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

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/letters/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Tue, 23 Jan 2018 17:39:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to celebrate new Windgate Center of Art + Design with scholarship fundraiser /news-archive/2018/01/23/cre8/ Tue, 23 Jan 2018 17:39:33 +0000 /news/?p=69073 ...]]> The event begins at 7 p.m. and honors the Windgate Charitable Foundation for its generosity in making the new visual arts facility possible and its ongoing support of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Department of Art and Design. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and faculty members will conduct art demonstrations throughout the evening, and libations and hors d’oeuvres, sponsored by Trio’s and ROXOR Artisan Gin, will be located throughout the building to encourage exploration. Tickets are $100 for general admission, $50 for lifetime members of the Alumni Association and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees, and may be purchased at ualr.at/cre8. A VIP reception for sponsors will take place from 6-7 p.m. The 65,000-square-foot center brings all programs in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Department of Art and Design under one roof. The department currently has the broadest art and design course offerings in Arkansas, including the only programs in furniture design and metalsmithing. All proceeds from sponsorships and ticket sales will go toward the $3 million goal to endow art student scholarships. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has raised more than $1 million for endowed scholarship funds for art and design students since 2016, said Tom Clifton, interim dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. Scholarship funds raised will substantially enhance the 10 existing scholarships dedicated to art and design students. The increased scholarship opportunities are expected to help attract the most talented and promising art students to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “The Windgate Center for Art + Design scholarship initiative is an incredibly worthy endeavor, and all Little Rock citizens have an opportunity to be part of this legacy by helping students achieve success and by helping the university gain national attention as a great art center,” said Mark L. Pollack, a 1988 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and founder of Affirmative Risk Management. “Giving back to those who have helped my wife Patricia and me reach our goals in life is one of the most rewarding things we’ve had the honor of doing,” Pollack continued. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has provided us the underpinning that enabled us to reach a point in our lives where we are able to give back and help other students reach their goals through higher education.” Other event sponsors include Mark and Patricia Pollack, Thompson Electric, Arvest, BK Moulding & Mainframe Artworks, Glass Erectors, Anne Mourning, LaRand Thomas, Hogan Taylor CPA’s + Advisors, and WER Architects/Planners. For sponsorship information, contact Joseph Lampo, director of development for the arts, at 501-569-8326 or email jwlampo@ualr.edu.]]> Undergraduate Research Signature Experience recipients announced /news-archive/2017/11/13/signature-experience-awards/ Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:01:26 +0000 /news/?p=68560 ...]]> Chancellor Andrew Rogerson introduced the awards in fall 2017 to inspire ��Vlog��ý Little Rock undergraduate students to conduct research and creative projects. Each of the recipients will receive up to $1,000 to cover the cost of materials for this one-semester signature experience in research or creative works. “It is our goal for all students to have the opportunity to have a Signature Experience during their time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock – one in which they actively engage in creative work with faculty,” Dr. Rogerson said. “Not only will their academic experience be enriched by these connections, but they in turn will enrich the lives of others who benefit from the research. It is also my hope that it will help students engage with their major and consider graduate school.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of only two Arkansas higher education institutions with Carnegie designation for doctoral research. “With the Chancellor’s recognition, and strong support for undergraduate research, the university will enable valuable research experiences between our faculty mentors and our students,” said Dr. Velmer Burton, executive vice chancellor and provost. “This is further evidence at work of the value that our teacher-scholar model has for both students and faculty.” Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, noted that undergraduate research is tied to increased student persistence and graduation. “This is not surprising,” Rice said. “Undergraduate research gives students a special connection to a living scholar and provides an exhilarating taste of actually doing science, of doing sociological, historical or psychological research themselves, which has a big motivational effect.” The students’ projects range across disciplines and include topics such as a study of coral reef disease on San Salvador Island, a law review of tenant-landlord laws in Arkansas, an analysis of student perceptions of open education resources, the construction of a thermochemical system for conversion of municipal solid waste into fuel, and a reproduction of Egyptian faience ceramic techniques. “There were outstanding projects across the colleges,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, chair of the Student Research and Creative Works Committee. “The committee was particularly heartened to see proposals from the fine arts, theater and dance, music, math, and other disciplines that have been underrepresented in the annual research and creative works expo. This year’s launch of an expanded Student Research and Creative Works Showcase is off to a great start. I hope the awards will inspire other students to showcase their work in the spring.” Recipients of the Signature Experience Awards will exhibit their work at the Student Research and Creative Works Showcase on April 12 in the Jack Stephens Center. The showcase is open to all students across disciplines. Applications will be accepted beginning Jan. 1, 2018. Students interested in presenting work at the showcase or who want to learn more are asked to respond to a The Signature Experience Award winners by their respective colleges are as follows: College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences Reem Al-Shukri, Nanotechnology Emily Anderson, Chemistry Marina Avram, Chemistry Erin Beeman, Philosophy & Interdisciplinary Studies Lilly Bessette, Biology Becky Blackburn, Fine Art Andrew Blackwell, Art & Design Marvin Bonney, Physics and Astronomy Kenneth Burnett, Biology Brock Butler, Chemistry Michael Caysido, Music-Piano Performance Amairani Paredes-Cheguen, Biology Nathaniel Darbonne, English Jenish Desai, Chemistry Corrie Green, Theatre, Arts and Dance Jake Green, English Kristen Gregory, Biology Robert Hill, Chemistry Davonte Hokes, Chemistry Thomas Jackson, Theatre Arts and Dance Travis Lewison Jumper, Chemistry Emily E. Junkans, English/ World Languages Grishma Kc, Biology Amy King, History/Secondary Education William King, Biology (working with CINS) Cameryn Kirkham, English Samantha Macchi, Chemistry Katie Matthews, Biology Tyler Maxwell, Biology Rebecca Parker-Moreira, Chemistry Joy Madeline Reinbold, English Grace Rutter, Biology Paloma Salazar, Chemistry James Sellers, Chemistry Alaa Mohammed Shahare, Biology Kimber Stout, Physics Daniel Stuckey, Chemistry Zaria Sumler, Biology Sylvia Szewdo, Chemistry Thuy Thanh Le, Chemistry Conor VanLierop, Theatre Justice Williams, Biology LeShonta Williams, Chemistry Tori Williams, English Scott Wolf, Math and Statistics Dylan Wright, World Languages College of Education and Health Professions Cynthia Wyman, School of Social Work College of Social Sciences and Communication Charlana Benefiel, Political Science Desiree Doyle, Applied Communication Jesse Horton, Criminal Justice Saiyeeda Hossain, Sociology and Anthropology Cassandra Lester, Criminal Justice Chloe Moses, Rhetoric and Writing Trye Price, Criminal Justice Christina Redmann, Political Science Courtney Reed, Sociology and Anthropology Nigel Spears, Applied Communication Emily Summers, Anthropology Kimberly Thornton, Rhetoric and Writing Nicole Ursin, Anthropology George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Bergras Asgeirsdottir, Engineering Anderson Banihirwe, Computer Science Rebecca Bishop, Earth Science Kayla Bolin, Earth Science Pablo Centeno, Engineering Technology John Graham, System Engineering J’von Jackson, Engineering Technology Nicholas Lester, Information Science Joshua Miller, Engineering Technology Tarang Parikh, Engineering Technology Olivia Pate, Earth Science Jason Simmons, Earth Science Zachary Smith, Earth Science College of Business Madeline Burke, Marketing & Advertising Deepali Lal, International Business and Human Resource Management Abigail Resebdiz, Business Logan Vickery, Economics Ian Wren, Marketing Ottenheimer Library Amanda Pennington, Collections and Archives In the upper right photo, students work on a physics project in Ottenheimer Library. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III / ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate exceeds expectations with final project /news-archive/2017/05/18/wofford-final-project-2017/ Thu, 18 May 2017 16:16:01 +0000 /news/?p=67204 ...]]> Following his high school graduation, William Wofford said goodbye to his hometown of Brinkley, Arkansas, and headed to college in the big city. Upon his arrival to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Wofford decided he would do everything in his power to succeed. Five years later, Wofford obtained bachelor’s degrees in mass communication and theater, along with experience that could take him both far and wide. Thanks to the work he completed while attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Wofford’s confidence in his abilities amplified. For his final project, he edited five years worth of footage to include in his brief documentary, “.” The 45 minute documentary is both philosophical and instructional, addressing the questions, ‘What is theater and why do we do it?’ The film also focuses on student’s and professor’s inspiration in the field and discoveries they’ve made throughout. “I dedicated this entire documentary to a very brilliant woman named Karen Harris,” Wofford said. “She was the administrative assistant in the theater and dance department. Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago, but it was her that encouraged me to really embrace my skills and flourish.” The original purpose of Wofford’s project was to serve as a classroom tool for his professor’s, Bill Marshall, introduction to theater class. With a greater vision in mind, Marshall insisted, ‘Why stop there?’ Contemplating Marshall’s advice, Wofford considered options that would take his project to the next level. “I was always taught in theater to ask questions and do the research,” Wofford said. “I asked myself, ‘What is theater?’ I had no idea that this question would be enough to make the people who hold Ph.D.s in my department say, ‘I have to think about that.’” Seeking to answer the age old question, Wofford interviewed more than 20 students and professors to hear their valued opinions. With the additional footage in hand, Wofford combined it with auditions, events, and other recordings he’d filmed throughout previous years. “I never thought I would be using videos of random memories to create something as big as this,” Wofford said. Because it took Wofford an entire semester to complete his project, he was more than excited to showcase the completed film. He submitted his work in the 2017 College of Social Sciences and Communication Research and Creative Works Showcase and took home the “Best Undergraduate Creative Work” award. “My professors pushed me beyond my boundaries,” Wofford said. “I was the director, editor, producer, and everything in between. I didn’t sign a contract or get paid for the project, but I simply did something I loved to do.” There were many times Wofford wanted to give up on the project. He remembers one of his roughest moments when almost all of his actors dropped out three hours before shooting a scene. “That day, I completely broke down,” he said. “I cried to my professor and I’ll never forget his reaction. After he laughed he said, ‘It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.’ He told me it wasn’t the first time something like this would happen, so I would have to find a way to make it work.” And so he did. Thanks to the support of his family, professors, and peers, Wofford was determined to see the project to the end. Now that his work at the university is over, Wofford is gearing up to tackle the next phase of his journey. In 2018, he plans to move to Los Angeles to attend a conservatory school, a college for the study of classical music or other arts, including theater. Until then, he said he will continue to make as many videos as possible and work to perfect his craft. ]]> Mayflower tornado led grad Tori Main to choose veterinarian career path /news-archive/2017/05/12/mayflower-tornado-grad-tori-main-veterinarian-career-path/ Fri, 12 May 2017 16:54:31 +0000 /news/?p=67177 ...]]> Main, a Mayflower, Arkansas, resident and Bertram, Texas, native, will graduate with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and nonprofit leadership studies. As a student, a science scholar, and a Chi Omega leader, Main sometimes neglected sleep to get everything done. “The hardest part of my journey was the process of figuring out when to say yes or no,” Main said. “There was a time period where I was struggling with so many obligations, I had to eliminate some stuff.” Through managing her time and prioritizing, Main was able to use more of her energy to do something she loves: volunteering. After a 2014 tornado struck Mayflower and damaged much of the city, Main stepped in to help care for animals in the community. She soon became an animal control officer, working with foster animals and potential adopters, all while taking more than 15 credits at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Because she loved the animal control work she did, Main became president of the nonprofit Paws and Whiskers Society. She now helps raise money to assist with the animal control’s finances.

Tori Main poses with a dog wearing a red bandana

With so many tasks on her daily to-do list, Main worked to find ways to tie some of her responsibilities together. In an attempt to get people involved with her sorority’s annual fundraising event, Main suggested the chapter host a new event that would take its philanthropic efforts to the next level. In 2013, the chapter hosted its first Rent-A-Puppy fundraiser, which has people make donations to spend time with animals from local shelters. “It’s one of my favorite moments every year because everyone just brightens up when they see dogs and puppies,” Main said. Last year, Chi Omega raised more than $800 from Rent-A-Puppy to benefit the . This summer, Main will intern for Utah’s Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building no-kill animal shelter programs and partnerships. Following her internship, Main is set to begin veterinary school in August at , where she received a full ride. Once she becomes a certified vet, Main plans to begin the process of starting her own nonprofit clinic. “I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I start volunteering with animals,” Main said. “I want to start my own clinic and incorporate the ideals of a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. I’ll provide vaccines and spay and neutering surgeries that a lot of people can’t afford.” In expanding her efforts to assist animals and the community, Main plans to continue her work with animal rescues wherever she resides.

