West Memphis Hall of Fame Class - Did You Know?

It's about 48 hours before West Memphis unveils its first sports Hall of Fame class, and
what a class it is.

Which leads to a list of Did You Knows about the seven who will be present at the
banquet on Thursday night at 6 at Southland Park:

Did you know that:

--- There will be one (Mike McCoy and his wife Janette) coming from Colorado, one (Ike
Harris) coming from Atlanta and another (Ann Carpenter, widow of inductee Lewis Carpenter)
coming from the state of Texas?

--- The only female in the group, Sonja Tate, recorded the rare quadruple double, the only
one in Arkansas State University history, when she scored 29 points, grabbed 14 rebounds,
dished out 10 assists and stole 10 balls in ASU's 86-59 win at Mississippi Valley State on Jan.
27, 1993?

Sonja Tate - Part I

West Memphis is ready to honor the greatest athletes in its community's history by unveiling its inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 24.

A class of nine greats from the sports which span football and basketball will be honored in a Sept. 24 banquet at Southland Park at 6 p.m.

The class includes basketball greats Keith Lee, Michael Cage, coach Bill Terwilliger, Marcus Brown and Sonja Tate as well as football greats Lewis Carpenter, Mike McCoy, Ike Harris and Reginald Jones.

Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased immediately at the West Memphis School District Administration Building on South Avalon.

“I don't think there's any doubt that's a lot of star power not only for West Memphis, but for any high school in the state,” said West Memphis athletic director Lanny Dauksch, who was inducted into the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame this summer.

Registration Continues for ‘Runnin’ Dogs & Cookin’ Cats’ Events at ASU Mid-South

Registration continues for the Greyhound 5K run/walk, catfish cooking competition, Spirit Cheer
Contest, and WIFFLE® Ball Classic scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, at Arkansas State University Mid-South. Runners and catfish cookers will vie for more than $1,500 in prize money at the event.

“Runnin’ Dogs & Cookin’ Cats” (catfish) features the traditional 5K (now in its fourth year), Pup Dash, and Kids’ Zone inflatables as well as a catfish cooking contest, cheering competition, live music by local bands, arts and crafts, Cornhole skills challenge, and food/concessions. All of the fun and games will be held on ASU Mid-South’s North Campus at 2000 West Broadway in West Memphis.

Looking for a Job? ASU Mid-South Career Fair on Oct. 21 Can Help

The Arkansas State University Mid-South Career Fair, featuring several major regional employers, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Educational Excellence on the college’s South Campus.

There is no admission fee for job seekers, and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

“The Fair is a great opportunity to bring the community together for an event that benefits both the employers and potential employees,” said event organizer Janice Coleman, ASU Mid-South Career Services coordinator.

“Employers are always looking for skilled and qualified applicants, and the Fair gives them the chance to meet people who are ready, willing, able, and qualified.”

“For people seeking employment, the Career Fair provides a one-stop opportunity to talk with representatives from many different companies.”

ASU Mid-South Hospitality Program Earns National Recognition

Arkansas State University Mid-South’s Hospitality Management program recently earned inclusion in BestHospitalityDegrees.com’s “50 Most Affordable Small Colleges for Hospitality Administration and Management 2015” list. Lead Faculty Marjorie Gardner says that is just the beginning.

“We want to be No. 1 in everything we do,” said Gardner who came to ASU Mid-South this the spring to direct the fledgling program. “I have really big plans, and I’m getting the support I need from our administration and the industry in our region. I see Arkansas State University Mid-South as having the potential to create the leading two-year hospitality management program offered globally. That’s my vision.”

Melissa Maypole, who compiled the information for the top 50 list, said researchers consulted the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator to evaluate schools enrolling less than 3,000 students and offering associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in Hospitality Administration/Management, Hotel/Motel Administration/Management or Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management.

ASU System President, DRA Chairman host Reception for Mid-South Chancellor

Dr. Chuck Welch, Arkansas State University System president, and Chris Masingill, Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman, formally welcomed Dr. Debra West as the first chancellor of ASU Mid-South on Thursday.

Dr. Welch and Masingill hosted a well-attended afternoon reception in Dr. West’s honor and addressed the value of leadership and partnerships.

Greyhound 5K Expands to ‘Runnin’ Dogs & Cookin’ Cats’ (Catfish)

Arkansas State University Mid-South is expanding its annual Greyhound 5K to include a full day of sporting activities, food-fixin’ competition, and family fun on the first Saturday in October.

“Runnin’ Dogs & Cookin’ Cats” (catfish), set for Oct. 3, will feature the traditional 5K, Pup Dash, and Kids’ Zone inflatables as well as a catfish cooking contest, live music, arts and crafts, recreational sporting events, a “Cheer Off,” and food/concessions. All activities will be held on the ASU Mid-South campus at 2000 West Broadway in West Memphis.

“This is the fourth year of the race, and we wanted to make it into more of a full-day, family event to appeal to a wider range of people,” said Elizabeth Williams, ASU Mid-South Director of Development. “We want this to be a signature event for the college and the community. In the process, we’re hoping to build more awareness for our institution and our athletic program.”

ASU Mid-South Names Rachel Heideman 2015-16 Academic All-Star

Arkansas State University Mid-South student Rachel Heideman of West Memphis has earned Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) Academic All-Star recognition for 2015-2016.

“It came as such a surprise; it was awesome,” said the U.S. Army veteran and mother of 3-year-old twin boys. “I knew I had done well in my classes, but I didn’t give any thought to the possibility of receiving such a prestigious honor. I figured they would pick somebody who had done more than I have. I guess I sometimes underestimate what I do.”

Among those who don’t underestimate Heideman’s successes are ASU Mid-South employees Grace Troutman, Dr. Craig Lafferty, Boyce Elliott, Dr. Ray Hawkins, and Mary Field.

“Rachel is such a sweet, dedicated, hard-working young lady,” said Troutman, a biology instructor at the college. “She always had a great spirit in class and was willing to help others. She made an ‘A’ in my biology class which is not an easy feat. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.”

ASU Mid-South Math Instructor Earns National Excellence Award

Stephanie Krehl, Contextualized Mathematics Specialist and Lead Faculty for Developmental/Technical Math at Arkansas State University Mid-South, has earned a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award.

“I’m honored because I consider it a pat on the back from my peers which means a lot to me,” said Krehl who has worked at the college since August 2010. “Like many people here, I put in a lot of hours and work hard. I don’t do my job for recognition like this, but it is certainly nice to receive a ‘good job’ in whatever way, shape, or form. I appreciate the award and am grateful to those who considered me worthy of it.”

Dr. Cliff Jones, ASU Mid-South Senior Vice Chancellor for Learning and Instruction, said Krehl has helped take the developmental math effort to a new level.

“First and foremost, Stephanie is a great teacher,” he said. “Her team approach to instruction is a fundamental element to creating a great learning environment for our math students. She has worked with her full-time colleagues, adjunct instructors, tutors, staff members and administrators to implement best practices in developmental education. The departmental rates for student success have improved dramatically, and Stephanie certainly deserves a portion of the credit.”