Townzen celebrates 90th birthday

Reta Townzen, better known as “Grandma T,” of Bentonvillewill celebrate her 90th birthday with a drop-in reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Bethel Baptist Church, 2907 N. Walton Blvd., in Bentonville.

Friends and family are invited.No gifts are necessary.

Information: Randy Townzen, (479) 271-7551.

Professor gives book to library

NorthWest Arkansas Community College professor and author Susan Holmes recently donated a copy of her new book, “Deadly Ties: A Waterside Kennels Mystery,” to the NWACC Library. Holmes presented the book after the discussion, “Blueprint for Murder: Writing a Mystery Novel,” on Oct. 25 at the library.

The book is the first in the Waterside Kennels Mystery Series, which tells of family, friendship and betrayal in the Ozarks.

Miles selected for American Miss

Lauren Miles, a student at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Schoolin Rogers, has been selected to attend the National American Miss pageant in Anaheim, Calif., this week.

Miles is the daughter of Vic and Kim Miles.

She is a member of the student council at her school and participates in volleyball, cheer and flute.

Miles won a 2013 University of Arkansas Science and Engineering Award in the junior computer sciences division and participated in the Bentonville and Rogers Junior Cotillion.

She was chosen for her formal wear, interview and community service scores.

Morrison honored at gala

American master wildlife artist Susan Morrison was honored Nov. 9 at a gala thrown by the Arkansas Club at the Queen Anne Mansion in Eureka Springs. The event celebrated the club’s acquisition of more than 60 pieces of Morrison’s art spanning five decades.

The artwork will become part of the club’s permanent collection at the mansion. Morrison will serve as curator for the collection of her works.

Homecoming queen, king announced

Allie Wilson, 20, of Greenwood, and John Sturrock, 21, of Tyler, Texas, were named homecoming queen and king at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith during a women’s basketball game on Nov. 9.

Wilson, a marketing major, is the daughter of Don and Suzy Wilson. She represented Delta Gamma sorority.

Sturrock, an organizational leadership major, is the son of Lance and Caroline Sturrock. He represented Sigma Nu fraternity in the contest.

Crown bearers for the event were Leon Suzuki, son of Takeo and Antonela Suzuki, and Rachel Settle, daughter of Keven and Terri Settle.

Young, Coleman join Harding chorus

Aaron Young of Bentonville and Micaleigh Coleman of Alma have been selected for the 2013-2014 Harding University Chorus, a 60-member ensemble that performs on- and off-campus. Auditions for the chorus were held at the beginning of the fall semester.

Young, who has not declared a major, and Coleman, a music major, will both perform choral classics, new works, spirituals, opera, folk songs and contemporary Christian songs.

Bobbitt earns Golden Eagle Award

Sandy Bobbitt of Rogers is the winner of the November Golden Eagle Award at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.

Bobbitt was honored during a Nov. 11 presentation. She has workedon the student newspaper for more than two years; is president of Sigma Kappa Delta, the English honors society; and is a mentor in the Peer Association for Student Success.

Bobbitt is also a library guide at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. She has a 3.24 grade-point average.

NWACC’s Fish visits Guggenheim Miles Fish, a music faculty member at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, attended a workshop for teachers at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on Nov. 15-16.

Fish and other teachers toured the Guggenheim building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; saw the Robert Motherwell exhibition; and participated in the Art in the Classroom workshop.

Bedell receives alumni award Conaly Bedell of Fort Smith received the Diligenceto Victory Award, the highest award bestowed on an alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, at an alumni reunion dinner on Nov. 9.

The award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves through service to their community, state or nation or who have shown outstanding business or professional leadership. Bedell, an international technology and political consultant, attended the university in the 1950s.

He serves international clients as an associate with Jefferson Waterman International. He served as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees for 18 years when it was known as Westark College.

Bedell is now an active member of the UA Fort Smith Alumni Advisory Council.

Middle school

honors students Helen Tyson Middle School in Springdale has announced its students of the month for November.

Winners are Charlie Acuff, Alberto Almanza, Denise Araujo, Jonathan Deras, Sydnie Jackson, Samuel Martinez, Rona Masha and Reannon Ray.

Jane, Mo., native cast in play Brandi Campbell from Jane, Mo., was cast in the University of Central Missouri production of “The Shape of Things.” The production ran through Nov. 23 at the Highlander Theatre on the university’s campus in Warrensburg, Mo.

Campbell is the daughter of Sheila Hackett of Jane, Mo. She portrayed Jenny in the production.

Campbell is a senior at the university and a 2009 graduate of McDonald County High School.

Biddinger chosen for Scholars group Haily Biddinger of Pea Ridge has been chosen to become a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.

The group recognizes top scholars who demonstrate leadership, scholarship and community commitment.

Group members qualify for a number of benefits including scholarship opportunities, academic contests, members-only resources and public honors.

Watershed honors Mike Tillery

The Beaver Watershed Alliance honored Mike Tillery, a landowner along the East Fork of the White River, with the fourth Watershed Guardian Award at the group’s annual Friendraiser on Nov. 15.

Tillery and his wife, Carol, raise poultry and beef cattle on their 549-acre farm.

Tillery has been a fertilizer nutrient manager for yearsand was one of the first residents in the region to have a nutrient management plan developed for his farm.

Tillery also fences his cattle away from the stream to prevent stream bank erosion along with other stewardship practices.

New Alpha Epsilon Delta chapter

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith has chartered a new chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the Health Pre-professional Honor Society, according to a news release. Initial chapter members include 21 students and four faculty members.

Membership is open to all students pursuing a healthcare degree. A 3.2 grade point average overall and in science courses and at least three semesters of pre-professional health work are required for admission.

Students receive honors

Five area high school students have received honors as part of a creative writing contest sponsored by Applause, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s creative arts club.

Entries were submitted in both short story and poetry categories and were judged by UA Fort Smith students.

Winners were recognized at a ceremony, where they read their works and received prizes.

Amber Baldwin of Southside High School in Fort Smith earned top honors in the short story category for her story “The Coffee House.” Second place went to Jennifer Stemmer of Sallisaw (Okla.) High School for “At the End,” while third place honors went to Lexi Gillson of Van Buren High School for “Flames.”

Stemmer also earned an honorable mention for her story “No More Fear.”

Jav Sandhu, a student at Sallisaw High School, earned the top poetry prize for “Unseen.” Baldwin took home second place honors for “I Don’t Know,” while Baylee White of Van Buren High School earned third place honors for “Laughter.”

Stemmer again took home an honorable mention for her poem “Dark.”

First place winners received $50, while second and third place winners received $30 and $20 respectively.

Send information for People & Places to Northwest Arkansas Achievers, P.O. Box 7, Springdale, AR 72765. Deadline is noon Monday for Thursday publication.

Our Town, Pages 35 on 11/28/2013