- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Hudson Graduates from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Mon, 16 May 2022 13:02:47 +0000

Ever since he was a child, Turner Hudson, a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from Mayflower, Arkansas, has loved building things. He was often found playing with legos and creating small projects. When he grew up, he decided to turn that interest into a career.�� “When I started going through the process of deciding where I wanted to go to school and what I wanted to do, I liked the idea of mechanical engineering best because it’s like the ‘swiss army knife’ of engineering,” Hudson said. “You can do just about anything with it.” Hudson had the opportunity to intern with Cromwell Architects Engineers over the summer. Many of the men there had been working as engineers for more than 30 years, and they taught him “tricks of the trade” that have helped him in several of his classes. He also helped design the piping systems for the new University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences surgical annex building during his time there. “If you’re ever in the bathrooms on the third floor, just know that was me,” Hudson said. When asked about his plans after graduation in May, Hudson shared that he recently accepted a position with the Systems Group in their estimator department. He will be going to different job sites to figure out how much they’ll cost and how much labor they will involve. “There’s travel involved so I’ll get to go all around the country, which is really cool to me,” Hudson said. “I might be going to Colorado, Louisiana, and parts of Tennessee, and the Carolinas. The Systems Group works with plants in the Washington State area as well.” Hudson is very involved on campus as a peer mentor for the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC) and serves as chief of staff of the Student Government Association and secretary of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Delta Chi chapter. He also volunteers with the youth group at his church. Since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he’s been in several different positions with Delta Chi, the most notable being named president junior year. According to Lucee Lugo, assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Hudson represents everything a student leader should be. “His presence and leadership within the Greek community has made a lasting impact,” Lugo said. “His attitude is flawless, and he has always shown up to everything that has been asked of him and more.” Hudson said that although Greek life isn’t for everyone, it has helped him in many ways. “I was one of three people from my high school who came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, so I didn’t really know anyone at first,” he said. “Greek life automatically gave me a place to connect with people, and it was very beneficial in that fact alone. It’s good to at least go through the process and see if it’s a good fit for you.” Hudson also credits Cheyenne Philpot, his CLC peer mentor, in helping him break out of his shell freshman year. Philpot graduated in May 2021 with a degree in biology. “She introduced me to a lot of people around campus, which I really appreciated,” Hudson said. “She made me want to be a mentor, and now I try to be that person to my own mentees. I want to be there for them, whether that’s giving them advice on what classes to take or just helping them with homework.” “The thing I would say for anyone coming into ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is to find a place to get involved,” Hudson said. “It’s a great school if you find something to do, whether that’s Greek life, SGA, or another student organization, or even just a friend group. Find somewhere to be with people and participate on campus, because the experience you can have– looking back in your senior year– is crazy if you get out and do it.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Geology Student Selected for U.S.-Mexican Research Program

John Hill — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:52:49 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student is participating in a unique U.S.-Mexican collaborative research opportunity that combines digital field mapping techniques with state-of-the-art laboratory analytical work on the tectonic evolution of the Santa Rosalía basin area in the Gulf of California rift. Mariela Saavedra Duran, a double major in geology and Spanish from Alexander, Arkansas, was chosen for the , which is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation as an International Research Experiences for Students program. During the first part of the trip, Duran spent three weeks in January conducting field research in Baja California, Mexico. Student researchers study rocks, sediments, and landforms in basins of the Santa Rosalía area mentored by faculty from University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of California-Davis, University of Oregon, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Indiana Geological & Water Survey, and Mexican collaborators from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur and Universidad de Guanajuato. Duran joined a group studying tectonic geomorphology, while other research teams studied volcanology, mining, mineralogy, and basin analysis. Duran used GIS mapping software to map out different terraces across the region. The Santa Rosalía basin area was selected because it is one of the few places in the world where volcanic and marine sedimentary sequences and large uplifted Quaternary terraces can be used to understand the processes involved in the progressive stages of continental breakup. Because of the rapid tectonic motion in the Gulf of California rift, the Santa Rosalía basin area is a site where the stratigraphic history and processes of deformation can be studied in detail with exceptional exposures and accessible outcrops. “I’ve only had two geology courses before this research experience, so I had a lot of learning along the way,” Duran said. “I am grateful that I had this field research experience, because now I am able to use my knowledge from that research trip and connect it to what I am learning in my classes today.”

