting,” said Perla. “However, when I arrived, the faculty and staff treated me as an individual student, not as a social security number.” Perla was most influenced by Coach Delwin Ross. Ronny’s mentor was Coach Larry McNeal. Rianne has her own favorite – Dr. Claude Baker. A coach in Hughes Springs, Texas, Ronny has brought several of his athletes to SAU, who fell in love with the experience and did very well as Muleriders. The Herrons are most impressed with the growth spurt and building projects that dot the campus – products of Dr. David Rankin’s Blue and Gold Vision, a $130-million capital cam-paign. Perla admires the new buildings and dining facilities. Ronny loves the improvements to the athletic facilities.
“SAU has made great strides in upgrading,” said Ronny. “I think the baseball field is one of the best in college athletics. I can hardly wait to see the new press box being added on.” Rianne, a pre-dentistry major who scored a 29 on her ACT without a calculator, and Chyn-na, a phenomenal athlete with a desire to become a trainer or coach, had opportunities to go to other universities, but their blue genes drew them here as well as others influenced by the family with blue genes. “Four other students from my Pewitt High School graduating
class (came to SAU). Coming from such a small high school – 45 in my graduating class – that is quite a big number. I liked it here so much, I pushed Chynna to come,” Rianne said with a laugh.“Chynna can be quiet at times, when she is around people she doesn’t know. I knew SAU was the place for her.“ Three years older, Rianne felt like she missed out on her younger sister’s high school years. “Having her here has been amazing and my parents are constantly coming to see us and attend school events,” she said. “I’m so happy I chose to come here. SAU has so much to offer. It’s so easy to get involved.”
(Above) Rianne is crowned Miss SAU 2011 by Valerie Brown, Miss SAU 2010.
(At left) Rianne wears multiple crowns and multiple shirts on campus.
Photo by Aaron Street
Photo courtesy JRowe Photography
(At right) Rianne laughs at the homecoming crowd after being announced as Homecoming Queen only eight days after getting the Miss SAU crown. Also pictured, from left, her father, Ronnie Herron, Homecoming King Larry Graham and his mother, Michelle Graham.
53
2010-11 InvolvementSigma Sigma SigmaMusic ChairMembership DirectorHighest GPA AwardHonors CollegeStudent Activities BoardPsi ChiResident AssistantBoys & Girls Club VolunteerI Heart Magnolia VolunteerGreek ScholarOrder of Omega
54
(BELOW) Jay Hale is his normal cheerful self as he plays dealer. Also pictured are Haley Burrow, left, and Lakeon Thurmon, third from left.
(ABOVE) Michael Davis, right, spins the roulette wheel for Donald Cross, left, and Christian Hunter.
(ABOVE) Vincent Oliver, center, deals a hand of poker.
(LEFT) Ashia Casimiro enjoys stacking chips.
55
56
57
2010-11 InvolvementHomecoming King Residence Hall AssociationPresidentSIFEPresentation Team2011 Regional ChampionHousing StaffHousing AmbassadorResident AssistantSpecial Events ChairBAM I & BAM II LeaderNational Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)Vice PresidentStudent Activities Board
58
oozeball
(ABOVE) Dr. Jeffry Miller, chair of the agri department, doesn’t want Blossom to miss any of the muddy volleyball action. (ABOVE) Rex Hayes spikes.
Chynna Herron
Alex Wynn Trevor Munn Larry Graham
59
band
choirThe 2010-2011 year marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Heri-tage Singers and Chamber Singers. Dr. David DeSe-guirant accepted the reins following the successful tenure of Dr. Allen Cle-ments as the Director of Choral Activities. The sing-ers in both groups retained many of their traditions, singing for “Celebration of Lights” and performing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” as a concert benediction, for example, while exploring new paths. The repertoire was expand-ed, the sanctuary of First Baptist Church became the new performance venue, and Heritage Singers ex-perienced an increase from 28 singers in the fall to 39 singers in the spring.
“My first year at SAU was certainly one of the highlights of my career as a music educator,” said DeSeguirant. “I am look-ing forward to working with these ensembles to continue and extend the tradition of excellence associated with the choral program at SAU.”
Brandon Wilkins
Zach Seaton
Dr. DavidDeSeguirantValerie Brown
Kyle Voss
(THIS PAGE)SAU Heritage Singers and Chamber Ensemblein their new performance venue at the 2010 fall concert.
2010-11 InvolvementSigma Sigma SigmaPresidentStudent Government Assoc.JusticeResidence Hall AssociationBiology ClubBeta Beta BetaResident AssistantBAM II LeaderLeadership Academy LeaderHousing AmbassadorHomecoming CourtVolunteerBoys & Girls ClubWomen’s Crisis CenterBreast Cancer AwarenessChildren’s Medical CenterRockin’ for RobbieLittle River Nursing HomeCanned Food Drive
of
Rianne Herron flips a switch to illuminate lights in front of Overstreet Hall. Larry Graham explains the lighting displays as they are turned on.
John Wofford and other organization represen-tatives explain their lighting contributions.
(ABOVE) The SAU Mulerider Marching Band performs with holiday headware.
(FAR LEFT) Chelsea King has her photo taken with Santa (Will Smith). The President’s Ambassadors take Santa photos for kids of all ages each year at the Celebration of Lights.
(LEFT) Elf Brooke Watson and Mrs. Claus Carley Calico.
63
theatre Performing a scene in the spring comedy production of “Lend Me A Tenor” are, from left, Jonathan Traylor as Max, Professor Clayton Guiltner as Mr. Saunders, and Amanda Cannon as Maggie.
Christian Williams and Amanda Cannon perform “Stud and a Babe” in the spring musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, now Change,” directed by Clayton Guiltner.
(ABOVE RIGHT) Valerie Sanders and Caleb Jones build the set for the fall production of “Moonlight and Magnolias.” (RIGHT) Actors prepare during the first read-through rehearsal of, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, now Change.”
64
Actors perform “Emotional Baggage” from the musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, now change.” Pictured are, from left, Christina Williams, Kaylee Vance, Lindsay Walters, Ryan Russell, Amanda Cannon, Franklin McDaniel, Alex Novotny, Jaden Avance and Margaret Kubaruno.
Actors perform “He Called Me” in “I Love You, You’re Perfect, now Change.” Pictured from left, Franklin McDaniel, Christina Wilson, Lindsay Walters and Christian Williams.
Brennen Beams as Victor Fleming, from left, Matthew Wise as Ben Hecht and Hayden Koppline as David O. Selznick act a scene in the fall production of “Moonlight and Magnolias,” directed by Clayton Guiltner.
65
The 2010-2011 academic year was full of activity for those in Uni-versity Housing. The year brought about the 30th anniversary of the Residence Hall Association, an unprecedented service project involving the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and a service learning trip to San Antonio.
Throughout the year, University Housing celebrated the 30th an-niversary of the Residence Hall As-sociation, founded by Associate Dean for Housing J Courson. The anniversary was commemorated during family day activities in the fall where the RHA sponsors the infamous “bed races” and during the annual RHA banquet in the spring.
The banquet brought in RHA alumni and former RHA award re-cipients. “Our banquet was a lot bigger than ever before,” Cour-son said. “We had a lot of people here who haven’t been back in a while.”
Brett Bell, from left, Jessica Anderson and Tyler Orsack enjoy the resident assistant workshop.
Jami Tucker gets help moving into her residence hall.
Fincher Hall lobby
Members of Leadership College and Residential College pose for a photo in front of the Alamo during a break from volunteering at the San Antonio Food Bank.
66
Morgan McRae, Larry Graham and
Rashad Sims in front of Honors Hall.
67
Students from Fincher Hall, SAU’s resi-dence hall known for its mission of ser-vice, raised $32,126.75 in an effort to assist students in a graduate class re-vamp the library at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The money was raised through various projects including the “Honors Haul 5K,” “Through the eyes of an artist” art project, and donations from the Cabe Foundation, Magnolia Lions Club, and Follett.
“Fincher Hall is the learning and living hall, and I’m impressed with the living example they exhibited,” said Jim Hill, superintendent of ASBVI. “It shows a lot of heart and renews my faith in young people.” The library serves hundreds of children statewide from birth to 21.
“Service is a big part of living here. It’s a living, learning and giving environ-ment,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin. “We are so proud of the stu-dents from Fincher Hall and everyone who supported them. It’s a win-win. The students win and whoever they help wins through their service.”
Service work continued when mem-bers of the Residential College and Leadership College traveled to San Antonio for an annual work day at the San Antonio Food Bank.
“I am very proud of the students we have at SAU,” Courson said. “Every day they show what it is like to go above and beyond to help others – even those they have never met. It’s fun to work with such a great group of young people.”
68
FINCHER HALL Kash Wacaster, from left, Randi Harris, Larry Graham, Madie Westmoreland, Michael Woods (RD) and Caroline Colvin
GREENE HALL Morgan McRae, from left, TC Graham (RD), Tommy Clark, Tyler Orsak, Jessica Duncan, Ryan Laws, Sarah Eddy and Valerie Smith
TALBOT HALLRyan Thomas, from left, Phillip Blake, Reshad Simms, Brett Bell, John Wofford, Zach Taylor, Ledly Jennings and Gary Herron (RD)
HARROD HALLBrandon Wilkins, from left, Nechele McClinton (RD), Vincent Oliver, Amanda Thurlkill, Kirstie Mills, Jasmine Miller and Zeb Prothro
TALLEY HALLRachel Heidemann, from left, Kaitlyn Hawkins, Victor Edwards, Britany Horten, Donovan Wlliamson, Kyle Rogers (RD), Brandon Lewis, Brad Hartwick and Austin Evans
HONORS HALLBlake Fulenwider (RD), from left, Tyler Watson, Chris Harris, John Lee, Jenny Fuerst, Jessica Anderson and Sara Grigg
BUSSEY HALLShay Johnson, from left, Rebecca Hensley, Victoria Sewell, Amy McLarren (RD), Rianne Herron, Kelsey Maloch, Jami Crawford and Courtney Mitchell
THE VILLAGEEric Engleberger (RD), from left, Keith Alexander, Travis Carl, Rebecca Heilemann, Zach Prothro, Mandy Wood and Brittany McDaniel
Whether she was galloping “Molly B.” down along the end zone at Wilkins Stadium, working the crowd at Mulegating, or making an early morning television appearance, Sunny May Wilcox epitomized the Southern Arkansas University Mulerider.
Wilcox, an agriculture education major from Greenbrier, served as the University’s mascot for three years until her graduation in May 2011. She was well known during her tenure for her bubbly personality, quick wit, and ability to fulfill any role asked of her.
