Student News

Student government officers elected

Officers were elected recently for Henderson State University’s 2017-18 Student Government Association.

Clayton Sorrells, a senior pre-medical student from Amity was elected president. Mercedes Thompson, a sophomore biology major from Siloam Springs, is the new vice president of academic affairs. Suzanne Sorrells, a sophomore health science major from Amity is the vice president of public relations.

Anna Grace Duggan, a junior family and consumer science major from Glenwood, was elected vice president of student affairs. And Hunter Collins, a sophomore chemistry major from Grand Prairie, Texas, is vice president of administration. Jesses Williams, a junior aviation major from Paradise, Texas, is secretary.

The executive officers will serve a one-year term.

Elected senators are:

– Paul Hawron, a sophomore from New Boston, Greek (IFC)

– Nathan Steadman, a sophomore from Hot Springs, Ellis College

– Reynolds Beckham, a senior from Alma, School of Business

– Mason Graves, a freshman from North Little Rock, School of Business

– Cynthia Perez, a sophomore from Cabot, Ellis College

– Malik Thrower, a sophomore from Bearden, Greek (NPHC)

– Quincy Gragg, a sophomore from Malvern, Ellis College

– Emily K. Green, a junior from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, Teachers College

– Mikayla Douglas, a junior from Bryant, Teachers College

– Markayla Wyatt, a junior from Stuttgart, School of Business

– Jarvis Warren, a senior from Texarkana, Arkansas, Residence Life

The SGA supervises and provides for student elections and serves as the governing organization of the student body. The SGA establishes and executes programs and projects beneficial to the student body in cooperation with the administration, faculty, staff, Clark County and the State of Arkansas.

The organization also serves as a channel of communication with the faculty, administration, City of Arkadelphia and the State of Arkansas with respect to the opinion, wishes and needs of the student body.

Students place at debate tournament

Kiana Davis, a sophomore psychology major at Henderson State University, placed eighth out of more than 100 students entered in the novice speaker division at the IPDA National Debate Tournament held March 23-26 at Arkansas Tech University.

Raymond Sims, a junior marketing major, earned a ninth place finish overall in the junior varsity division. More than 250 student competitors from universities across the nation participated in the tournament.

Davis and Sims are coached by Dr. Darrel Farmer, assistant professor of communication.

Ellis College honors outstanding students

Henderson State University’s Matt Locke Ellis College of Arts and Sciences honored several students for their creative and academic accomplishments at the annual Student Awards Ceremony April 13 in the Garrison Center Lecture Hall.

Outstanding Creative Accomplishment awards

Recipients of the Outstanding Creative Accomplishment awards are selected based on artistic accomplishment, research or service to others. Each department within the Ellis College selects a student to receive the award. The 2016 recipients are: Natasha Cribbs of Murfreesboro, art; Caitlyn Gosch of Greenwood, biology; Andrew Hodge of Boonsboroe, Maryland, chemistry; Michael McMahen of Fort Smith, theatre; Kaitlynn Garrett of Benton, English; James Garcia of Hot Springs, Spanish; Ariya Tai of Arkadelphia, music; Sarah Medellin of Katy, Texas, nursing; and Parker Milam of Fort Smith, criminal justice.

Outstanding Graduating Senior awards

Each department within the Ellis College selects one student from each major to receive the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. The students must have a cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher and have either graduated in the fall semester or be eligible to graduate in the spring semester.

Awards were presented to: Christina Millard of Hot Springs, art; Larissa Porter of Kirby, biology; Wade Garrett of Benton, chemistry; Dennis Blackerby of Arkadelphia, communication; Monica Vidal of Arkadelphia, mass media; Anthony McBride of Benton, theatre; Rachel Kelley of Delight, English; Alan Wade of Little Rock, computer science; Hannah Oden of Carlisle, mathematics education; William Blair of Amity, mathematics; Ben Hynds of Malvern, statistics; Kam Martin of Arkadelphia, music; Lucas Sapaugh of Sulpher Springs, Texas, instrumental music performance; Tanner Oglesby of Bryant, vocal music education; Sidney Tyson of Anderson, Missouri, nursing; Trevor Hicks of Murfreesboro, physics; Grant Reimers of Hot Springs, social sciences; Kayla Sparks of Nashville, sociology.

Outstanding Academic Achievement awards

The Ellis College recognizes up to 36 students for Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards. Selected students have a minimum GPA of 3.50. Other considerations might include difficulties overcome in maintaining high academic standards, quality of involvement in campus activities, leadership, and service to the university community.

Juniors

Awards for Outstanding Junior Academic Achievement were presented to: Colleen Helton of Lexa, art; Lindsey Butler of Mabelvale, biology; Sarah Kuhn of Gurdon, chemistry; Jakob Johnston of Boyles, English; Andy Barboza of Mount Pleasant, Texas, computer science; Olivia Cathey of Benton, music; Kaci Mann of Little Rock, nursing; Rachel Pounds of Ashdown, social sciences; Katie Bostian of Hot Springs, human services.

