Spring/Summer 2012
Vol. 25, No. 1
For Alumni and Friends of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Former President
Bill Clinton inaugurates
Bumpers Distinguished
Lecture Program
Page 10
In This Issue ...
From the Dean................................................... 4
From the Bumpers College Family Album........... 5
Boyce Johnson begins term
as Alumni Society board president...................... 5
Sanders bequest benefits Bumpers College
and Fulbright College......................................... 6
Truman scholarship helps student
prepare for public service career........................ 6
Bumpers College establishes
Dean’s Philanthropy Circle................................. 7
Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center
on schedule for August opening ......................... 8
White Commercial ‘Young Guns’ alumni
promote basis trading careers............................. 9
Former President Bill Clinton opens
Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program ......... 10
Tyson gift helps endow
Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program.......... 11
Students present AFLS plaza plans.................... 11
Crystal Bridges event
features horticulturists....................................... 11
Pamela Mortensen named
2012 Outstanding Alumna............................... 12
Donald Lee named
2012 Outstanding Young Alumnus.................... 12
Julia Korman brings greetings
from graduates at Commencement................... 12
Gamma Sigma Delta honors faculty, students... 13
Bumpers College students embark on
international study and work experiences ........ 14
FULL CIRCLE — DBCAFLS Alumni Society board members delivered 200 pounds of rice
donated by Riceland Foods in Stuttgart and Stimson’s Big Star in West Memphis, along
with their own donations, April 17 to the Full Circle Food Pantry, which is a student-run
emergency food assistance program for all members of the University of Arkansas community. Alumni Society board members are pictured with FCFP student intern B.J. Galloway.
From left: Boyce Johnson, Penny Storms, Suzanne Pennington, Leigh Ann Bullington, Taylor
Adams, B.J. Galloway, Ron Rainey and Angela Waldrip.
Bumpers College students collect items
for area food banks
S
tudents in the Hospitality Club and Student Dietetic Association delivered
1,500 pounds of canned food and personal items for Northwest Arkansas
food banks in November. Bumpers College students were encouraged to bring
non-perishable items to their classes. Hospitality and dietetics students sorted
the items and delivered them to the Full Circle Food Pantry at the University
of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, and Co-Op Emergency Outreach.
Hardy-Caviness Greenhouse
Complex dedicated.......................................... 14
Division of Agriculture presents
faculty, staff awards.......................................... 15
Freddie Scott retires after 26 years.................... 15
Students excel in academic competitions......... 16
Students, alumni mingle
to explore career prospects............................... 16
Alumni awards recognize
major career accomplishments......................... 17
Class Notes....................................................... 18
T
he Arkansas Alumni Association has been the keeper of University of
Arkansas traditions for more than 135 years. The mission is simple: to
serve our alumni and to promote the University of Arkansas. You don’t have
to be a graduate; friends of the university are welcome to join.
Your membership not only benefits you; it also benefits the university
by supporting scholarships, student recruitment, Student Alumni Board,
Homecoming, reunions, faculty awards and more.
Take a minute to sign up today. Call one of the numbers below or check
our website for more information on joining or renewing your membership.
479-575-2179 • 1-888-275-2586
http://alumni.uark.edu
COVER: Former President Bill Clinton was the
inaugural speaker April 15 for the Dale and Betty
Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program. Photo
by Fred Miller. Story by Dave Edmark on
page 10.
2
The Graduate
Bumpers College
Alumni Society
Board of Directors
n
Northwest
Suzanne Pennington, Fayetteville
Penny Storms, Fayetteville,
Vice President
n
Northeast
Boyce Johnson, Marion, President
Susan Kemp, Mountain View
n
Central
Taylor Adams, Little Rock
Kyle Moery, Carlisle
n
Southwest
Russell Burke, Hope
n
Southeast
Jerry Burkett, Stuttgart
Angela Waldrip, Moro
n
At Large
Leigh Ann Bullington, McCrory
Kathy Frein, Brinkley
Scott Mason, Jonesboro,
Immediate Past President
Belinda Mayo, Springdale
Ron Rainey, Little Rock
n
AAA Board
Mike Macechko, Director, AAA
Glenyce Feeney, Little Rock
n
Ex Officio
Michael E. Vayda, Dean, Bumpers College, and Associate
Vice President–Academic Programs, Division of Agriculture
Trina Holman, Director,
DBCAFLS Alumni Society
http://arkalum.org/dbcafls/
The Graduate is published for
alumni and friends of the Dale
Bumpers College of Agricultural,
Food and Life Sciences and the
University of Arkansas Division
of Agriculture. Send alumni
news and other correspondence
to Trina Holman, Bumpers
College Alumni Society, AFLS
E108, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville, AR 72701.
479-575-2179
Fax: 479-575-7273
E-mail: [email protected]
Editor: Howell Medders
Designer: Judy Howard
Photographers and writers:
Howell Medders, Dave Edmark
and Fred Miller
Spring/Summer 2012
Dear Alumni
T
he past year has been a great one
for the Society. The annual Alumni
and Friends Tailgate party drew
the largest crowd ever as the Razorbacks
ran over Auburn. We would like for
this event to continue to grow. It was
sponsored by Don White with White
Commercial Corporation, Arkansas
Rice Council and Tyson Foods. It is a
great time to meet fellow alumni and
friends of the college, staff, faculty and
sponsors, and it is also an excellent time
to bring a recruit for the college. Stay
tuned for this fall’s tailgate information
— 2012 sponsorships are still available.
It’s been a busy spring. The college
hosted the inaugural Dale and Betty
Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program on April 15 welcoming President
Bill Clinton back to campus. On April
17, the Alumni Society hosted the
annual Senior Celebration outside Baum
Stadium. We had 83 people for dinner.
Board members talked to the graduates
about staying active through the Alumni
Society. I took an impromptu poll of
the graduates. Of the seniors who were
not continuing on to grad school, every
one had a job lined up. Great job,
Suzanne Pennington and the events
committee! At the Honors and Awards
Banquet on April 19, the Alumni Society awarded its annual scholarships and
ring awards to four deserving students. During our January board meeting
we discussed the previously mentioned events and agreed on a very
large agenda. We will need all the help
we can get from our alumni and friends
to accomplish this.
Chancellor Gearhart asked for
donations to the new U of A campus Food Pantry. The DBCAFLS Board
felt that if any college should give to
the Food Pantry it should be our college. We called on our fellow alumni
Boyce Johnson
DBCAFLS Alumni
Society Board
President
and obtained gifts from Riceland Foods
of Stuttgart and Stimson’s Big Star in
West Memphis as well as individual gifts
from board members. The Patio Project: The AFLS
building dates back to the 1950s. The
atrium and the east entrance look great.
However, the side of the building facing
Maple, where we have the fall tailgate
party on a 40 x 40 concrete slab, does
not. During last year’s tailgate party
Dean Vayda and a couple of board
members suggested the patio be covered
and used as a student lounge area. Why
not build an indoor/outdoor, multipurpose wireless facility for the students,
staff and alumni to use while enhancing the front of the building. Dr. Garry
McDonald’s Landscape Architecture
class is drawing up designs for their
Senior Design project. The students will
present their design projects in May.