One of the highlights of Wilcox’s time as Mulerider was competing in the annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump. She brought home second place in 2009 – her first time to participate in such an event. Molly B., on the other hand, had participated with a previous Mulerider.
70
During a mule jump competition, a canvas-covered bar is positioned about three feet above the ground on an adjustable rack. Each mule handler is given two attempts and 90 seconds to have its mule jump the bar. If the mule fails to jump or knocks the bar to the ground during the jump, it is disqualified. The mules are not allowed to have a running start before jumping, and the bar is raised several inches after each round.“I didn’t know quite what to expect going in, but Molly knew what she was doing,” Wilcox said. “It’s kind of a partnership between us. Sometimes I’m in the lead showing her what to do, but this time she led me.”With each round, several mules were disqualified, and the competition for Wilcox and Molly B. grew even more intense. “I had it imagined that we were the underdogs going in,” Wilcox said. “So the fact that we weren’t expecting to even come close made placing that much more exciting. It made it more of a joy.”In the final round, Wilcox and Molly B. fell to the reigning Mule Jump champions, Jerry Nelson and “Babe” of Liberty, Mo. Despite several attempts, Wilcox was not able to lead Molly B. over the 56 inch jump. “I think Molly had just done all she could do,” she said. “That makes a really smart animal. She knew what was best for her, so we took second place and were proud to have it.” SAU President Dr. David Rankin said he was proud of the success Wilcox and Molly B. found at the mule jump. “As the Mulerider, Sunny Wilcox, was an outstanding ambassador for the University and we were pleased to have her and Molly B. participate in the well-known Pea Ridge Mule Jump,” he said. “The ability of mules to leap over obstacles from a walking start is well known, and Molly B. has proven that she can compete with the best.” As the Mulerider, a photo of Wilcox galloping across a pasture atop Molly B. became a highly-used photo in University publications and advertisements. She once quipped that the photo would be on her tombstone because of its popularity. When it came time for Wilcox to begin student- teaching during her senior year at SAU, the time to pass the reins had arrived. “Sunny and Molly B. had become such a wonderful team, and it was sad to see her move on,” said Jeremy Langley, assistant to the president for special projects, who frequently coordinates events for the Mulerider. “But while we were sad to lose her as the Mulerider, we are extremely proud of the accomplishments she has made. She was a great ambassador for SAU while she served as the Mulerider, and I’m sure she always will be.”
Wilcox leads the Mule Ride from Magnolia to Mcneil. Also pictured is Dr. David Rankin.
(Top left) Galloping photo of Wilcox that became so popular, she joked it would be on her tombstone.
(Left) Wilcox with her infectious smile.
(Left) Wilcox and Molly B. compete in the Pea Ridge Mule Jump.
Being active on campus leads students to a number of activities, but few have the opportunity to be called the official Southern Arkansas University Mulerider.
Megan Maye, a freshman general business major from Mena, was chosen from a field of 11 SAU students who applied to be the next Mulerider. She succeeds Sunny Wilcox of Greenbrier who served in the position for three years.
“Megan is a bright young woman who will make a great Mulerider,” said Wilcox who is graduating from the University in May.”There is no one else I would rather hand the reins over to.”
As the Mulerider, Maye will be an ambassador of Southern Arkansas University both on- and off-campus. The job requires much more than just the ability to ride a mule; the Mulerider may also be asked to represent the University by speaking or appearing at various events.
Luckily for Maye, she has plenty of experience.
Maye held leadership positions in FFA and other campus organizations throughout high school, but it was being crowned Miss Polk County 2010 that made her understand the impact leaders can have on those around them.
“Whenever I got to represent our county, that’s when I realized howimportant my actions were,” she said. “The decisions you make and the effort you put out represents your entire county.”
While a member of the Mena High School FFA chapter, Maye won the state championship in the FFA creed speaking competition and competed on the state level in the extemporaneous speaking event. Growing up on a sheep farm, she also showed lambs in livestock shows, bringing home the grand or reserve grand champion titles on numerous occasions. She also participated in livestock judging competitions.
“It’s just a passion for me,” she said. “It wasn’t just judging livestock that I liked, it was the speaking part, too.”
Maye developed a reputation for her abilities at livestock judging competitions, and her passion led to numerous scholarship offers during her senior year of high school. Several larger universities that specialize in livestock judging recruited her, but something was missing.
“Whenever I went to other colleges and viewed them, I never felt at home,” she said. “But the minute I stepped on campus at SAU, I felt at home.”
Maye is a part of the Residential College at SAU.
This group of freshmen live in Fincher Hall and are required to perform community service hours throughout the year. She said the community service work helps to keep her and other students “grounded” by motivating them to think of others more than themselves.
Applying to be the new Mulerider was not a decision Maye made on her own. A friend mentioned seeing the advertisement for the position, and after much prayer and consideration, she applied.
“I just really wanted to do it because it’s a great opportunity to serve our University,” she said. “I’ve ridden horses all of my life, and I knew I could handle the responsibilities that come with having the position.”
Speaking experience helps freshman Muleriderfeel at home as Southern Arkansas’ ambassador
Mulerider Megan Maye may not have had her saddle, chaps, shirt or hat yet after chosen in the spring of 2011, but she was all smiles as she rode Molly B. for their first of-ficial photo shoot together.
72
2010-11 InvolvementMule KickGuruPresident’s AmbassadorVice PresidentBiology ClubSecretaryAlpha ChiChemistry ClubDisciplinary CommitteeBAM LeaderIntramural Sports“Champion”
Shanece Black and Shenelda Levingston
Jermydrell Burton and Justin Stuart
Brooklyn Arndt and Khalie Remy
74
Rafael Thomas
Doug Shields
Chelsea Knox and Stephanie Montes
Southern Arkansas didn’t achieve its ultimate goal of reaching the NCAA Division II World Series this spring, but the Muleriders capped off another successful season in claiming its third Gulf South Conference championship and fourth consecutive ap-pearance in the NCAA regional tournament.
Under first-year Coach Steve Browning, the long-time assistant who took over when Allen Gum departed for Central Arkansas last year, SAU (15-6) fell just short by per-centage points to Harding (14-5) for the GSC West Division title, but went on as the West No. 2 seed to capture the league crown in the post-season tournament, its third in the past six years.
Southern Arkansas entered the South Region tournament as the second seed, but its bats were
quiet in Pensacola, Fla. The season ended for them after dropping their first two games against
North Alabama and Tampa, while host West Flori-da captured the region title and went on to win the
national championship.
The Muleriders led the nation in walks (302) and batters hit by pitch (120), and ranked in the top 10 in home runs (56), fielding percentage (.971), home runs per game (1.1) and runs scored (422). Junior shortstop Trey Buck led the country in walks (53) and walks per game (1.02), while senior starting pitcher Dan Bream was fourth in wins (12), and senior third baseman Lo-gan Williams ranked sixth in RBI per game (1.3) and seventh in total RBI (67).
SAU was represented by five first team members on the All-GSC team in Buck, Bream, Williams, senior catcher Brandon Choate and junior pitcher Doug Shields. Bream, Williams, Choate and junior center fielder Gavan McCauley made All-South Region squads, while Williams and Choate earned All-America honors.
Bream and Choate became Southern Arkansas’ 23rd and 24th players all-time selected in the Major League Baseball draft, with both going to the Tampa Bay Rays. Bream went in the 33rd round, while Choate was nabbed in the 38th.
The Muleriders’ 36-16 overall record in 2011 provided their 11th consecutive 30-plus win season and 20th in the past 21 years, while the NCAA regional appearance was their sixth overall. Ranked as high as sixth during the season, SAU ended the sea-son at 30th in the official Collegiate Baseball Coaches’ Poll and were 16th in the College Baseball Lineup rankings.
Trey Buck and Adam Boucher
Doug Shields
Gavan McCauley and Ziggie Vanderwall
Dan Bream
Pat Johnson and Dan Bream
Pat Johnson
77
The Muleriders struggled on the court during the 2010-2011 basketball season, compiling an 11-15 over-all record and finishing 3-11 in Gulf South Conference contests.
The season had several exciting games, in-cluding a double-overtime thriller against conference rival Ouachita Baptist in Feb-ruary. Despite an impressive performance, the Muleriders lost the game. The Mulerid-ers did, however, upset nationally No. 4 ranked Alabama-Huntsville in January.
Early in the season, the Muleriders found their record at 7-1, the best start in nearly 20 years. Mulerider senior guard Channin Harden was named a second team selec-tion on the 2010-11 All-Gulf South Confer-ence basketball team. This was his first-ever honor on the all-conference squad.
Harden was fourth in the league in scoring this season at 17.3 points per game and connected on 103 of 132 at the foul line to rank 10th in free throw percentage at 78
percent. He also led SAU in min-utes played (30.0), three-point
field goal percentage (31-79, 39.2 percent) and defensive rebounds (99). Harden shot 47 percent (149-317) for the year, aver-aged 4.0 rebounds, and had 37 assists, six blocked shots and 29 steals.
His 432 points scored this season earned Harden a spot in the Southern Arkansas 400-point club and gave him 1,252 points over his four-year career, good for 13th on the all-time Mulerider scoring list. Harden was named the GSC West Division player of the week for his performance over a three-game stretch the last week of November. Through the season he had 10 games where he scored 20-plus points, including a career-high 31 points in a 74-70 win at Philander Smith December 13, and had a career best 13 rebounds in a November 27 victory at Dallas Baptist.
Channin Hardin and Casey Cheshier
Reggie Rasmus
78
Teviin Morris and Casey Cheshier
In her first year as head coach of the Lady Muleriders basketball program, Carrie Slaton led the team to a 5-19 overall record and a 4-10 mark in Gulf South Conference play.
Despite struggling throughout the season, the team closed out the year with two consecutive wins, including a double-digit decision over Christian Brothers University in the final game.
Lady Mulerider senior forward Cha’Kia Lee was named second team All-Gulf South Conference. She led the Lady Muleriders and ranked eighth in the conference in scoring at 15.0 points per game, was third in three-pointers made with 52, and had 23 blocked shots to rank ninth. She led the team in total rebounds (155), averaging 6.5 per game, and paced the squad with 40 steals. Lee shot 70 percent (59-84) at the free throw line and dished out 32 assists.
During the season, Lee was named to the Delta State Lloyd Clark Clas-sic all-tournament team, where she had career highs of 31 points and 16 rebounds against Carson-Newman, and was twice selected as the GSC West Division player of the week.