Mariela Saavedra Duran

During the second part of the project, Duran and her fellow student researchers will spend four weeks this summer at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. They will compile and draft field data, collect and analyze lab data, and prepare and present an abstract and poster on their research. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Duran is also a member of the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and Chancellor’s Leadership Corps as well as the Learning Assistants Program, where she worked in Dr. Laura Ruhl’s physical geology classes. She plans to graduate in 2023 and then pursue graduate school. Duran has been interested in geology ever since she was a child. “Geology students all love to be outside and interact with nature,” Duran said. “It takes me back to when I was a child, and it’s really interesting and intriguing.” Duran is grateful for her experience with the Baja Basins program for giving her the opportunity to work with people like her who are passionate about geology. “Before this research, I felt a little lost because I didn’t see a lot of Latinos majoring in geology,” Duran said. “I enjoyed collaborating with my Latino mentors and a university student from Mexico. They supported me and helped me understand that other people like me work as geologists. It’s still one of my hopes to see more Latinos pursuing�� geology. I don’t want other people like me to feel alone in geology like I did. This research experience helped me realize that geology is my thing and it’s what I want to do with my life.”

Phillips Joins Leadership Greater Little Rock XXXVII

John Hill — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 13:32:33 +0000

Dr. Mia Phillips, assistant vice chancellor of student affairs and director of the Multicultural Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has joined the 37th Class of Leadership Greater Little Rock. Leadership Greater Little Rock (LGLR) is a nine-month community leadership program created by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. It is designed to develop effective leaders by enhancing their civic, social, and professional awareness to positively impact our community. “I am truly honored to be selected for this program,” Phillips said. “It has a long history of providing intensive and effective leadership development. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate.” LGLR kicked off with a two-day retreat in October. Participants then meet every month at a different central Arkansas location to explore topics through expert speakers, panelists, tours, and group presentations. This unique program provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the region’s challenges and opportunities, empowering them to become better leaders in the community. “Completing this program will help me develop in all areas so that I’m able to better lead on campus and in the community,” Phillips said. “Most importantly, it will help me make connections that will benefit our students in terms of networking and opportunities for them.” A native of El Dorado, Arkansas, Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Arts in professional and technical writing and a Ed.D. in higher education from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. While working toward her master’s degree, Phillips was offered a position as a writing assistant for the chancellor’s office, which kick-started her career in higher education. In 2018, Phillips was selected as the director of the university’s new Multicultural Center. Last year, she was also promoted to assistant vice chancellor of student affairs. In this role, she oversees fraternity and sorority life, student organizations, and activities as well as student success programs like Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, Charles W. Donaldson Scholars, and Student Affairs Diversity Initiatives. “Dr. Phillips is a leader in the community and an advocate for all students,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I’m pleased to see her selection for LGLR. She will add a valuable perspective to Class XXXVII while also utilizing the information and connections from LGLR to advance her leadership in the community and on campus.” Phillips is also active in professional and community organizations. She is a mentor with NASPA and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. She also serves on the board of the Vera Lloyd Foundation.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Welcomes New Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Members

John Hill — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 13:13:07 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced its new class of Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC) members for the 2021-2022 academic year.�� The CLC is a leadership development program that provides a student-centered experience focused on leadership building, academic success, and cultivates an environment dedicated to service-learning that will positively impact the community. CLC Scholars receive a financial package totaling up to $32,000 through a four-year renewable scholarship. CLC is the oldest and largest program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Dorothy Truex started the program in 1976 with just 17 scholars. Corrigan Revels, CLC coordinator, now oversees the CLC program.�� Members of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. In addition to their academic work, CLC students volunteer for community service and service-learning projects on campus and in the community. They also participate in one professional or personal development program per academic year. CLC students are heavily involved with the running of the Trojan Food Pantry and Trojan Career Closet.��

New freshmen members of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and their CLC student leaders.

