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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad helps veterans through VA fellowship

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:36:28 +0000

Ever since Robbin Cochran decided to become a social worker, she hoped to use her skills to help veterans as a tribute to her many relatives who have served this country.�� “My husband is a veteran of the Iraq war, and my father and stepfather are veterans of Vietnam,” Cochran said. “My grandfather was in World War II, and my great-grandfather in World War I. My mother is in the Daughters of the American Revolution, so I have ancestors who served all the way back to the Revolutionary War.”�� Cochran, a May graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Master of Social Work program, is spending the next year helping veterans as part of the Psychology Postdoctoral and Interprofessional Fellowship at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.�� After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Arkansas, Cochran enrolled at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2017.�� “The faculty at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is amazing. The School of Social Work goes above and beyond for their students,” Cochran said. “May Atkins was an amazing influence. She was my faculty liaison with the VA and definitely helped me a lot. Dr. Catherine Crisp was an excellent diversity professor, and Elizabeth Fowler was invaluable to me in helping arrange my internships. Any student should definitely consider social work as a field.”�� Her extensive experience through multiple internships is one of the reasons Cochran received the fellowship. She completed a one-year social work internship and two summer AmeriCorps programs with Our House, a program for the working homeless that serves more than 1,800 clients annually. Cochran also served as an intern in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic with the Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System during the 2018-19 school year.�� In her fellowship, Cochran follows the psychosocial rehabilitation/serious mental illness track. Fellows will develop clinical skills utilizing a recovery oriented service approach and learn unique skills specialized in providing mental health services to veterans.�� “We are currently having a suicide crisis among veterans. I believe it’s the result of trauma that has not been addressed. People come back from war and reintegrate into society without dealing with the issues they have faced in war,” she said. “PTSD is also a huge issue among veterans right now as well as depression, anxiety, and panic disorder.”�� After the completion of her fellowship in August 2020, Cochran plans to continue to work for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.�� “I hope to remain involved with Veterans Affairs,” she said. “It’s a very important issue for me. It’s in my family lineage.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor members of military with week of events

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 21:14:17 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor its veterans and military service members with celebratory events during “Heart of Servicemember” Week Nov. 12-16.�� The week of events begins with a Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 12, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building. The Military Student Success Center will hold an open house following the ceremony from noon to 4 p.m. in the Applied Communication Building Room 111. The Veteran Education Training (VET) 365 Program will host a seminar at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge to introduce faculty and staff to the strengths, challenges, and realities that military service members and their families encounter. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock veterans, faculty, staff, and students can enjoy a free lunch provided by Sodexo in the Military Student Success Center. Those attending lunch can also take a picture with the selfie screen and post it to social media using #��Vlog��ýLRVeteransDay. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community will hear from student veterans during a panel discussion, “Bridging the Military-Civilian Divide at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, ��in Donaghey Student Services Center D. The week will end with an open forum that highlights the benefits of hiring veterans and debunking myths that serve as barriers to recruiting and retaining veterans in the workforce. “Hiring Veterans: Debunking the Myths” will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in Donaghey Student Center A. All week long, people may stop by the Student Services Center reception desk to pick up a star to honor any veterans in their life. For more information, contact Kathy Oliverio, director of military student success, at 501-682-8387 or kmoliverio@ualr.edu.

New signs acknowledge ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as ‘Purple Heart University’

Jenny Lambert — Wed, 02 May 2018 21:40:08 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently received the signage for its designation as a “Purple Heart University,” a moniker signifying the university’s recognition and support for veterans who were wounded in combat while serving the country. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock received this honor in the fall of 2016 and is now among 40 colleges and universities with the distinction, as awarded by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a national nonprofit organization whose membership consists of veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in combat. In 1992, the organization instituted a National Purple Heart Trail Program to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, cities, counties, monuments, military installations, universities, and other institutions that give tribute to Purple Heart recipients. The Department of Arkansas and Central Arkansas Chapter 431 of the National Order of the Purple Heart awarded ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a plaque and proclamation that reads, in part, “The University of Arkansas at Little Rock appreciates the sacrifices our Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms and believe it is important that we acknowledge them for their courage and show them the honor and support they have earned.” Both items hang in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Military Student Success Center. For more information, contact Kathy Oliverio, director of military student success, at 501-682-8387.

University Writing Center to hold bake sale for veterans

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:12:31 +0000

The University Writing Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a bake sale to raise money for veterans on Monday, Nov. 20.�� The bake sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center. All proceeds will go to volunteer services at veterans hospitals in the Little Rock area and will be used to purchase necessity items for local veterans in need. The University Writing Center, located in Student Union B Room 116, was developed to help clients with their writing at any stage of the writing process. It is located in the Student Union B Room 116. For more information, call 501-569-8343.