Keysha Hill
Lee and Goldie White were named to the 2010-11 Winter All-Academic Team. A total of 19 student-athletes across the conference were named to the winter all-academic team, which consists only of men’s and women’s basketball members.
The league’s all-academic teams are nominated by the conference sports information directors (SIDs), and selected by the SIDs and faculty athletic representatives in a joint vote. Nominees must have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be a freshman or first-year participant.
A total of nine players were named to the women’s all-academic team, with White and Lee being two of seven selected from the West Division. White is one of only two members, and the only female, on this year’s team to be a three-time all-academic honoree, earning her third after missing all of last season and being selected in 2007-08 and 2008-09. A physical education, wellness and leisure major, she sports a 3.49 GPA. White has now been listed four times on the conference academic honor roll, and is a member of the SAU President’s List and two-time member of the Dean’s List.
White concluded her four-year career at Southern Arkansas this season as the third all-time leading scorer in school history, totaling 1,567 points in averaging 15.8 points over 99 games. A three-time second team All-GSC selection, she was also named the league’s West Division freshman of the year in 2006-07. White led the Lady Muleriders and was sixth in the GSC this season in free throw percentage (.775) and seventh in minutes played (32.4), and was 10th in the conference in offensive rebounds per game (2.8). Her 12.5 points per game was second on this year’s squad and she averaged 5.8 rebounds. Lee earned her first all-academic team accolade, posting a 3.34 in exercise science, and is also now a two-time member of the league’s academic honor roll.
Kristy Shinn
Shaneca Black
Kia Lee
81
Megan Lambert
Chelsea May and Haley Jones
Kaila CalvinHaley Camp
82
Even though they spend their fair share of time on the sidelines, the Southern Arkansas University Mulerider cheerleaders spent time on the front lines in 2010-2011, volunteering and acting as ambassadors for the University.
Besides their typical cheerleader work, the group helped out by working the inaugural Rip Powell Invita-tional Golf Tournament. The tournament raised funds for the SAU football team and was held at the Mag-nolia Country Club.
The cheerleaders helped with student recruitment by holding pep rallies at area high schools, including Springhill, La., High School, Magnolia Central Elemen-tary School, and Lafayette County High School. The group often went into area grade schools to read to students.
During the summer, several cheer-leaders came back to town to support the Mulerider Steak Cook-ers team in the Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cook-off. The cheerleaders provided the showmanship portion of the steak team’s competition.
Although they may be most vis-ible on the sidelines of a football or basketball game, the SAU Mul-erider cheerleaders have been active in supporting the University throughout the year.
Morgan Miller
In 2010 the Mulerider Cross Country team delivered a couple of strong performances, winning two of the six meets in which they competed. Mickey Hammer and Dustin Hardin were the team leaders, always placing with the top of the competition. The Muleriders placed seventh out of 11 at the Gulf South Conference cham-pionship meet. Hammer was honored with an All-Conference second team award, and an All-Region first team award. Ryan Laws and Derek Roscoe made the Gulf South Con-ference All-Academic team. Members of the Mulerider Cross Country team were Nathan Blim, Michael Cao, Quinton Hagan, Hammer, Hardin, Laws and Roscoe.
The lady Muleriders competed in five meets. Sarah Banman and Lindsay Spooner were the team leaders. The ladies finished last at the Gulf South Conference championship meet. Ban-man made the Gulf South Conference All-Ac-ademic team. Members of the Lady Muleriders Cross Country team were Banman, Caroline Colvin, Elizabeth Colvin, Lois Davis, Sarah Eddy and Spooner.
The Mulerider golf team recorded a few impressive records during the 2010-2011 ac-ademic year. Men’s golf team member Travis Chrietz-berg and Lady Mulerider Whitley Patterson made school history when they were an-nounced as first team All-Gulf South Confer-ence selections by the league office, the first-ever first team picks from SAU since join-ing the conference in 1995-96. Chrietzberg, a junior transfer from Texar-kana (Texas) College, was named to the GSC All-Tournament team when he had the highest finish ever for a Southern Arkan-sas golfer in placing third at the conference championship in Hot Springs. He finished at +1 in shooting a three-round 217 (70-69-78) after leading the tournament through the first two rounds. Chrietzberg finished the season with a stroke average of 73.6 over 12 rounds, shoot-ing no higher than 78. He placed first at the Texas A&M-Commerce Pepsi Crawford-Wade Invitational, and was second at both the Henderson State Doyle Wallace Classic and SAU Invitational, before his third-place showing at the GSC championship. Patterson concluded her season with the best finish ever by a Lady Mulerider at the championship, placing 12th at +20 in shoot-ing a two-round 164 (82-82). A junior transfer from McLennan (Texas) Community College, Patterson won the in-dividual title at the Southern Arkansas Invi-tational, placed second in the Harding Nat-ural State Classic, and was third in the Texas A&M-Commerce Pepsi Lion Invitational. She had a 78.4 stroke average through eight rounds this year.
Honors came for work off the course as well. Goki Fukushima, a senior on the Mul-erider golf team, was honored as a first team selection on the Capital One Aca-demic All-District 6 At-Large team. A second-year player at SAU, Fukushi-ma earned his spot on the team with a 3.93 cumulative GPA in exercise science, matching the second highest GPA on the 10-man team. Fukushima was a member of last year’s Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll, and is a two-time member of both the Southern Arkansas President’s List (4.00 GPA) and Dean’s List (minimum 3.50 GPA). On the course this season, Fukushima was the fourth leading scorer for the Mulerid-ers with an 81.6 stroke average through 14 rounds. He had two top-16 finishes, includ-ing a tie for eighth at the SAU Mulerider In-vitational, and he placed 35th at the Gulf South Conference championship in April.As a whole, the team competed well throughout the season under head coach Leonard Biddle. At the Gulf South Conference Champi-onship tournament the SAU men’s team shot a three-round total of 948 in placing ninth. Fukushima tied at 35th in shooting 234 (81-80-73), sophomore Guy Martin shot 250 (84-79-87), and sophomore Ty-ler Watson had a 253 (90-82-81) to round out the Muleriders’ scoring. Senior Peyton Mitchell also participated for SAU, finish-ing with a 259 (89-88-82). On the women’s team, Patterson placed 12th in the women’s championship, fin-ishing at +20 with a 164 (82-82) over the two rounds. The Lady Muleriders didn’t compete as a team. Junior Katy Webster placed 23rd with a 172 (89-83), and senior Kaci Matthews shot a 277 (141-136).
(LEFT TO RIGHT) Eric Osborn, Zachary Schrik, Ghoki Fukushima, Peyton Mitchell, Guy Martin, Tanner Martin, Tyler Watson and Coach Leonard Biddle.
85
The Southern Arkansas Muleriders continued a rebuilding phase during 2010 under second-year Head Coach Bill Keopple. Picking up only a single win during the season, the Muleriders showcased the talent that could make the program victorious in the coming years.
Despite finishing the season 1-9 (1-7 GSC), the Muleriders placed three on the All-Gulf South Conference football team. Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton and wide receiver/return specialist Rafael Thomas were named as first team mem-bers, while defensive back Darren Lewis received second team laurels.
Thomas was also honored in January at the seventh annual Little Rock Touch-down Club awards banquet. He was one of 11 state collegiate football play-ers selected to represent their universities as most valuable players.
On the gridiron, the Muleriders could not find their way around GSC foe Harding University in week one, falling 20-0 to the Bisons.The Muleriders gave Division I Texas State a scare during week two. The Muleriders led the Bobcats 17-3 before going scoreless in the second half and falling 31-17.
A devastating setback in week three gave the Muleriders their second loss of the season as they traveled to the University of North Alabama. The Lions shut down the Muleriders and handed over a 48-6 loss.
Week four brought the Muleriders to Wilkins Stadium for the first home game of 2010. More than 5,100 fans were on hand for Family Day as GSC power-house Valdosta State delivered a 27-0 shutout.
The Muleriders appeared to be on the right start in week five as they traveled to Carrolton, Ga., to face the University of West Georgia. SAU took the open-ing kickoff in for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead in less than three minutes, but the Muleriders would not score again, falling 17-7.
Henderson State extended its winning streak against the Muleriders in week six. SAU showed improvement on the field, but the Reddies took the win with a final score of 28-17. SAU punter Zach Massingill was named GSC special teams player of the week for his performance in the game.
Southern Arkansas put 19 points on the board against Ar-kansas Tech in week seven, but two touchdowns by the Wonder Boys in the final 4:43 of the game secured a 35-19 win for Tech. The Muleriders’ 0-7 record was the worst start since 1992.
The tide seemed to be changing in week eight as the Mul-eriders picked up their third-straight overtime victory against the University of West Alabama. The game was won in front of SAU’s homecoming crowd on a 30-yard field goal. UWA has not beaten an SAU team in Magnolia since 1974.
The Muleriders found themselves on television during week nine as they traveled to El Dorado to take on the Univer-sity of Arkansas at Monticello in the “Boomtown Classic.” Southern Arkansas trailed the Boll Weevils 28-3 going into the
fourth quarter, but after a quarterback change, the Mulerider managed to rally back to 28-23. The rally was not enough to bring home the Boomtown trophy.Ouachita Baptist traveled to Magnolia for the final game of the 2010 season. After each team scored 10 in the first quarter, the Tigers handed the Muleriders their ninth and final loss of the year with a 52-34 decision.
87
(Back row, from left) Loni Pearce, Ashley Mills, Jessica Hardy, Caroline Hailey, Kayce Lang, Gabriela Ruggeri, Lauren Kneese, Beth Stone, Ainsley Alessandrini, Brianna Luck, Kristin Wullner and Megan Maynard
(Front row, from left) Sidney norton, Kyla McCain, Carley Calico, Sable Miller, Heather Luck, Rayann Fuller, Mollie Watlington, Macey Brown and Jessica Duncan
Ainsley Alessandrini and her horse kick up dirt as they round a barrel.
Caroline Hailey
Heather Luck, from left, Kayce Lange
and Caroline Hailey pose for a photo.
Assistant coaches Seth Emerson, from left, and Payden Emmett, and head coach Rusty Hayes
Macy Brown
Ainsley Alessandrini
(Back row, from left) Adam Ott, Trent Harlan, Ty Lester, Roman Richards, Colter Prescott, Justin Johnson, Alex Kehrees, Joe Bass and Bobby Fausett
(Front row, from left) Keaton Fincher, D.J. Dickinson, Chaney Miller, Shaun Smith, Tyler Cornett, Cody Harrington and Colton Redding
Chaney Miller
Adam Ott
Successful year for SAU Rodeo teamThe women’s team finished the year as the reserve cham-pions of the Ozark Region, with four advancing to the Col-lege National Finals Rodeo where the team finished ninth in the nation. Heather Luck won the Ozark Region in the break-away roping and Jessica Duncan won the goat ty-ing and finished second in the all-around cowgirl standings.