]]> Grad Q&A with Donaghey scholar Jeannie Kuang-Nguyen /news-archive/2017/05/12/donaghey-scholar-jeannie-kuang-nguyen-graduation-2017/ Fri, 12 May 2017 16:09:53 +0000 /news/?p=67170 ...]]> Meet Jeannie Kuang-Nguyen, Donaghey scholar and science scholar who’s a pre-med student set to graduate with a degree in chemistry. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate the graduation of Kuang-Nguyen and hundreds of other students during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May, 13, at the Jack Stephens Center. Tell us a little bit about yourself I went Wilbur D. Mills High School in Little Rock and was the valedictorian of my class. My parents live in Sherwood, Arkansas. I lived on the ��Vlog��ý Little campus all four years because I did not want to commute. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I originally wanted to go out of state, but when I received a full scholarship from the Donaghey Scholars program, it solidified my decision to stay in state. My friends told me I could have gone to school anywhere, but I think it’s what you make of the opportunity. My experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock exceeded my expectations. How did you become a Donaghey scholar? My AP literature teacher at Mills was a former Donaghey scholar and recommended I apply for the program. I was looking for in-state options with a full scholarship. I turned in my essays the day they were due. I got a call, then an interview. On a Thursday after a soccer game, I got an email from Pomona College that said I was accepted. Then I found out I got accepted into the Donaghey scholar program! Why did you major in chemistry? My eighth-grade science teacher suggested I take AP chemistry in high school prior to taking biology. The exam for AP chemistry is one of the hardest. I enjoy chemistry because it involves mathematics and logic. It requires critical thinking skills because you have to take steps to get to the right answer. How would your professors describe you? Most would say that I’m a good student who likes to help in the office. I’m involved in a lot of clubs, and I’m the president of the Chemistry Club. Under what conditions do you study best? I can study in a noisy Starbucks or a quiet environment. However, If the environment is not clean, I’ll start cleaning it. When I was growing up, I studied at the dining room table and could hear food being prepared in the kitchen. That’s how I learned how to drown out noise and focus. What were your favorite subjects? I enjoyed chemistry and biology. Physics, not so much. Organic chemistry requires you to think. You can’t just memorize – you have to figure out how to solve a puzzle. With each step, a reaction occurs. You can apply different steps to get a different reaction. Who were some of your mentors? Dr. Tito Viswanathan (Dr. Tito) opened my eyes to research and showed me how organic chemistry works. Dr. Brian Berry (Organic 2 Chemistry lab) was always available. The Donaghey Scholars faculty and staff (Dr. Simon Hawkins, Dr. Jessica Scott, and Jennifer Knight) were always there if you needed to vent. Also Dr. Janet Lanza and Dr. Jim Winter helped me get through tough courses and reminded me of my abilities. How did your major influence your career interests? I’ve always known I wanted to go to medical school. Organic chemistry helped me develop critical-thinking skills which doctors need to make diagnoses. What kind of medicine do you want to practice? Either pediatrics or ob-gyn. I got interested in surgery because of the medical reality TV shows. What was your biggest challenge in college? Managing my time wisely. My third year of college was the hardest. I was on the student committee for the Donaghey Scholars program, participating in intramural sports (soccer, volleyball), and taking science classes. I was studying more than 40 hours a week, and even while I was eating out with my friends. How do you relieve stress? I do a lot of things to relieve stress such as run and lift weights with my friends. I like hiking Pinnacle Mountain and exploring the River Market in Little Rock. What was the toughest decision you had to make? The toughest decision was to take a break before going to med school. I just got a temporary job at Loreal as a chemist and will spend my free time studying for the MCAT. I’m going to Oaxaca, Mexico, for three weeks this summer to improve my Spanish. What would you have done differently in college? I would have pursued a Spanish major. I studied abroad for five weeks in Salamanca, Spain, and loved it. What advice would you give to upcoming students? Keep trying and don’t give up. Remember to have fun, but not too much fun. Do what you love, and don’t choose something just for the money. — Compiled by Toni Boyer Stewart]]> Southern LP Gas president honors grandmother with scholarship /news-archive/2016/06/14/southern-lp-gas-julie-brown-ualr-endowed-scholarship/ Tue, 14 Jun 2016 15:19:24 +0000 /news/?p=64574 ...]]