Sophomores

Awards for Outstanding Sophomore Achievement were presented to: Katie Nix of Sparkman, art; Lee Hunter of Pearcy, biology; Brian Jarrett of Monticello, political science; Ryen Gillespie of Hot Springs, mathematics; Raven Morris of Texarkana, Arkansas, music; Baylee Holt of Arkadelphia, nursing; Kati Hall of White Hall, sociology.

Freshmen

Recipients of the Freshman Academic Achievement awards are: Lauren Newton of Curtis, art; Colten Smith of Texarkana, Arkansas, biology; Audrey Youngblood of Texarkana, Arkansas, chemistry; Jessica Perry of Royal, social sciences; Ryan Quiring of Siloam Springs, computer science; Justin Kennedy of Lewisville, music.

Emery’s painting wins Best of Show

Joshua Emery of Arkadelphia was awarded Best of Show for his oil painting entitled Mobius in the 2017 Student Competitive Art Exhibition at Henderson State University. Emery received a cash award, plus $500 from AllCare Pharmacy in Arkadelphia.

Samantha Faulkner of Bismarck received first runner-up honors for her work entitled Going Fishing, and Skylen Delorme of Hot Springs was awarded second runner-up for Gulpha Gorge.

The Peer Choice Award went to Lauren Lollies of Texarkana, Arkansas. Angela Yang of Gurdon and Sarah Ragan of Liberty, Missouri, were awarded honorable mention.

Art department faculty purchase awards went to Sarah Ragan and Aaron O’Quin of White Hall. Samantha Faulkner and Sarah Ragan received the Provost’s Purchase Award. The President’s Purchase Award was presented to Josh Emery and Katie Nix of Sparkman.

Summer Bruch, associate professor of art at Ouachita Baptist University, served as juror for the competition.

The selected pieces and other entries will be on display in the Russell Fine Arts Center gallery weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 3. For more information about Henderson’s Department of Art, go to www.hsu.edu/art.

Gragg chosen for Vanderbilt research program

Quincy Gragg, a sophomore biology major from Malvern, has been selected to participate in the Aspirnaut Summer Research Program this summer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The paid, 10-week program provides hands-on and mentored laboratory experiences for undergraduate students interested in a career in biomedical research. It was cofounded by Dr. Billy Hudson, a 1962 Henderson State University graduate, and his wife Dr. Julie Hudson, in partnership with Billy’s siblings Johnny Hudson ’67 and Ann Kincl ’66.

“Quincy is an outstanding, hard-working biology major,” said Dr. James Engman, professor of biology at Henderson. “He was at the top of his general zoology class, and has already impressed several faculty members in the biology department.

“He is working on an independent research project with three other biology majors in an ongoing study of the bacteria associated with cave crickets in Blanchard Springs Caverns.”

Engman said Gragg’s selection for Vanderbilt’s highly competitive Aspirnaut Program “should be seen as a strong vote of confidence in his abilities and personal characteristics.”

Gragg is the second Henderson biology student to be selected for the program. Hannah Deputy of Kirby participated last summer.

“I am extremely grateful and thankful for the opportunity to do research at Vanderbilt,” Gragg said. “The fact that I was chosen for such a prestigious task, confirms that I was meant to be at Henderson.

“Without the support and guidance of my biology professors, specifically Dr. Engman, I doubt I would have received such an opportunity. And I want to thank Vanderbilt and the Aspirnaut program for giving me such an extraordinary opportunity which, without a doubt, will open up countless doors for me in the future and give me a priceless summer experience.”

After he graduates from Henderson, Gragg said he plans to attend medical school and become a doctor.

“However, with a biology major, I have many diverse options after I graduate. I can only pray that I truly go down the road I’m meant to go down,” Gragg said. “Regardless of what I do, I know that I definitely want to help others in a significant way.”

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Watkins receives prestigious fellowship

Earlier this spring, Sara Watkins wasn’t sure where she would be attending graduate school following commencement on May 8. She had won several awards for her academic performance while at Henderson State University, and was honored as the Outstanding Graduating Senior in mathematics.

Not long before graduation, Watkins learned she had been awarded a prestigious fellowship to pursue her Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Arkansas. As the recipient of a Doctoral Academy Fellowship, she will receive $10,000 a year for four years with tuition waived.

Watkins will also become a graduate assistant earning $14,500 a year for five years with some teaching duties.

At the Ellis College Awards this spring, Watkins’ narrative read, “Some students get by in their mathematics classes through rote memorization, while others excel due to their ability to understand the concepts. Sara is one of the latter groups. She solves difficult problems, using good insights and creative approaches to the problems.”

Watkins is a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society, served as vice president of Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society, secretary of the Math Club, and was a member of the Honors College.