The men’s team sent three to the College National Finals Rodeo. Justin Johnson won the Ozark Region team roping heading with Colter Prescott winning the team roping heel-ing events. Chaney Miller was the Ozark Region reserve champion team roping header.
89
Despite posting a 14-39 overall record in 2011, it was a big year for the Lady Mulerider softball program. For the first time in pro-gram history, the Lady Muleriders have a home on the main SAU campus.
Julie Essary
90
The University has recently completed construction phase one of the Lady Mulerider Softball Complex, located just across the ravine from Mulerider Field, home of the Mulerider baseball program.
Since the program’s beginning, the team has played home games at “The Ballpark on Stadium,” a facility owned by the city of Magnolia.
The new on-campus softball complex will eventually consist of two fields, concessions, press boxes, and batting cages. Coaches hope to one day host softball tournaments at the complex.
The project will be completed in phases as funds are available. The Lady Muleriders began playing on the first field this year. Further improvements were scheduled to take place over the summer.
Performance on the field earned two Lady Muleriders spots on the All-Gulf South Conference softball team.
Junior first baseman Chelsea Knox and sophomore catcher Heather Allison represented Southern Arkansas on the all-conference team as
second team selections.
A second year starter, Knox hit .304 this season with a team-leading 10 home runs, nine doubles, 36 RBI and three sacrifice flies. She played
and started in all 53 games this season, receiving the GSC West Division player of the week honor once. Knox ranked second to Allison with a
.551 slugging percentage, but led the squad with 87 total bases.
Allison missed 15 games on the year, playing in 38, but still hit .274 with nine home runs, eight doubles and 34 RBI. She led the team with a .573 slugging
percentage, while her home runs, doubles and RBI were second to Knox. Allison was also a one-time player of the week honoree.
Candace Collier
Heather Allison
Chelsea Knox
91
The Southern Arkansas University volleyball squad grew as a unit throughout the 2010 campaign to compile a 20-12 overall record and 5-7 in Gulf South Conference play. The Muleriders achieved the best record since 2003, when the Muleriders went 22-12 overall. The team tied for fourth place in the GSC and just missed the GSC volleyball playoffs. The 2010 record of 20-12 marked one of the biggest turn around season in the NCAA with the team having a 2009 season record of 1-32.
Courtney Smith and Lindsey Wilcox
The Muleriders opened the season with the Texas A&M-Commerce Tour-nament in Commerce, Texas. After losing their first match with Tarleton State, the Muleriders won the next three matches over the host Texas A&M-Commerce, Fort Hays State, and Oklahoma Panhandle State. The team then went 3-2 up to their first GSC match with Harding University. The Muleriders lost back to back conference matches with Harding and Arkansas Tech plus a region match against East Central Oklahoma.
From there, the Muleriders went 7-6 with key losses to Harding, Hender-son State, Christian Brothers, Arkansas Tech, and region foe St. Mary’s University. After their final loss in that stretch to Christian Brothers, the Muleriders had a test that revived the team with a key win over Univer-sity of Alabama – Huntsville.
The confidence from this win carried over for the rest of the season for the Muleriders, who then went on to finish out the season with a seven match winning streak. This streak included key wins over conference foes University of Arkansas at Monticello, Henderson State, and Ouachi-ta Baptist and also region foe Texas Women’s University. The Muleriders finished the season strong, tying for fourth in the Western Division of the GSC. However, the team missed the playoffs due to Henderson State winning the tie breaker of two sets between the teams.
Many records fell during the year for the Muleriders. Maggie Glover set the SAU record for season hitting percentage and hitting percentage in a match. Glover’s .440 season clip also ranks second all-time for the GSC. She moved into fifth place in career kills in the SAU record books. In the rally era, Glover finished second in career kills as an SAU player. She is only the fifth player in SAU history to reach 1,000 kills.
As a team, the Muleriders finished the 2010 season in the Gulf South Conference – No. 1 in Aces with 2.12 per set, No. 3 in hitting percentage with a .239 hitting percentage, No. 5 in opponent hitting percentage with a .173 hitting percentage, No. 6 in assists with 11.46 assists per set, No. 6 in kills with 12.74 kills per set, and No. 6 in blocks with 1.74 blocks per set.
Kahlie Remy
Becca Pate and Kahlie Remy
Kaci Matthews
Coach Steven Gream
Logan Williams and Jay Adcox
Maggie Glover and Jay Adcox
Sarah Banman and Jay Adcox
noe Cuevas
Volleyball student-athlete Maggie Glover and baseball’s Logan Williams were honored with the coveted Auburn Smith Awards at the annual Southern Arkansas University All-Sports banquet.Also receiving laurels were cross country’s Sarah Banman and football’s Noé Cue-vas, named as this year’s Scholar-Athlete Award winners. Director of Athletics Jay Adcox presented the annual honors.The Auburn Smith Award, given annually to both a women’s and men’s student-athlete, is the most prestigious honor a student-athlete can receive at SAU. Glover, a four-year starter on the Lady Mul-erider volleyball team, held a 4.00 GPA in counseling in graduate school. She gradu-ated Magna Cum Laude in May 2010 with a B.S. in psychology, sporting a 3.77 GPA.
On the court this year Glover recorded one of the most productive seasons in Southern Arkansas volleyball history. For her effort, she was named a Daktronics second team All-South Region selection, was a first team All-Gulf South Conference pick, and during the season was selected as both a GSC West Division offensive and defensive player of the week. Glover set the Southern Arkansas season record with a .440 attack percentage, which is also second best in GSC history, and set the school single-match record with an .875 at-tack percentage against Philander Smith.
A 6-1, 215-pound third baseman, Wil-liams is the fifth consecutive base-ball student-athlete to win the Auburn Smith honor. The senior is a second-year transfer from Ole Miss and is majoring in Business Administration-Marketing.Leading the Muleriders in hitting with a .375 batting average, 14 home runs, 12 dou-bles, 63 RBI and a .725 slugging percent-age, Williams has helped guide SAU to a 29-13 record, a No. 4 ranking in the NCAA South Region, and to its 13th consecutive, and 14th overall, Gulf South Conference tournament appearance next week.
The esteemed Scholar-Athlete Award is also given to both a fe-male and male student-athlete.
The nominee must have a mini-mum of a 3.00 GPA, have com-pleted at least 56 semester hours, with at least one semester at SAU. Selection of the honorees is done by considering GPA, athletic ac-complishments and citizenship.Banman, a senior on the Lady Mulerid-er cross country team, carries an im-pressive 3.91 cumulative GPA in phys-ical education, wellness and leisure.She was awarded for her academic prowess this past fall in being select-ed to the Gulf South Conference All-Academic Team. Banman is a four-time member of the conference Academic Honor Roll, a five-time member of the Southern Arkansas President’s List, carrying a 4.00 GPA for those five semesters, and is a two-time member of the SAU Dean’s List.
The starting kicker on the Mulerider football team for the past four years, Cuevas graduated this past Decem-ber with a B.S. in a double major of engineering/physics-science and mathematics, compiling a 3.28 GPA. Cuevas is a member of a select group in being named three times to the Gulf South Conference All-Academ-ic Team. He is a four-time member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll, and is a member of the SAU Dean’s List.
In other honors, outstanding ath-letes were named in their respec-tive fields by their head coaches or sponsors. Ashley Mills received the accolade for women’s rodeo, Lindsay Spooner in women’s cross country, Mickey Hammer for men’s cross country, Brandon Choate in baseball, Julie Essary for softball, Me-lissa Lambert in cheerleading, Justin Stuart for men’s basketball, Cha’Kia Lee in women’s basketball, Glover for volleyball, Cedric Thornton in football, Ashley Thompson received the student athletic trainer honor, and Whitley Patterson and Travis Chrietzberg were honored for wom-en’s and men’s golf, respectively.
Southern Arkansas volleyball standout Maggie Glover reached the pinnacle of the Gulf South Conference when she received the league’s top award in being named the winner of the 2010-11 Commissioner’s Trophy on June 20, 2011, at the annual GSC Awards Banquet.
The Commissioner’s Trophy is the highest honor bestowed by the conference and one of the most prestigious individual honors in NCAA Division II. The league initiated the men’s award in 1974-75 and added the women’s honor in 1982-83. Both the men’s and women’s Commissioner’s Trophy honorees are selected from among the GSC’s “Top Ten” recipients, who were also recognized at the annual banquet, as well as the conference All-Sports Trophy champions for both men and women.
There were 23 student-athletes from across the conference nominated for this year’s GSC “Top Ten” from which the Commissioner’s Trophy honorees are selected. Criteria is based on athletic achievement, academic excellence, and extracurricular activities, leadership and community service, with the male and female earning the most votes from a committee receiving the Com-missioner’s Trophy. North Alabama senior starting pitcher Trey Mitchell was this year’s male recipi-ent.
Glover is SAU’s second all-time women’s student-athlete to receive the award after former softball great Krystal Poulin in 2003-04, and the fourth from Southern Arkansas overall in addition to football All-American Eddie Key and baseball All-American Bobby Beeson.
Glover was the only graduate student among this year’s “Top Ten” field, having begun that course work this past fall during her final season. Leading the Muleriders to a 20-12 season, her .440 at-tack percentage set a school record, led the league, and ranked fourth in Division II, and is the second-best mark in GSC history for a season. Glover also had the conference’s fourth-highest single-match attack percentage in history, hitting .875 in a win over Philander Smith. A team cap-tain, she also led the squad with 96 total blocks and 397 points scored, and was second on the team with 299 kills.
For her efforts on the court this season, Glover was a second team selection on the Daktronics All-South Region team, was named first team All-GSC, and was honored as both a GSC West Division defensive and offensive player of the week. In April she received Southern Arkansas’ women’s Auburn Smith Award, the highest accolade a student-athlete can earn, and was awarded volleyball’s most outstanding athlete.
