ASU System President Dr. Charles Welch, ASUN Chancel-lor Dr. Sandra Massey, Newport Mayor David Stewart, Jackson County Judge Jeff Phillips and Veterans representative and

former Newport Mayor Dean Young were all featured speak-ers when ASU-Newport dedi-cated it’s new Student Veterans Lounge Tuesday, Feb. 2 on the Newport Campus.

The dedication also includ-ed the presentation of artwork to ASU-Newport in memory of former Newport resident Ralph McDonald, Jr.

The artwork is a painting

of the American flag, creat-ed by Little Rock artist Matt Coburn and was presented to ASU-Newport by the McDon-ald family.

McDonald was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas during the Korean Conflict. During that time, he was the youngest CFO in the history of the US Air Force.

The 400-square foot Student Veterans lounge will provide an environment for student veterans to interact with other veterans from the college and community, to provide support both academically and outside classroom.

See Additional PhotoOn Page 2

February is a most unusu-al month. The bleakness of winter still presents itself, but occasionally is replaced with a glimpse of Spring as flowers be-gin to bloom, the days become longer and folks seem to “dust” themselves off from cold weath-er doldrums and anticipate the reemergence of a warmer friendlier season.

Occasionally, we get a dust-ing or two of seasonable weath-er, but by the end of the month begin to realize we have hope-fully survived yet another Ar-kansas winter.February was a busy and fun month for Arkan-sas State University.-Newport.

It began with an occasion of great accord as we remembered our veterans. We honored a significant portion of our his-torical heritage and continued the celebrations of Black Histo-ry Month, as well as participa-tions in lively concerts and the county’s most significant artis-tic endeavor, The Delta Visual Arts Show.

For a period of seasonal transition, this has certainly been an event filled time for ASU-Newport. Students, fac-ulty and staff had an active month, both on campus and in the community.

February also presented an

extra day, allowing us to “leap” into the month of March. But before we do, join us as we take a glimpse back on the many happenings and events that

took place during the month of February on ASU-Newport’s three campuses. We hope you enjoy!

Van & Ike

Month ReviewThe

February 2016 Arkansas State University - Newport Volume 3, No. 2

www.asun.edu

Dedication of Student Veterans Lounge

ASU System President Dr. Charles Welch and ASUN Chancellor Dr. Sandra Massey accept the oil painting donated by Patsy McDonald in memory of her husband, Ralph McDonald. Representing the McDonald family were Patsy McDonald, Mark Manning, Lauren McDonald, Toby McDonald and Phil McDonald.

Dedication of Student Veterans Lounge

Jackson County Judge Jeff Phillips, Newport Mayor David Stewart, Veterans representative Dean Young, ASUN Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jacqueline Faulkner, Air Force Recruiter Sgt. Quanita Knight-Tanner, ASUN Chancellor Dr. Sandra Massey, ASUN Dean for Advancement Ike Wheeler and ASU System President Dr. Charles Welch with the collection of WWII-era photos in the Student Veterans Lounge.

JONESBORO, Ark. (2-29-2016) — More than 60 students from a record 22 area high schools and vocational colleges converged on the Jonesboro campus of Arkansas State Uni-versity-Newport Thursday for the seventh annual Northeast Arkansas Weldathon, hosted by ASUN and Ozarc Gas.

Over $34,000 in scholar-ships and prizes were awarded to the schools and team mem-bers who participated. The pur-pose of the contest was to pro-vide the competitors with the opportunity to demonstrate, both through practical and the-oretical application, their skills and knowledge in the indus-try relevant to safety-oriented welding and metal fabrication. Competitors were tested on safety and skills in MIG weld-ing, oxy fuel cutting and fabri-cation, including layout and fit-up of materials.

Taking first place in the Vo-

cational division was the Per-ryville Area Career and Tech-nology Center. In the High School division, Valley View High School finished in first place.

Earning second place in the Vocational division was Sikeston Career and Technical Center. Second place in the High School division went to Cross County High School.

Earning a third-place finish in the Vocational division was Arkansas Northeastern Col-lege/Buffalo Island Central.

Finishing third in the High School division was Paragould High School.

Diamond sponsors for the Weldathon were Arkansas State University-Newport, Ozarc Gas and Equipment, American Railcar Industries, The Work-force Training Consortium and Fronius USA.