��Vlog��ýLR to host Veterans Appreciation Week

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:29:29 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor its student, faculty and staff veterans during its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11. The ceremony will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the Student Services Center auditorium. Following the event, free lunch will be provided to veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Diamond Cafe. The ceremony is a part of ��Vlog��ýLR’s Veterans Appreciation Week Nov. 7-11. The week will kick off with a slideshow honoring ��Vlog��ýLR veterans that will be featured on television monitors throughout campus during the week. ��Vlog��ýLR veterans are encouraged to fill out this online form to be included in the slideshow. All members of the ��Vlog��ýLR community are encouraged to retrieve honor stars from the Office of Records and Registration to honor veterans. Stars will be placed on the glass bridge between the Student Services Center and the Donaghey Student Center. The ��Vlog��ýLR Veterans Affairs Open House will commence from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Student Services Center Room 118. Participants can meet the school’s veterans as well as explore an exhibit of collectibles, keepsakes, and articles about life in the military. On Nov. 9, former service members will gather in the Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a veterans lunch. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members can show their support during the Heart of a Servicemember Selfie event in the Donaghey Student Center. Participants are asked to upload a photo with the Happy Veterans Day sign to social media using #HappyVeteransDay2016. ��Vlog��ýLR students and employees are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue to honor those who have served our country on Nov. 10. For more details on the Veterans Appreciation Week events, visit the Veteran Student Success website.

Plenty ��Vlog��ýLR homecoming, veterans appreciation activities remain

Taylor Aldana — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 15:40:08 +0000

This week, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is showing its gratitude to veterans during Veterans Appreciation Week and also is hosting the school’s first-ever November ��Vlog��ýLR homecoming. Veterans Appreciation Week events that remain as of Wednesday, Nov. 11, include an opportunity for students to meet with other students in the military, a chance to attend a Veterans Day ceremony, and an opportunity to participate in the Veterans Career Workshops and Fair. As part of the ��Vlog��ýLR homecoming festivities, previously held during the winter, the ��Vlog��ýLR community is invited to cheer on the Trojans, starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, as the men’s basketball team competes against Central Baptist in the Jack Stephens Center. That Saturday, a homecoming queen also will be crowned, and student organization awards will be given. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Home Sweet Homecoming.” Leading up to the home games, students may watch and compete in a cardboard boat regatta and participate in a pep rally, among many other events. The cardboard boat races will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the Donaghey Student Center’s aquatics center. Awards will be given to the most creative boat design and best dressed team as well as for team spirit and most spectacular sinking. After the boat races, a pep rally will be held at 6 p.m. in the Jack Stephens Center’s main entrance. The following is a list of remaining homecoming and veterans events:

Volleyball game vs. Appalachian State: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in Jack Stephens Center
Bookstore open: 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 14, in Donaghey Student Center
Homecoming breakfast: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in DSC A/B/C
Housing tours: 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 14, in Student Housing
Trojan Alley Tailgate: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in Jack Stephens Center’s parking lot
Men’s basketball game vs. Central Baptist (homecoming queen crowned and student organization awards given at halftime): 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in Jack Stephens Center

Veteran earns scholarship to pursue doctoral studies

Taylor Aldana — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 21:15:56 +0000

Jacob Laan, a third-year criminal justice doctoral student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, is this year’s recipient of the $2,500 AT&T War Memorial Scholarship. Arkansas Community Foundation will make a scholarship presentation with Laan on Sept. 12 during halftime of the University of Arkansas Razorback-Toledo Rockets game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. On Friday, Sept. 11, Laan is scheduled to appear on KARK-TV’s early morning news show for a short segment with the foundation. “I know that I am only one of many student veterans at ��Vlog��ýLR and across the state of Arkansas deserving of this award, and I am humbled to be receiving it this year,” Laan said. The scholarship honors Arkansas’ 25 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and is awarded annually to a veteran of any branch of the armed forces who is or will attend an accredited college or university in Arkansas. AT&T established the scholarship at the community foundation, a nonprofit organization that fosters giving to improve communities, in 2011 to support Arkansas veterans seeking higher education. “I am thankful for the sacrifices of my fellow student veterans, those of the military men and women who are still serving today, and most of all those who have given their lives in support of our country and the freedoms that allow me to pursue my education,” said Laan. Laan served in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served in the Army National Guard in Alabama for eight years prior to moving to Little Rock to pursue his Ph.D. Laan’s criminal justice research has been included in four scholarly publications, and his work recently earned him first place in the Social Sciences Graduate Division at the 2014 ��Vlog��ýLR Student Research Expo. An active member in ��Vlog��ýLR’s Student Government Association since he became a student at the university, Laan currently serves as the president for the 2015-16 academic year. Previously, he was a two-term senator representing the graduate school and students, and he served briefly as secretary before being elected president. During his final term as a senator, Laan played a pivotal role in writing the first updated Student Government Association constitution in 18 years and was recognized as the 2015 “��Vlog��ýLR Senator of the Year.” As part of a collaborative agreement between ��Vlog��ýLR and the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Laan works as a research assistant at the department’s central office. He is a lifelong member of the Alpha Tau Omega Men’s Leadership Fraternity, of which he was a chapter Founding Father at Troy University during his undergraduate studies. Laan said he would not be able to achieve his educational goals if not for the support of organizations like the Arkansas Community Foundation, AT&T, and the War Memorial Stadium Commission. He thanked them for their continued support of military service members.