A fifth-year player, Glover suffered a season-ending injury in her first match as a freshman in 2006, and then went on to 122 starts in 124 matches for the rest of her career. This year she became the Lady Muleriders’ fifth player all-time to reach 1,000 kills for a career, finishing with 1,037, and ranks in the top five all-time with 364 career blocks. Glover’s academic achievements are equally impressive, posting a 3.77 cumulative GPA in graduating Cum Laude in May 2010 with a B.S. in psychology and minor in sociology, before recording a 4.00 GPA this past fall in her first semester in graduate school in counseling. She was a second team honoree on this year’s ESPN Academic All-District 6 team, was named to the GSC All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year, and is a now a five-time member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll.
Nathaniel L. Doddridge
Ryan Daniel Locey
Andrew L. Qualls
Brittany Michelle Snell
Cindi Diann Bishop Adcock
Sara Ann Hayes Allen
Master of Business
Administration
College ofBusiness
Master of Education
College ofEducation
96
Victor DoyleNeal
Dekelton LaKyland Lester
Skylar LeeBurns
Kevin R. Davis
Scott ChristopherHinton
Ashley ElizabethBaldwin
Bachelor of Business
Administration
College of Business
Tyler ShawThompson
Associate of Science
College of Business
Dipen Joshi
Jessica MeganLee
John DerekShields
Jayme LeaWatson
Master of Science
College of Scienceand Technology
Ryan GregoryLenihan
Executive Master of
Public Administration
College of Liberal and Performing Arts
Germacia Jermane Goins
DeAnne S. Tracy
Antonio L.McDonald
Nicole Rachele Reynolds
Master of Science
College ofEducation
Patricia Annette Waller
Brandon La’Monte Williams
Carol AnnRoberson
LaVonda RenfroSkinner
Dorothy J.Standoak
Sherrin J.Tucker
Irene LacyPorchia
Shanna R.McLelland
Tabatha LaurenNeely
Vickie R. Lacefield
Crystal Kyleen Hewitt
Christiane M. Irvin
Carl LeCory Green
Aniaya Shiree Henderson
Sherry LeeDinger
Mertie Delores Cox
Sandra Diann Baker Dees
Erica R.Fouche
Carolyn Page Beasley
Dallas Byers Black
Tonisha R.Burton
Lena ElisabethBrown
Lauren NicoleNicholas
DaisyTurner
LatriciaTurner
Atron L.Henderson
Bachelor of Science in
Education
College of Education
Bachelorof Arts
College of Liberal and
Performing Arts
Associateof Arts
College of Liberal and
Performing Arts
Adrienne Elizabeth Long-Aragon
Ashley Denise Andrews
Ebony LatriseAndrews
ChanceO’Neal
Mykolas BrianSakevicius
Bachelor of Science
College of Education
Veronica Marie Carter
leads the new graduates out of Grand Hall.
Dr. Kim Bloss hoods Ryan Gregory Lenihan.
Dr. David Rankin congratulates
Antonio L. McDonald.
Elizabeth A. Myric poses with
Dr. David Rankin.
Scott Christopher Hinton and Dekelton LaKyland Lester move their tassels.
AerialRobinson
Matthew JosephBrown
Cory RayDavis
William CodyKidd
Elizabeth A.Myrick
Tyrel G. Nuttall
Monica LeeSharp
FrankSturgeon
Candace MarieGuinn
Sharissa MarieOverton
William CodyPrescott
Joshua Bryan Lansdell
Matthew Scott Martin
Veronica Marie Carter
Ariel KayLynGunnels
DominiqueBrown
Chad BryanHyman
Bachelorof Science
College of Liberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelorof Social Work
College of Liberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelorof Science
College of Science and Technology
Bachelorof Scienceof nursing
College of Science and Technology
AliciaBaird
La Rhonda ReneeBryan
Heather ReneaHarris
Cordara J.Newson
Montril C.Rabion
Bachelorof Fine Arts
College of Liberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelorof General
Studies
College of Liberal and
Performing Arts
Vickie R. Lacefield
2010-11 InvolvementTau Beta SigmaPresidentSAU BandHighway Clean Up Volunteer
100
Laney H.Mitcham
Robert Earl Sasser, Jr.
Laura Amanda Graham Abeyta
Mary Wade Allen
Janey F.Becnel
Marian Dina Campbell Hayes
Sonya LeAnnHollis
Karen Rodden Bolls
Angela Evette Bell Bynum
Master of Business
Administration
College ofBusiness
Master of Arts in
Teaching
College ofEducation
Master of Education
College ofEducation
101
Melanie Kathryn Clanton
AimeeFletcher
Amanda KayGates
Jeffry Alan Hanson
LeShardae S.Harper
Stephanie Renee Rowe
Leah K. MorganSmith
Elizabeth AnnStacks
Lisa Leanne Standridge
Shonta Williams
Amber M.Holloway
Teresa Renee’ Miller
Rebecca Jo Bell
Tamara Latrice Bowers
Nekita Sheray Howell
Jeremy A.Langley
James NelsonUtsey
Judith Anne Jamerson
Kevin “Murph” Murphy
Michael Alan Paskewitz
David Thomas Bragg
Jermaine L.Burns
Elijah WadeCarlew
Amy Leigh Cheatham
Janice D. Willis
Milinda Suzanne May
Crystal ReeDillon
Jennifer D. Oller DuGan
Laney ElizabethFowler
Jenna Carroll Frisby
Caitlin Hope Harrison
Jerry L. Colvin, Jr.
Wyatt Matthew Comer
Edward LamarHunter
James MichaelJones
Joshua AllenJones
Reginal LeonardHolly
Sherry AnnHoward
Master of Science
College ofEducation
Executive Master of
Public Administration
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Master of Science
College ofScience and Technology
Bachelor of Business
Administration
College ofBusiness
Kyle Hawkins
Kevin NicholasPerez
Megan DenisePhinny
Joshua RandallSharp
Dione AntionetteStephens
Sarah Nicole Gatliff
Ivory M. Godbolt, Jr.
Joshua R.Bradley
Kristin NicoleLaster
Danielle Richardson
Ryan Stephen Charles Terry
Heather DanielleMcLeckie
Jessica SusanneDees Miller
Martha S.Moses
Erica CalePickard
Jaime Leigh Sanders
Dean John Malthouse
Kaci Ann Matthews
J. Russell Sparks
Michael AustinVanderveer
Brent AlanWalker
Stefanie DanielleNicole White
Leslie Katherine Sharp
Brigetta Earlene Smith
Amanda MichelleLeMay
JohnJudwig
Bachelor of Science
College ofEducation
Bachelor of Science in Education
College ofEducation
Above, Dr. Don Nelson gives the commencement address for the December 10 ceremony. Also pictured, from left, Dr. Tim Schroeder, Dr. David Crouse and Dr. David Rankin.
103
Derek A.Roscoe
Kayla AnnSharp
Derrick Kent Wynn
Ambra NicoleDorsey
Devin ClayAlexander
Carl G.Allen
Meghan Elizabeth Sims
Ashley LaurenWhite
Lindsey Caye Howard
Daren Vaughn Jhamel Lewis
Shannon JeromeEllison
Dimettera NicoleFrazier
Associate of Arts
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelor of Arts
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Scott Reynolds
Chelsea MeganSpurlock
Hannah D.Thomas
Robert Jackson Baker III
Lavor D. Reed
William D. Bates
AustinAllison
William DillonTripp
Travis Neil Williams
Phillip Michael Gordon
Bachelor of Fine Arts
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelor of General Studies
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Megan PaigeHolliday
Verna’ RachelMack
Caylyn WhitneyBuice
Hugh BrianFinney
Gregory DontrayForge
Alexis VictoriaGlover
Sharvaughn Hinton Johnson
Felixia Mon’ChelAaron
Kasey N.Boyd
Aries NicoleClayton
Whitney RachelleCurry
Ashley NicoleGardner
Kashama FrancineLoggins
TadWashington
Clayton HendrixMcWilliams
Larry DanMills
SandeepParwaga
Angela C.Shackleford
Akilah MornaeSwift
Kirsten A.Kahler
Mark W.Massey, Jr.
Bachelor of Science
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelor of Social Work
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Elcy PasqualeParker
Michel DwightArvie
Toby WayneHastings
Christopher Wayne Bass
Rebekah AnnBaxter
Kristin DanielleBudwah
Kaci NicoleBurton
DavidArvie, Jr.
Epsey LynnEarnest
Associate of Applied Science
College ofScience and Technology
Helen LaTinaWilliams Glover
Keona KatriceGoodwin
Associate of Science
College ofScience and Technology
Michael EdwardBoney
Chase DanielPatterson
Samuel D’EricWarren
Belyn NicoleFowler
Rachel MariahKarger
Jamie NicholeMyrick
William HughNeeley II
Bachelor of Music
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Mallory KristineEvans
Eric ScottGraham
William EdwardHickman
Jeremy W.Hollis
Wanda FayHolmes
Jared OtisBrown
Chad K.Adamson
Kimberly Michelle Baker
Shalondria Renee’Beavers
Tina SueBlevins
Megan SuzanneBollier
Tiffany NicoleWilson
Bachelor of Science
College ofScience andTechnology
Noe’Cuevas, Jr.
Andrew ThomasHurley
Chelsea N. Watts
Emamanuel Kumbo Mikobi
Samuel AllenWelch
Mary BethWilliams
Mandi Shauntae’Woods
Sarah MarieSmith
Tiffany TennilleChristopher
Shawntel MariePrice
Matthew RyanWilliamson
Jacob Adam Leigh
Scott EdwardSigle
Bachelor of Science innursing
College ofScience andTechnology
Michael GalePage
Veronica M.Rodriguez
Mariska Terese Smith
Gina ElaineStuart
Tabitha LynnWeston
Devan Renee’Mobbs
Joseph AllenMiles
Victoria AnnJordan
Sarah ClaireLevy
Amy Rebecca Massey
Cody RayMcCoy
Sarah KristenHanson
Tiffany Denise Jefferson
Candice Martin
2010-11 InvolvementPsi ChiPresidentPhi Mu AlphaHistorianHeritage SingersChamber SingersEncoreSAU Cheerleading SquadStew Pot Volunteer
107
Nicolas DeLaneWilliams
Charles E. Young, Jr.
