University of Arkansas
The Arkansas Alumni Association has announced the 2020 Class of Razorback Classics.
This class represents the top 10 female and top 10 male graduating seniors, commemorating the university's official mascot change in 1910. A total of 20 graduating seniors were selected from more than 600 nominations. These Razorback Classics were selected based on their academic achievement, leadership skills and co-curricular activities.
This year's class of winners includes representatives from a variety of academic disciplines. Arkansans make up the majority of the recipients with 12 students hailing from the state. Other locations represented are Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Making up the 2020 Class of Razorback Classics are:
Nicholas Broadbent, Bentonville: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; College of Engineering*
Bailey Corwine, Lyndon, Kan.: Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
Ashley Cox, Prairie Grove: College of Engineering*
Nicholas "Nick" Foster, Edmond, Okla.: Sam M. Walton College of Business*
Andrew Greek, Joplin, Mo.: College of Engineering*
Gillian Gullett, Little Rock: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
John Hedgecock, Little Rock: Sam M. Walton College of Business
Eleanor "Elle" Henson, Hot Springs: College of Engineering*
Samia Ismail, Fort Smith: College of Engineering*
Amrit Kannan, Fort Smith: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
Gabriel Kupovics, Dallas: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
Chimdera Nzelu, Plano, Texas: College of Education and Health Professions*
Jared Pinkerton, Farmington: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; Sam M. Walton College of Business*
Ryan Pohlkamp, Little Rock: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
Mersady Redding, Marshall: Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences*
Hudson Surber, Owasso, Okla." J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
Pranav Suri, Joplin, Mo.: College of Engineering*
Kate Truitt, Fort Smith: Sam M. Walton College of Business*
Maya Ungar, Fayetteville: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
Darci Walton, Highland Village, Texas: J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences*
*Members of the Honors College
_
UALR
Sixteen game enthusiasts, including Kyle Hooks of Bentonville, took part in Global Game Jam 2020 from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In just 48 hours, they created seven new games for the world to enjoy.
"This was our third year hosting the Global Game Jam at UA Little Rock's CRUX Lab, and it was the biggest and best one yet," said graduate student Olivia Dunlap, a co-founder of Little Rock Game Designers who co-led the event with alumnus and co-founder Robbie Hunt.
Global Game Jam is similar to a hackathon but is focused on game development. More than 48,700 people participated in Global Game Jam 2020 from 934 locations spanning 118 countries. Participants were given a "Repair" theme and then had 48 hours to create a game.
A computer science major, Hooks said Global Game Jam is one of his favorite events of the year.
"Getting a chance to work with old friends and new ones on games is good fun and great practice for my programming and design skills," Hooks said. "The fact that it's not a competition makes it much more relaxed, too, which I think helps people think outside the box without added pressure."
This year's participants included UA Little Rock students Mark Barnes, Zach Bolt, Dunlap, Snow, Venus Mitteer, Bushra Sajid, and Skylar Whitehurst, as well as Travis Bailey, Alex Barton, Sean Beasley, Erik Frederick, Emily Hillyard, Hooks, and Hunt.
_
Expo Day
A new lure for snagging catfish, firestarters for outdoor leaves, and art pieces made from used plastic caps and aluminum tabs are the winning business ideas presented by three of 25 finalist teams that competed at the 15th annual Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S.) for Arkansas 5th-8th Grade Business Competition Expo Day, held at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
At Expo Day, the Top 25 finalists were given two hours to convince judges that their business idea and products were the best of show in three other categories besides Best Business Plan: Most Innovative, Best Marketing and Best Retail Booth. The finalist teams also had the opportunity during the expo to sell their products to each other, the judges and to the public.
The first- through fourth-place winners were:
Best Business Plan:
First Place: Bottle Cap Beauties/Captivating Creations, Seventh Street Elementary, North Little Rock
Second Place: Smelltastic Scrunchies, Omaha Schools, Omaha
Third Place: Pocket Patrol, Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Rock
Fourth Place: Butterfly Magnets, Linda Childers Knapp Elementary, Springdale
Most Innovative:
First Place: Mr. Wisker's Catfish Noodles, Midland School District, Pleasant Plains
Second Place: Thief Board Game, Omaha Schools, Omaha
Third Place: Animal Helpers, Pulaski Heights Middle School, Little Rock
Fourth Place: Pocket Patrol, Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Rock
Best Retail Booth:
First Place: Savin' Shavins, Berryville Middle School, Berryville
Second Place: Mr. Wisker's Catfish Noodles, Midland School District, Pleasant Plains
Third Place: Drop Stop, Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Rock
Fourth Place: The Re-Usey Koozie, Southwest Middle School, Searcy
Best Marketing Piece:
First Place: Savin' Shavins, Berryville Middle School, Berryville
Second Place: Kelly Coffee Klatch, J.O. Kelly Middle School, Springdale
Third Place: LaNae Grace, Midland School District, Pleasant Plains
Fourth Place: Smelltastic Scrunchies, Omaha Schools, Omaha
All team members and teachers in these categories won a school trophy and cash prizes.
_
Send school news to [email protected].
NAN Our Town on 04/02/2020