If you would like to be a part of this
project, contact Development Director
Blake S. Bard, [email protected]. This is
an excellent opportunity to enhance the
building and the grounds.
The Alumni Society board has
expanded its committees and events,
prompting several alumni to tell us
they want to get involved and do more!
That is the cornerstone of the Society’s mission and the “can do” spirit
of our college. If you would like to get
involved or have questions or comments, feel free to contact me, any other
board member, Trina Holman or Blake
Bard. We look forward to serving our
alumni, friends and students. Thanks
to all who give funds or volunteer their
time for our college. Thank you for
making a difference in a young person’s
life!
Always Arkansas,
Boyce Johnson
3
From the Dean
Be a part of
the future
From the
Bumpers College
Family Album…
Dear Friends,
This has been a wonderful year at Bumpers College!
We have experienced the:
largest undergraduate enrollment,
with the highest student aptitude,
and the greatest engagement of alumni with
current students.
n
n
n
As Alumni Society President Boyce Johnson
chronicles, the Bumpers Alumni Society Board
has been engaged with our corporate partners and
Student Ambassadors to co-sponsor:
tailgates in both Fayetteville and Little Rock.
club activities.
professional networking opportunities.
messaging and recruiting.
n
n
n
n
We are developing our 10-year planning
horizon to meet our aspirations to be the best
institution in the nation for “Careers that Matter:
Advancing Food, Family & the Environment.”
We recently launched the Dale and Betty
Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program and
were honored to have President Bill Clinton as
the inaugural speaker to inspire our students as
the next generation of leaders for the food, family
and environmental industries that have brought
Arkansas to international prominence. We are
grateful to the Tyson family for their generous
gift to initiate an endowment seeking matching
support, to ensure that the Dale and Betty Bumpers
Distinguished Lecture Program will be an annual
event showcasing the focal points of our College.
We are proud to be opening the Jean Tyson
Child Development Study Center in August
2012, and we plan to develop a Birth-throughKindergarten graduate certificate program to set
“best practices” standards for premier child care,
wellness and healthy growth.
We are so blessed to have such energetic,
engaged and supportive alumni and benefactors.
As we prepare for the next Capital Campaign with
the theme of Leadership Development in Food,
Family and Environmental Policies, we express our
gratitude for your support and eagerness to “Be a
Part of the Future.”
Sincerely,
Mike Vayda
4
Lona Robertson,
Bumpers College
associate dean and
Kelly Way, HESC
assistant professor were joined by
former Razorback
football player
Casey Dick and his
wife, Felicia, at the
Southwest Classic in
October. Felicia is
a 2009 graduate of
the Bumpers College
Apparel Studies
program.
Laurie Apple, alumna and associate professor in Apparel Studies, talked with Pamela
Mortensen, BSHE ’77, at the Southwest
Classic in October. Pamela received
the 2012 Bumpers College Outstanding
Alumni Award and spoke at commencement May 12.
Dean Michael Vayda and Bumpers
College Alumni Society President
Boyce Johnson, BSA ’82, met up at
the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss football
game in Oxford.
Board member
Suzanne Pennington, BSA
’86, shared
information
about the Student
Alumni Association, which
promotes student
and alumni
networking, at
the Carnival of
Clubs last fall
sponsored by the
Bumpers College
Ambassadors.
The Graduate
Boyce Johnson begins
term as Alumni Society
board president
B
WELCOME BACK BONFIRE — The Bumpers College Ambassadors hosted a bonfire at
Agri Park Jan. 19 to kick off the spring 2012 semester. Students also gathered around a
smaller fire to roast hotdogs and s’mores. More than $65 was donated to the Full Circle
Food Pantry from pocket change contributed by more than 80 students who attended the
bonfire. Students in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education contributed
the most money and earned a department donut day in appreciation.
A Class Act — Dr. Robert Harrington and hospitality students Ethan Altom, Michael
Saullo and Beatriz Selva plate the main course for Friday’s dinner during the annual “A
Class Act.” The program sold out its dinner and a night in the 1886 Crescent Inn packages for the first time and raised about $14,500 in proceeds and donations to support
scholarships for the Hospitality and Restaurant Management program. There was also a
record number of industry representatives and recruiters at the career fair on Saturday.
Senior Celebration Tailgate — Eighty-three guests attended the first Senior
Celebration Tailgate on April 17 outside Baum Stadium. Seniors graduating December
2011-August 2012 were invited to join the Bumpers College Alumni Society for Buck
Nekkid BBQ, gifts and prizes prior to the Arkansas vs. Stephen F. Austin baseball game.
The event was sponsored by White Commercial Corporation. Local businesses and
Alumni Society Board members donated over $600 in prizes.
Spring/Summer 2012
oyce Johnson, who will serve as president of the DBCAFLS Alumni Society
board of directors for the next two years, is
a family farmer from Marion. He graduated
in 1982 with a degree in Animal Science as
the first in his family to graduate from the
University of Arkansas.
“Agriculture has been on both sides
of my family for well over a generation,”
Johnson said. “My father’s parents moved
to Crittenden County in the 1920s, and his
mother, Annie Laurie Jones, received a twoyear teaching certificate from the University
of Arkansas in 1915. My mother’s parents
arrived in the United States from Italy when
they were both nine years old aboard the
same ship, the Sempione, in October of
1900. Approximately 42 of my relatives
have earned degrees, many at the U of A. I
am honored to serve as DBCAFLS Alumni
Society board president and look forward to
working with alumni, faculty, staff, friends
and sponsors.”
Johnson said he has enjoyed meeting alumni from across Arkansas and the
United States during his eight years as a
board member. “Two characteristics that I
have noticed are the caliber of a Bumpers
graduate and the ‘can do’ attitude,” he said.
“When I first came onto the board,
Charlene Reed told me that I would not
find a more passionate group than the
DBCAFLS board. She was correct! The college has a great board from across the state,
with different backgrounds and degrees. I
encourage you to talk with your local board
member. I’m fortunate to serve with them.”
“Two members that have inspired all
of us are Scott Mason and Dr. Ron Rainey.
Scott is immediate past president and has
done a wonderful job during a difficult
economic time. Ron is rolling off the
board, but his passion for our college simply grows. Ron will chair a new committee
that engages our former board members, a
segment that has inadvertently been overlooked. I know that Ron will do a great job.
Former board members I have talked with
are as passionate as ever and have built the
foundation that we are now working from.
Thanks to all of you for your help. I thank
Scott and Ron for their leadership, guidance, vision and commitment to service.”
5
Truman scholarship helps
student prepare for public
service career
J
Relatives of Maudine Sanders toured the culinary kitchen teaching laboratory in the School of
Human Environmental Sciences funded by part of her bequest to the University of Arkansas. Pictured are, from left, Dean Michael E. Vayda, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life
Sciences; Beverly Charleton; Robert Harrington, coordinator of the Food, Human Nutrition and
Hospitality major; Wilma and Carol Sutton; Linda Hogg; Brooke Johnston and Jorja Johnston.