William Jason Arrington
Kimberly DeniseFinney
Julia AnneWilliams
Sarah A. Burns
Laura D. Long
Md.Rashedul Alam Rabin
Amber YvetteSharp
Albi Alikaj
Karnesia S.Byers
Angela M.Byrum
Katrina LeEllaChilders
Keith EdwardEverett
Courtney Alexander Haygood
GregoryBenton
Ashlie RaeMixon
Misty AntionetteNix
Micah PaulRoberts
Reagan ElizabethAustin
Alexandra NicoleGale
Sheryl LynnPorter
Tina M.Spells
Lisa AnnButler
Master of Business
Administration
College ofBusiness
Master of Arts in Teaching
College ofEducation
Sara DeniseLandaverde
Master of Education
College ofEducation
Brenda GayleHill
Natalia Komandirova
Stacy LeighJerry
Jerry LynnLangston
OpheliaLindsey
Veronica DianeMoore
Keith Alan Morgan
Jennifer D.Meeks
Valerie RoshundaMoore
John DavidRankin
Sarah K.Tutt
Mallory Paige McKee
Jennifer PageMusgraves
Jamie ElizabethPoints
Amanda A.Razaq
Deanne M.Compton
Melissa A.Jackson
Kathryn LorraineWiley
Amy Cherie PelzWilliams
Tyler DuaneBurns
Samantha Denise Cheatham
Adam ThomasChoate
AustinCivita
Matthew C.Conine
Jacqueline ReneeHunter Boothe
Nicholas L.Birmingham
Terressa AnnCurtis
William HunterGentry
Rachel NicoleArnold
GencAlikaj
Robert EdwardLove
Janet DancerInman
Garron D.Helm
Bridgette L.Britt
Lela M. McFalls James
Emily KendallJester
Master of Science
College ofEducation
Master of Public
Administration
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Master of Science
College ofScience andTechnology
Parvez-AslamAnsari
Bachelor of Business
Administration
College ofBusiness
109
Bradley KentralJackson
Sydney L.Jones
Saad Ullah Khan
Mark Phillip MaxLherisson
Candice YvonneLindsey
Channin D.Harden
Kallie KayEpperson
Dolores AnnetteGarrett
Nathan S.George
Charity Nicole Hall
Daniel JesseHampton II
Stephanie Rachael Cooper
Justin RussellHayes
ClarenceCornelius III
Dean of the School of Graduate Studies Dr. Kim Bloss congratulates Sarah A. Burns.
Bloss hoods Misty Antionette Nix. Commencement marshal Dr. Donna Allen waits to send
Amber Sharp to the stage.
Dr. David Rankin gives more than a handshake to this graduate - his son, John David Ranin.
Dr. David Ashby provides the commencement address for the School of Graduate Studies ceremony.
Megan RenaeMorgan
Janell DianeMorton
Courtney NicoleNeikirk
Michael DrewNelson
Jamie SueNorris
Stephen GeoffreyMeeks
Crystal DeAnnSnider
Daniel BlakeThomas
Benjamin StantonWhatley
Dezare MekeaLa’Shay Wonzo
Walter D.Wood Jr.
Cynthia F.Smith
CynthiaOutlaw
Ashley L.Perdue
Justin DwightRhodes
StevenRobins
Marchette Lavonne Robinson
ColomaObama-Sepahoco
Emily LaurenLively
Sherry YumikaSmith
Katy AmorelleBurgess
Erin Elizabeth Fryar
Kelvin DewonGarrett
Robert Mon’WelJones
Claude MasonWoods
Nicole Desarae Woods
Juliana MoreiraOrtega
Bachelor of Science
College ofEducation
Sharon Moneke Dixon, left, smiles at family and friends. Also pictured, from left, Zachary Curtis Flanagan, Shanna Renee Griffith, Larry Stephen Harrell and Andrew Kirkindoff, Jr. 111
Brittany FaithCagle
Ashley Brooke Copeland
Chris AnnDaniel
Faith LynnDickison
Crystal DianeForce
Andrea Kaye Brown
Ashley MichelleThompson
Sarah BethBanman
Erin ReneeBell
Jesseca Michelle Black
Crystal L.Kirk
Melynda LouBryant
Yolanda JaniseGafford
Megan ElizabethHaire
Amy KathrynHayes
Ashton MarieHerod
Tommy J.Hill
Lacey JeanFoster
Sara Elizabeth Francis
RyanLaws
Bachelor of Science in Education
College ofEducation
Colton Quin Mullins, from left, Tyler Alan Neal and Nitish Narula walk with the soon-to-be graduates from the College of Science and Technology.
SAU Historian Dr. James Willis provides the commencement address. Looking on are, from left, Dr. David Rankin, Dr. David Crouse, and Dr. Tim Schroeder.
AnjaKelley
Haley ElizabethKyseth
Christa DanielleLee
Christa M.Lee
Cannon BruceLester
Haley Nicole Hudgeons
Kristy ElaineReid
Maranda MichelReynolds
Warren MatthewSandifer
Samantha MaeSellers
Haley BrookeSmith
Andrea LeotaEdmonson Ray
Sharla Jane Minor
EsmeraldaMontiel
Andretti NynitaMurphy
Whitney KaynPatterson
Erin HannahQuarles
Debra LeAnneMagness
Jamie RachelleHouse
Jennifer LeAnnRay
Teresa LandrethMalone
113
Rebecca Nicole Steward
Betty SuzannaThompson
Charity NicholeVaught
Tammy L.Walker
Marianne NicoleWiley
Whitney JayeSpell
Jonathan WilliamCarroll
Sydney RaeGossett
Brandon MichaelGray
Albert Rowell Hanna
Debra Ann Brome Hartley
Samantha BrookeAdams
Roseline Rochelle Grooms
Jessica BlairHolihan
Samuel JustinJennings
Damion SacoryWilson
Lynzi E.Williams
Sheronica KsharonSmith
Candace LeShea’Beasley
Associate of Arts
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Bachelor of Arts
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Thomas Derrel Hilburn, Jr.
Abigail ChristineHolihan
Damon S.McKinney
Michael AngeloPerez
RaulQuintana
Rebecca A.Heilman
Elizabeth AnneLee
Jeremy LeeAtwell
Jennifer LynnBecnel
Sharon MonekeDixon
Jonathan CalebGunnels
Susan AshleyWhitelaw
Cris Ian B.Davis
Emily Le’AnnBraswell
Sara CaitlinCaller
Sean AlanReynolds
Melissa KristenHeard
Jennifer LynnHarrell
Bachelor of Fine Arts
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
William JonathanRickert
Bachelor of General Studies
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Larry StephenHarrell
Andrew Kirkindoff, Jr.
Christopher I.Metcalf
EvelynMixon
David D’WayneNoble
Shanna ReneeGriffith
Manchusa Loungsangroong
Matthew RayMahaffey
Cortney YvonneAdams
Ne’Shay D. Brown
La Sonya EleshaWhyte
Charles LeMonProctor
Sherry MinnetteToney
Raymond Jonathan Traylor
Kathy Lee Welch
Jason MichaelOliver
Zachary CurtisFlanagan
Bachelor of Music
EducationCollege ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Jamie Renee’Daugherty
LeAndre MichelleEvans
Lauren AliHickman
Tiffani Shuntel McBride
Cody DillonNelson
ReshaChipalu
Lauren AshelyAllen
Kelly AnnBarker
Robin DeniseBarrow
Garrett Wayne Camp
Shanetha EreionHunter
Tameka NaColeTurner
Brenn NicoleDeLay
Treasure MoniqueWilliamson
Sheela Pokharel
JacquelynCarter
Essence SimoneSpeech
Associate ofScience
College ofScience and Technology
Rachel ElizabethPeters
Jeffrey TylerWhitley
Bachelor of ScienceCollege ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
John D.Watkins
Bachelor of Social Work
College ofLiberal and
Performing Arts
Sara Renee Amend
Ross AllenFlowers
LaShae DanielleGunnels
Chandra KalaGurung
Amber MichelleKestler
Matthew ChristianKisner
Salina DeanneDavis
David Shepard
JangmooSherpa
Kristen AnnWaldrop
Kelsey ReneeWarner
Sarah E. Putman
Antquine DeniseMathews
Hannah ElisabethMitchell
Y. NicoleMyles
Patricia AnnOsegueda
Richard M.Landaverde
Coleen ElizabethChase
Haleigh RenaWood
Haley ElizabethBond
Anna ElizabethBuck
Candice StarrCanady
Jason DouglasWeidman
Bradley LinHartwick
Tyler WadeHerring
Rianne MarissaHerron
Brittany NicoleHorten
Perry C.Grant
Trent ColbyDunn
Susan ElizabethFoster
Shondranika Cerise Ford
Philip AllenChilders
JordynWehrenberg
Michael DouglasDavis, Jr.
Felicia L.Marable
RabinaPancha
Payden CharlesEmmett
Martin PerHawron
Candace LeeRushton
Vrennia AnnStanley
Bachelor of Science
College ofScience and Technology
Mia Gabrielle Simone Gentry
Seth MichaelHarris
Jordan McKinnonJones
Kamal Khadka
Lucas RayLeshe
Jared Lewis
Clayton BaxterMartin
Christopher CarlJackson
Nitish Narula
Tyler AlanNeal
Westley ColterPrescott
Rodney R. Raney
Phillip RandallMoore
Jamie LynnMcMeechan
Emily AllandraMelson
Sable LynnMiller
Ashley ElizabethMills
JaphethMay
Jason Brinton Hughes
Jeffery TannerRogers
Lance E. Shackelford
Elizabeth KayStone
Marquetta Shardae Thompson
Monica AnnRoberts
Betty SueVann
Rhonda LynnWhaley
Lesley DyanButler
Myia ShardaiWatson
Christina DianeWilson
Courtney MagenWilliams
Kourtney D.Walls
Keeton LynnRinks
MingyangWang
Willliam TylerMcDonald
Billy D.Minton, Jr.
Sunny MayWilcox
Joycelyn Renee’Watkins
Colton Quin Mullins
Ramesh Nepal
Bachelor of Science in nursing
College ofScience and Technology
Anita AprilMullins
Daniel VanceSales III
117
President’s Ambassadors, back row from left, George Butler, Blake Simmons, Katy Webster, Brandon Lewis,Laura Reed, Johnallen Lee and Caylie Covas; middle row from left, Weston Hood, Julie Menne, Ravan Bates, Megan Gabbard, Cameron Sumlin, Reggie Rasmus, Jill Fennell, Brant Roberts, Caitlin Amyx and Carley Calico; front row from left, Brennan Pitard, Will Smith, Brooke Watson, Tommy Clark, Mason Belk and Matthew Wise.
