Just proud to be here

Who says there’s only bad news in the paper?

Saturday, May 24, 2014

You know the article in the newspaper is a good one when you save it for the spouse. In last Sunday's column, our own Philip Martin mentioned the habit of his better seven-eighths, who points out the news articles in the paper Not To Miss. Three times in the last seven days, we found ourselves doing the same thing. No wonder this product is made of newsprint--the better to clip and save.

Did you catch the inside story on Tuesday featuring Christian Boekhout? He's the 13-year-old--thirteen--who represented this state at the National Geography Bee.

Four years in a row.

The eighth-grader at Hot Springs Middle visited Washington, D.C., last weekend, as he did in 2011, 2012, and 2013. All the time competing in the geography bee against 53 other contestants representing the states, D.C. and territories. Those top 54 kids bested almost 4 million others to get the chance to compete. Imagine what it must be like to do it four years in a row.

Young Christian came up one answer short of advancing to the finals this year. He took the disappointment in stride, telling our reporter, "I'm kind of satisfied with what I got [right]. I feel like this year I knew a lot more than I did last year, and I know I knew more, so that's really what really matters."

Yes, it is, Mr. Boekhout. It's called knowledge for its own sake. That attitude will serve you well in life. Congratulations, and, no, nobody wants to watch Jeopardy! with you.

Then there was the story Sunday about Robert Runyan, who has built some of the more notable hand-crafted log and stone houses in the Ozarks. He uses techniques that predate not only the settling of these here hills, but the founding of the nation, too. Instead of modern tools, Mr. Runyan tries to use as many tools from the past as possible in his craft. He uses mules and sleds to move material, and ropes and pulleys to put sections of roof in place.

Mr. Runyan's trademarks include selectively cut and hand-shaped logs and stones--so cabin walls fit tightly without the builder's having to use nails and such.

Last week, the Arkansas Arts Council announced that it had named Robert Runyan this year's Living Treasure.

Hey, honey, you have to read this story.

Then there was the most inspiring article of them all, or at least of all the articles published last week--this one featuring the Odeniyi sisters.

Dolapo Odeniyi and Bukola Odeniyi were born in Nigeria in 1992, immigrating to this country in 2001. They have attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the last several years. They, along with 1,400 other students, graduated last weekend.

Now the twins will begin another dual track: Shooting for doctorates in medicine and research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Services, where the rigorous dual-doctorate is awarded on the completion of a demanding seven-year program. Every year only three to five new students are added to the select group who qualify for these degrees.

As you would imagine, this is the first time twins have been invited to participate in this ambitious--and strenuous--program.

Some of us can't imagine taking a college course in any kind of medicine, or at least passing one. For two foreign-born sisters to jump into a seven-year dual doctorate program . . . well, the word awe isn't too powerful for what we feel.

One of their profs smiled and noted that after college, the twins would probably go on to save the world, of course.

That doesn't sound like much of a joke where Dolapo Odeniyi and Bukola Odeniyi are concerned. It sounds like a goal in this case. Some of us are glad they're around. They just might keep some of us around a little longer, too.

Editorial on 05/24/2014