New members of the 2021-2022 CLC Scholars and their high schools and majors, if decided, include:

Asad Abu-halimeh, LISA Academy West
Jacob Adams, Bentonville High School, construction management
Syed Ahmad, Valley View High School, biology
Raafia Ali, Little Rock Central High School, psychology
Joel Allen, Erath High School, K-12 health and physical education
Lara Alsader, Allen High School, nursing
Cougar Anderson, Skiatook High School
Jaxson Anderson, Greenbrier High School
Allison Andreassen, Stilwell High School, art history and education
Maria Avalos, Hall High School, nursing
Austin Bailey, Arkansas Christian Academy, electronics and computer engineering technology
Zanaisha Banks, Germantown High School, pre-medicine
Zanautica Barker, Hope High School, psychology
Jason Beason, Sheridan High School, psychology
Lance Beckman, White Hall High School, nursing
Tabana Bode-Palma, Danville High School, nursing
Braeden Botts, Cabot High School, marketing
Ashlynn Brooks, Maumelle High School, management
Chole Buse, Benton High School, student art and design
Jaelle Carlson, engineering
Reece Carter, Mayflower High School, pre-medicine
Karen Cells, Star City High School, pre-law
Malorie Chaney, Paragould High School, psychology
Chandra Daniels, Jacksonville High School
Emily Davis, Vilonia High School, anthropology
Diana Diaz, Little Rock Central High School, pre-medicine
Cole Dwyer, Arkansas Connections Academy, biology
Omar Eldenawi, Little Rock Central High School
Julia Elliott, Benton High School, business
Devin Ellison, El Dorado High School, business
Michael Fells, Little Rock Central High School, criminal justice
Anna Fetherston, North Little Rock High School, pre-medicine
Jordan Fisher, Rison High School, electronics and computer engineering technology
Abigail Gavina, Waldron High School, criminal justice
Stephanie Giblin, Watson Chapel High School, pre-law
Issac Gonzalez, Maumelle High School computer science
Stephen Graham, music
Mohammed Hamwi, LISA Academy West, pre-medicine
Hayden Henderson, Sheridan High School, pre-health
Olivia Henderson, biology
Melina Hernandez, LISA Academy North, social work
Abigail Hickman, Mayflower High School, nursing
Chloe Hines, North Little Rock High School
Tamara Howard, Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, communication sciences and disorders
John Hubbel, Blue Valley Southwest High School, health education and promotion
Camryn Jacobs, Longview High School, pre-health
Lucy Jahn, Winter Park High School, business
Lauryn Johnson, North Little Rock High School
Alyssa Joseph, North Little Rock High School, psychology
Victoria Macull, LISA Academy West, pre-pharmacy
Aastha Mahajan, Little Rock Central High School, computer science
Brady Mansfield, Bauxite High School, mechanical engineering technology
Graydon Martin, Arkansas High School, criminal justice
Aryam Martinez, Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, pre-physician assistant
Taniya Mason, Jacksonville High School, biology
Kaira Matthews, Parkers Chapel High School, chemistry
Jacob McArthur, Bryant High School, computer science
Amanda Mcfarland, North Little Rock High School, geology
Logan Mcmillan, Star City High School, psychology
Ghory McNutt, Maumelle High School, mechanical engineering technology
Keiyawnna Miller, El Dorado High School, criminal justice
Ashlynn Mitchell, Sylvan Hills High School, civil and construction engineering
Sara Mohammed, White Hall High School, pre-medicine
Alyshia “Oda” Morton, Atkins High School
Nathalie Murphy, Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, nursing
Destiny Nagle, Danville High School, nursing
Charneshia Nelson, Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, psychology
Rian Newman, Barton High School, criminal justice
Christopher Ocana-Luna, Bryant High School, mechanical engineering technology
Sierra Owens, Cabot High School, nursing
Kevin Pacheco Escobar, Little Rock Central High School, mechanical engineering technology
Xander Parker, Little Rock Central High School, pre-physician assistant
Mariah Perkins, Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, theater arts
Zora Perry, Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, nursing
Lauren Pieniazkiewicz, Saint Joseph High School pre-veterinary medicine
Madison Popa, Southside High School, interpretation
Shaelyn Pouncil, Alpena High School, psychology
Kodi Prather, Beebe High School, pre-law
Malia Preston, Sylvan Hills High School, health education and promotion
Pamela Rodriquez, LISA Academy West
Alaina Rogers, Lonoke High School, accounting
Gabriela Romero, Jacksonville High School
Caitlin Romprey, Desert Hills High School
Stephanie Sandoval, Decatur High School, criminal justice
Jack Schlotter, Mount Ida High School political science
Paige Siegler, Cabot High School, biology
Jasanpreet Singh, North Little Rock High School, biology
William Somers, Baptist Preparatory School, business
Ethan Sorrels, Union High School, biology
Jayden Sprout, Arkansas Christian Academy, interpretation
Ivy Sutterfield, Atkins High School, marketing
Devin Trammell, Center Grove High School, health education and promotion
Sylvan Umerah, Little Rock Central High School, nursing
Hollee Wadley, Bryant High School, biology
Makayla Washington, Little Rock Southwest High School middle childhood education
Saraih Weeks, Idabel High School, special education
Colton West, Bauxite High School, mechanical engineering technology
Christian Woods, Sheridan High School, pre-law
Lawren Worthy, Little Rock Central High School, biology