Platinum sponsors were Ace Industrial Products, Colson

Caster, ESAB/Victor, Lincoln Electric, Pferd Abrasives and Trinity Industries.

Gold sponsors were Anchor Packaging, Engines, Inc., and Industrial Sales & Marketing.

Nucor Hickman was a Silver Sponsor, while Bernard, Flame Tech, Great Dane, Hypertherm, Koike, MK Morse, Tillman and Weldsafe, Inc. were Bronze sponsors.

“We are extremely thank-ful to our sponsors, Ozarc Gas, the students and staff at the ASUN-Jonesboro campus, and the schools and teams that competed,” said Ken Beach, In-structor of Welding at ASUN. “It takes a great deal of effort and time to make this event run smoothly, and without all of them, none of this would be possible.”

Seventh Annual Weldathon Held on Jonesboro Campus

Using the Weldathon as a working example, students in Lana Holt’s Cost Control class conducted a cost analysis on feeding the 150 in attendance. Jessica Wrenfrow’s Bakery and Dessert class prepared the meal and served the Weldathon participants.

Seventh Annual Weldathon Winners

Taking first place in the High School division was Valley View High School. Pictured from left are Dr. Holly Ayers, ASUN Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Valley View students Brandon Perkins, Jonathan Flemon, and David Rogers and Robert Sum-mers, ASUN Dean for Applied Science.

Winning the Vocational division was Perryville Career and Tech-nical Center. Pictured from left are PCTC advisor Bill Johns, Jar-ed Kaempfe, Jordan Rellergert and Tyler Holt, and ASUN Dean for Applied Science Robert Summers.

The second place team from the High School division was Cross County. Pictured from left are CCHS advisor Henry Laxton, stu-dents Harrison Young, Drew Ballard and Aubrey Forrester and ASUN Dean for Applied Science Robert Summers.

Paragould High School finished third in the High School divi-sion. Pictured from left are PHS advisor James Potter, students Zachary Williamson, Bryce Ratliff and Eli Williams and ASUN Dean for Applied Science Robert Summers.

Finishing third in the Vocational division was Arkansas North-eastern College/Buffalo Island Central. Pictured from left are ANC Advisor William Pelts, students Johnny Hemminger, Dal-lis Smith and Jacob Carter, and ASUN Dean for Applied Science Robert Summers.

The second place team from the Vocational division was Sikeston Career and Technical Center. Pictured from left are ad-visor Brent Trankler, students Corbin Brown, Spencer Slavings and Jason Andrew and ASUN Dean for Applied Science Robert Summers.

Dr. Maurice Gipson, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity

at Arkansas State Universi-ty, was the Lunch-N-Learn

speaker on all three cam-pus locations during Black

History Month. Dr. Gipson’s topic for the Lunch-N-Learn

sessions was “Diversity and Inclusion.”

ASU-Newport Celebrates Black History Month

ASUN Dean of Students Kimberly Long (far left) Assistant Professor of English and Foreign Language Rachel Zaideman (back row, second), Assistant Dean Amanda White (back row, fourth), Student Affairs Specialist Bobbie Buchanan (back row, fifth) and Retention Special-ist Cheryl Cross (far right) accompanied this group of students to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis Feb. 26 as part of ASUN’s Black History Month obser-vations.

Open mic “Coffeehouses” were held on all three campus lo-cations and featured expressions of diversity from students through poems, readings and songs.

The Memphis-based group G3 played to a large crowd at the ASUN Center for Arts, performing, “Through the Decades,” a salute to African-American artists.

Images of Success and Service at ASU-Newport

Betsy Walker’s Anatomy and Physiology I class displays the cell models that they constructed as a course project. Students in the course had the option to build a model, do a presentation or write a paper on cell structure.

Science Faculty members Dr. Sarah Webb, Cody Davis, Lee Conrad (Chemistry teacher at Central High School), and Aman-da White traveled to Little Rock Feb. 5 to serve as judges for the science fair at Little Rock Central High School.

Retention Specialist Seth Thompson and Student Recruiter & Community Engagement Coordinator Kevin Pearce (left photo) and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Holly Ayers, Dean of Retention and Student Success Dr. Ashley Buchman and Vice Chan-cellor for Student Affairs Jacqueline Faulkner (right photo) were among the many ASUN employees who volunteered their services at the Delta Visual Arts Show Feb. 27 in downtown Newport.

