College of Education and Health Professions to recognize donors, honor outstanding students, faculty and staff at annual year-end celebration

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas College of Education and Health  Professions will celebrate the contributions of students, faculty and staff to scholarly achievement at its annual Honors Convocation at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Fayetteville Town Center. A reception at 6 p.m. to welcome scholarship donors, honorees and their families will precede the ceremonies.

The college will celebrate student accomplishments and encourage future achievement with recognition of undergraduate and graduate students awarded departmental honors. Scholarship donors will also be recognized for their contributions. More than 160 students were awarded college scholarships for the coming academic year.

Reed Greenwood, dean of the college, noted that the number of scholarships, amount of money awarded and the pool of applicants continues to grow each year.

“This special occasion allows us to recognize students being honored with awards from their departments as well as those who have received scholarships,” Greenwood said. “These students were chosen by faculty members as the best of the best, and we have high expectations for them.

“We are very pleased our generous donors have allowed us to help as many students as possible,” Greenwood continued. “The number of students who won scholarships increased significantly over last year. Our donors are helping to ensure a high-quality education for the professionals we prepare to enter the nation’s work force.”

Two first-ranked senior scholars for 2006 will speak at the convocation. Ashley Pierce, an elementary education major, will give welcoming greetings, and Maureen Scott, a kinesiology major, will offer closing remarks. The other senior scholars to be honored are Holly Cunningham, elementary education; Bryan Striegler, kinesiology; John Coppin, kinesiology, Abigail Hunsberger, middle level education; and Shelly Sullivan, nursing.

Honors medallions will be presented to graduating seniors Katherine Post, Amy Lott, Mary O’Brien and Bradley James, recognizing their successful completion of the honors program. The college will also honor Presidential Scholar Sara Albrecht.

The Henry G. and Stella Hotz Scholarship awards will go to Carla Sawatski, outstanding junior, and Katelin Hornaday, outstanding sophomore.

The college will present its 2005 Outstanding Faculty Awards. The award for teaching will go to Ronna Turner, associate professor of educational research methods and policy studies. Marianne Neighbors, professor of nursing, was named the year’s outstanding researcher. Inza Fort, professor of kinesiology, will receive the award for outstanding service, and Jean Hughes, assistant professor of recreation, will be honored for advising. The all-around faculty award will go to Barbara Gartin, professor of special education, and Lori Turner, associate professor of health science. The college’s career award will be presented to Richard Roessler, University professor of rehabilitation education and research.

The Outstanding Staff Awards will be presented to Anna Betts, secretary in the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders as best new employee; Sherrie Starkey, administrative office supervisor for the department of educational leadership, counseling and foundations, for leadership; Dianne Stout, director of information services for the college, for crisis management; and Nancy Milmon, secretary in the Boyer Center for Student Services, as best all-around employee.

The college also will honor faculty and staff contributions with the presentation of service awards. The award for 10 years of service goes to Marta Collier, associate professor of curriculum and instruction; Shirley Easley, project program specialist for the Arkansas Leadership Academy; Elizabeth Jordan, instructor in special education; Jack Kern, clinical assistant professor of kinesiology; Cheryl Murphy, associate professor of educational technology; and Ronna Turner, associate professor of educational research methods and policy studies. For 20 years of service, awards will go to William Cochran, clinical assistant professor in the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders, and Jeanne Miller, research associate in the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders. The award for 30 years of service will be presented to James Hammons, professor of higher education, and Marilyn Smith, administrative assistant in the office of the associate dean for academic affairs.