Sanders bequest benefits Bumpers College
and Fulbright College
A
“Day of Recognition” for the Maudine Sanders legacy at the University
of Arkansas Wed., March 7, celebrated the impact of Sanders’ bequest
of $1.15 million to support degree programs in the Dale Bumpers
College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences and the J. William Fulbright
College of Arts and Sciences. Sanders died March 18, 2011, at the age of 87.
The bequest includes $900,000 for renovations and upgrades to three
projects in the Home Economics Building. A culinary kitchen teaching laboratory renovated in 2011 and the planned Maudine Sanders Commons dining
and entertainment area support the fast-growing Food, Human Nutrition and
Hospitality major. A renovated classroom will become the Maudine Sanders
Apparel Technology Laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment for teaching,
research and interaction with industry professionals.
“Mrs. Sanders’ passion was rooted in time spent as a student in the Home
Economics Building,” said Bumpers College Dean Michael Vayda. “This
project reflects her passion by providing today’s students with a quality learning environment. She loved this university, she loved this program, and she
loved this building.”
The Journalism Department in Fulbright College received $250,000 for
the Maudine and T.C. Sanders Endowment for Journalism Excellence. The
couple had previously funded a journalism teaching laboratory.
A native of Stoney Point, near Springdale, Maudine Farish received a
bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1946 from the University of Arkansas. She managed a family canning business before joining the Springdale
News staff in 1948. She bought an interest in the newspaper and Springdale
Publishing Company in 1955. She and T.C. Sanders, also part owner of the
publishing company, were married in 1960.
Family members and friends on hand for the observance included Wilma
and Carol Sutton of Springfield, Mo.; Beverly Charleton, Brooke Johnston
and Jorja Johnston, all of Springdale; Linda Hogg of Montana; and Jeff Jeffus, president of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC.
6
unior Michael Norton
is the first Bumpers
College student to
receive the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which
provides up to $30,000
for 65 students nationwide to attend graduate
or professional school to
help prepare for careers
in public service. Only
Michael Norton
four other University of
Arkansas students received it in the last 10
years. Tory Hodges Lewis, BSA ’06, of Little
Rock was a finalist in 2005.
Bumpers College Dean Michael Vayda
said, “Mike’s academic accomplishments are
certainly exceptional, but what singled him
out for this award is the way he applies that
learning to the community and to the world.
Mike has engaged at every opportunity from
research to study abroad to civic engagement. He is a perfect example of what a
Bumpers College student can accomplish on
campus and at the national level.”
Norton hopes to attend Stanford University for a master’s degree in public policy
and a doctorate in economics. He plans to
return to Arkansas to work on improving
dietary habits that lead to societal-level diabetes and obesity.
Norton is also receiving the 2012 Greg
Weidemann DBCAFLS Alumni Society
Scholarship. He is an Honors Program
student with a double major in Poultry
Science and Agricultural Business. Norton
will serve as chair of the Student Senate
for the 2012-2013 school year. He was an
intern for the World Cocoa Foundation in
Accra, Ghana, last summer and is district
coordinator for the Arkansas Federation
of College Republicans. He is an Arkansas
Traveler photographer and was a member
of the 2011 Poultry Judging Team, former
president of the Arkansas FFA and Collegiate
Farm Bureau and a former Bumpers College
Ambassador.
Norton is the son of poultry farmer
Kevin Norton of Prairie Grove and Tyson
employee Sonja Barton of Lincoln.
The Graduate
Bumpers College establishes Dean’s Philanthropy Circle
T
he Dean’s Philanthropy Circle has been established as a
giving society within Bumpers College that recognizes
annual unrestricted donations from alumni and friends.
Members of the Dean’s Philanthropy Circle create the
primary source of unrestricted funds to provide significant
and immediate financial investments in our students, faculty
and staff, scholarships and academic programs, and facilities. Participation in the Dean’s Philanthropy Circle is one of
the most effective ways to make a difference in each of our
departments and the life of the college.
Alumni and friends contacted by the University’s Annual
Fund program may designate gifts to the Dean’s Philanthropy Circle.
Levels of membership for annual unrestricted gifts to
support the college or an academic department are as listed.
The Dean’s Philanthropy Circle will lead the Bumpers
College annual giving effort. Gifts designated to specific
funds within the college or donations to the Agriculture
Development Council and the Razorback Foundation are
not counted as a qualifying event for membership.
Collectively, Dean’s Philanthropy Circle members provide vital support to meet the college’s most pressing needs
and to seize opportunities as they arise. The decline in state
support has come at a time when the college has undergone
considerable expansion and has grown increasingly competitive on the national and international stages. Private support
is now more important than ever to foster the programs,
scholarships and research that help shape the leaders of
tomorrow.
The Dean’s Philanthropy Circle Support enables:
Students through scholarships, support for research
and extra-curricular learning opportunities, and enrichment
opportunities.
Faculty through recruitment and retention of worldclass faculty, support for innovative curricula and teaching
and research methods, and increased industry collaboration
and networking.
Programs for career-service and value-added learning
opportunities; enhanced academic and research opportunities, including study abroad and conference participation;
and additional resources for new and existing high-achieving
programs.
Facilities through upgrading education technologies
in the classroom, renovating classrooms and buildings, and
keeping pace with student demands and desires.
Outreach to expand alumni programs to foster the
college’s lifelong relationship with its graduates; create and
advance distinguished lectures, seminars and student engagement activities; and promote and advocate the Bumpers
College brand and messaging to an extended audience.
n
Dean’s Excellence Circle: $2,000 or more
Members receive:
n Qualification for the university-wide Chancellor’s
Society membership
n Invitation to VIP and exclusive college events
n Invitation to annual reception held by the Dean and
Bumpers College office of development
n Recognition gift
Dean’s Leadership Circle: $1,000-$1,999
Members receive:
n Invitation to attend coffee with the Dean held
periodically throughout the year
n Invitation to annual reception held by the Dean and
Bumpers College office of development
n Recognition gift
Dean’s Impact Circle: $500-$999
Members receive:
n Invitation to attend coffee with the Dean held
periodically throughout the year
n Invitation to annual reception held by the Dean and
Bumpers College office of development
Dean’s “Young Alumni” Circle: $100 or more by graduates under age 40*
Members receive:
n Invitation to attend the annual “Bumpers College
Young Alumni” after-hours event with the Dean
n Invitation to annual reception held by the Dean and
Bumpers College office of development
Dean’s Heritage Circle: Providing the future of Bumpers
College though estate planning. Requires an estate gift
designated to Bumpers College.
Members receive:
n Qualification for the university-wide Heritage Society
membership
n Invitation to annual reception held by the Dean and
Bumpers College office of development
n Recognition gift
* through current calendar year
Spring/Summer 2012
n
n
n
n
Members will gather periodically to interact with the
Bumpers College dean about new developments, student
achievements, and how member contributions have made a
difference. Members make up a core group of alumni and
friends who take it upon themselves to steward the college’s
tradition of excellence.
