/news-archive/tag/issac-thomas/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Tue, 17 Dec 2019 13:48:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2019/12/17/life-in-morocco/ Tue, 17 Dec 2019 13:48:11 +0000 /news/?p=75753 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students get taste of life in Morocco]]> The 17 University of Arkansas at Little Rock students who traveled abroad to Morocco returned with lifelong friendships, cultural and leadership experience, and memories that will last a lifetime.听 The students competed at the International Model Arab League, a student leadership program that simulates the League of Arab States, at the Universit茅 International de Rabat in Morocco in October. After the conference, the students went on a cultural tour of Morocco, including camel rides and camping in the Merzouga Desert.听 鈥淐amels are like a weird combination of horses and cats,鈥� said Nikki Partlow-Loyall, junior political science major. 鈥淲hen you go down a hill, you are holding on for dear life. I learned not to put my hands near the camel鈥檚 mouth because they spit a lot.鈥�听 Since the trip was Partlow-Loyall鈥檚 first time participating in Model Arab League, she spent months preparing for her role as a delegate for Morocco.听 鈥淭he most exciting part of the trip was the first day of the conference,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have never done model anything before, so I spent months studying the handbook and doing so much research. I was very nervous on the first day, but I found myself confidant working with the other delegates. I wouldn鈥檛 have changed anything about the trip.鈥�听 Issac Thomas, sophomore political science and history major, enjoyed experiencing a new culture during his first trip abroad.听听 鈥淭he most exciting thing beyond a shadow of a doubt was interacting with the local people and hearing them speak their local dialects,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 understand any of it, but it makes you realize you are in the old world and in the heart of ancient traditions.鈥�听 Thomas was so moved by the kindness and generosity he saw in Morocco that he would like to study abroad there in the future.听 鈥淚 like to meet people from all different parts of the world,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淭o me, there is nothing more boring than living the same life when you can meet different people and have new experiences. There is an overall feeling of friendliness in Morocco. I would love to study abroad in Rabat because it really made an impression.鈥�听 Solomon 鈥淩ap鈥檋ael鈥� Davis, a senior philosophy and international studies major, will forever be touched by the lifelong friendships he made with roommates at the International Model Arab League.听 鈥淭he most powerful part of the trip for me was the people I met while in Morocco and the relationships I built during the trip,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淢y roommates were Martin, a French Jamaican who lives in Canada, and Abdul, a Nigerian man who lives in Morocco. We became very good friends over the trip.鈥�听 Davis was surprised by the instant connection that he felt with people he鈥檚 only known for a short amount of time.听 鈥淲hen we got back from Morocco at the airport, I took out my cell phone, and I had two very heartwarming messages from Martin and Abdul,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t really means a lot to me that these two people I met two weeks ago cared enough to see if I made it home safely. Abdul called me his 鈥榝riend and brother.鈥� I almost started crying. These connections are so natural that I am sure the friendships will last a lifetime.鈥�]]> /news-archive/2018/09/12/kappa-sigma-scholarships/ Wed, 12 Sep 2018 13:00:41 +0000 /news/?p=71793 ... Kappa Sigma awards scholarships to three outstanding 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock freshmen]]> Kappa Sigma chapter awarded three scholarships to outstanding freshmen who exhibited exceptional leadership abilities in high school through community involvement, participation in student organizations, and service.听 The winners of the 鈥淭ake the Lead Scholarship鈥� include Emma Guerra, a community management and development major and Spanish minor; Isaac Thomas, a double major in political science and international studies; and Landon DeKay, a political science major and legal studies minor. Chris Stephens, head of the Kappa Sigma scholarship committee, said that after being involved in leadership roles in Kappa Sigma and several other organizations on campus, he created the “Take the Lead Scholarship” to encourage freshmen to take on more leadership responsibilities. 鈥淲e need students who will step up and take on leadership roles on campus and in the community,鈥� Stephens said. 鈥淭his scholarship is a way to recognize new freshmen who had leadership roles in high school. Our three winners stood way out of the crowd.鈥� Dr. Terry Richard, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock professor emeritus of sociology and Kappa Sigma alumnus from Southwestern University, and Joe Swafford, libertarian nominee for Arkansas鈥檚 2nd Congressional District and Kappa Sigma alumnus from Arkansas Tech University, presented the $200 scholarships to the winners. The money for the scholarships was donated from the Richard Family Scholarship. 鈥淢y son was a member of Kappa Sigma, so this honors him,鈥� Richard said. 鈥淚 think it is an excellent idea to promote the largest, most diverse fraternity in the country.鈥� In her hometown of Dallas, Guerra, a graduate of Imagine International Academy of North Texas, was a varsity lacrosse player, president of the Broadcast Team, vice president of the National Honor Society, assistant editor-in-chief of the Rising Dragon Newspaper, as well as a member of the Debate Club, McKinney Youth Leadership program, and Congressional Youth Advisory Council. 鈥淚 am really happy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was an opportunity for a little extra help to pay for college. I didn鈥檛 expect a fraternity to pick a girl, but I was happy to receive the email telling me I won.鈥� Guerra plans to complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree in three years, then serve in the Peace Corps for two years before returning to Arkansas to attend law school with plans to work as a civil rights attorney. 鈥淚 want to be an advocate for the voiceless, repressed, neglected, and abused,鈥� Guerra said. 鈥淲hether that be my advocacy coming through my practice of law for those who don鈥檛 have the ability, knowledge or means to stand up for themselves or by working for an organization that counsels those after a disaster.鈥� Thomas, a graduate of Ashdown High School, served as vice president and president of his class and Arkansas State vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Purple Pride Marching Band, Debate Team, and EAST Initiative. He served as a staff sergeant for the Civil Air Patrol. 鈥淚 was with the Air Force Civil Patrol in high school, so I pledged to join the Air Force after I get a diploma in my hand,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淭hen I want to enter political life and become a politician and diplomat. I fully intend to join the Foreign Service Office and represent the United States of America abroad as I work with a team of specialists to promote peace, support prosperity, as I faithfully serve and protect the citizens from foreign threats.鈥� DeKay, a graduate of Maumelle High School, was actively involved in Student Council, National Honors Society, Student Council, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As a member of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, he was recognized for community projects that included teaching senior citizens in Maumelle how to use Microsoft Office, email, and social media programs and teaching middle and elementary school students about severe weather preparation. 鈥淚 plan to major in both political science and legal studies in order to become a prosecuting attorney,鈥� Dekay said. 鈥淎fter I work in the legal field for several years, I want to run for a Senate or House of Representatives seat at the national level. I want to make a positive lasting difference on society, and this is the perfect way to do just that.鈥� In the upper right photo, the “Take the Lead Scholarship” recipients are honored at a ceremony at Kappa Sigma. Pictured (left to right): Rocio Ortega Richard, Terry Richard, Landon Dekay, Emma Guerra, Joe Swafford Isaac Thomas, and Chris Stephens.  ]]>