/news-archive/tag/athletic-department/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Thu, 24 May 2018 16:39:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2018/05/24/second-acce-cohort-graduates/ Thu, 24 May 2018 16:39:45 +0000 /news/?p=70663 ... Second ACCE cohort graduates from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock]]> Kari Lott has a dream to one day save up enough money to open and run her own restaurant, a dream she is determined to make come true through her hard work and inspiring attitude.聽 She is one of 12 students who celebrated their graduation from the 糖心Vlog传媒, Community, Career Development and Employment (ACCE) Program May 21 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The joint program between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and gives students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a college experience and prepare them for competitive employment. 鈥淲hen I first got into the ACCE program, I was a little scared not knowing if I could do the work,鈥� said Lott, who now has a full-time job at the Movie Tavern and was selected to speak at the graduation ceremony. 鈥淭he program was built to help us all. All of our teachers helped out a lot. I worked hard at my internships to do what I needed to learn on the job.鈥� Given her desire to open a restaurant, it should come as no surprise that Lott鈥檚 favorite internship was building her culinary skills at Sodexo. 鈥淢y favorite internship was Sodexo, because I got to work in the kitchen,鈥� Lott said. 鈥淚 got to chop. I got to prepare the food and make sure it got on the line. Boy, let me tell you, it wasn鈥檛 always easy. With the help and love of our teachers, family, and parents, I made it through it, and I am proud to say I really enjoyed it.鈥� The program was established in 2017 with the knowledge that only 32 percent of working-age people with disabilities were employed from 2010 to 2012, according to the Department of Labor. Studies show that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who participate in post-secondary education have better jobs and receive higher earnings. 鈥淲e are excited to continue our partnership with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to offer this important program and proud of our 2018 graduates,鈥� said Easterseals Arkansas President and CEO Elaine Eubank. The 12 members of the second cohort of the ACCE program were surrounded by teary eyed family members, friends, teachers, mentors, and co-workers who loudly cheered as each member crossed the stage to receive a certificate for the post-secondary education program during a special ceremony in the Engineering and Information Technology Building auditorium. The graduates include Nicholas Austin of Alexander; Joshua Fletcher of North Little Rock; Davion Green, Breah Hampton, and Curtina Jackson, all of Little Rock; Kari Lott and Chasity Mathis, both of Sherwood; Ford McGahee, John Rockefeller, Juan Rodriquez Jr., and Aaron Sullivan, all of Little Rock; and Jonmichal Walker of North Little Rock. While addressing the graduates, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson emphasized the importance of higher education, employment, and living independently for success. 鈥淣o matter what the situation, higher education levels the playing field and must be available and accessible for all,鈥� Rogerson said. 鈥淚f so, it will change your life for the better. This is a proud moment Class of 2018. You have worked hard and have earned a certificate of completion, an important qualification that shows you have completed a specialized training program and pathway to your future employment.鈥� Fletcher, a 2017 graduate of North Little Rock Premier High School, was recognized as the 2018 Associate of the Year for his exemplary work during his time in the ACCE program. He has interned with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Ground Services and The Showroom to build custom frames and will be joining the workforce working full-time with Dillard鈥檚 Fulfillment Center as well as intermediate work continuing at The Showroom. This year鈥檚 class has completed on-the-job training at various departments and聽organizations on and off campus, including Ottenheimer Library, Sodexo, Fitness Center, Grounds Services, Custodial Services, Athletic Department, Department of Nursing, Sequoyah National Research Center, Jodie Mahoney Center for Gifted Education, 糖心Vlog传媒MS/糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Speech and Hearing Clinic, Information Technology Program, MidSOUTH, School of Social Work, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Children鈥檚 Learning Center, The Showroom, and Easterseals Developmental Preschool. ACCE students also enjoyed student activities by attending Trojan games, Homecoming activities, and being active participants in the college experience. The students increased 