UA lauds Ferritor, Patterson, Rice

Advocacy center expanding

The University of Arkansas bid farewell to Interim Chancellor Dan Ferritor with a reception Dec. 17 at University House on the UA campus in Fayetteville.

Those bidding farewell to Ferritor included Mike Johnson, Suzanne McRay, Marcia Overby, Theresa and Paul Cronan, Ashok Saxena, UA Trustee Jim von Gremp, Kathy and Don Pederson, UA President Don Bobbitt, Melissa Harwood-Rom, Laura Jacobs and Jim Rankin.

The next evening saw university administrators and supporters back at University House for the Commencement Dinner. Guests of honor for the evening were James Patterson, best-selling author, and Don Rice, Wall Street entrepreneur, both of whom were presented honorary degrees at the fall commencement ceremony Dec. 19.

Patterson, an advocate for expanding audiences for books and reading, was presented an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. In 2013, the author established the James Patterson Teacher Education Scholarship Fund at UA and 23 other schools, “to support up-and-coming teachers who help their students develop a lifelong love of reading.” The fund provides 16 $6,000 scholarships to elementary or secondary education majors in the UA College of Education and Health Professions.

Don Rice is founder and chief executive officer of one of the largest minority-owned municipal investment banking firms, the Rice Financial Products Company. He was presented an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Rice and his family lived in Hot Springs for 10 years while he was growing up, and he considers himself an Arkansan. According to a UA press release, his company is involved in 10 percent of the state and local borrowing done in America and is the largest financier for historically black colleges and universities.

Those welcoming Patterson and Rice included Debi and Tom Smith, Lewis Epley, Don Bobbitt, Randy Massanelli, Stacy Leeds, Todd Shields, Laura and Cade Jacobs, Vita and Buster McCall, John English, Charles Scharlau, Jim von Gremp, Charles Robsinson and Rhonda and Tim O’Donnell.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County began its sixth expansion project with a groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning at the center in Little Flock.

The nonprofit organization began with 873 square feet in 2000 and, with the addition of the latest construction, will grow to nearly 10,000 square feet. The growth will allow the center to offer its services to more children and families when there are allegations of abuse.

Natalie Tibbs, executive director, said the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County offers “advocacy support for each family, forensic interviews and medical examinations of the victim children, counseling services for the family and education for professionals and the community on the appropriate response to child abuse concerns and general child abuse training.”

The center provided initial services for 790 children and more than 2,500 counseling sessions in 2015. In just the first week of this year, Tibbs said, the center’s team has already seen 20 children. “We just never want our lack of space or personnel to be a reason a child cannot be afforded the professional services of our center.”

The new space will include a larger waiting area to give families more privacy and a children’s play area, additional office space, moving an interview room and observation rooms from a high traffic area and larger meeting space for the growing multi-disciplinary staff.

Those gathered for the groundbreaking included Shelley McMillon, Lori Collins, Kathy Farrell, Beverly and David Engle, Jay Allen, Annye De-Grand, Jeremy Bernard, Brian Shewmaker and Laura Kellams.

For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.

Farewell reception

Who: University of Arkansas What: UA lauded Dan Ferritor, interim chancellor, as he stepped down from the office When: Dec. 17 Where: University House on the the UA campus in Fayetteville

Commencement

dinner

Who: UA What: UA administrators and supporters welcomed James Patterson, best-selling author, and Don Rice, Wall Street entrepreneur, for the dinner on the eve of the fall commencement ceremony where Patterson and Rice received honorary degrees. When: Dec. 18 Where: University House

Groundbreaking

Who: Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County What: The new expansion will allow the center to offer their services to more children and their families. When: Jan. 8 Where: Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County in Little Flock Next: Cherishing Children 5K Glow Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk, April 15 Information: (479) 621-0385

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].

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