Located near Health Services in the Donaghey Student Center, the vending machine was launched in partnership with the Arkansas Attorney General鈥檚 Office as part of the statewide 鈥淥ne Pill Can Kill鈥� campaign, which raises awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl-related overdoses. Through the partnership, students now have free access to Narcan and fentanyl testing kits in a central location on campus.

鈥淎rkansas has seen a sharp decline in opioid overdose deaths in the past several years, which is great news. But one death is too many, so our work with the One Pill Can Kill initiative isn鈥檛 done,鈥� said Attorney General Tim Griffin. 鈥淭his vending machine at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is a valuable tool in our fight against illicit opioids. The free Narcan available to students and others may well save a life, which is why I was proud to provide opioid settlement dollars to fund it.鈥�

In addition to harm reduction resources, the machine also includes a variety of personal care and wellness items available for purchase, including:

• First-aid supplies and headache medicine
• Pregnancy tests
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Deodorant and other hygiene products

鈥淭he health and safety of our campus community remain our highest priorities,鈥� said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs. 鈥淏y providing these resources in a central and accessible location, we are helping ensure students have the tools they need to stay safe and supported.鈥�

University leaders said the goal is to make important health and safety resources easier for students to access without stigma or unnecessary barriers.

鈥淲e want students to know these resources are here for them without judgment,鈥� said Sharon Ann Downs, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. 鈥淲hether someone needs a basic hygiene item or a fentanyl testing kit, this machine helps ensure support is available when they need it.鈥�

The wellness vending machine is available during all Donaghey Student Center building hours.

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The event will be held in the Lower Level Concourse in the Donaghey Student Center between the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Bookstore and Health Services Center. The deadline to apply for graduation is Sunday, Oct. 15.

Caps and gowns will be available for purchase throughout Gradfest, along with official 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock class rings and graduation announcements.

Representatives from several university departments, including Financial Aid, Records and Registration, and the Graduate School will be present to speak with students about graduation applications, post-graduate opportunities, and commencement information.

The Alumni Association will speak with students about the benefits of becoming a member, as well as the memorabilia they offer, including personalized bricks and college license plates.

Students who attend the event will have the opportunity to complete a survey to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $300 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate Packet. Included will be a cap and gown, a personalized brick, an alumni t-shirt, an alumni license plate frame, and an official 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock diploma frame.

For more information, call the bookstore at 501-569-3245.

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The Young Writers Camp will be held for students entering grades 3-5. They will meet in the Donaghey Student Center from 8 a.m. to noon July 24-28.

At the Young Writers Camp, students have the opportunity to work closely with experienced writers from the university鈥檚 Little Rock Writing Project. This year鈥檚 camp will be led by Heather Hummel, associate professor of creative writing at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She has been involved with the National Writing Project and the Little Rock Writing Project since 2007. Hummel will be joined by Susan Heffern-Shelton, a longtime team leader with the Little Rock Writing Project and pre-K teacher at Fulbright Elementary.

The cost for the camp is $150. Applications can be found on the Little Rock Writing Project website.

For more information, contact Greg Graham, director of the Little Rock Writing Project, at gxgraham@ualr.edu.

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鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock was a family, and everyone knew each other,鈥� Dedner said. 鈥淥ffices did not have desktop computers and fax machines were uncommon, so hand delivery was the quickest way to ensure that documents were received and delivered timely. Many employees would eat breakfast and lunch in the Donaghey Student Center, where you had the opportunity to meet many staff members and students.鈥�

But desktop computers would eventually arrive on campus, along with a lifetime of changes that span Dedner鈥檚 devoted 45-year career at the university. Dedner came to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after being selected as one of 10 women recruited from the Opportunities Industrialization Center to participate in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program, a federal plan to train workers and provide them with job opportunities, conducted at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

According to a 1979 Arkansas Democrat article, 鈥淥pportunity plus endurance equals success,鈥� 鈥渢he CETA program was organized after Chancellor Ross noticed there was a disproportionately small amount of minority group women in 糖心Vlog传媒LR clerical positions.鈥�

The Human Resources director and two office management instructors oversaw the program. They contacted the Opportunity Industrialization Center and recruited their top 10 students for the pilot program. Dedner and the other participants were trained and then placed in offices throughout the campus. The women rotated among many offices, including personnel, library, payroll, and the chancellor鈥檚 office. After completing the program, Dedner鈥檚 first job on campus was as a secretary in the Office of Chancellor G. Robert Ross.