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 initiative to engage in more community outreach, enhance learning opportunities outside the classroom and diversity and as part of their outlined strategic plan. ACCE also has a collaborative partnership with the College of Education and Health Professionals, where ACCE class instruction is held, for students to volunteer within the ACCE classroom. Additionally, ACCE students lead discussions in classrooms to share their experiences in the secondary special education system. All of the graduates were awarded a free membership to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association and a gift bag. The program is continuing to grow as the third cohort of 糖心Vlog传媒, Community, Career Development and Employment Program participants will begin taking classes at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock this fall with 16 students. The ceremony鈥檚 commencement speaker, Alan McClain, commissioner of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, thanked the graduates for being an inspiration to those around them and strong addition to Arkansas鈥檚 workforce. 鈥淚n addition to my congratulations, my message to you is also to say thank you,鈥� McClain said. 鈥淭hank you for inspiring us with your dedication and perseverance for coming out here everyday and completing the requirements for ACCE. Please know that your involvement with ACCE has made a huge impact on the world around you.鈥� In the upper right photo, the 2018 graduates of the ACCE program include (L to R): Back row: John Steele, ACCE instructor, and graduates John Rockefeller and Breah Hampton. Middle row: Graduates Ford McGahee, Jonmichal Walker, Joshua Fletcher, Davion Green, Juan Rodriguez, and ACCE Instructor Leslie Harms. Front row: Kari Lott, Curtina Jackson, Chasity Mathis, Nicholas Austin, and Aaron Sullivan.]]> /news-archive/2018/02/23/swimming-diving-school-records/ Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:47:33 +0000 /news/?p=69522 ... Swimming and diving team breaks nine school records at Missouri Valley Conference Championship]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock swimming and diving team members broke nine school records while competing in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Feb. 14-17 at the University of Iowa.聽 On the first day of the event, Laura Ruiz Astorga, Nuria Gallego Murcia, Isabelle Finzen, and Emma Doll broke the school record for the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:44.11 鈥� over a second faster than the previous record set in 2014. On Feb. 15, senior finished third in the A-Final of the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:54.33, breaking her previous school record of 4:54.47. “It is awesome to see Tori finish one of her favorite events with a third place and a school record,” Head Coach said. “She worked so hard for this and is more than deserving of this.鈥� In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of , , , and Ruiz Astorga recorded a time of 1:34.32, breaking the record of 1:34.52 that Goff, Doll, and Ruiz Astorga set last year along with former teammate Courtney Coe. Two more school records fell for Little Rock swimming and diving in day three of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Feb. 16. Ruiz Astorga placed fifth going into the finals with a time of 55.87. Her time was .34 seconds faster than her own time set at last year’s MVC Championship. broke her second school record in two days while competing in the 200-yard freestyle as she finished fourth in the A-final with a time of 1:50.28. Fryar smashed her own record of 1:51.52 set in last year’s MVC Championship 鈥� 1.24 seconds better. In the final day of the championship on Saturday, Feb. 17, Little Rock swimming and diving broke four more school records while also medaling in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The next record to fall in another big weekend for Little Rock was in the 400-yard freestyle relay as the team of , , Ruiz Astorga, and medaled with a third-place finish and a time of 3.26.03 鈥� 1.12 seconds faster than the previous record. Fryar had a big evening in the pool as she took a fourth-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle, breaking her 1000-yard record at the split with a time of 10:12.08 and then breaking the 1,650-yard time at 16:56.21. The split time edged out her own previous record by over eight seconds while her 1,650 time was 8.98 seconds faster than also her own previous record. broke another record, taking down her previous 200-yard backstroke time of 2:03.14 with a fifth-place finish time of 2:01.47. Fryar was named to the All-MVC First Team in the 500-yard freestyle. Gray, Ruiz Astorga, Doll, and van Huyssteen were all named All-MVC Honorable Mentions for their performances. As a team, Little Rock finished the MVC Championships in sixth place with a final score of 363.5 points.]]>