Alumni News

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.

Castleberry memorial golf tourney May 27

A golf tournament to support the Christopher Castleberry Memorial Foundation Business Scholarship will be held May 27 at DeGray Lake Golf Course. Tee-time for the two-man scramble is 9 a.m. Registration is $85 per player and begins at 8 a.m.

The foundation awards an annual scholarship to a senior at Fountain Lake High School and a business student at Henderson State University. Castleberry was a 2006 graduate of Henderson State who died in 2010. All proceeds from the tournament benefit these scholarships.

For more information, to register or sponsor, go to www.CastleberryClassic.com or email Nick Brumley at nickbrumley@yahoo.com. 

Alumni Feature: Izhar Buendia

Izhard Buendia describes himself as “an energetic and curious extrovert who believes anything is possible, but is realizing not everything has to be possible.”

Buendia’s determination has landed him a job as a user experience designer at GE Digital where he focuses on designing interactions people have with GE’s digital products, such as mobile apps.

“I conduct user research to better understand our customers’ behaviors and needs,” he said. “I also design interactive screens to conceptualize the ideal digital experience, and collaborate with software engineers to build out the digital product.”

Homeschooled throughout high school, Buendia graduated from Henderson in 2014 with a degree in communication. He was raised in New Jersey, but his family moved to southwest Arkansas when he was 17.

Buendia attended graduate school at the University of Michigan where he earned his Master’s of Science in information.

“As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to intern at GE in their Michigan software hub and volunteer in the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington D.C.,” Buendia said. “After completing my master’s, GE Digital offered me a position at their software hub in the San Francisco area where I started in August 2016.

“I am still trying to figure out what is next for me, but I want to learn more about artificial intelligence and business administration. I also want to find a way to get more involved with my community both locally and globally.”

Henderson’s new innovative media program was still in the planning stages when Buendia completed his studies, but it’s a program that would have catered to his interests and aspirations.

“The innovative media program is one of its kind that teaches you the skills needed for today’s advanced technological economy,” he said.

But Henderson’s mass media program adequately prepared Buendia for his early success.

“At the core of interaction design are the basic human communication principles,” he said. “My degree from the communication department at Henderson prepared me to better understand people and give public speeches. Those are two skills that are crucial for my job today.”

Buendia said the most interesting aspect of mass media, especially in his field of user experience design, is the responsibility practitioners have when creating content or experiences for others.

“The Internet is very powerful and there is a need for media professionals to be extremely mindful in the decisions they make because they can have series ramifications,” he said. “In my profession, we talk with customers in order to understand what they need. I really enjoy taking the learnings from such conversations and designing a product that helps people accomplish what they need in a simple and easy way.”

Buendia said he had always been interested in media. Before attending Henderson, he enrolled at a small private college to learn how to design and code websites. He then took a job as a media manager where he realized he wanted to learn more about web design and development.

“It wasn’t just coding skills I was looking for, but also a way to leverage human interactions onto the web,” Buendia said. “That’s when I decided to study communication at Henderson and focus on human interaction since I felt I could teach myself the coding and design skills.

“I am thankful for my advisor, Dr. (Randy) Duncan, who made the effort to understand my unique perspective on communication and allowed me to have side projects where I was able to bridge my communication courses with my interest in technology.”

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

Alumni Feature: Izhar Buendia

Izhard Buendia describes himself as “an energetic and curious extrovert who believes anything is possible, but is realizing not everything has to be possible.”

Buendia’s determination has landed him a job as a user experience designer at GE Digital where he focuses on designing interactions people have with GE’s digital products, such as mobile apps.

“I conduct user research to better understand our customers’ behaviors and needs,” he said. “I also design interactive screens to conceptualize the ideal digital experience, and collaborate with software engineers to build out the digital product.”

Homeschooled throughout high school, Buendia graduated from Henderson in 2014 with a degree in communication. He was raised in New Jersey, but his family moved to southwest Arkansas when he was 17.

Buendia attended graduate school at the University of Michigan where he earned his Master’s of Science in information.

“As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to intern at GE in their Michigan software hub and volunteer in the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington D.C.,” Buendia said. “After completing my master’s, GE Digital offered me a position at their software hub in the San Francisco area where I started in August 2016.

“I am still trying to figure out what is next for me, but I want to learn more about artificial intelligence and business administration. I also want to find a way to get more involved with my community both locally and globally.”

