ON WEBSITE
The following information is now available on the website of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, nwaonline.com. n Academic Excellence Awards, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. n NWACC Rising Scholars program. n Harding University dean’s list. n Ouachita Baptist University graduates.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
AT LITTLE ROCK
Ashley Hidalgo of Springdale, a member of Phi Beta Lambda at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, received two awards during the organization’s annual state leadership conference April 6-7. She won first place in the scrapbook competition and fifth place in the business ethics category. She will represent the school in the scrapbook category in the national competition.
UNIVERISTY OF ARKANSAS
AT FORT SMITH
Albert Spanel of Alma, a student at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, received a degree in business administration during the school’s commencement ceremonies May 11-12. He also was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Arkansas Army National Guard, a culmination of his time spent in the Reserve Officers’ Training Program (ROTC) at UAFS. He will serve as a quartermaster officer. Following his recital of the oath of office at the commissioning ceremony, Spanel’s bars were pinned on by his wife, Courtney, and his mother and father, Fay and Frank Spanel.
OKLAHOMA STATE
UNIVERSITY
Karson Walker of Lowell was awarded with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree and a master of business administration degree May 11 during graduation ceremonies of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. At the veterinary center’s recent honors reception, she also was awarded with the Donald R. Callicott Scholarship in recognition of her academic achievements and her interest in a small animal veterinary practice.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
A number of local students are 2018 graduate candidates of the University of Kansas in Lawrence. The commencement ceremony took place May 13, but degrees are officially conferred in June.
The included Claire Meczkowski of Bentonville, bachelor of arts in political science and bachelor of arts in communication studies; Alexandra Pecoraro, Bentonville, bachelor of arts in history and bachelor of arts in women, gender,and sexuality studies; Marisa Pecoraro, Bentonville, bachelor of arts in African and African-American studies and in history; Brett T. Fox, Fayetteville, bachelor of science in petroleum engineering; Jenna Hammond, Fayetteville, bachelor of fine arts in design; Lauren Frederick, Fort Smith, bachelor of science in biology; Hayley West, Fort Smith, bachelor of general studies in speech-language-hearing; Sarah Anderson, Lowell, bachelor of arts in English and bachelor of science in environmental studies; Jason Alderson, Rogers, master of science in education; Addison Barczewski, Rogers, bachelor of science in business supply chain management; Shelby Dufour, Rogers, bachelor of science in business in marketing; Alex Olsen, Rogers, bachelor of fine arts in dance; Abigail Parker, Rogers, bachelor of fine arts in design; Kandy Salter, Rogers, doctor of occupational therapy; Anna Harris, Springdale, doctor of occupational therapy.
LOUISIANA STATE
UNIVERSITY
Several local students are 2018 graduates of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Commencement exercises were May 7.
Jessie Hargis of Fayetteville received a doctor veterinary medicine degree, the American College of Veterinary Radiology Award, and the LSU Animal Sterilization Assistance and Cat Haven Award.
Ashley Long of Harrison received a doctor of veterinary medicine degree.
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE
Emily Bruce of Centerton was named to the spring 2018 dean’s list at Chadron (Neb.) State College, with a grade-point average of 3.5 or better.
MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY
Taylor Hartwick of Bentonville is a 2018 graduate of McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Commencement exercises were May 12.
BERRY COLLEGE
Jordan Senn of Bentonville was named to the spring 2018 dean’s list at Berry College in Rome, Ga., with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
Derek Sallee of Rogers was named to the spring 2018 dean’s list at Columbia (Mo.) College, with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
OTTAWA UNIVERSITY
Sherry Santell of Fayette-vile is a 2018 graduate of Ottawa (Kan.) University, with a bachelor of arts degree, with cum laude honors, in human services. She earned cum laude honors with a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.799.
WILLIAM WOODS
UNIVERSITY
Ashley White of Rogers, a biology major at William Woods College in Fulton, Mo., recently was awarded the school’s Outstanding Wisdom and Leadership Achievement Award. Criteria includes the student’s scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities, citizenship, service to the school and community, and potential for future achievement.
FARM CREDIT
Kenley Bramall, a student at the University of Arkansas, was awarded a $1,000 academic scholarship from Farm Credit of Western Arkansas this spring. She is pursuing a degree in agricultural business and agricultural communications and leadership.