While she ended her career as the associate director for recruitment, Dedner鈥檚 long career has taken her from the Office of the Chancellor and Affirmative Action to the Graduate School and Human Resources.

鈥淪he has been an unfailingly dedicated member of the HR Team, serving our campus community with grace and guidance,鈥� said LaTonda Williams, associate vice chancellor of human resources. 鈥淪he always offered a listening ear, a wealth of knowledge, and an encouraging word. We will greatly miss her positive attitude and know that she will be hard to replace.鈥�

In her last position, she was responsible for the recruitment of all faculty and staff positions. She recalls that before automation she would sometimes process more than 1,000 applications a month manually.

鈥淎pplicants would come into the office and fill out applications by hand,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was my responsibility to review, screen, test, and determine the qualifications of the applicants. This allowed me to meet so many people, and it also taught me patience. I was able to talk to applicants and make them more aware of their skill sets. I was also responsible for finding extra labor employees for offices needing to hire employees immediately.

One day, I pulled a lady鈥檚 application who I felt was exceptionally qualified but hadn鈥檛 been hired. She had applied for several full-time positions. We needed extra help in our office and I reached out to her. When she shared her story with me, I was humbled by her struggles. She was thankful for the opportunity, and I was thankful because she became my first assistant. She had truly given up on ever finding employment again. Moments like that assured me that I was in my rightful place. I learned to understand that we so often underestimate our talents. It was not unusual for me to assist applicants with their resumes.鈥�

Dedner took advantage of working at a university to advance her education. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and took a few graduate classes in social work.

鈥淟ooking back now, I鈥檓 so glad I had the opportunity to further my education,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to show my children it was possible. If I could do it while raising three kids as a single mom, they had no excuse to not do it.鈥�

Coming to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock became a family affair. Dedner鈥檚 children have all worked at the university. Her daughter, Cynthia Dedner, assistant athletic director for business operations, has worked at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock since 2003. Her son Billy worked in Mail Services for four years, while her son Kevin worked as extra labor for a day or two.

鈥淗er reputation has preceded her,鈥� Cynthia Dedner said of her mother. 鈥淪he is the type of person who likes to get the job done and likes to put a smile on people鈥檚 faces. When someone finds out that she is my mom, they say that she is an awesome person. I think every encounter someone had with her was positive. She is genuinely that type of person. She is also a kind person. She takes the time to listen. She wants to get things done to the best of her ability over 45 years. She鈥檚 a go-getter, and she is someone who has been my inspiration over the years.鈥�

Now that she is enjoying her well-earned retirement, Dedner is volunteering more with her husband at their church, Immanuel Baptist Church, and spending more time with her family. She has three children and six grandchildren. Dedner鈥檚 mother, who still lives in their hometown of Tucker, will celebrate her 106th birthday this month. But Dedner will always cherish her lifetime of memories at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淭hose people are my family,鈥� she said. 鈥淔orty-five years has been a lifetime for many people. On the day I walked onto campus, I never would have dreamed that I would be here this long and see it grow into the campus that it is today. During my time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, I have met friends and lost friends. I saw babies being born and eventually saw those babies having babies. It has been such a wonderful experience that I wouldn鈥檛 trade it for anything in the world. For a long time, I do not think there will be a day when I don鈥檛 think of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

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Students will spend the afternoon sitting in on college classes, enjoying campus dining, touring the dining falls, and checking out the campus atmosphere.

Parents are also invited to attend informational sessions about financial aid, scholarships, and campus life.

Students can until Tuesday, March 28. Experience is great for any students who are new to the college search or just starting to explore 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and are interested in undergraduate programs.

For additional information about the event, call the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock admissions office at 501-916-3000 or email admissions@ualr.edu.

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