Members are not required to renew annually. While we
encourage membership from one year to the next in order
to more fully benefit the program and students, joining for a
single year is also an option.
Dean’s Philanthropy Circle members will be recognized
in the Bumpers College Annual Donor Honor Roll on the
college website and in the college alumni magazine, The
GRADUATE.
For more information contact Blake S. Bard, director
of development, at [email protected] or 479-575-2270 or
Trina Holman, alumni coordinator, at [email protected] or
479-575-2179.
7
Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center
on schedule for August opening
T
he University of Arkansas is accepting 140 tiny new
Baldwin said the staff will maintain the highest standards
students this fall. The Jean Tyson Child Development
of early childhood education as they have in the previStudy Center is on track to open in time for the fall
ous programs. “We see each child as a unique individual,”
semester and will provide developmentally
Baldwin said of the program’s philosophical
appropriate education for 140 infants, todapproach. “Our goal is to provide opportudlers, and preschoolers, while serving as a
nities for children to grow and develop in
learning laboratory for university students.
all areas of self: social, emotional, cognitive,
The new center will combine the Infant
physical and creative. We provide choices
Development Center and UA Nursery
for children and plan activities for each
School into one premier 23,400-square-foot
child to be successful as well as challenged.
facility on the north side of campus. “The
We encourage each child to feel competent
location of the building — almost next door Vernoice Baldwin
while accepting responsibility for his or her
Doug Walsh
to the new UA Bookstore on West Douglas
behavior.”
Street — will be convenient for parents and students,” said
­ both indoors and out — will offer
The environment —
Vernoice Baldwin, director of the academic program.
carefully planned experiences for children from two months
Baldwin has
to five years. Teachers in
directed the NAEYCeach classroom will hold
accredited programs
B.S. and M.S. degrees in
since they were comChild Development. This
bined seven years ago.
level of training assures
he Tyson Family Foundation and Tyson Foods Foundation
The nursery
that curriculum will be
donated $2.5 million for the Jean Tyson Child Development
program has been on
individually planned to
Study Center, which is named for the mother of Tyson Foods board
the UA campus since
enhance the developchairman John Tyson and his sisters. Other donors include Mark and
the 1940s. Baldwin
ment for all children in
Joe Rumsey of the Zero Mountain cold storage company, Bob and
will continue as the
social, language, math,
Marilyn Bogle, Robert Spitze, the A.L. Chilton Foundation, Phil and
academic director of
science, music and
Mardi Crandall, and Fred and Doreen Vorsanger.
the family-centered
creative arts domains,
Ongoing fundraising will continue through
program conducted by
Baldwin said.
the opening of the center in August. Tours, events
Child Development
While serving both
and more funding options are available. Donors
faculty from the School
University and commuwill be recognized through naming opportuniof Human Environnity families, the center
ties for center classrooms and other spaces. For
mental Sciences, which
will also offer learning
details, contact Blake S. Bard, Bumpers College
is part of Bumpers
opportunities for UA
director of development, at 479-575-2270 or
College.
students, said Instructor
Naming opportunities available for donors
T
[email protected].
8
Blake S. Bard
The Graduate
GREEN DESIGN — The JTCDSC building design incorporates energy-saving
features including geothermal heating
and cooling, use of natural lighting
and an 8,000-gallon rainwater collection system. Many products used in the
construction of the building are made
of recycled material, and construction
waste will be recycled. The goal is to
achieve a LEED Silver certification when
construction is complete.
Mardi Crandall, who has taught
in the UA child development
program for more than 20 years.
The new building has state-ofthe art observation rooms and
technology that will support
the training of students in child
development, education and
other majors. Students will be
able to observe unobtrusively as
well as gain practical experience
working with children.
The impact of the new
center is not limited to the Dale
Bumpers College, said Jennifer Henk, assistant professor in
Human Environmental Sciences.
With a state-of-the-art research
suite, the entire University of
Arkansas stands to benefit from
having an exceptional research
facility on campus for those who
specialize in child- and familyrelated sciences.
“The new center could have
a great impact on child-related
disciplines across the state and
beyond. Educators and researchers can explore questions that
benefit the region, state and
nation,” Henk added.
Doug Walsh, executive
director for business and operations, is particularly excited by
the fact that the center will
benefit multiple generations.
“The children will thrive within
the program founded in proven
best practices,” he said. “The
university students will get
irreplaceable experience and
mentorship from our teachers
and faculty.”
For information on child enrollment,
visit the website: children.uark.edu.
Spring/Summer 2012
White Commercial ‘Young Guns’ alumni
promote basis trading careers
O
nly a few years out of school, two Bumpers College alumni who majored in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness are guiding efforts to steer people into the grain basis
trading business. They do so by getting on the bus to show prospects what it’s like. They
were also instrumental in making a Bumpers College grain merchandising course available
online this spring, with 110 off-campus professionals taking the course.
Jason Wheeler, a 2005 graduate and grain merchandising specialist at White Commercial Corp. in Kansas City, runs the Young Guns program founded by Don White, chairman
of White Commercial. He works with Brice Elnicki, a 2007 graduate and vice president of
KAMO Grain in Pittsburg, Kan., to find employees in their industry interested in training to
become basis traders, who evaluate futures markets to offset price risks and make profits
from merchandising grain.
After Wheeler and Elnicki locate and select prospects to join the Young Guns, they go on
a bus tour of industry-related sites. Grain elevators are largely owned and operated by older
people who will be looking for younger people to take over the businesses, Elnicki said.
White, Wheeler and Elnicki were part of a delegation that visited the campus in April,
also including Scott Hardy, a 1982 graduate in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness and
a White Commercial grain merchandising specialist, and Sherry Lorton, White Commercial
director of education. They met with students in Professor Andrew McKenzie’s course in
grain basis trading to discuss job prospects in the industry and how it functions day to day.
McKenzie’s course was offered online starting with the spring semester and was made
available to students and professionals thanks to collaboration between White Commercial
and the university. The course has been very popular, with 20 on-campus students and 110
off-campus professionals.
Elnicki was an intern at White Commercial while he was a student and then went to
work full time in the industry upon graduating. He told McKenzie’s students that the material they are learning in his class is applicable to various real-world situations. “With these
skills, you can take them and morph them into something else down the road,” he said.
Wheeler was McKenzie’s student as an undergraduate and joined White Commercial’s
offices in Florida on graduation. In two years he was responsible for establishing and managing its Kansas City office. In running White’s Young Guns program, he guides the bus tours
to the Board of Trade, elevators and processing companies. “We show young people what
basis trading is all about to get them interested,” he said.
