HSU Today

News from Henderson State University

Steve Fellers

Henderson holds commencement; graduates listed

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Henderson State University held winter commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 15, with more than 220 undergraduate and graduate students receiving their degrees. Faculty charges were presented by Dr. Patrick Wempe, professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and Dr. Travis Langley, professor of psychology. Alan Hall, a recreation/sport management major from O’Fallon, Missouri, and Faith Whiteside, a psychology major from Camden, gave the student responses.

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The 2017 winter graduates were:

International

Elliott John Hill, Craig M. Nyarumbu

Amity, AR

Colby Brock, Lillian Rose Franklin, Pake Allen Sutton

Arkadelphia, AR

Joyce Vanessa Adame-Hernandez, Eric F. Adkins, Sara E. Adkins, Emily R. Bell, Charles Neal Blacknall, Jr., Keith Daniel Bowden, Julie C. Bradshaw, Russell J. Buckner, Joseph E. Burt, Micheal Alonso Corral, Jodie Gail Daniell, Jennifer Edwards, Jennifer Dawn Gilbert, Shiela Ward-Hale, Kanesseia Vena Hall, Javon M. Harris, Sara L. Hart, Anitra Lynette Horton, Ashley Lasha Hunter, Mauricio Lira Solis, Kam Andrew Martin, Vernon Moody Sr., Ramona S. Peters, Angela D.  China Elaine Scott, Ashlee Nicole Sharp, Zane D. Thigpen, Zachary Tyler Walthall

[Read more…] about Henderson holds commencement; graduates listed

Trustees approve doctorate in Ed Leadership

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Henderson State University’s Board of Trustees today approved plans to offer a Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership through its Teachers College.

The new degree will be offered online and will be an extension of two educational specialist degrees already in place. Graduates from both specialist degrees, curriculum leadership and district level leadership, are candidates for the doctoral program.

Individuals completing the educational specialist degree will already have 30 of the 64 hours required for the doctoral program.

“The academic community at Henderson State is excited and pleased to have the Board of Trustees approve the Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership,” said Dr. Steve Adkison, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Through this program, the university will enhance its contribution to the demand for highly skilled and educated school leaders while building upon the quality of our nationally ranked programs.”

The Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership will enable graduates to extend their knowledge of how to plan systemic reform and manage change processes with all stakeholders in a K-12 educational setting by blending practical application with educational research.

“The mission of Henderson State University is to provide a learning environment that prepares students for a lifetime of intellectual and personal growth in a global society,” said Dr. Kenneth Taylor, vice provost and dean of Graduate School. “The Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership supports this mission in many different ways.”

Henderson will now present the program to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, the ADHE Coordinating Board and the Higher Learning Commission for consideration and approval.

Last month, Henderson trustees approved plans for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DPN) degree and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.

 

Reynolds receives staff excellence award

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Cathy Reynolds, nursing office coordinator at Henderson State, received the Staff Award of Excellence for the second quarter. Reynolds has been a Henderson employee for 43 years. Her co-workers in the nursing department describe her as “dependable and loyal with superb people skills.” Reynolds is eligible for the President’s Staff Excellence Award. She received several gifts and will be presented a plaque at the staff awards luncheon.

 

Womack Hall employees display holiday spirit

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The holiday spirit in Womack Hall was in full swing Dec. 8 as Henderson employees decorated their offices and themselves for a friendly competition judged by a select group of students. After each area was judged, everyone gathered in the lobby to hear the results.  Residence Life/Student and External Affairs won the overall award for department, and Angela Bobus won the award for best decorated employee. Provost Steve Adkison edged out President Glen Jones for the administrative “Festive-est” award.

Alumni Profile: John Stokes

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John Stokes says the middle school level presents one of the most difficult times for students.

John Stokes is EAST facilitator for Hot Springs High School.

“The physical and mental changes that students go through during this time is drastic,” he said. “For some, it could make or break. My degree in middle school education ensured that I would have an impact.”

Stokes currently serves as EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology Inc.) facilitator for Hot Springs High School.

“EAST is unlike any other model in modern education,” he said. “It’s a project-based, service-learning oriented program that provides students with the high-end technology available in the most progressive fields in the world.”

EAST is a coordinated effort to provide today’s students with an educational atmosphere that allows them to gain insight into their own abilities to acquire and use information, solve problems and develop valuable experience.

Stokes said he wasn’t originally interested in middle-level education.

“I wanted to be a high school social studies teacher and football coach,” he said. “The late Dr. Fred Parker is the reason I sought a middle-level degree. His passion and guidance at Henderson allowed me to see my true calling.

“The rigor of the middle-level versus a specialty allowed for me to be successful in my role as an EAST facilitator.” [Read more…] about Alumni Profile: John Stokes

Psychology program ranked among state’s best

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Henderson State University’s psychology program has been named one of the top in the state of Arkansas by Zippia, a career information services website.

Ranked No. 2 in the state, Henderson State’s psychology program offers students unique job prospects and continual intellectual challenge, according to the ranking.

To evaluate programs, the services provider focused on career results, mean earnings, emphasis areas, percentage of graduates who have majored in psychology, cost of attendance and amount of debt for graduates. The company looked at data from the National Center for Education Statistics and College Scorecard data from ED.gov to understand what Psychology departments offer the best career opportunities.

After the company had this data, they ranked each of these schools for each of the criteria listed above. They then averaged the ranks to create a “Psychology Quality Index.”