The Hospitality Services held yet another successful Culinary Experience continuing education class in February with “My Foodie Valentine.” The class was a family affair for the Jackson family of Jonesboro, with six from the household attending.

Images of Success and Service at ASU-Newport

Robert Summers (center, holding paperwork) ASU-Newport Dean for Applied Science, was one of many who attended the AAC Leadership Institute in Little Rock. The event also included a reception hosted by the ASU System.

(Top Photo) Campus Police Officer Ryan Crawford, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Jeff Bookout and Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development Charley Appleby coordinate with other staff members such as Com-puter Support Technician Chris Doyle (right) to ensure that buildings are clear and students are safe during a recent fire drill on the Jonesboro campus. Fire drills were held on all three campus locations during the month of February, and are part of ASUN’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Images of Success and Service at ASU-Newport

Sixteen students from four Northeast Arkansas High Schools competed Feb. 23 in the Arkansas State Universi-ty-Newport Energy Control Technology Wiring Contest held on ASUN’s Marked Tree campus.Students from West Memphis, Valley View, Marked Tree and the Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center competed in the contest, with Tyler Howton of Valley View High School taking first place and winning a full tuition scholarship to ASU-Newport. Hunter Carr of the NEACTC won second place and a $750 ASUN Scholarship, and Jordan Ratton of Marked Tree High School finished third and was awarded a $500 ASUN Schol-arship.Pictured from left are: Robert Summers, ASUN Dean for Ap-plied Science, Carr, Howton, Ratton, Mark Constant, ASUN Instructor of Energy Control Technology and David Lynn, ASUN In-structor or Energy Control Technology. Special thanks to the following community partners who donated prizes for the contest: Denver’s Refrigeration, Johnstone Supply, Mid-South Distribution, RGB Mechanical Jonesboro, Sanders Supply, Irby’s Electric, Jonesboro Winair, Craighead Electric, Cardinal Supply, Air Gas Jonesboro, Ed’s Supply and Bakers Supply.

Students on all three campuses made the most of their breaks between classes when they participated in “Game Day” activi-ties, sponsored by the office of the Dean of Students. Games, prizes and refreshments were part of the lineup each day.

Thanks to the generosity and efforts of individuals from Ar-kansas State University-Newport and Marked Tree, “Becky’s Closet” is a resource now available to ASUN-Marked Tree stu-dents and alumni who are soon to be entering the workforce. The closet, named in memory of long-time ASU-Newport Business Instructor Becky Landreth, supplies business attire, shoes and other clothing to students who have job interviews, but may not have the resources to purchase the appropriate clothes needed to help them make the best possible first im-pression.Paula Morgan, Assistant Professor of Business Education over-saw the opening of the facility on the Marked Tree campus.To donate clothing or funds for Becky’s Closet, contact Morgan at paula_morgan@asun.edu or by phone at 870-358-8639.

Workers from Tyco-Simplex installed a new fire sensor update for the fire system on the Marked Tree campus. One of ASU-Newport’s ongoing safety initiatives is the constant evaluation of fire safety systems on all of our campus locations. This update will help to further en-sure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and guests.

Jane Onovwerosuoke, (front) and Sophie Wilson, students in Lana Holt’s Kitchen Design course work on

“restaurant feng shui” as part of a project for the course. Both students are Hospitality Management majors.

John Kelly, ASUN’s 2015 Outstanding Alumni and principal at EPC High, was “Freezin’ for a Reason” Feb. 18 night when he participated in the Polar Plunge in Jonesboro to support Special Olympics. Congratulations to Mr. Kelly and thank you for serving our communities!

Nettleton School District Nutrition Specialist Dawn Ragsdalespeaks to the ASUN Menu Planning course on the Jonesboro campus. Guest speakers provide a valuable enhancement to our students’ classroom experience.

Workers from the Bread of Life Food Pantry were at all three ASU-Newport campus locations during the month of February. Many of our students are full time, and the food pantry provided much needed assistance to those who may not be able to work while attending college.

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Holly Ayers and Dean for Distance Learning Dr. Allen Mooneyhan join gradu-ate Ashley Werst from the ADC McPherson unit. ASUN’s De-partment of Correction education program helps to educate and prepare the participants for their return to society.