Young Guns
& Wise Ones —
Two Bumpers College
alumni and members
of the White Commercial grain trading
“Young Guns” posed
with their mentors and
current students following a seminar on basis
trading April 17 in the
AFLS Building. Seated
from left: Scott Hardy,
Sherry Lorton and Jason
Wheeler, all of White
Commercial Corp., and
Brice Elnicki of KAMO
Grain. Standing from
left: Professor Andrew
McKenzie, White Commercial chairman Don
White and students
Boone Hardy and
Conor Mahlmann.
9
Former President Bill Clinton opens
Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program:
Development efforts focus on
‘systems’ as solutions to food issues
T
T
here was a lot on the mind of former President Bill Clinton when he
took the podium at the University of
Arkansas to address about 600 people
who had been invited to hear him
on April 15. He was ready to discuss
how well-functioning agricultural and
marketing systems enable prosperous
countries to prosper and how the lack
of such systems hampers poor countries’ ability of feed themselves.
He would get to all that, but first
things first at this inaugural Dale and
Betty Bumpers Distinguished Lecture
Program (see accompanying article,
page 11). Clinton looked toward
the front row of the audience in the
Arkansas Union’s Verizon Ballroom
where former Sen. Dale Bumpers was
sitting and thanked his mentor for
advice and wisdom that Bumpers had
provided over their 40-year friendship. He also repeated an oft-told story
about a nearly disastrous plane landing
they experienced on an icy runway in
the 1980s while en route to a political
rally in Gillett, Ark. When the crisis was
over, Clinton said to Bumpers, “Do
you realize how many politicians we
almost made happy?”
He also praised Betty Bumpers
for her activism. When Clinton was
president, Health and Human Services
Secretary Donna Shalala informed him
that about 90 percent of American
children had been immunized against
diseases. “That’s because Betty Bumpers put it in our heads to do so,”
10
Clinton said in reference to her efforts
because they are unable to get their
as first lady of Arkansas in the 1970s
crops delivered to markets, Clinton said.
that took the state from one of the
After settling in their new urban envilowest child immunization rates to
ronments, they begin relying heavily on
among the nation’s highest.
fast foods and develop poor health.
Visiting another health issue,
In the developed world, consumClinton spotted retired UA athletics
ers have ready access to food but aren’t
director Frank Broyles in the audience
eating healthy diets, leading to high
and thanked him for his work to fight
rates of Type 2 diabetes and childhood
Alzheimer’s disease, which took the life
obesity, Clinton said. He mentioned the
of his wife, Barbara Broyles.
Clinton Foundation’s agreement with
With about half his audience
major soft drink firms to halt nearly all
comprised of Bumpers College stusoda sales in public schools. “We asked
dents, Clinton took issue with a recent
if they wanted their child customers to
survey that questioned the usefulness
live long enough to still be customers,”
of degrees in agricultural studies. He
he said.
pointed out that the topics they are
Clinton said he was surprised how
studying are essential for the world to
little public officials in Washington
confront its food proknew about agriculture.
duction issues.
Today’s nutritional and
“It is morally
“It is morally unacfood production issues
unacceptable to let
ceptable to let poor
are examples of agriculpoor children starve ture’s importance in the
children starve because
of where they were
nation and the world. “So
because of where
born,” Clinton said of
if someone tells you to cut
they were born.”
the plight of those in less
agricultural research,
— President Bill Clinton
developed countries. In
say no.”
those nations, they may
Addressing current sitube able to grow enough food but often
ations in Washington, Clinton decried
lack the means to deliver and distribute
the lack of compromise among elected
it efficiently. “They don’t have systems.
officials. “Today, to express doubt is a
Systems make life predictable.”
sign of weakness,” he said. “But nobody
Clinton cited a visit to Ethiopia
is right all the time.” where fields were thick with corn and
Bumpers College Dean Michael
beans, but the nation had no adequate
Vayda called the event “an exceptionally
storage and delivery system. The
meaningful experience for our students,
faculty, staff, alumni and friends, and
developed world needs to help nations
we extend our deepest appreciation to
in this situation, or face the prospect of
President Clinton for taking the time
disruptions in those nations, he said.
to be a part of this important event.”
The William J. Clinton Foundation
UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart — a
has been working with Ethiopians to
expand the nation’s number of health
student of Clinton’s when Clinton was
clinics from 700 to 3,500 — which
a UA School of Law faculty member —
would place clinics within no more
presented him a Razorback tracksuit to
help him keep in shape.
than a day’s walk from any village —
and later to 16,000 clinics.
— Text by Dave Edmark
Better developed nations such
Photos by Fred Miller
as China also have problems. Many
people from less developed rural areas
A video of President Clinton’s entire speech is
have been relocating to the cities
online at http://bit.ly/LpS4zS.
The Graduate
Tyson gift helps endow Bumpers
Distinguished Lecture Program
Students present
AFLS plaza plans
T
S
he Tyson Family Foundation and the Tyson Foods Foundation have made
a lead gift of $250,000 to help endow the Dale and Betty Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program, coordinated by Bumpers College.
“Tyson entities have supported initiatives across campus for many years,”
said Michael Vayda, dean of Bumpers College. “The Bumpers College, in particular, has benefitted greatly from their widespread generosity. From capital
projects to endowed scholarships and professorships to their most recent lead
support of the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center, their impact
continues to improve the learning experience for our students. This lecture
program is one more way our students will have unique opportunities to be
inspired and gain new perspectives.”
The annual lecture program symbolizes Bumpers College’s recognition
of three vital issues: the international prominence of Arkansas agricultural and
food industries; the importance of environmental stewardship for the strength
and vibrancy of our economy; and the quality of life as championed by Betty
Bumpers on behalf of child wellness, human development and healthy living
choices.
“Tyson Foods and the Tyson family are pleased to make a $250,000
contribution to support the Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program,” said
John Tyson. “Senator and Mrs. Bumpers have made so many contributions
to the state of Arkansas over the past 40 years that it is more than fitting to
establish this lecture series to recognize what they have done for our state and
its citizens. My mom and dad were very early supporters of Senator Bumpers
when he first ran for governor in 1970, and were always proud to have been
involved in helping launch his career. I hope others will join us in providing
financial support for this effort to bring in experts in the areas of agriculture
and life sciences to help further educate the students at the University of
Arkansas, particularly those in the Bumpers College.”
The lecture program was kicked off April 15 with an address by President
Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd president of the United States.
“Betty and I are pleased by the possibilities of this distinguished lecture
program,” said Sen. Bumpers. “The Tyson support, which ensures the
program’s success and growth, is outstanding. We want this effort to be
meaningful for both students and the entire university community, and
President Clinton’s visit was a most special and fitting way to jump-start the
program. We deeply appreciate the commitment of the Tyson family for this
advancement of education in Arkansas and improving agriculture and the
quality of life around the world.”
BUMPERS IMPACT
— Former Senator
Dale Bumpers and
his wife, Betty, with
Bumpers College
students Cody Gallagher and Katie
McGhee, visit the
historical marker
recently erected to
commemorate the
impact Sen. Bumpers has had on the
College and the
state of Arkansas.