> The Lou Ellen Gray Endowed Scholarship will benefit students from Sevier County, Arkansas, who attend ��Vlog��ýLR. The scholarship was named in memory of Brown’s grandmother. Giving back to her alma mater and honoring the matriarch of her family was important to Brown. “With the creation of this scholarship, I can assist students from my hometown while supporting my alma mater and honoring a wonderful woman,” said Brown, a graduate of the ��Vlog��ýLR College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. “This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of attending college at ��Vlog��ýLR.” Brown’s initial gift of $25,000 will support full- or part-time undergraduate students who attended high school in Sevier County. To qualify, the students must have a minimum 2.5 overall GPA. Financial need will be a strong consideration. The scholarship will open doors for Sevier County students, said Dr. Dean Kahler, ��Vlog��ýLR vice chancellor for enrollment management. “We are very appreciative of Ms. Brown’s support,” Kahler said. “Perhaps as a result, a student will now be able to study abroad, join a student organization or volunteer on a community project while on campus.” For more information on private philanthropy to ��Vlog��ýLR, contact the Office of Alumni and Development at 501.569.8429. Pictured above: Lou Ellen Gray]]> Winners of Art Competition announced, pieces on display /news-archive/2015/04/07/winners-of-art-competition-announced-pieces-on-display/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:41:03 +0000 /news/?p=61393 ...]]> ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Art is on display until April 19 in Gallery I of the Fine Arts Building.

The students submitted their individual work for the Annual Student Competitive. Pieces represent all studio disciplines being taught at ��Vlog��ýLR including drawing and design, painting, printmaking, graphic design and illustration, photography, textiles, metals and furniture design, sculpture, and ceramics. Local artist and master Printmaker, Delita Martin, served as the juror for the competition. Martin received a bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing from Texas Southern University and a master’s degree in drawing and printmaking from Purdue University. The winners were announced at a reception for the students on March 17. Students competed for a variety of awards including the cash and prizes from local companies and scholarships. Sydney Adams earned the Wilma And Jack Diner Scholarship Award of $1000 while Kenneth Guthrie landed the Alexa Mena, Student Competitive Cash Award in the amount of $300. Byron Buslig was awarded the Charles D. Massey Scholarship for $250. The ��Vlog��ýLR Friends Of The Arts awards went to Robert Simons, Benjamin Deaton, Shawnett Thomas, and Spencer Zahrn. See the full list of winners: Local Business Awards Rayna Mackey of Cantrell Gallery) Carmen Bradford of Hearne Fine Art) Wai K. Lo of Gallery 26 Art Supplies And Materials (courtesy of Art Outfitters) Spencer Zahrn Spencer Zahrn Emily Shiell Adam Eastham Douglas Frank (Alman Co.) Starving Artist Awards Nathaniel Roe of Trio’s Restaurant) Carly Fehlberg and Kenneth Guthrie of Boulevard Bread Co. Savanah Johnson and Catherine Kim of The Root Café Cash And Scholarships Friends Of The Arts Purchase Awards Robert Simons for “On Gaines” – $150 Benjamin Deaton for “Shoebox” – $350 Friends Of The Arts Diner Purchase Award Shawnett Thomas for “Wrong Prince” – $125 Spencer Zahrn for “Coven (West)” – $850 Wilma And Jack Diner Scholarship Award Sydney Adams – $1000 Alexa Mena, Student Competitive Cash Award Kenneth Guthrie – $300 Charles D. Massey Scholarship Byron Buslig – $250]]>