Williamson attends religious studies conference

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Dr. Paul Williamson, professor of psychology at Henderson State University, recently attended the annual conference for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion held in Washington D.C.

The meeting included sociologists, psychologists, political scientists, and other academic researchers of religion. Williamson presented a paper entitled “A Phenomenological Inquiry into Muslim Prayer Experiences.”

Clardy attends engineering meeting

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Dr. Shannon Clardy, associate professor of physics at Henderson State University, recently attended the American Society of Engineering Education Midwest Section meeting at Oklahoma State University.

Clardy served as a poster judge and presented information about Henderson’s new engineering program.

The conference featured presentations and posters by faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students. It also included engineering projects, engineering teaching methods, assessment methods and projects used in accreditation and research presentations. Speakers discussed the evolving needs of today’s engineering students.

Henderson set to celebrate homecoming

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Henderson State University will celebrate homecoming with a variety of events beginning Oct. 18, and culminating Oct. 21 with the crowning of the 2017 homecoming queen and a key football game against East Central Oklahoma.

The 2017 theme is ‘Still Reddie After All These Years.’

A highlight of homecoming week will be a Reddies Homecoming Block Party Friday, Oct. 20, in downtown Arkadelphia. Free entertainment will include the Dixon Road Band featuring Henderson alumnus Greg Nation, and music provided by a DJ. Food trucks and drinks will also be available. The events begin at 6 p.m. and will take place at Slim & Shorty’s on Clinton Street between Sixth and Seventh streets.

Homecoming events include:

Wednesday, Oct. 18

  • Softball Home Run Derby, 7 p.m., Dee White Field

Thursday, Oct. 19

  • Presentation of homecoming queen candidates, 7 p.m., Arkansas Hall
  • Torchlight parade
  • Top 10 announcement and pep rally (following candidate presentation) between Caplinger and Newberry Hall
  • Phi Lambda Chi Homecoming drumbeat, 8 p.m. until kick-off Saturday

Friday, Oct. 20

  • Homecoming 4-person Golf Scramble, 11 a.m., DeGray Lake Resort Golf Course
  • Block party, 6 p.m.-midnight, Clinton Street (Sponsored by Slim & Shorty’s and City of Caddo Valley)
  • Black Alumni Chapter banquet, 6:30 p.m., Garrison Center Grand Ballroom
  • Alumni mixer hosted by Black Alumni Chapter, 9 p.m., Community Family Enrichment Center

Saturday, Oct. 21

  • Alpha Phi Alpha Alumni Breakfast, 8 a.m., Garrison Center Ross Room
  • Golden Reddie Brunch, 9 a.m., Garrison Center Banquet Room
  • Heart & Key Alumni Reception, 9:30 a.m., Garrison Center Cabe Room
  • Pre-Game Homecoming Tailgate, 11 a.m., Wells Complex
  • Homecoming Pregame Activities, noon, Carpenter-Haygood Stadium
  • Alpha Xi Delta Balloon Release, 1:50 p.m., Carpenter-Haygood Stadium
  • Homecoming Football Game, 2 p.m., Carpenter-Haygood Stadium
  • Greek Step Show, 7 p.m., Arkansas Hall
  • Alumni Mixer hosted by Black Alumni Chapter, 9 p.m., Community Family Enrichment Center

Sunday, Oct. 22

  • Angelic Voices of Christ, 10:45 a.m., Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

For more details about Henderson homecoming, go to hsu.edu/homecoming.

Henderson announces homecoming court

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Homecoming activities at Henderson State University begin Oct. 18 when the student body begins voting for Henderson’s 2017 homecoming queen. Twenty-three students are nominated for the homecoming court.

The 10 finalists will be announced Oct. 19 during the annual homecoming pep rally. The court will be introduced and the queen crowned during football pre-game festivities on Oct. 21 when the Reddies host East Central University.

The 2017 homecoming court candidates are:

  • E’Lyse Thaxton, a sophomore innovative media major from Hope
  • Dominique Walker, a senior psychology major from Blytheville
  • Rebekah Smith, a junior special education major from Little Rock/Arkadelphia
  • JessicaThomas, a junior sociology major from Hampton
  • Adrienne Prince, a junior accounting major from Malvern
  • Seven Willis, a senior health and physical education major from Springfield, Missouri
  • Kennedi Boykins, a sophomore nursing major from Marion
  • Brooke Lewis, a senior elementary education major from Benton
  • Railey Nolan, a senior psychology major from Malvern
  • Mercedes Thompson, a junior biology major from Siloam Springs
  • Lauren Quillin, a junior accounting major from Arkadelphia
  • Tessa Yelverton, a junior political science major from Arkadelphia
  • Emily Pierce, a senior elementary education major from Bryant
  • Rachel Lewis, a sophomore sociology and political science major from Danville
  • Spencer Tuggle, a senior marketing major from Arkadelphia
  • Joyce Adame, a senior management major from Arkadelphia
  • Kaylee Bridges, a senior nursing major from Arkadelphia
  • Dawn Coffman, a senior elementary education major from Ashdown
  • Mary Katherine Dawson, a junior instrumental music education major from Benton
  • Kebreanna Creggett, a junior sociology major from Pine Bluff
  • Anaya Hunter, a sophomore Spanish major from Arkadelphia
  • Ah-Lexa Criswell, a junior nursing major from Conway
  • Alexis Dixson, a junior psychology major from Little Rock