NATA elects
officers
The board of directors of the Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association announces its new slate of officers for 2018-2019. They were elected at the organization's April 19 board meeting.
President: Molly Rawn, executive director of Experience Fayetteville; vice president: Kalene Griffith, president and chief executive officer of Visit Bentonville; treasurer: Sandy Martin of Eureka Springs, representing Carroll County; and secretary: Cassi Lapp, communications manager for the City of Bella Vista and Discover Bella Vista.
The Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association is the official nonprofit organization established to encourage leisure tourism, travel and vacation business to and within the Northwest Arkansas region. Member cities include Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Bella Vista, Siloam Springs, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Huntsville.
Information: NorthwestArkansas.org.
Collins recognized
for civics essay
Gwyneth Collins of Bentonville was honored for her entry to the National Center for State Courts essay contest. She was presented a certificate in a ceremony in the Supreme Court Courtroom of the Arkansas State Capital. The award ceremony was a part of Law Day 2018.
Students place
in essay contests
Students at Haas Hall Academy were among the top winners in the 27th annual "Preserve Our Past" art and essay invitational sponsored by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
Bart Walker of Haas Hall Academy in Rogers won first place in the seventh- and eighth-grade essay division for a piece on the Potts Inn Tavern. Meera Arunkumar won second place for an essay on Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.
The students each receive a trophy, and their entries will be displayed at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock throughout May, which is Arkansas Heritage Month. They also can be seen at arkansaspreservation.com/Learn-More/preserve-our-past-winners.
Schools receive
training money
Gentry High School Conversion Charter and Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale were each awarded $150,000 in education and training grants by the Motor Vehicle Commission. The grants provide funds for education and technical training in the field of vehicle service and maintenance in an effort to increase the available workforce of service technicians
Phi Theta Kappa
builds relationships
Beta Kappa Psi, Northwest Arkansas Community College's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, received the distinguished college project award April 21.
The award was for the chapter's work in the Community College Completions Corps, and the award was presented at the Phi Theta Kappa Catalyst International Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The purpose of the college project is to establish a relationship between the chapter and the college administration. The chapter is encouraged to meet with the college president (or other appropriate administrator) to determine the college project, which can be anything that supports the college's mission.
Students from Northwest Arkansas Community College's Phi Theta Kappa who accepted the award included Amanda Karpinski, international president; Autumn Roberts; Sowmya Nyam; Becky Hudson; Kimberly Kay, regional vice president; Chante Ramiah, chapter president; Renato Betim; Ronaldo Seranllari; John Merystal; and Dylan Stith.
Tyson provides
summer interns
United Way of Northwest Arkansas chose 20 student interns for the Tyson summer internship program. United Way of NWA is the recipient of a grant for $100,000 from Tyson Foods that will bring together college students and local nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas.
Interns include: Maddy Baumhover, Amazeum; Brent Barker, Arkansas Support Network; Madison Lester, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Zhizhan Chen, Boys & Girls Club Benton County; Katelyn Johnson, Community Clinic; Sheldon Riklon, Community Clinic; Yanira Albarran, Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas; Gabe Dowell, Legal Aid of Arkansas; Gillian Gullett, NWA Center for Sexual Assault; Brittney Higgins, NWA Child Care; Emma Blankenship, NWA Children's Shelter; Audrey Georger, NWA Food Bank; Evelyn Martinez-Rodriguez, OneCommunity Inc.; Jordan Gershon, Open Avenues; Ruby Erickson, Ozark Literacy Council; Aja Pence, Potter's House; Colleen Villareal, Prism Education Center; Kirstie Michaela, Conway Samaritan Community Center; Chloe Riggs, Seeds That Feed; and Leigh Ann Robinson, UAMS NW Regional Campus.
Gift provides
scholarships
Representatives from the Higher Education Research and Scholarship Foundation and the American Public University System recently presented a $20,000 gift from the foundation to Northwest Arkansas Community College. The gift establishes health professions scholarships and an endowment for the scholarships.
NAN Our Town on 05/17/2018