Alumni News

Cody McLeod, who graduated from Henderson State in 2014 with degrees in biology and chemistry, received the 2016 Horace N. Marvin Award presented annually by the UAMS College of Medicine.

The Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences gives the award to the medical student who achieves the highest score on the first-time taking of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination Step 1.

McLeod will receive an honorarium and certificate at a presentation ceremony. He will also be recognized at the College of Medicine Honors Convocation held the evening before medical school graduation in 2018.

Dr. Marvin was a highly decorated educator and researcher at UAMS for 43 years.

Amelia (Church) Hart, a Henderson State University Physics graduate, was recently featured in an article about creating fibers for the next generation of NASA rocket engines.

Hart, who just received her Ph.D. from Rice University, was a lead researcher in the project. The work is detailed in the American Chemical Society journal Applied Materials and Interfaces.

According to the article, the project began when Hart, who had been studying the growth of carbon nanotubes on ceramic wool, met Michael Meador, then a scientist at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, at the kickoff reception for Rice’s Materials Science and NanoEngineering Department. (Meador is now nanotechnology project manager at NASA’s Game Changing Technologies program.)

That led to a fellowship in Cleveland and the chance to combine Hart’s ideas with those of NASA research engineer and paper co-author Janet Hurst.

Alumni receive presidential teaching awards

Two Henderson State alumni have been named winners of the 2015 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Amanda Jones, a science teacher at Poyen High School, and Brian Leonard, a mathematics teacher at Lake Hamilton High School, received the nation’s highest honor for math and science teachers in grades K-12.

Each will receive a $10,000 award and a trip to Washington D.C. for professional development activities and an awards ceremony.

Jones has a B.S. in biology from Henderson State, graduating summa cum laude. She earned a M.Ed. in secondary education and curriculum from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she won the dean’s award. She was named Grant County Teacher of the Year in 2005, Arkansas’s Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year in 2012, and Arkansas Senior Beta Club State Sponsor for 2013-2015.

Leonard received a B.S. in mathematics from Henderson, graduating magna cum laude. He earned his M.S., summa cum laude, in mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Leonard is National Board Certified in adolescence and young adulthood mathematics.

Alum expands business with help from ASBTDC

Rafael Alvarez always knew he wanted to start his own business, but he didn’t know that one day it would be a successful restaurant.

“I had lots of ideas of what I could start up, but nothing ever made it past the concept stage,” he said. “It wasn’t until my uncle visited from Mexico that he planted the seed in my head. He has successful homemade Mexican ice cream shops all over Mexico. He suggested we do something similar in Hot Springs.”

Alvarez was a junior at Henderson State University in 2010 when he opened Nom Noms, a “Mexican ice cream shop,” in Hot Springs.

After opening the shop, Alvarez soon noticed that sales declined when summer ended.

“I knew Hot Springs was a tourist town, but I didn’t realize just how much business was coming from out of town,” he said. “I knew we would have to sell food to get us through, but I didn’t want to do another traditional Mexican restaurant.”

While doing research, Alvarez learned that fast casual dining, a hybrid of fast food restaurant speed with sit-down restaurant service and quality of food, was gaining in popularity.

“There was nothing like it in Hot Springs,” he added, “and I knew this would give us the advantage I was seeking.”

Alvarez said his mother and grandmother are “in charge” of developing the recipes and training the cooks. They still work everyday to ensure the quality stays consistent.

Building on the success of his Hot Springs restaurant, Alvarez recently opened a second restaurant in McKinney, Texas. He said he plans to begin the process of franchising in Texas and Arkansas, where people are lining up for the opportunity.

Alvarez credits much of his success to Henderson’s Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC). “The center played a significant role in the initial startup. They helped me put together a business plan to pitch to investors to help raise the capital needed to open our doors,” he said.

The ASBTDC helped Alvarez form another business plan to pitch to investors.

“I was able to secure $250,000 from a successful Henderson alumnus to build my dream Nom Noms in a booming location in McKinney,” he said.

Alvarez, who is originally from Orange County, Calif., has been living in Hot Springs since 2004. He graduated from Henderson in 2011 with a degree in business administration.

Mabery studying piano in England

Hunter Mabery aspires to be a successful collaborative pianist and teacher.