Spring/Summer 2012
tudents in Assistant Professor Gary
McDonald’s Practical Landscape
Design class presented on May 8 their
concepts for renovating the patio and
lawn area on the south side of the
AFLS Building.
Blake S. Bard, Bumpers College
director of development, said private
support will be used to fund the project.
A lead gift has been secured and interested donors will have an opportunity
to participate at many levels.
“Our vision for this space is to
provide a welcoming and comfortable
place our students, alumni and stakeholders can be proud of. We have the
potential to really transform the south
side of the AFLS building into a fun,
multi-functional and popular place,”
Bard said.
The project was initiated by the
Alumni Society board of directors and
commissioned by Bumpers College
Dean Michael E. Vayda for the students
to provide initial design concepts. A
final design will incorporate elements of
the student concepts for approval by the
college and university administration.
For more information or to contribute
to this project please contact Blake S.
Bard, [email protected], 479-575-2270.
Crystal Bridges event
features horticulturists
A
lumnus Cody George, BSA ’06, and
Horticulture Professor John Clark
shared the spotlight April 26 with the
Jazz Ensemble and other musicians
from the University of Arkansas Music
Department in an “Edible Culture” event
as part of the Crystal Bridges Art Night
Out series.
George is field horticulturist for the
Crystal Bridges Museum of American
Art in Bentonville. Clark directs the
University of Arkansas System Division
of Agriculture fruit breeding program,
which has produced improved blackberry varieties grown throughout the
U.S. and in many other countries, and
improved varieties of grapes, blueberries, peaches and nectarines.
11
C
ommencemen
t
2
0
1
2
Pamela Mortensen named 2012
Outstanding Alumna
Donald Lee named 2012
Outstanding Young Alumnus
T
T
he 2012 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient is Pamela S.
Mortensen, senior vice president and general merchandise
manager of jewelry, watches and fashion accessories at JCPenney. Prior to joining JCPenney in 2009, Mortensen had similar
management positions at Walmart. She
started her jewelry career at Zale Corporation in Dallas and began her retail career at
Federated Department stores.
Born and raised in Bentonville, the
former Pamela Simpson earned a bachelor’s
degree in Home Economics, now Human
Environmental Sciences, at the University of
Arkansas in 1977.
Pamela S.
The JCPenney company is a valued
Mortensen
supporter of Bumpers College, especially
the Apparel Studies program, providing jobs for graduates and
student internships.
Mortensen has been integral in implementing innovative
initiatives to help establish JCPenney as a style authority and
drive sales growth for the company. With a focus on making
JCPenney a key destination for bridal customers, she led the
launch of the company’s new Modern Bride® initiative as well as
the implementation of new in-store fine jewelry bridal boutiques. She also implemented strategies for mobile devices and
social networking to help build customer relationships.
During her tenure at Walmart, the largest jewelry retailer in
the United States, she built a direct import infrastructure that
set a standard for the jewelry industry. She was also instrumental
in developing Walmart’s and the jewelry industry’s standards for
responsible jewelry sourcing and developing the Love, Earth®
jewelry collection, which gave customers the ability to trace the
path of their jewelry from mine to market.
Mortensen serves on the board of directors for the Jewelers
Vigilance Committee, the leading authority on legal compliance and a champion of safeguarding the industry’s integrity.
She also serves on the board of Jewelers for Children, which has
donated more than $37 million since its inception to programs
benefiting children in need with charity partners such as St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital®, the Make-A-Wish Foundation®
of America, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
and the National CASA Association.
Mortensen resides in Texas and has two sons, Jonathan,
who attends West Point Military Academy in New York, and
Jeremy, who is a junior in high school.
he 2012 Outstanding Young Alumni Award
recipient for Bumpers College is Donald C. Lee,
manager of category sourcing marketing and advertising for The Walt Disney Company in Anaheim,
Calif. Lee manages the strategic
involvement of sourcing resources
to create value added opportunities
in marketing and advertising across
The Walt Disney Company.
Prior to his current position,
Lee was manager of sourcing and
procurement for food and beverage
for The Walt Disney Company from
Donald C. Lee
2007 to 2011. He had responsibility for improving efficiency in a supply chain of $112
million. He used strategic sourcing to unite three different business units, which led to a 24 percent annual
reduction in shipping and handling costs.
Lee received a B.S. degree in 1998 from Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee
and an M.S. degree in 2002 in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arkansas.
The Walt Disney Company provides student
internships and career opportunities for many Bumpers College graduates and is very supportive of the
Hospitality and Restaurant Management program
among others.
Lee began his career with Masterfoods in Vernon, Calif., where he started as a technical equipment
buyer. He was promoted to raw materials purchasing
manager from 2003 to 2006. He served as flexible
manufacturing manager from 2006 to 2007. In each
position, Lee developed strategies and procedures that
resulted in significant improvements in efficiency and
cost savings.
Lee’s career accomplishments have established
his reputation as an innovative manager of sourcing and procurement. He develops and implements
strategic solutions through team building and detailed
knowledge of the manufacturing and supply chain.
In addition to improving efficiency and reducing
operational costs, he also builds relationships with
stakeholders to create synergy for strategic involvement on future projects.
Julia Korman brings greetings from graduates at Commencement
J
ulia Anne Korman, who majored in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Child
Development, delivered greetings from the Bumpers College Class of 2012 at the Commencement ceremony May
12 in Barnhill Arena.
The daughter of Debra Hockett and David Korman
of Rowlett, Texas, Korman received the First Ranked
Senior Scholar award, which signifies that she has
12
maintained a 4.0 grade point average and
completed all of her coursework at the
University of Arkansas.
Korman is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha
sorority and has been active in organizations
such as Student Alumni Board, Greek Life
Facilitators, Big Brothers Big Sisters and
Student Mobilization.
Julia Anne
Korman
The Graduate
Student achievement recognized at Honors and Awards Banquet
A
wards recognizing outstanding student achievement were presented at
the annual Bumpers College Honors and
Awards Banquet April 19 in the Verizon
Ballroom in the Arkansas Union.
Greg Weidemann DBCALFS Alumni
Society Scholarship: Casi Leigh Crawley
of Greenwood, a sophomore majoring in
Food, Human Nutrition and Hospitality
with a Dietetics concentration; and Michael
Taylor Norton of Prairie Grove, a junior
with a double major in Agricultural Business and Poultry Science. He also is the
first Bumpers College student to receive the
prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
n
Alumni Society Ring Scholars: Katie
Leigh Waldrip of Moro, a senior majoring
in Food, Human Nutrition and Hospitality with concentrations in Dietetics and
Hospitality Management and a minor in
Agricultural Business, and Cody Rhyne
Gallagher of Foreman with a double major
in Poultry Science and in Agricultural Education, Communication and Technology
with a minor in Agricultural Business.
n
Dale Bumpers Distinguished Scholars:
Presented to outstanding students pursuing
master’s and doctoral degrees and an outstanding undergraduate transfer student.
Distinguished Ph.D. Scholar is Amber
Dawn Tripodi of Fayetteville, a Ph.D.
student in Entomology. Her research is on
population dynamics of native bumble bees
and carpenter bees.