��Vlog��ýLR veteran receives AT&T War Memorial Scholarship

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 18:07:47 +0000

��Vlog��ýLR senior Wendy McCloud of North Little Rock received her second consecutive $2,500 AT&T War Memorial Scholarship Oct. 18 at the University of Arkansas Razorback game at War Memorial Stadium. “We recognize military veterans possess the skills our company needs to succeed. They’re an invaluable part of our workforce,” said Arkansas AT&T President Ed Drilling. “These heroes have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and we are honored to help Arkansas veterans receive a helping hand in pursuing a higher education.” McCloud, who served in the U.S. Air Force, expects to graduate in May 2015 with a bachelor of arts in professional and technical writing and has been accepted into the ��Vlog��ýLR master’s progam in Professional and Technical Writing Program. “I am very appreciative of AT&T’s support of Arkansas’ veterans,” said McCloud. “The AT&T War Memorial Scholarship is a real tribute to all of Arkansas’ service men and women and is helping to make earning a degree a reality for me.” AT&T established the scholarship at the Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fosters smart giving to improve communities, in 2011 to support Arkansas veterans seeking higher education. The scholarship honors Arkansas’ 25 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and is awarded annually to a veteran of any branch of the U.S. Armed Services who will attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university in Arkansas. Learn more about Lyons at ��Vlog��ýLR’s My Future @Work.

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Online programs, incentives a bonus for military

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 15:48:44 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s tuition policy regarding military students ensures that all active duty, guard/reserve, or honorably separated veterans will be charged in-state tuition rates and minimal fees regardless of residence or whether enrolled in traditional or online courses. Two such online programs include the B.A. and M.S. degrees in criminal justice. Through these two accelerated options, military students can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree entirely online in as little as 12 months. “The opportunities the accelerated online criminal justice programs provide are flexible and convenient, and students can take comfort in knowing they are receiving instruction from some of the best scholars in the state,” said Dr. Jeff Walker, chair of the ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Criminal Justice. The program is especially beneficial for the sometimes unpredictable schedule of a service member. “One of the challenges of returning to school for service men and women is the uncertainty of residency – you sometimes have to move on short notice,” said Kathy Oliverio, military ombudsman at ��Vlog��ýLR. “The fact that ��Vlog��ýLR offers in-state tuition no matter where you reside is an exceptional benefit for those wishing to further their education.” In addition to receiving in-state tuition rates, the application fee is waived for military students, and in some instances students can get academic credit for military training. “We are very excited to be able to offer these incentives to military students. While every military student has different challenges and experiences, these options can help even more students reach their specific educational goals,” said Oliverio. The online criminal justice programs prepare students for a wide range of career options including cyber security, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and law school. Highlights of accelerated online criminal justice program

With new courses starting every nine weeks, a bachelor’s��degree is possible within 12-24 months for those with an associate degree, or 18-24 months for those pursuing a master’s degree
Scholarships, flexible payment and financial aid options
Option to complete an 18-credit hour security certificate

Academic advisors are available to answers questions students may have about each program. For the B.A. dregree in Criminal Justice, visit ualr.edu/online/criminaljustice��or call 1.877.651.3750. To speak with an advisor for the M.S. degree in Criminal Justice, visit ualr.edu/online/cjgrad or call 1.877.651.3760. ��Vlog��ýLR is a designated Military Friendly School – a distinction that lands it in the top tier of institutions with leading opportunities for military service members and spouses. The university provides assistance to military members through support from the ��Vlog��ýLR Veteran Student Success office. The university is also a , a consortium of schools that have been selected to provide quality educational opportunities to service men and women.

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Pryor to host small business workshop for military Friday

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:21:27 +0000

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor will host a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee roundtable at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development auditorium.

The roundtable is titled, “From Warriors to Entrepreneurs: Business Opportunities for Veterans.” Pryor said he wants to do his part to help connect Arkansas veterans with the resources and programs they need to start and expand a successful small business. He will be joined by Small Business Administration acting administrator Jeanne Hulit, Arkansas SBA officials, and Arkansas veteran business owners at the event. Pryor said when traveling around the state, he often meets members of the military who want to make the leap from soldier to business owner, but may not have access to the resources and services to help make the dream a reality. The Reynolds center is located in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s College of Business.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock grad helps veterans through VA fellowship

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor members of military with week of events

New signs acknowledge ����Vlog��ý Little Rock as ‘Purple Heart University’