Mabery, a 2016 Henderson State University graduate, is taking the next step towards that goal as he works on his master’s degree in England. Mabery is studying collaborative piano at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

“The program is designed to allow the pianist to focus on the art of working and performing with other instrumentalists,” Mabery said. “Collaborating with other musicians is my favorite part of music making. I like sharing ideas and working with other performers. It makes the process of learning and performing music very enjoyable.”

Mabery, a Murfreesboro native, said he has always had an interest in music.

“I have always loved the joy that it brings to me,” he said. ‘Therefore, I decided to pursue it as a career when I realized that I did not want to do anything else.”

Mabery said he chose to attend Henderson to study with Dr. Hee-Kyung Juhn, associate professor of applied piano.

“I began taking lessons with her during my junior year in high school and knew that I wanted to continue my studies at Henderson with her,” he said.

Mabery highly recommends Henderson’s music program.

“Henderson allowed me to receive intensive training in a supportive setting,” he said. “The faculty at Henderson are all dedicated to the success of their students.

“With the help of excellent instructors, I developed a great foundation in essential subjects such as music theory and aural skills, while having many performance opportunities.”

Mabery describes himself as a “lover of the arts.”

“I love the visual arts, performing arts, and literature,” he said. “I would also say that I am a dedicated person. Once I set a goal, I whole-heartedly strive to achieve it. I do not easily give up, and I work hard for what I want.”

If he hadn’t majored in music, Mabery said he would have pursued a degree in English.

“I have always liked the idea of working for a publishing company as an editor,” he said. “For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to read and write. Therefore, pursuing that as a career would have been a suitable alternative to music.”

After he graduates from Guildhall, Mabery plans to be a freelance musician and teacher while working on a doctoral degree in music.

Alumni Feature: LaDonna Spain

Leadership and education seem to be a combination that put LaDonna Spain on a successful career path.

Spain said she received numerous leadership awards as a high school student. Combined with her desire to succeed as a facilitator for learning, she continues to climb the education ladder.

Today, Spain is the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) program administrator for the Public School Accountability Division where she leads projects related to the Strategic Performance Management State Plan, supports division units, and completes special projects as needed.

Spain graduated from Henderson State University in 2015 with a Master’s degree in P-12 Educational Leadership, and will complete her Educational Specialist degree from Henderson this year. She hopes to soon apply for and complete an Ed.D. in School Leadership.

Spain said friends and colleagues recommended Henderson “as a university of choice” for her educational leadership studies.

“The online classes offered by Henderson and the individualized approach to student learning allowed me to keep working fulltime while acquiring a new degree,” she said.

“It was such a rewarding and unforgettable opportunity meeting all of my peers in education across the state and abroad,” Spain said. “Collaboration with peer to peer opportunities within the classrooms, specifically within the online courses at Henderson, are second to none.

“The professors at Henderson help students work through learning stages together and encourage the collaboration. Classmates develop a lifelong partnership and friendship over time for learning.”

In her current position at the ADE, Spain said she enjoys the ability to piece together the connections within all student educational systems.

“My interest in the application of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) Standards expands into daily practices and supports to schools, districts, teachers and students, and stakeholders to ensure understanding and expectations for all,” she said. “Meeting and working with the districts and schools are unforgettable.”

• This alumni feature is part of an ongoing project featuring Henderson’s outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs.

Alumni Profile: DeLance Minefee

DeLance Minefee was a high school athlete in Jacksonville who had no interest in theatre until his senior year. He didn’t discover the stage until a girl he liked asked him to be her dance partner for a school project.

“My teacher asked me to audition for the school play Fame,” he said. “I did, and I got the part. When I said my first line, the audience erupted in laughter. It felt like a touchdown and I never looked back.

“The girl broke my heart. But the stage fixed it and filled it. I’ve known since that moment that I was meant to entertain.”

Today, Minefee is an entertainer and educator who works primarily as a regional theatre actor, traveling from theatre to theatre, usually for 8-10 weeks at a time. He also works in film and television. In his “down time,” Minefee teaches acting and storytelling in Brooklyn, New York, middle schools.

Even though he had good test scores and a high GPA, Minefee was afraid he couldn’t afford college and didn’t apply to any schools. But his high school drama teacher, Patricia Stiles, brought him to the Henderson campus where he was offered a small scholarship.