Distinguished M.S. Scholar is Kristin
MacKenzie Pennington, Agricultural and
Extension Education with a concentration
in Communications.
Transfer student recipient is Danielle
Nicole Smith of Overland Park, Kan. A
transfer from Johnson County (Kansas)
Community College, she is an Agricultural
Communication, Education and Technology major.
n
First Ranked Senor Scholar: Julia
Anne Korman of Rowlett, Texas, a Human
Development and Family Sciences major
with a concentration in Child Development.
n
Senior Scholars: Kayla Christen Boling
of Gravette, majoring in Agricultural Business with a concentration in Marketing and
n
Spring/Summer 2012
Casi Leigh
Crawley
Michael Taylor
Norton
Katie Leigh
Waldrip
Cody Rhyne
Gallagher
Amber Dawn
Tripodi
Kristin MacKenzie
Pennington
Danielle Nicole
Smith
Julia Anne
Korman
Kayla Christen
Boling
Daniel Alden
Smartt
Alexandra Esta
Lee Canfield
Christopher Keith
Addison
Emily Elizabeth
Culver
Management and a minor
in Global Agricultural, Food
and Life Sciences; and Alden
Daniel Smartt of Gentry,
who has already received
a B.S. degree as an Environmental, Soil, and Water
Science major with a minor in
Crop Management.
Presidential Scholar: Alexandra
Estha Lee Canfield of Fayetteville,
a junior majoring in Animal Science
with a Pre-Veterinary Medicine concentration and a minor in Spanish.
n
n John W. White Outstanding
Student: Christopher Keith Addison of Hazen, an Animal Science
major with minors in Equine Science and Agricultural Business.
n Spitze Public Policy Legislative
Internship: Emily Elizabeth Culver of Fayetteville, a Food, Human
Nutrition and Hospitality major
with a concentration in Hospitality
and Restaurant Management.
Award Presentation photos and story are online at http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/
BCNews/7024.htm
Gamma Sigma Delta honors faculty, students
T
he Arkansas chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society
of agriculture, presented faculty awards April 24 to Nathan Slaton,
Crop, Soil, and Environmental sciences, who received the Research
Award of Merit; Don Edgar, Agricultural and Extension Education,
who received the Teaching Award of Merit; and John Jennings, Animal
Science, who received the Extension Award of Merit.
More information on these awards and GSD student awards is online at http://gsd.uark.
edu/awards.student.program12.html
13
Bumpers College students embark on
international study and work experiences
T
hirty-nine Bumpers Colstudent and faculty exchange
lege students are set to
with several universities in
participate in International
the European Union. The
Program activities this summer
Atlantis program provides
and fall, with support from the
opportunities for study of bioUniversity of Arkansas Study
renewable resources product
Abroad Program.
development, agricultural
Food Science Professor Andy
economics and rural sociology.
Proctor, director of International
One student will spend the fall
Programs for Bumpers College,
semester studying bio-renewsaid “International experiences
able products technology at the
provide tremendous benefits for
University of Gent in Belgium
students, such as building self
and another will have a sumconfidence and learning about
mer research internship with a
their discipline in a different culuniversity in Germany.
ture. It certainly enhances their
Twelve students will spend
GOING GLOBAL — Some 39 students will participate in Bumpers
career prospects in our global
about two months in Europe,
College International Programs this summer and fall. Agricultural
economy.”
including 10 weeks as sumand Extension Education Associate Professor Leslie Edgar, left, will
Bumpers College offers a
mer interns in Gent, Belgium,
accompany 12 students, including Agricultural Communications
students Maggie Jo Pruitt and Arthur Leal, who will have summer
minor in Global Agricultural,
working on communication
internships at the University of Gent in Belgium.
Food and Life Sciences, adding
projects for the Institute of
Agriculture and Fisheries
an international component to
any major.
Research, which is the national
Faculty members have increased the opportunities for
agricultural ministry. Agricultural and Extension Education
students to study and work abroad through their relationfaculty members Leslie Edgar, Jefferson Miller and Casandra
ships with colleagues in other countries, Proctor said.
Cox organized the tour and internships.
Proctor also helps coordinate the Atlantis Program for
Two students will participate in the first year of a
long-term CAFLS International Work Experience at two
agricultural research locations of the Federal University
of Brazil and the Research and Extension Center of Santa
Catarina, Brazil, with Professor Nilda Burgos and Assistant
Professor Esten Mason, Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences.
Six students from Bumpers College and six from other
colleges will travel to the Republic of Mozambique with
lenn Hardy and the late Charles E. Caviness were
Professor Lanier Nalley, Agricultural Economics and Rural
honored as 20th Century leaders in agricultural
Sociology, for summer internships with the New Horizons
education and research during a dedication ceremony
integrated poultry company.
Dec. 7 for the Hardy-Caviness Greenhouse Complex
Six students will attend equine, ecology and conservaat the University of Arkansas System Division of
tion classes at Oatridge College near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Agriculture’s Northeast Research and Extension Center
Two Apparel Studies students will attend courses
at Keiser.
in Prague and London, and another has an internship
Hardy was dean of the College of Agriculture and
in London.
Home Economics ­— now Dale Bumpers College of
A Hospitality and Restaurant Management student will
Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences — from 1965 to
spend the fall semester studying in Florence, Italy.
1987. Caviness, widely known as “Mr. Soybean” in the
Three students will participate in the sixth year of a longstate’s agricultural community, was a soybean breeder
term, university-wide service learning project to help develop
and a member of the Agronomy Department — now
infrastructure in Belize.
Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences — from 1949
An Agribusiness student will study economics at the
to 1991.
London School of Economics, and three will study language
and culture in Spain.
Hardy-Caviness Greenhouse
Complex dedicated
G
14
The Graduate
Division of Agriculture presents
faculty, staff awards
T
he University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
recognized outstanding performance by 18 faculty and staff
members at an awards luncheon Jan. 6 in the Crowne Ballroom
at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Little Rock. Recipients included Bumpers College faculty members.
Vice President for Agriculture Mark Cochran said, “The award
recipients represent some 1,700 faculty and staff members on five
university campuses, at research and extension centers and stations
throughout Arkansas, and in all 75 counties.”
The Robert G.F. and Hazel Taylor Spitze Land Grant University
Faculty Award for Excellence was presented to Donna L. Graham,
professor of Agricultural and Extension Education in Bumpers College on the Fayetteville campus.
Casandra K. Cox, an instructor in the Department of Agricul­
tural and Extension Education, received the Jack G. Justus Award
for Teaching Excellence.
The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Alumni Society Outstanding Advising Award was presented to
Mary C. Savin, professor of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences.
The John W. White Outstanding Teaching Award, jointly
awarded by the Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College, went
to Michael R. Evans, professor of Horticulture.
The John W. White Outstanding Research Award was presented
to Steven C. Ricke, who holds the Donald “Buddy” Wray Endowed
Chair for Food Safety in the Department of Food Science.