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Hold Drive-up Food Drive for Trojan Food Pantry

John Hill — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 13:13:56 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a drive-up food drive to support the Trojan Food Pantry on Saturday, Aug. 28.�� Donors may drive up to drop off items for the Trojan Food Pantry from 9 a.m. to noon in front of the Pat Walker Center for Nursing and eStem High School off University Drive. Some of the most needed items include black beans, carrots, chicken noodle soup, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, kidney beans, macaroni and cheese, mixed vegetables, pasta noodles, peanut butter and jelly, peaches, pinto beans, potatoes, and Vienna sausage. For more information, contact pantry@ualr.edu or 501-916-6000.

Brown Awarded Arkansas Press Women Scholarship

John Hill — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:06:10 +0000

A rising star in student journalism at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Arkansas Press Women’s annual scholarship contest. Alexandria Brown, a junior mass communication major with a concentration in journalism from England, Arkansas, has aspirations to work as a broadcast reporter after her graduation from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2022. “I’m honestly so grateful to have been awarded the scholarship,” Brown said. “I’d like to thank the scholarship chair and the members of Arkansas Press Women for giving back to students like me. This scholarship will grant me more journalism opportunities to advance in my career and reach the goal of informing our democracy every day.” The APW scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding undergraduate college student in Arkansas who is planning a career in mass communication or journalism. Funding for this scholarship comes from APW’s Maudine Sanders Education Fund. Sanders, a previous owner of the Springdale Morning News, was a long-time member of Arkansas Press Women before her passing in 2011. “We’re excited to support Alexandria in her journalism journey,” said Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, president of Arkansas Press Women. “Her student experiences in the newsroom and on the local NPR affiliate show her strong desire to tell people’s stories and give them a voice. Arkansas Press Women is a strong supporter of the First Amendment, and Alexandria stood out in her desire to contribute to a better democracy.” Brown is a former intern at K��Vlog��ýR, the Little Rock National Public Radio affiliate, where she’s reported on issues such as the census and a proposed city sales tax. She now works part-time as the “All Things Considered” host and a reporter for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “Ms. Brown has shown a great deal of professionalism in her work as a student intern and now employee at K��Vlog��ýR,” said Nathan Vandiver, general manager of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “She is already a great asset to our news team. From our experience, this award is a well-deserved accolade and goes to show the great impact she will have as a journalist.” Brown also works as a reporter for The Forum, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student newspaper. “Ms. Brown is one of the best students I have known in my 21 years at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and is an incredibly promising journalist,” said Sonny Rhodes, associate professor of journalism and faculty advisor of The Forum. “Her writing is clear, concise, and comprehensive and submitted well in advance of deadlines. I cannot overstate Ms. Brown’s outstanding work ethic and her commitment to her studies and journalism.” In addition to her work in journalism, Brown is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, Student Affairs Success Initiatives, and Kappa Tau Alpha. Arkansas Press Women was founded in 1949 by women working in Arkansas newspapers to provide an opportunity to compete and network in a male-dominated industry. The organization is now an association of communicators in journalism, public information, business, education, and government. APW is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women and will be hosting the 2021 NFPW Conference virtually in June. For more information on APW, visit . In the upper right photo, K��Vlog��ýR reporter Alex Brown is hard at working delivering Arkansas’s latest news. Photo courtesy of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio.