P.A. PresidentLaura Reed
118
119
The Illustrious Iota Zeta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Incorporated, was chartered on the campus of Southern Arkansas Univer-sity on November 24, 1974. Since then, the chapter has gone on to continuously serve Magnolia and provide “ser-vice to all mankind.” In the 2010-2011 academic year, IZ participated in Family day, the chili cook off, and Home-coming activities. Through the Emerging Young Lead-ers (EYL) program, IZ mentors girls in grades 6-8 by provid-ing leadership development, enhanced academic prepa-ration and character build-ing. We partnered with the American Heart Association for our “Pink goes Red” pro-gram where we set up an info table and spoke to students about the dangers of Heart disease in women and minor-ity groups. IZ had an “America Saves” program where we spoke to students on the importance of wealth building and managing one’s assets. IZ also participated in Relay for Life. As an organization based on community service, we also participated in the “Adopt a Highway” program, the annual MLK walk, and we went to a local nursing home to present gifts to the residents and play games with them. The sorority also held a shoe drive and was able to donate 75 pairs of shoes to the local women’s shelter. We also had a drive to raise money for the Heifer Foundation. Through the Iota Zeta chapter here at SAU, Alpha Kappa Alpha continues to be the Leader in Sisterhood and Supreme Service to All Mankind.
Submitted by Temi Layeni,Alpha Kappa Alpha
120
2010-11 InvolvementStudent Government Assoc.Sr. Associate JusticeJustice BoardChairpersonNational Pan-Hellenic CouncilSecretary/TreasurerAlpha Kappa AlphaTreasurerCorresponding SecretaryStandards ChairEAF ChairAlpha Kappa Alpha Service AwardJudicial Board Service AwardNPHC Service AwardRelay for Life VolunteerCanned Food DriveCoat Drive
2010-11 InvolvementInternational Student Assoc.PresidentStudent Government Assoc.World Religions ClubPresident/FounderSIFE/PBLHistory/Political ScienceAccounting & Finance SocietyOutstanding Service Award
Alpha Phi Omega (ΑΦΩ) (commonly known as APO), is the largest collegiate fra-ternity in the United States, with chapters at over 360 campuses, an active mem-bership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members. There are also 250 chapters in the Philippines and one in Australia. Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed service fraternity orga-nized to provide community service on and off campus . The Alpha Epsilon Omega chapter here at SAU has come a long way in the last couple of years. In the Fall of 2010, six new broth-ers were inducted into the chapter, and Spring 2011 brought five new mem-bers. Our active members Bre’Anna Baile, president, Amethyst Mays, vice presi-dent, and KeAndre Arnold, treasurer, are our inspiration. They are our backbone and hold our fraternity together. Alpha Phi Omega is taken very seriously by their founding principles of leadership, friendship and service. This past year, the organization was put back on the map by doing more service events on campus. Besides highway clean-up and We Heart Magnolia, APO hosted a Trunk or Treat on Halloween for kids in the Magnolia community to have a safe place to trick or treat. Other SAU orga-nizations helped pass out candy. APO created a food drive where the organiza-tion placed brown paper bags on door steps in neigh-borhoods surrounding SAU and asked families to place non-perishable food items in the provided sacks. The food was donated to the SAU food pantry.
Submitted by Brie’ Bailey,Alpha Phi Omega: Alpha Epsilon Omega
123
A part of the Southern Arkansas University community since 1977, Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity has grown to be one of the larg-est, most respected social Greek organizations on campus. Phi Lambda Chi melds both the social and philanthropic aspects into a single organization. The Nu chapter of Phi Lambda Chi is adamant to improving both the local and campus community. The chapter accomplishes these tasks by hosting numerous social events, devoting time to local forms of community service, and honoring the commitment to our national philanthropy, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. While the Nu chapter of Phi Lambda has already made an impact, this is a legacy that we strive to continue.
Submitted by Tyler Watson, Chair of Public Relations, and Gregory Rives, Secretary, Phi Lambda Chi, Nu Chapter
Back row from left, David Cook, Wes Cowling, Joey Eiermann, Payton McDonald, Caleb Amason, Larry Rex French III, Tyler Rivers and Ryan Wattering; middle row, Conten Mayfield, Trevor Munn, Dylon Beams, Brock Burrow, Ricke Dakes and Johnny Morden; front row, Eric Osborn, Anthony Earl, Conner nichols, Michael Boen and nathan George.
124
Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority is founded on the principles of friendship, character and conduct. Throughout the 2010-2011 academic year our ladies have strived to live up to these principles in our schoolwork, other organizations in which we are involved, and life in general. We are very proud of all of our ac-complishments through-out this year. During the fall semester our chapter President, Rianne Herron, was crowned Homecom-ing Queen and Miss SAU. Morgan McRae was also selected as a Homecom-ing Court member. We were excited to initiate seven new members into our organization and was accredited with honors by our national head-quarters. In the spring, we had seven members rec-ognized as Greek Schol-ars and three inducted into the Order of Omega (Greek National Honors Society). After complet-ing more than 10,000 hours of community ser-vice we were selected as the Volunteer organiza-tion of the year and had the Advisor of the Year award presented to Mrs. Jane Becnel at the Greek Life Awards Banquet. Our pride and joy is the Step Show and we took home the first place cham-pion title and for Greek week. We were selected as Sorority of the Year. We were recognized at LR&A for our community service efforts and had two women selected as members of Who’s Who.
Submitted by Morgan McRae and Haley Burrow, Sigma Sigma Sigma
Back row from left, Melissa Lambert, Dee Day, Brittany Horten, Chynna Herron, Rianne Herron, Cammie Coker, Stephanie Montes, Lakeon Thurmon and Morgan McRae; middle row, Ashley Walthall, Sidney norton, Caylie Covas, Emily McPherson, Julia-Ann McMillen, Amanda Thurkill and Kelsi Hunter; front row, Katy Burgess, Jennifer Becnel, Brianna Moore, Dianna Cartwright, Madelyn Jones, Britni Case, Tori Elliott and Adrienne Beard
125
2010-11 InvolvementSigma Gamma RhoTreasurerStudent Government Assoc.Business SenatorRealife College Student MinistriesSecretaryAlternative Spring BreakCoordinatorStudent Activities BoardBusiness Student AdvisoryBusiness AmbassadorOrder of Omega
126
HISTORY:
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority was established on November 12, 1922, at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana. We are a non-profit service and social organization with a member-ship of 85,000+. Our sorority mascot is the French Toy Poo-dle. The yellow tea rose is the sorority flower and our sorority colors are the beautiful Royal Blue and Gold. Our chapter, Mu Eta Chapter, is located in Magnolia, Ark. at Southern Arkansas University.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s aim is to enhance the quality of life within the community. Public service, leadership development, and education of youth are the hallmark of the organization’s programs and activities. Sigma Gamma Rho addresses concerns that impact society educationally, civically, and economically.
Our sorority provides sister-hood, friendship, fellowship, and a lifetime of bonding with our sisters. We are also mem-bers of the NPHC here at SAU. Every year around Thanksgiv-ing, we adopt between 2-4 families in giving out Thanksgiv-ing dinners and we also adopt a family from the Angel Tree to give the children a happy Christmas.
Sigma Gamma Rho also did a presentation called “The Al-mighty Debt” speared by our late sorority sister, Toni Bradley. It was dealing with the debt that our society was in and was trying to figure out ways of helping people who are in debt.
Sigma Gamma Rho’s commit-ment to service is expressed in our slogan, “Greater Service, Greater Progress”.
Submitted by Yolonda Hawthorne,Sigma Gamma Rho
127
From left, Cheri Walker, Traci Gillard, ne’Shay Brown, Chelsa King and Valerie Brown.
Back row, from left, KeAndre Arnold, Alan Thompson, Daniel Espana, Chris Myers, Ty Burns, Kash Wacaster and Rex French; front row, Yolonda Hawthrone, Haley Burrow, Amanda Thurkill and Megan Gabbard.
~
128
From left, Courtney Alexander, Christopher Harris, Jacob Oliver, Reggie Rasmus, Trent Earley, Ke’Andre Arnold, Jamaii Jones, Devandre northcross, Daveante Jones and Victor Edwards
Back row, from left, Saralyn Flanagan, Morgan Thomas, Makenzi Hamilton, Taylor Brown, Laura Reed and Sara Grigg; third row, Alison Harrington, Brooke Maloch, Brooke Watson, Ashley White, Carly McKluskey, Morgan Brian, Haley Camp and Courtney Ray; second row, Whitley Reeves, Kelsey Cowling, Lauren Taylor, Haley Jones, Ashley Jaggers, Brooke May and Kaila Calvin; front row, Hillary Stone, Laura Bass, Chanel Fruge, Morgan Miller, Laura Hayes, Mylee Scarbrough, Megan Gabbard and Kristy Shinn.
129
Back row, from left, Hayden Kopplin, Susan Haynes, Chris Harris, Caitlin Amyx, Ryan Blackwell, Jessica Anderson, Larry Graham and Madie Westmoreland; front row, Jenny Fuerst, Amanda Thurkill, Haley Burrow and Morgan McKrae
From left, Kristi Canada, Michelle Burns, Theodore Shoemaker, Weston Wright and Christian Hunter
130
Back row, from left, Mike Beam, Dusty Hardin, Jaron Bates, Stoney Rhodes, Kash Wacaster, Weston Hood and Tyler Granberry; front row, Austin Evans, Sean Turner, Chase Hunter, Tyler Pennington and Tyler Thrapp
Back row, from left, Courtney Raino, Hayden Kopplin, Chris Harris and Susan Hayes; front row, Madie Westmoreland and Amanda Thurlkill
131
During the 2010-2011 academic year, the Southern Arkansas University campus continued to transform with new buildings going up and existing facilities being completely remodeled.
The most dramatic change came early in the year as classes began in the new 60,000 square foot Science Center. At a cost of more than $17 million, the Center houses the departments of biology, chemistry and physics. These programs had previously been housed in the upper floors of Overstreet Hall and other buildings around campus.
The change was dramatic. Prior to the opening of the Science Center, many science courses met in dated lecture halls and laboratories that had not received updates in decades. Most area high schools provided better lab space than was found at SAU. All of that has changed now. The Science Center boasts state-of-the-art labs and classrooms and has attracted a wide variety of students to study at SAU.
Over the summer, the top two floors of Wilson Hall received a facelift. Gone is the dated fab-ric wallpaper that darkened the halls and trans-ported one back to the 1970s. Fresh blue and gold paint and a new entry way greet students and faculty throughout the building. Lounges for faculty and students were also added on the second floor.
132
University administrators dedicated the Natural Resource Research Center in April. The NRRC serves as an engine for economic growth in south Arkansas by providing state-of-the-art research facilities dedicated to studying lignite, oil, bromine, and other natural resources found in the region. The research in the NRRC will be conducted by SAU fac-ulty and students, giving them the opportunity to perform high-quality studies that could not previously take place on our campus.