Henderson’s new innovative media program was still in the planning stages when Buendia completed his studies, but it’s a program that would have catered to his interests and aspirations.

“The innovative media program is one of its kind that teaches you the skills needed for today’s advanced technological economy,” he said.

But Henderson’s mass media program adequately prepared Buendia for his early success.

“At the core of interaction design are the basic human communication principles,” he said. “My degree from the communication department at Henderson prepared me to better understand people and give public speeches. Those are two skills that are crucial for my job today.”

Buendia said the most interesting aspect of mass media, especially in his field of user experience design, is the responsibility practitioners have when creating content or experiences for others.

“The Internet is very powerful and there is a need for media professionals to be extremely mindful in the decisions they make because they can have series ramifications,” he said. “In my profession, we talk with customers in order to understand what they need. I really enjoy taking the learnings from such conversations and designing a product that helps people accomplish what they need in a simple and easy way.”

Buendia said he had always been interested in media. Before attending Henderson, he enrolled at a small private college to learn how to design and code websites. He then took a job as a media manager where he realized he wanted to learn more about web design and development.

“It wasn’t just coding skills I was looking for, but also a way to leverage human interactions onto the web,” Buendia said. “That’s when I decided to study communication at Henderson and focus on human interaction since I felt I could teach myself the coding and design skills.

“I am thankful for my advisor, Dr. (Randy) Duncan, who made the effort to understand my unique perspective on communication and allowed me to have side projects where I was able to bridge my communication courses with my interest in technology.”

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

Alumni Feature: William Flowers

FOCUS ON AVIATION MANAGEMENT

William Flowers was introduced to aviation as a child when his mother would take him to airplane fly-ins at Grider Field in his hometown of Pine Bluff.

When he arrived as a freshman at Henderson State University, Flowers knew he wanted to pursue a career in aviation. He aspired to obtain his pilot’s license, but “flying for hire” never interested him.

The more he talked to his professors, the more he became interested in pursuing a degree in aviation management.

“The management track provides various facets that one can use multiple ways in an aviation career,” Flowers said.

After graduating from Henderson in 2014, Flowers went to work for the operations department of Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, Michigan. He now serves as airport operations agent for the Colorado Springs (Colorado) Airport.

“My job title is another name for airport duty manager,” Flowers said. “I oversee day-to-day operations for the entire airport grounds. My primary function is to know and implement regulatory rules from the FAA and TSA to ensure that we as an airport and all airport staff are following proper procedures.”

Flowers described his job as complex, at times requiring him to act as the incident commander for aircraft or medical emergencies, handling customer complaints, coordinating snow operations, and troubleshooting broken equipment within the airport terminal.

“At times, this is a very fast paced position, requiring critical decisions at all hours of the day,” he said. “I work in a facility that is open 24 hours, 356 days a year. I am on call at times and work all types of hours, included overnights.”

 Flowers said his aviation degree at Henderson has prepared him well for his career.

“Every small background detail we talked about in my aviation classes has come to light in some way,” he said. “My aviation and business law classes have helped a lot when discussions of liability of aircraft during an emergency and other random situations occur.”

Flowers said he chose Henderson for its intimate learning atmosphere.

“I was never a fan of schools with a large classroom setting, and Henderson provided a great environment for one-on-one learning with instructors,” he said. “I also enjoyed the campus culture and overall scenery of the school during my high school tours.”

Flowers is a 2010 graduate of Dollarway High School.

While a Henderson student, Flowers was a Reddie Ambassador, vice president of student affairs for the Student Advisory Board, a member of the men’s cross country team, a member of the Black Pilots of America, and served on the intramural staff.

Flowers said aviation management is a career that most people never think about.

“Typically, people think I’m an air traffic controller, a pilot, or the guy who stands on the ramp to help park the plane,” he said. “I like aviation because it is a field that has longevity and so many various professions within the industry.

“My favorite part of the aviation management side of the house is construction and planning. Airports always need maintenance on absolutely everything.”

Flowers hopes to become an airport planner or FAA inspector.

“Eventually, I will go back to school to either pursue my master’s in planning or business, or possibly get my airframe and power plant certification.”

Flowers said he has no regrets about the path he has taken in the aviation industry.

“Having a job which I went to school for is a satisfying accomplishment, especially right after graduation,” he said. “Nowadays you see a lot of people with jobs and degrees that are entirely opposite.

“I have been blessed with the help of a lot of people to have been provided these opportunities that have helped me with my career path. Living in places that I could not even imagine is also surreal.”

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