Soccer Star Morgan Smocovich to Begin Nursing Career in Medical Surgical Unit

John Hill — Wed, 05 May 2021 17:11:33 +0000

When Morgan Smocovich arrived at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2017, she was an active student who liked to volunteer through the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps and and a successful member of the soccer team, but she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. “I really enjoy helping people, and I’m a very much a people person,” she said. “It all goes together. Honestly, I remember one day sitting in my English class talking with my friends and deciding that I wanted to be a nurse.” Smocovich, a senior nursing major from Frisco, Texas, is graduating this month with an associate degree in nursing and a minor in business administration. She will be moving to Mississippi to work in a medical surgical unit at a hospital. “I want to work in the NICU eventually, but the hospital decided it’s best for me to practice my skills and get oriented on a med surgical unit first,” she said. “I am very excited. I love to help people in general, and I jumped at the opportunity.” Smocovich started off at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps during her freshman and sophomore years, where she volunteered for Our House and Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I really liked being in CLC,” Smocovich said. “I think it’s a good way to get people to meet other people outside your own group. For me, it was the athletic clique. It really helped you get your first-year experience and offered you a group of people you could go to if you needed help.” In the School of Nursing, Smocovich said her most memorable experiences came through exercises in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Center for Simulation Innovation, which offers simulation-based clinical learning experiences. “I remember all of my simulation lab experiences. Even though you are working on simulation machines, you still go into those experiences with all of the fear in your body and your anxiety,” she said. “Your instructors are watching you and you feel like you are in a real hospital setting. They are great learning experiences. They offer room for us to make mistakes, and our instructors will correct us and show us how to do it the right way. I feel like there are some mistakes I will never make again because my instructor was there to walk me through it.” As a nursing student during the pandemic, Smocovich was also able to assist at community health clinics. “I volunteered at Health Services, and I was screening people and helping them figure out how to administer their COVID tests,” she said. “I enjoyed being a part of that, and I was glad the university was able to provide the school’s students and employees and members of the community a way to get tested.” Smocovich also spent the past four years as a student-athlete and is wrapping up her collegiate soccer career. She was named a Second Team All-Sun Belt honoree for the 2020-21 season. She also finished her senior season by writing her name in the , ranking third in program history for career assists with 15 total. “I’ve enjoyed being on the soccer team and I love my teammates,” Smocovich said. “Although soccer presented a challenge doing nursing at the same time, it gave me a release. I could go on the game field and the practice field and not worry about my IV insertion skills or stuff like that. I’ve always grown up doing it. It’s fun. I love getting to travel with my teammates. You are with each other 24/7 and it’s been very impactful.” After her graduation, Smocovich plans to take her NCLEX exam this summer before moving to Mississippi, where she will join her fiancée, Chase Coker. Smocovich and Coker, a former member of the Trojan baseball team, met as student-athletes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The two will marry in summer 2022.

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Lauv Patel

John Hill — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:00:29 +0000

Lauv Patel, a junior chemistry major and first-generation college student, was a junior in high school when he moved with his family from Albany, New York, to Texarkana, Arkansas. “We had the opportunity to join in a family business,” Patel said. “We’ve been operating motels for a while, and we had the opportunity to run one here in Arkansas, so we took up the mantle.” He and his twin brother, Kush, who is also attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a computer science major, are the first members of their family to attend college. “My parents are very proud,” Patel said. “Both my parents are immigrants from India, and they never had the opportunity to go to college. They always motivate us and encourage us in our college studies.” Patel credits an inspirational high school teacher for raising his interest in chemistry to the point that he wanted to pursue it as a career. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he is conducting research in a biochemistry lab with Dr. Shanzhi Wang. “I had an amazing teacher who made chemistry so amazing and interesting,” Patel said. “In my current research, I am trying to find out how enzymes work and how to stop enzyme activity. The enzymes I’m working with are possible candidates for drugs. We know enzymes are critical for some bacteria; it’s critical to their ability to communicate with other bacteria. If we can know how the enzyme activity works, we can stop it. If we can stop it, we can probably stop or reduce the activity of a disease.” As a first-generation student, Patel said he was soft-spoken when he first started college, but he grew into his own after taking advantage of opportunities to get involved in campus life, research, and student government. “When I first started college, it was a weird feeling,” Patel said. “You don’t have the ability to talk to your parents about everything. You are trying to figure out everything for the first time. I had some experience meeting new people after moving from New York, but it’s about developing relationships and finding out what resources are available to you. I was quiet at first, but being a first-generation student made me want to do more. I had the opportunity to join a research group, to teach others as a learning assistant. I had the opportunity to join SGA and work with my fellow students. It’s given me the opportunities to explore stuff outside of my comfort zone. It’s given me opportunities to grow and develop a useful diverse skill set.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Patel is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps and the McNair Scholars Program. He’s received the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Signature Experience Award, and the Daryl K. Reach Endowed Scholarship. He will graduate from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the spring 2022 semester. After graduation, he will earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in chemistry and then plans to work as a researcher and professor. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has taught me the ability to adapt into roles and tasks that I once thought were impossible for me to fill. It’s shown me that I can progress in my education and in other aspects,” Patel said. “I’m currently doing biochemistry research, which has opened my eyes to the impact that chemistry has on all these different subject fields. We’re in the process of publishing my first paper on the applications of machine learning.”

First-generation student plans to give back to community through career as social worker

John Hill — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:44:24 +0000

As the first person in her family to go to college, Mercades Parker, a native of Ashdown, Arkansas, wasn’t sure she could afford to go to college without taking on a large amount of student loans. Now she will graduate this spring with a Master of Social Work degree and begin a career of giving back to others. “It all started with the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC) program,” Parker said. “They gave me practically a full ride, along with receiving the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship, and the Pell Grant that made it so I could attend college. The rest is history. I made lifelong friends, and I got a good introduction to everything about life at college. If you were struggling, there were resources offered that made sure you succeeded. They did everything they could to make sure you stayed in school.” Since beginning at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013, Parker earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2017, where she studied psychology, sociology, and health sciences. One of the first challenges she faced was learning the skills to be successful in a college environment. “In the beginning, I didn’t really know how to study, and I didn’t have anyone I could go to in my family,” Parker said. “It was important to utilize all the resources that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock offered. I’ve always been a go-to person, so I put myself in positions where I had to learn things. That helped me learn to rise to life’s challenges.” Throughout her college career, Parker has worked multiple jobs to support herself. She worked as a program aide at Children International, a resident assistant, an assistant in the Academic Advising Center, an administrative specialist for the College of Education and Health Professions, a janitor, and currently an alternative teaching parent at Methodist Family Health. All of her hard work has paid off with her many unforgettable college experiences. “I loved being in the CLC program and getting to meet the different people who I’ve come to call my sisters. I made one of them my child’s godmother,” Parker said. “I got to be on the Homecoming court, and I never even got to do that in high school. I also have a great cohort of friends in the social work program. Getting accepted into a graduate program was a great success. I honestly did not think about going to graduate school until I had an eye opening conversation with an intern with the College of Education and Health Professions. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve found a career, and I’m thankful for all the experiences I’ve had at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives and one of Parker’s former supervisors, called Parker a “true Trojan success story.” “The first time I met Mercades, I could sense she had a spark about her and she was willing to do the work that needed to be done in order to better herself and her newborn daughter,” Reed said. “She started working in the College of Education and Health Professions Advising and Support Center right after having her daughter, and we connected because she had been an RA on campus before graduating. Mercades was an extremely hard worker and I could tell she had a very inquisitive mind. She wanted to learn more than what her job description entailed. When she applied and was accepted to the MSW program, I knew she had found her calling. I have seen Mercades grow into an amazing young professional, and I know she is going to be able to turn the challenges she has overcome into learning opportunities when working with others in the Little Rock community.” Parker was inspired to become a social worker because of her aunt, who became her rock after a family tragedy. Parker’s mother died when she was just 8 months old. Parker’s aunt, who had two children of her own, took Parker in along with her brother and sister and raised all five children. “My aunt Ruby did everything right,” Parker said. “She gave up her life for us. She didn’t have to take all of us in. She is the reason I got into social work. She is a warrior, even through her struggles. Everyone needs someone at some point in their life. I want to be there for people who need it.” Parker is completing an internship with Arkansas State Hospital, where she has a caseload of four patients. After she graduates in May 2021, Parker wants to work with adults with mental disabilities as a social worker. Additionally, she wants to use another skillset to help prepare them to reenter the workforce. “I do hair in my spare time,” Parker said. “I plan to get my license and put it together with my social work. I want to counsel individuals and then get them ready to go back into the workforce. I want to help with their self-esteem and make them feel good about themselves.” While finishing her degree, working, and completing an internship at the same time is challenging, Parker said her daughter is the reason she is so determined to succeed. “My daughter, Zhane, is a very important piece of my life,” Parker said. “She pushes me to keep going and makes me smile on my darkest days. She’s looking to me. She attends some of my classes. She comes to all my Association of Black Social Workers meetings. It’s like she is growing up in the field. I want her to know that she can do whatever she sets her mind to. Being a single mother was not the plan, but with the support system I have, I am going to graduate.”