THEA FOUNDATION
Thea Foundation awarded scholarships to several teens across the region who competed in five scholarship competitions during the spring. They included:
Performing arts — Kennedy Frazier, Bentonville High School, sixth place, $2,000, Lindsey Robison East memorial scholarship; Dane Drennan, Greenwood High School, 10th place, $2,000, Robert T. & Elizabeth W. Seibert scholarship; visual arts — Aaron Evans, Bergman High School, fifth place, $2,000, Robin Orsi family scholarship; Kenleigh Godwin, Southside High School in Fort Smith, eighth place, $2,000, Munro Foundation scholarship; poetry slam — Caroline Dinger, Siloam Springs High School, second place, $3,500, Diamond Fiberglass scholarship; creative writing — Emilee Rotter, Van Buren High School, second place, $3,500, Dr. Ben Meade & Jane Hunt scholarship; film — Rhianydd Hylton, Bentonville High School, $2,500, Kye-Yac international scholarship for directing; Chandler Shew-maker, Bentonville High School, $2,500, Natalie and Win Rockefeller scholarship for cinematography; Sophia Thomas, Eureka Springs High School, $2,500, Dorothy and Walter Morris Foundation scholarship for script writing.
ACT PERFECT
Samuel Ellgass, a junior at Bentonville High School junior, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36 when he took the test Feb. 27. Ellgass, the son of Lisa and Michael Ellgass, is involved in the chamber choir, Spanish club, Model United Nations and literary magazine at Bentonville High School. He also has made the Arkansas all-state choir for the past two years. He volunteers as a religious school teacher at Temple Etz Chaim in Bentonville and is part of the Crystal Bridges Teen Council and the Young Men’s Service League.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
STUDENT FILM WINNERS
Fayetteville High School students were the top winners in the fourth annual Arkansas Historic Places film prize competition of short documentaries focusing on historic properties throughout the state.
The they included Ian Linn, Noah Chacon, Collin Schultz and Jordan Giacalone, second place for Berry on the Square; Bella Warner, Obediah Kimmel, Harrison Bradford, Owen Hicks and Luis Ayala third place for Wired to the Past: A Vision into the Future.
FONTBONNE UNIVERSITY
Justin Marks of Spring-dale is a 2018 graduate of Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Mo., with a bachelor of science degree. Commencement ceremonies were May 7.
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Local students recently were inducted in to the National Technical Honor Society at the Arkansas Tech University-Ozark campus. The society honors student achievement and leadership in career and technical education, promotes educational excellence, awards scholarships and enhances career opportunities for members.
They include: Katherine Blackwell of Van Buren, Jessica Boggs of Fort Smith, Stephanie Bowles of Ozark, Raigan Cates of New Blaine, Jessica Cook of Lamar, Leilaunee Cooper of Lavaca, Alyssa Coughran of Charleston, Carrie Cowell of Lamar, Delenah Curtis of Lamar, Brettaney Davenport of Ozark, Benjamin Gainer of Lamar, Jennifer Golden of Fort Smith, Randy Gunter of Ozark, Shadea Haines of Booneville, Kris Harkey of Paris, Ashley Harris of Paris, Megan Hauenstein of Fayetteville, Hannah Howell of Clarksville, Karla Hufford of Ozark, Kayla Isbell of Ozark, Ashley Lambert of Ozark, Brianna Mull of Fort Smith, Alan Mullinax of Fort Smith, Aerial Nicely of Ozark, Cole Norton of Paris, Heaven Potts of Paris, Kara Roach of Coal Hill, Brenda Rofkahr of Altus, Nickole Shelton of Alma, Elizabeth Stenberg of Alma, Thein Tun of Clarksville, Allyson Walker of Ozark, Ugur Walker of Paris, Emma Wallace of Clarksville, Justin Watkins of Alma, Brenda Wiley of Hackett.
CROWDER COLLEGE
Several local students received awards May 10 at the annual awards ceremony of The Crowder Quill, a literary and art magazine of Crowder (Mo.) College. These entries were chosen publication in the 2018 edition.
They included: Haleigh Hull of Bentonville, honorable mention in 2-D art for Mountains; Luis Linares of Springdale, honorable mention, 2-D art, for Distant Sunset; Luis Monares of Rogers, silver, 3-D art, for Broken Rainbow; Juliana Varghese of Bentonville, bronze, digital art, for Moon.
CAMPBELLSVILLE
UNIVERSITY
Several local students are 2018 graduates of Campbellsville (Ky.) University, receiving their degrees during commencement ceremonies May 11-12. They include Ranjith Cheruku of Rogers, master of science in information technology management; Saravanan Baluchamy of Bentonville, master of science in information technology management; and Vivek Bihani of Bentonville, master of science in information technology management.