Flooding Louisiana with Love

With the help of generous businesses and individuals around Crittenden County, Arkansas State University Mid-South students and staff recently filled a college truck with needed supplies and delivered it to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to assist victims of the devastating flooding in the Louisiana region.

The items collected including cleaning supplies, clothes, baby products and emergency care kits were delivered by ASU Mid-South maintenance staff to the Louisiana Multi-Agency Warehouse in Baton Rouge being operated by Louisiana Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

Weaver Clean-Up Project Perfect Spring Break for ASU Students and Employees

It was a labor of love as Arkansas State University Mid-South students and employees gathered at the start of Spring Break week to help give Weaver Elementary School in West Memphis, a spring cleaning. Forty-four members of the ASU Mid-South family including students, faculty and staff gathered early on a chilly, sunny March 21st to trim and weed flower beds, add mulch, pressure wash buildings and equipment and spruce up the school with paint.

“The community has been so kind to the college and this was a way for us to give back in a small way. We hope to make this an annual event,” said Dr. Debra West, Chancellor at ASU Mid-South. “We intend to make more targeted efforts to contribute to our community, and it was obvious that everyone who worked on this project felt that it was a great start to a new tradition.”

Fraternity Supports ASU Mid-South Student Activities

A local non-profit organization comprised of members of a national fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., has recognized Arkansas State University Mid-South’s commitment to providing higher education to the citizens of Eastern Arkansas.

The West Memphis Achievement Association’s President Grandon Gray recently presented a contribution of $500 to the Foundation to be used as support for student activities at the college. “The purpose of The West Memphis Achievement Association (TWMAA) is to exemplify achievement by preparing the next generation of leaders and empowering our community in the areas of education, economic development, health and social awareness,” noted Gray.

Jonathan Blanchard to Highlight Arkansas State University Mid-South Black History Event

Jonathan Blanchard, will deliver the keynote address through song at the Arkansas State University Mid-South 12th Annual Black History Program on February 24th at 11:00 a.m. in the rotunda of the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Mr. Blanchard is a Soul Singer, songwriter, actor and preserver of the Negro Spiritual. He has successfully released his first studio album entitled “Freedom’s Soul…..the REVOLUTION”. Freedom’s Soul was recorded with live musicians in Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Blanchard earned a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Music and a Master of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University.

Former Gold Medalist Helping ASU Mid-South Diesel Tech Students

As a Diesel Maintenance Technology student at Mid-South Community College from 2006 to 2008, West Memphis native Mike Jones recognized the value of the innovative training opportunity. The two-time SkillsUSA gold medalist is now helping Arkansas State University Mid-South students maximize their learning experience while serving as an adjunct and volunteer instructor.

“I understand how important the program is because I do this for a living,” said Jones, who works as a diesel technician for Old Dominion Freight Line.

“The opportunity that was given me to learn a trade while I was in high school was phenomenal.”

“That’s one of the reasons I donate my time, to give back because what it turned into for me. I make really good money doing this kind of work. I tell my students all the time, ‘Don’t pass up this opportunity.’

Mid-South Publicity Coordinator Parks His Pen

In the past 18 years, well over 2,000 stories written by Don Threm have appeared on the pages of Crittenden County’s Evening Times newspaper, translating into approximately four million words Threm has used to publicize Mid-South Community College and Arkansas State University Mid-South.

Millions of words, however, are not adequate for this writer to appropriately honor a great colleague in announcing the retirement of Don Threm effective January 8, 2016.

Threm began his career at Mid-South Community College in 1998 after serving in a similar position at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City which included a stint as Registrar for EACC, replacing Dr. Debra West who became Chancellor of ASU Mid-South in August of this year.

“We’ve known each other for close to thirty-five years, and we’ve worked together through thick and thin at two different institutions of higher education,” said Dr. West. “I can say, unequivocally, that I know of no other person who embodies the words integrity, dependability, and humility as does Don. He has a quiet competence that belies a quick, dry sense of humor that only reveals itself once you’ve really gotten to know him. The college will miss his extraordinary talents as a writer once he retires, but I personally will miss my friend.”

‘Rockstar Farmer’ to Speak Dec. 8 at ASU Mid-South

Jean-Martin Fortier, known internationally as the “Rockstar Farmer” for his efforts in organic and biologically intensive cropping practices, will headline a full-day seminar at Arkansas State University Mid-South on December 8.

Presented by Small Farms for Big Change in collaboration with sponsoring organizations in Arkansas and Tennessee, the event will include morning and afternoon presentations, three organic/farm-to-table meals, and a farmer mixer.

Local organic farmer Brandon Pugh of Delta Sol Farm in Proctor and Ray Tyler of Rose Creek Farm in Selmer, Tennessee, teamed up to bring the event to the region. Fortier will present a half-day workshop in Selmer on Dec. 7.