Graduating student journalist selected for internship with Arkansas Newspaper Foundation

John Hill — Fri, 22 May 2020 15:47:25 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock spring graduate with a passion for storytelling has been selected for a competitive summer internship that will serve as the next step in his promising career as a journalist.�� Kolton Rutherford, of Maumelle, has graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a minor in sports management. Following graduation, Rutherford has been selected for a summer internship with the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation, which sponsors college journalists to work as interns in newspapers who are members of the Arkansas Press Association. Rutherford will spend the summer working at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway.�� In the fall, Rutherford has been accepted into ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate program in professional and technical writing. After earning his master’s degree, he plans to work as a reporter or in sports communication, though his love of journalism began long ago. “I’ve been interested in journalism for most of my life,” he said. “I loved sports growing up. While I played sports until I was 14, I wasn’t very good at playing, but I knew a lot about sports. I come from a family who has done a lot of writing. First, I got into sports writing. Being a sports writer one day was my plan coming into school, but now I’ve grown to love all kinds of journalism.” Just as Rutherford always knew he would become a journalist, he was just as certain that he would one day join the Trojan family. “I knew from the ninth grade on that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the school for me,” he said. “It was close to my home, and I had heard good things about its mass communication program. After speaking to the professors when I was in the 11th grade, that is when I made the choice.” He came to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps scholarship with a goal to gain as much experience as possible. He’s stayed true to that goal, serving as sports editor of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student newspaper, The Forum, an athletics communication intern for Little Rock Athletics, and a news intern for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “The most important thing I’ve learned in college is to learn as much as possible,” Rutherford said. “I worked at The Forum for four years. I’ve done two internships. I’ve learned new skills. I’ve really worked hard to become a well-rounded journalist. I have experience in multiple fields now, and I’m not closing the door on any path.”�� Rutherford is thankful to several of the professors and journalists who have guided him during his time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I would say two of my favorite professors were Sonny Rhodes and Chris Etheridge in the mass communication department,” he said. “Sonny’s been my advisor for the past four years. He’s been a great help. I really look up to him. Last May, I met Professor Etheridge. He was my internship advisor, and he helped me to understand how much I could learn by going to K��Vlog��ýR. The staff at K��Vlog��ýR, including Michael Hibblen, Sarah Kellogg, and Daniel Breen, has been a great help this past semester during my internship.” Rutherford is an award-winning college journalist who’s received honors in feature writing, sports writing, and outstanding reporting from the Arkansas College Media Association and the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. As a freelance journalist, he’s been published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Daily Record, and the Lewiston Sun-Journal on stories covering local news, sports, education, and government affairs. “On the academic side, my internship with K��Vlog��ýR was by far my favorite experience. A close second was working for our campus newspaper,” he said. “Outside of that, I met my soon-to-be wife at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Katie Kornreich graduated last year. She was an American sign language interpreting major, and we met in a science class. We were supposed to get married this August, but we’ve now moved it to August 2021.” His advice for new students to be successful is to take advantage of all available opportunities to gain as much experience as possible. “I would tell new students to try to learn as much as you can in many different areas,” Rutherford said. “It will pay off if you can do multiple things, and you can do them well. When I first came to school, I thought I would just be a writer. I’ve now learned how to use cameras and work for a radio station. I’ve learned so much more than I ever imagined.”

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