Funded by a grant from the United States Department of Commerce Economic Devel-opment Administration and the University, the NRRC will also help carry out the mission of the Arkansas Lignite Resources Pilot Program. This program was created by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2007.
The College of Science and Technology has been a big benefactor for facility improve-ments throughout the last few years. That will continue as plans are made for a new Ag-riculture Center. During its meeting in November, the SAU Board of Trustees approved a $6.5 million bond issue to finance construction of the Center. Construction should begin in spring 2012.
In the athletic department, the baseball and softball programs enjoyed growth of their facilities. Softball moved to the main campus for the first time with a new softball field constructed just behind the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. For baseball, a stadium expansion brought new coaches’ offic-es, locker rooms, concession stand, and press box.
As the academic year wrapped up, stu-dents were anxiously awaiting comple-tion of the new Mulerider Activity Cen-ter. The MAC features a basketball court, cardiovascular and strength training equipment, meeting rooms, a smoothie bar, and offices. The $5 million building was constructed at students’ request through a student activity fee.
133
In 2008 Southern Arkansas University began to investigate the two choices for continued ac-creditation including the Academic Quality Im-provement Program (AQIP) and the Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality (PEAQ).
SAU Assessment Coordinator Denise Mosely and members of the administration began to review information regarding the two reaccreditation processes. A presentation for the president and vice presidents explaining the AQIP and PEAQ processes was given by AQIP Champion and Vice President for Administration Roger Giles.
Presentations were given by the Assessment Coordinator and the AQIP Champion with various con-stituencies at five different times attempting to gain participation from all. Presentations were made by the pair to the Faculty Senate and Staff Senate discussing the pros and cons of each process.
Surveying all involved parties of the University resulted in an overwhelming desire to proceed toward the application for the AQIP process. Several members of the University including the president, vice president for academic affairs, and the director of institutional effectiveness and student learning at-tended the Higher Learning Commission’s regional meeting on accreditation and the new criteria. Of those who attended, most went to the sessions on AQIP.
Our sister institution that is part of the SAU System, SAU-Tech, chose AQIP as their accreditation pro-cess March 2007 and is in their third year of participation. This would bring congruency to the System and allow for joint projects and better collaboration between institutions. The faculty and staff voted overwhelming in a survey conducted through Survey Monkey to apply for the AQIP process.
The Faculty Senate voted to support the application for the AQIP process in April 2010. The president, after reviewing all opinions from the campus, decreed that SAU move forward utilizing all of its re-sources toward AQIP participation in the institution’s reaccreditation process.
The Board of Trustees adopted a resolution in support of the University to seek AQIP acceptance for its accreditation process April 21, 2010.
Mary Armwood says that she “accidentally got into nursing,” but after 32 years as a nursing educator, there is no career she would find more rewarding.
Armwood, assistant professor of nursing, was named 2011 Honor Professor, the University’s most distinguished designation for faculty members. For the veteran educator, there is more to teaching than lecturing and giving exams.
“It’s about seeing the light in a student’s eyes when he or she finally gets to the hospital and says ‘oh, that’s what you were talking about when you said that’ … or watching a student successfully access a patient or perform a skill that I had watched them practice over and over in the campus lab,” she said.
A lot has changed in the years since Armwood joined the SAU faculty. In recent years, Wharton Nursing Building has doubled in size, and the student population has grown. She noted that students were once much more respectful of instruc-tors and each other.
Changes have also come in the way nursing students practice their skills. “When I first came to SAU, students could only practice giving injections on oranges. Now we have high fidelity mannequins that can do just about everything,” she said. “The technology has allowed us to simulate the hospital setting, so students are able to actually perform real life-like scenarios before going to the hospitals.” Technology has not only changed in labs, lectures have advanced with tech-nology as well. Armwood said students once took handwritten notes while the instructor lectured. Today many students take notes on a laptop as the instructor lectures using a PowerPoint slideshow. Instructors are also finding more and more electronic resources instead of having to develop everything on their own. Armwood notes a group of former colleagues as her greatest mentors. Those women include the late Marie Brown, Pat Williams, Vonda Dees, and Billie Cam-eron. “For about 20 years, we were the stable force in the department,” she said. “We had others come and go, but I worked with these women the longest.” So how does Armwood judge success in teaching? “Of course seeing our stu-dents pass the National Licensure Exam in Nursing is a measure of success, but it is also when I run into students years later and they say what a great influence I had on their life,” she said. “We’ve had students come through the program who are now nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, doctors, and of course, nurse educa-tors. It’s always great to go into a facility and see someone you taught because you know your loved one is going to get great care.” 135
The increase in graduate programs at South-ern Arkansas University has been highly lauded across the region, but the University was re-cently officially recognized nationally when the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching reassigned SAU as a “Master’s M” level institution. Before this change, the University was classified as a bachelor’s degree-granting insti-tution.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are very gratified by this news from the Carn-egie Foundation” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin. “Our graduate program offerings have increased dramatically, and we have been noted as having the fastest-growing graduate programs in the state over the past five years. To have this new master’s-level classification will open many new doors for us.”
Rankin noted that granting graduate degrees is an integral part of the University’s mission that will also serve to bolster the economy of the region.
“This new designation is a reflection of the qual-ity, productivity and integrity of our faculty, staff and students,” he said.
“It also shows the University is dramatically ex-panding educational opportunities across the re-gion and beyond.”
The Carnegie classification has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing insti-tutional diversity in U.S. higher education for the past four decades. Starting in 1970, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed a classification of colleges and universities to sup-port its program of research and policy analysis. This framework has been widely used in the study of higher education, both as a way to represent and control for institutional differences. It has also been used in the design of research studies to en-sure adequate representation of sampled institu-tions, students, or faculty.
The “Master’s M” classification under which SAU is now listed generally includes institutions that awarded at least 50 master’s degrees and few-er than 20 doctoral degrees in the update year. Since 2005, the University has awarded 467 mas-ter’s degrees. That number has increased from just 50 awarded in the 2005- 2006 academic year to 157 awarded in the 2009- 2010 academic year.
A commitment to continuous improvement earned Southern Arkansas University state-wide recognition November 15, 2010, during the 16th annual Arkansas Governor’s Quality Awards celebration at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. A total of 18 business organizations were rec-ognized on four award levels during the event.
SAU President Dr. David Rankin accepted the Commitment Level Award on behalf of the Uni-versity. This award is designed for organizations that have progressed to a point of demon-strating a serious commitment to the use of total quality principles to achieve performance excellence. Recipients receive more than just the recognition of the award. They also receive an in-depth evaluation of their management systems and a written feedback report citing strengths and areas for improvement.
“It was a tremendous honor for Southern Arkansas University to be chosen for the Commitment Level Award,” Rankin said. “We are striving for continuous improvement every day, and this award is evidence of our successes.”
A 21-page report prepared by SAU administrators for consideration of the award addressed seven key issues contributing to the University’s commitment to improvement: leadership pro-cess; strategic planning process; customer focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge man-agement; workforce focus; process management; and results.
The Governor’s Quality Awards fall in line with the University’s new partnership with the Aca-demic Quality Improvement Program. AQIP is a process of continuous improvement to main-tain accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
The goal of the Governor’s Quality Award Program is to encourage Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement, which leads to performance excellence, and to provide significant recognition to those organizations. Created as a non-profit organization, the program is dedicated to assist in building a strong infrastructure for Arkansas businesses.
137
January 3, 2011, was a landmark date for Southern Ar-kansas University. On this day 100 years prior, Principal David J. Burleson and four faculty members welcomed students at newly built “Old Main” to begin the first se-mester of classes at the Third District Agricultural School in Magnolia.
Severe weather, freezing temperatures only reaching the mid-twenties, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 1911, did not deter an eager 75 students from riding mules, horses, and wag-ons to the new campus to register at the residential agri-cultural high school and to move into its two dormitories.
On that cold day, all of the students had to cut and carry arm loads of wood into Jackson and Holt Halls to make fires in the potbelly stoves that heated each of their
rooms. More than half of the students could af-ford to go to school only by working on the farm or in the dining hall at 10 cents an hour to earn the $10 per month charge for room and board. Students could seek only a secondary degree in either agriculture or home economics, but many graduates became business and civic leaders of southwest Arkansas.
A century later the name of the school had be-come Southern Arkansas University, as it evolved from high school to junior college to four-year college to comprehensive regional university. SAU’s 3,379 students in 2010-11 studied in the most modern facilities and could choose from among scores of baccalaureate and master’s degrees in many different fields of study.
“Even with its sparse facilities, providing students life-changing educational opportunities lay at the heart of TDAS,” said Dr. David F. Rankin, SAU president since 2002, “and that remains our pur-pose today.”
Dr. James F. Willis, University Historian
Principal, David J. Burleson
Govenor George W. Donaghey
138
SAU’s origins can be traced back to the success-ful lobbying of the Farmers’ Educational and Coopera-tive Union that persuaded the 37th Arkansas General Assembly to pass legislation establishing four district agricultural schools.
Governor George W. Donaghey signed Act 100 on April 1, 1909. These agri-cultural schools decades later became SAU and three sister institutions, Ar-kansas Tech University, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkan-sas at Monticello.
In accord with Act 100’s provisions, the TDAS Board of Trustees in early 1910 invited competitive bids from interested communities to locate the school. A Columbia County fundraising effort led by local Magnolia businessman Wil-liam R. Cross raised more than $40,000 in money and land from 1,400 local citizens, mostly small farmers, to outbid the cities of Camden, Hope, Mena, and Stephens.
Construction of Old Main, the principal classroom and administrative building, two dorms, and a dining hall began with the laying of Old Main’s cornerstone on August 24, 1910. Despite every effort, several features remained unfinished as classes began. Until electrical wiring was completed later in the semester, students nightly read and wrote assignments in dorm rooms lit by candles and lamps.
In contrast to these humble beginnings, today’s up-to-date SAU facilities have had the benefit of millions of dollars in new construction since 2002, providing its students learning opportunities unmatched in Southwest Arkansas. “SAU is committed,” declared Dr. Rankin, “to continuous quality improvements, as-suring our students the latest in information technology and innovative cur-riculums as well as in recreational facilities. Combined with the personal at-tention afforded by small class sizes, these efforts assure that our students will receive a first-class education.”
139
In
RemembranceWe remember those from our Southern Arkansas University family
who we lost from June 2010 to July 2011.
Jay Adcox
JoAnne Harper Baxley
Mary Butler
Lois Davis
Jack Harrington
Wanda Hust
James Jones
David Shannon