“That short meeting and seeing the campus made me realize I needed to be there,” Minefee said. “So I went home and applied for every scholarship available and arrive as a freshman with 100 percent of my tuition and fees covered.

“I didn’t consider another school until I thought about transferring, but the price, the individual attention of the program, and proximity to home kept me at Henderson.”

After graduating from Henderson in 1998, Minefee moved to Little Rock and joined the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s “Young Company” where he performed for nearly every middle and high school in Arkansas. He also performed in three main stage shows at the Rep.

Minefee started working for the Historic Arkansas Museum as a living history actor before becoming the assistant director of the Living History Program. He then auditioned at the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions in Memphis where he booked almost two years of work.

“I hit the road and did shows all over the country, and later moved to Chicago where I continued to act,” he said. “In 2004, I was cast at the Rep in Dreamgirls where 90 percent of the cast was from New York. After the show, I moved to Harlem.”

Minefee said he soon realized that he needed more training.

“Henderson had given me a great foundation, but I needed and wanted to know more,” he said. “I applied, auditioned and was accepted to the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre – Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.

“The intense conservatory schedule was exactly what I wanted and I learned to control my voice and body with a specificity I hadn’t known possible. Since graduating in 2008, I have been working and living in Brooklyn.”

Minefee said he is most interested in theatre that challenges the audience to see things differently.

“I enjoy the energy of the audience,” he said. “There is nothing that compares to the feeling of having hundreds of people waiting for your next word, next action, next breath.”

Minefee fondly recalls his days as a student at Henderson.

“The time I spent in the Arkansas Hall shop learning how to drive a nail, how to hang and focus a fresnel, and the time I spent on the marley floor practicing until I perfected my triple pirouette means so much to me,” he said. “The degree helps open the door to opportunity, but it’s up to the individual to stand in success.”

Minefee advises current students to learn everything they can.

“A cliché? Yes, but true,” he said. “If you are an actor, learn lighting. If you are a dancer, learn carpentry. Theatre takes a team and a team works best when everyone knows and respects the roles the others play.

“In this field, you never know when you may be asked to do something new. Don’t let yourself get bored with any one thing. There is more than one path to success.”

Minefee was recently awarded Best Supporting Actor at the Syracuse Area Live Theater Association. He was also featured on NBC’s Shades of Blue. His film The Three Way won Best Comedy at the Manhattan Film Festival several years ago.

“But I guess getting to perform on the stage at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre is the most memorable event of my career.”

• This alumni feature is part of an ongoing project featuring Henderson’s outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs.

Alumni Feature: LaDonna Spain

Leadership and education seem to be a combination that put LaDonna Spain on a successful career path.

Spain said she received numerous leadership awards as a high school student. Combined with her desire to succeed as a facilitator for learning, she continues to climb the education ladder.

Today, Spain is the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) program administrator for the Public School Accountability Division where she leads projects related to the Strategic Performance Management State Plan, supports division units, and completes special projects as needed.

Spain graduated from Henderson State University in 2015 with a Master’s degree in P-12 Educational Leadership, and will complete her Educational Specialist degree from Henderson this year. She hopes to soon apply for and complete an Ed.D. in School Leadership.

Spain said friends and colleagues recommended Henderson “as a university of choice” for her educational leadership studies.

“The online classes offered by Henderson and the individualized approach to student learning allowed me to keep working fulltime while acquiring a new degree,” she said.

“It was such a rewarding and unforgettable opportunity meeting all of my peers in education across the state and abroad,” Spain said. “Collaboration with peer to peer opportunities within the classrooms, specifically within the online courses at Henderson, are second to none.

“The professors at Henderson help students work through learning stages together and encourage the collaboration. Classmates develop a lifelong partnership and friendship over time for learning.”

In her current position at the ADE, Spain said she enjoys the ability to piece together the connections within all student educational systems.

“My interest in the application of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) Standards expands into daily practices and supports to schools, districts, teachers and students, and stakeholders to ensure understanding and expectations for all,” she said. “Meeting and working with the districts and schools are unforgettable.”

• This alumni feature is part of an ongoing project featuring Henderson’s outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs.