News

Dr. Ed P. Kardas named director of the Honors College at Southern Arkansas University

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:57 GMT

Dr. Edward P. Kardas has been named director of the Honors College at Southern Arkansas University, effective July 1, 2009. He succeeds the founding director, Dr. Lynne Belcher, who will support the development of the Test of English as a Foreign Language program (TOEFL) at the University.

Dr. Kardas has been at SAU since 1980 and holds the rank of full professor of psychology in the Behavioral and Social Sciences department. He received his PhD in comparative/developmental psychology from LSU, and his BA, also in psychology, from the University of Baltimore. Before coming to SAU, he taught at LSU-Eunice and at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Dr. Kardas has long been interested in honors education. He helped add SAU’s first honors level course, Honors Seminar, to the curriculum in 1986 after Dr. Bill Seay (SSC, 1960), then director of LSU’s Honors College, visited SAU.

In 2008, he co-authored, with Chris Spatz of Hendrix College, a textbook in psychological research methods published by McGraw-Hill. Dr. Kardas recently signed a contract with Cengage Publishers to author a text in the history of psychology. Kardas is also the author of two books on using technology in teaching.

Kardas teaches research methods, learning, comparative and physiological psychology, cognitive science, freshman seminar, and the history of psychology. In 2002, he was named SAU’s Honor Professor. He is currently a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and is a past-president of the Southwestern Psychological Association.

Dr. Kardas is married to the former Julie A. McCuller of Texarkana, a 1991 SAU graduate. They live in Magnolia with their three children Christian, Clay, and Cara.

Magnolia Unit of the Arkansas National Guard honored at Southern Arkansas University

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:59 GMT

The three flags and flagpoles in front of one of Southern Arkansas University’s most recognizable buildings, Overstreet, were recently dedicated in honor of Magnolia’s unit of the Arkansas National Guard, Troop B First Squadron 151st Calvary 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The two 50- foot flagpoles bear the University and Arkansas flags and the largest 70-foot flag pole displays the American flag.

The donation of the flags and flagpoles was made by SAU President Dr. David Rankin and his wife Toni Rankin. The couple’s two sons, Curtice and John, are members of the Magnolia branch of the Arkansas National Guard. Curtice Rankin returned in January from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. William Austin said the donation by the Rankins was well received by members of the local National Guard unit.

“They were very appreciative of the recognition—these guys are proud of their service to their country and SAU has been a big supporter of our unit and the National Guard in general,” Austin said. “The troops are proud to be on campus and the location of the unit makes it easy for the soldiers to go to college.”

The Magnolia unit of the National Guard has been on the SAU campus since the 1920s and has provided an avenue for many soldiers to become SAU graduates as well. Capt. Chris Heathscott, State Public Affairs Officer for the Arkansas National Guard in North Little Rock, said the University signed an agreement in July 2003 to provide tuition assistance to soldiers who wanted to further their educations. In return, the Arkansas National Guard made a presentation to the University in 2004 of the Minuteman statue which symbolizes the National Guard and dates back to the time of the militia when citizen soldiers stood ready to ‘put down the plow and pick up the musket' in order to defend the country.

“SAU led the way for 35 other colleges and universities to follow and sign a tuition assistance partnership with the Arkansas Guard. We continually challenge our soldiers and airmen to seek personal growth through civilian education and this amazing show of support gives them the opportunity to step up and meet that challenge,” Heathscott said. “Our country asks a lot of our troops. We are extremely grateful for what SAU has done in an effort to show their appreciation for that service.”

The dedication recently shown by SAU goes beyond the Rankins having two sons who are members of the National Guard. David Rankin’s father, Major Curtice H. Rankin, was the executive officer of the 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Army Division of Patton’s 3rd Army during World War II and was killed in France in September 1944. Toni Rankin’s father, James Y. Cameron, a B-17 crewman (radio operator) in the U.S. Army Aircorp, was shot down over Yugoslavia but survived after being smuggled back to allied lines by partisans.

Upward Bound Program to present “Cinderella’s Glass Slipper”

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:57 GMT

The Upward Bound Program at Southern Arkansas University will present two performances of the musical drama, “Cinderella's Glass Slipper” at 10 a.m. July 1 and at 6 p.m. July 2. Both performances will be held at Harton Theatre on the University campus and are free and open to the public.

“Cinderella's Glass Slipper,” a two-act play written by Vera Morris, with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur is based on the rags-to-riches fantasy of a beautiful young girl named Cinderella. After her father's death, Cinderella is living with her mean stepmother and her two cruel and jealous stepsisters who despise her because she is everything that they are not.

Despite her sweet nature, Cinderella is clothed in rags, made to sleep on the floor, work from sun up to sun down, and eat scraps from the family's table. Cinderella dreams of someday breaking free of her hardships. As fate would have it, the Queen wanted her only son to get married. All eligible females, young and old, were summoned to the palace for a grand ball. Much to everyone's surprise, the Fairy Godmother intervenes with her magic wand and sets the stage for Cinderella to experience her dream.

This production will provide good, clean family entertainment filled with music, singing, and dancing. Although the play is free, donations will be accepted and will go toward the completion of a third scholarship endowment. Each endowment provides one year of paid tuition for a graduating senior or former Upward Bound participant to attend Southern Arkansas University.

Southern Arkansas University invites community to take part in planting a garden at Ozmer House

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:52 GMT

The Ozmer House across the bypass from the Mulerider Stables on Highway 82 may be designated with an Arkansas Historical marker sign, but as it is white and sits slightly back from the road, it is sometimes easy to overlook. The Southern Arkansas University Alumni Board is hoping to change this by adding sunflowers and zinnias in the fields east of the house and pumpkins to the west of the property.

The community is being welcomed to take part in this project which is expected to be a big hit once the sunflowers bloom and the pumpkins ripen. Robbye Taylor, who is helping coordinate the project said there are more than 7,000 sunflower seeds in 10 or 11 different varieties to be planted along with numerous pumpkin vines, some of which were grown from seeds sent from an Southern Arkansas University Alum named Ken Roblin, who lives in South Hampton, New York. Some of Roblin’s seeds are from pumpkins that grew to weigh 500 pounds!

“This is so exciting and such a wonderful opportunity for us to make a very green statement,” Taylor said. “This project is going to be good for community consensus building. We are involving the master gardeners and Danny Walker from the extension service went out and tested the soil for us.”

Volunteer gardeners are being asked to bring their garden hats, gloves and bottled water to SAU this Thursday. The gardeners will meet at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 25 in the Overstreet boardroom for an overview of the project.

Those who are unable to attend the meeting may still take part in the project and can get more information about the project from coordinators Taylor at (870) 235-5073 or Sarajane Telford at (870) 235-4290.

Strong Showing for SAU Rodeo Team at Nationals

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:21 GMT

Cody Prescott of the Southern Arkansas University rodeo team is the national champion of the tie down roping event at the College National Finals Rodeo which took place June 14-20 in Casper, Wyoming.

This was Prescott’s third time to compete in the CNFR event. Prescott, a junior majoring in agriculture business from Jay, Florida, drew some challenging calves in his four days of competition but remained a strong contender in the race because his scores were consistent, said SAU Rodeo Coach Rusty Hayes.

“The cattle were real tough out there,” Hayes said. “They were so big and tough and Cody never really did draw a good one. But even though he drew four tough calves, he still got them tied down.”

Hayes said livestock in any rodeo, collegiate or professional, provide an element of surprise in all events. Unlike other professional sports, the performance of the athlete is only one factor. This was something he shared with Dr. David Rankin and his wife Toni Rankin who showed their support of the team by attending three nights of rodeo events.

“The livestock element in rodeo is what makes it different from other sports,” Hayes said. “You have to draw livestock that you can perform your best with and sometimes it doesn’t happen.”

A couple of tough breaks with livestock were also felt by the SAU women’s rodeo team. However, Ashley Mills, a sophomore agriculture business major from Live Oak, Florida and Hannah Thomas, a junior agriculture business major from Waycross, Georgia did place in the top five in their events. Mills won the first round of breakaway roping by roping her animal in 2.7 seconds.

“I can’t even think that fast,” Hayes joked.

Thomas won fourth in the third round of goat tying. Hayes said any placement in the top five is good because teams are made up of the toughest competition from across the United States. Having experience in such a large competition tends to be a factor in how cowboys and cowgirls do, so those who didn’t do as well as they wanted to this year will have a better shot next year, he said.

“This is the biggest bunch we have had out there in several years and they are all young and will return next year with the experience of competing in all the excitement and the pressure. They are all awestruck the first time they go,” Hayes said.

Other members who competed in this year’s event include Laci Rucker, a sophomore agriculture business major from Ft. Valley, Ga.; Beth Stone, a sophomore majoring in physical therapy from Hope, Ark.; Clif Geiger, a junior agriculture business major from Hilliard, Fl.; and Cody Roberts, a freshman agriculture business major from Norma, Ark.

Two SAU Baseball Players Drafted

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:55 GMT

Seniors James Schroeder, third baseman, and Aaron Terry, right handed pitcher, were both selected on day three of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. Schroeder was selected in the 33rd round by the New York Mets and Terry was taken in the 42nd round by the St. Louis Cardinals.

“This was their goal and dream and we are just glad to have been a small part of it,” said Mulerider Head Baseball Coach Allen Gum.

Schroeder, the Montgomery, Texas native, hit .344 with 14 doubles, two triples, and ended the season with 19 home runs, and had a team-leading and the SAU record-tying 88 RBI. Schroeder was also a vital member of the pitching staff, compiling an 8-2 record and 3.38 ERA. He had three complete games in his 14 starts and struck out 72 hitters in his 80 innings of work.

Schroeder’s effort on the diamond paid off as he was named first team-All GSC at third base, second team-All GSC as a starting pitcher, a second team selection on both The American Baseball Coaches’ Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-South Region team and the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association (NCBWA) All-South Region team. Schroeder was also a member of the GSC All-Tournament team.

Terry, a native of Rison, Arkansas, ended the year with a 7-2 record and a 2.97 ERA for SAU. The senior had 15 appearances with 78 strikeouts in 60 innings, with opponents hitting just 181 against him.

Terry’s performance on the mound earned him a first team-All Gulf South Conference accolade.

Schroeder and Terry both helped to lead the Muleriders to a school-record 52 wins, a No. 1 national ranking for the majority of the season, the No. 1 seed in the South Region tournament, played in Magnolia, a Gulf South Conference Western Division title and the Gulf South Conference Championship.

Southern Arkansas University’s SIFE/PBL Celebrates Award Winning Year

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:56 GMT

The Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) chapter at Southern Arkansas University recently attended the 2009 SIFE Regional Competition in Dallas, Texas and the PBL State Leadership Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The SIFE team was named Regional Champion and as a National Finalist in the Team Sustainability Individual Topic Competition. Thirteen team members and their two Sam M. Walton Fellows of Free Enterprise, Dr. James Clark and Traci Hughes attended the one-day competition. Nine team members along with Clark and Hughes also attended the SIFE National Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The PBL chapter brought home 30 state awards, including five first place awards and was named an Arkansas PBL Gold Chapter. Twenty-five chapter members and two chapter advisers, Gerald Plumlee and Hughes, attended the two-day conference. The chapter also received third place honors for its fundraising efforts for the March of Dimes.

SAU-PBL’s Free Enterprise project placed second competition. The project report was written by Kayla Wright, a freshman nursing major from Smackover. The project was presented by Wright and Amber Amonette. Amonette is a junior psychology major from Mineral Springs. Wright also received recognition in Who’s Who in Arkansas PBL as a member of the 2008-2009 Arkansas PBL State Officer team. Wright is the 2008-2009 Director of State Programs.

The Human Resource Management Team placed first. Team members included: Curtis Box II, a senior organizational management major from Camden, Jessica Haynes, a senior management major from Magnolia, and Brent Wallace, a junior management major from Magnolia.

The Business Decision Making Team placed fourth. Team members included: Jody Nations, a senior accounting major from El Dorado, John Miller, a senior accounting major from Texarkana, TX, and Donna Lambis, a senior accounting major from El Dorado. Miller also placed fifth in Accounting Analysis & Decision Making, Nations placed third in Accounting for Professionals, and Lambis placed second in Business Law.

Cecilie Lane won first place in Computer Applications. Lane is a freshman management major from Kingsland.
Weston Wright, a sophomore management major from Smackover, received first place for writing the Local Chapter Annual Business Report.

Shelley Keith, a sophomore general business major from Magnolia, placed first in Marketing Concepts. Keith also placed second in Computer Concepts.

Crystal Lewis, a senior accounting and finance double major from Shongaloo, La., received second place in Accounting for Professionals and in Accounting Analysis and Decision Making.

Nana Hauwa Bawa, a junior accounting and finance double major from New York, placed second in Business Communication.

Brittany Trabbic, a senior accounting and finance double major from Smackover, won second place in Financial Concepts.

Ashley Dixon Talley, a management and marketing double major graduate from Magnolia, received second place in Marketing Analysis and Decision Making and fourth place in Management Concepts.

Grant Toms, a marketing major graduate from Taylor, placed second in Marketing Concepts and fourth in Microeconomics.

Jonathan Hale, a junior HKR major from Camden, placed third in Contemporary Sports Issues.

Shelia Muchiri, a sophomore finance major from South Africa, placed fourth in Macroeconomics and Public Speaking.

Lea Chenoweth, a marketing major graduate from Smackover, placed fourth in Marketing Analysis and Decision Making.

Joseph Milam, a junior marketing major from El Dorado, placed fourth in Future Business Executive.

Sarah Hannegan Johnson, a senior accounting major from El Dorado, placed fourth in Statistical Analysis. Johnson served on the 2007-2008 state officer team as the Director of State Programs.

Candyce McCann, a management major graduate from Magnolia, placed third in Chapter Scrapbook and received recognition in Who’s Who in Arkansas PBL. McCann was the 2007-2008 Arkansas PBL President and served as an Adviser to the state officer team this past year.

Hughes, SAU College of Business Instructor and PBL Adviser from Prescott, Arkansas, was named the 2009 Arkansas PBL Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser.

Six chapter members will be competing at the PBL National Leadership Conference, which will be held in Anaheim, California, on June 18-24, 2009. PBL members rely on corporate sponsorship donations and fundraisers to cover the expense of attending the National Leadership Conference.

Phi Beta Lambda is the post-secondary division of Future Business Leaders of America. Membership is open to all students interested in careers in business or business education. For more information about PBL or how to sponsor a national competitor contact the SAU-PBL chapter at (870) 235-4298 or ext. 4300.

Southern Arkansas University’s Dr. Gayle Webb White appointed Distinguished Professor

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:50 GMT

The Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Gayle Webb White as Distinguished Professor during their board meeting June 8.

Southern Arkansas University President Dr. David Rankin said he was pleased the board appointed White as Distinguished Professor. Rankin said White is the fourth person in the University’s 100 year history to receive this designation.

“Dr. White is an outstanding educator and leader at Southern Arkansas University,” Rankin said. “A gifted academician, she has established a record of scholarly achievement that fits the designation of Distinguished Professor.”

White, who served as the dean of the School of Business for 14 years is currently the Turner Professor of Management. White also served for four years as the President of the National Council for Alpha Chi, National College Honor Society.

According to the University’s faculty handbook, the credentials guiding an appointment of Distinguished Professor are an earned doctorate or comparable terminal degree or equivalent scholarly achievement, and national recognition as a scholar and teacher based upon research, teaching, and/or scholarly pursuits at this or some other institution.

White expressed much appreciation for the trustees giving her the distinct honor on Monday.

“Teaching at Southern Arkansas University for more than forty years has been a labor of love for me because of excellent students, dedicated faculty peers, supportive administrators and staff, and alumni who have provided extra resources that have enriched our educational program,” White said.

Throughout her career, White has amassed an impressive publication record, a selection of her publication credentials include: Loyalty Relationship of Employee Trustee in Management and Employee Loyalty, International Journal of Business Research; Creativity: A Needed Component of Management Education, Review of Business Research; Variable Work Schedules; An Emerging Trend to Complement the Traditional Eight-to-Five Schedule, Journal of the Academy of Business and Economics; and A Study to Determine How Corporations Insure that Ethical Policies are Communicated to Employees, Communities, and other Necessary Stakeholders, International Journal of Disciplines, to name a few.

White has a doctorate and a master’s from the University of Mississippi and received her bachelor’s degree from Southern State College, which later became Southern Arkansas University. White’s post-graduate studies were with the University of Illinois and Harvard University.

“Muleriders on Tour” to be held in Little Rock on June 30

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:45 GMT

Southern Arkansas University will host alumni and friends of the University on June 30 at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock.

The event, dubbed “Muleriders on Tour,” is sponsored by the Office of the President, the SAU Foundation, the SAU Alumni Association, and the Mulerider Club.
The event is being held this year in honor of SAU’s Centennial celebration.

“This gathering offers SAU’s alumni and friends the opportunity to network and build additional support for the University,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin. “‘Muleriders on Tour’ is a wonderful opportunity for alumni and friends of the University to enjoy a great evening of fellowship and get the latest updates on SAU.”

Muleriders on Tour began in March at the Texarkana Country Club and continued in April at a private residence in Hot Springs Village. The event at the Governor’s Mansion will include comments from President Rankin as well as a featured presentation by SAU Historian Dr. James Willis who will speak about traditions of SAU in honor the University’s Centennial Celebration. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner following at 6:30 p.m. in the Mansion’s Grand Hall.

All Central Arkansas-area alumni and friends of Southern Arkansas University are invited to attend the event. The cost is $25 per person, and the deadline to R.S.V.P. is Monday, June 15. This is not a fund-raising event.

The next scheduled Muleriders on Tour event will be during the weekend of the November 7 “Boomtown Classic” football game in El Dorado where the SAU Muleriders will face the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils at the city’s Memorial Stadium.

For more information, contact Jeremy Langley, assistant to the president for special projects, at (870) 235-5090 or visit www.saumag.edu/100.

SAU’s Spring Commencement Speaker will be author and educator Myra Dell McLarey

Fri, 01 May 2009 08:41 GMT

The Southern Arkansas University spring commencement ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8 in the University Mall area.

The commencement address will be given by Myra Dell McLarey, an associate faculty member of Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking. McLarey moved to Nashville in 2003 to design an English curriculum of the new Ensworth High School. Prior to that, she taught expository writing at Harvard University where she received numerous honors, including the James M. Conway Award as the Distinguished Teacher of Writing. Her novel, “Water from the Well,” a story of a place set in southwest Arkansas, was a finalist for the Lillian Smith Award for the novel that best elucidates racial injustice. She also co-authored the autobiography of NBA basketball great, Sidney Moncrief, and co-wrote a novel that was optioned by MGM.

The Nursing department is holding a separate ceremony for their graduates at 4 p.m. in Harton Theatre.

Graduates, family and SAU faculty and staff are invited to an SAU Alumni Association sponsored reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center Blue and Gold Room.