The John W. White Outstanding Extension State Faculty Award
went to Robert C. “Bob” Scott, a professor and extension weed specialist in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences.
The John W. White Outstanding County Extension Educator Award winner was Robert Seay, extension staff chair in Benton
County.
The John W. White Outstanding Team Award went to a group
that developed the Arkansas Phosphorus Index risk assessment tool
and training program to guide environmentally appropriate animal
manure applications on pastures. Team members are Mike Daniels,
Andrew Sharpley, Chuck West and Tommy Daniel, all in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences; Edward Gbur,
director of the Agricultural Statistics Laboratory; Brian Haggard,
director of the Arkansas Water Resources Center; Nathan Slaton,
director of Soil Testing and Research; and Karl VanDevender,
Extension engineer, Department of Biological and Agricultural
Engineering.
The John W. White Non-Classified Support Personnel Award
was presented to Justin “J.J.” Pitman, program director for the C.A.
Vines Arkansas 4-H Center at Ferndale.
The John W. White Classified Support Personnel Award for the
Cooperative Extension Service went to Jo Ann Fish, a purchasing
specialist in the Cooperative Extension Service Financial Services
Department.
The John W. White Classified Support Personnel Award recipient for the Agricultural Experiment Station was Trish Watkins, fiscal
support analyst for the Department of Agricultural Economics and
Agribusiness.
Spring/Summer 2012
Freddie Scott retires
after 26 years
A
ssociate Professor Freddie
Scott retired in February after
26 years as a faculty member in
the Department of Agricultural and
Extension Education.
Freddie Scott
A native of Cotton Plant in
Woodruff County, Scott received a B.S. degree in
Agricultural Education in 1971 from the University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff, an M.Ed. degree in 1979 from
the University of Arkansas and a doctorate in Vocational Education from the U of A in 1990.
Scott taught agricultural sciences in high school for
six years and was a high school administrator for more
than five years before becoming an instructor at the U
of A in 1985 while pursuing his doctoral degree.
Scott helped start the college’s agricultural science teacher training program and taught a variety
of courses. He was highly regarded as a teacher and
adviser to students and alumni, whom he assisted with
career development after graduation. He advised student clubs and was active in state FFA and 4H, serving
as coordinator of the annual FFA Career Development
Event at the U of A.
Arkansas Farm Bureau Romeo E. Short
Scholarship Luncheon — Amy Cofer, a Human
Development and Family Sciences major from
Gravette, spoke on behalf of 11 current recipients of
the Arkansas Farm Bureau Romeo E. Short Memorial
Scholarship at a luncheon with AFB leaders March 31
in the AFLS Atrium. AFB Executive Vice President Ewell
Welch said the scholarships help develop new leaders
for Arkansas agriculture. Pictured are, from left, Famous
Yang, Dean Michael Vayda, Ryan Napier, Holden Bell,
AFB Foundation board member Jack Norton, Portia
Short, Ewell Welch, Amy Cofer, AFB Vice President Rich
Hillman and Emily Culver.
15
Students excel in academic competitions
T
he Poultry Science Club swept first place honors in
competitions at the 2012 International Poultry Expo and
International Feed Expo Jan. 24-26 at the Georgia World
Congress Center in Atlanta. Club president Terik Jones, a
senior from Green Forest, was named Student of the Year.
He received a plaque and the $1,000 Frank Perdue Scholarship. The Arkansas club also won Scrapbook of the Year and
Club of the Year.
A team of four undergraduate Turfgrass Science students placed in the top five at the 18th annual Collegiate
Turf Bowl Competition in Las Vegas, which was the best
ever for a U of A team. A second U of A team of two students placed 35th out of the 87 teams. The fifth place team
members were Scott Hendrickson, Nathan Tompkins, Will
Mears and Josh Flowers. The other team members were Jeff
Caperton and Ethan Charles. Coaches were Ph.D. candidates
Joey Young and Dan Strunk.
Hillary Newth won first place out of 120 entries in the
DAVACO Retail Services merchandising board competition
April 13 at the annual Fashion Group International of Dallas
Career Day. She was one of 30 Apparel Studies majors who
made the trip with Assistant Professor Kathy Smith.
The Department of Entomology’s Student Debate
Team defeated the University of Georgia at the national
Entomological Society of America’s annual meeting in Reno,
Nev., Nov. 13-16. Team members are Ace Lynn-Miller,
Kevin Durden, Jessica Hartshorn, Bryan Petty and Amber
Students, alumni mingle to explore
career prospects
U
ndergraduates in Bumpers College are frequently told
that it’s never too early to start making connections and
inquiries into potential career opportunities. On March 8
some 30 students had the opportunity to do so at the college’s first Ask an Alum event. The mix-and-mingle function
at University House brought together students with college
alumni who hold key positions in significant industries. Dean
Michael Vayda said the college plans to make the mixer an
annual event.
Alumni who participated included Andrew
Freshour, head chef at
Fayetteville Montessori
School, BSHES ’10; Phil
Maynard, Tyson Foods
nutritionist, MS ’91
PhD ’03; Collin Brunner, Fayetteville Town
Center event coordinator,
BSHES ’10; and Tanner
Montgomery, Fayetteville
Ask an alum — Katie Evans and Katie
Visitors Bureau visitor
McGehee enjoyed getting a mocktail
services manager,
from Bumpers College Ambassador
BSHES ’10.
Weston Cox at the Ask an Alum event.
16
Tripodi. Professor Tim Kring is the coach. The UA team
successfully supported their randomly assigned position that
“Organic Agriculture Will Solve Projected Food and Water
Limitations of the American Society.” Six teams from universities across the country competed in head-to-head matches
with three different topics.
The Soil Judging Team won the Region IV Collegiate
Soil Judging Contest hosted by Texas A&M University Nov.
7-11. It was the highest placing for the UA team in more
than 11 years and earned it the opportunity to compete in
the National Soil Judging Contest for the third year in a row.
Team coach Kristofor Brye said that in addition to first place
overall, the Arkansas team placed second in the team-judged
pit and had the first (Alden Smartt), second (Stephanie
Kulesza), and fourth (Michael Kirch) highest individual
scores. Other members were Troy Warden, Christine Cooley
and Matt Rich.
The Food Science Quiz Bowl team won the Regional
College Competition and will compete at the National finals
in June. Team members are Madhu Ravichandran (team
captain), Viji Ganesh, Patrick Rodgers, Quyen Nguyen and
Sarah Mayfield. Three Food Science product development
teams won prizes in national contests last fall. Students on
the teams, led by Professor Navam Hettiarachchy, were
Monica Ramos, Quyen Nguyen, Madison Weskamp, Leo
Attenberg, Suni Perumalla, Tadjudini Lassissi, Leighanna
Massey, Amanda Mishler, Jay Rayaprolu, Irene Pagana, Martha Hunt, Emily Arijaje, Jack Teague and Patrick Rodgers.
The Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Club
won first place in the student club poster contest at the annual
“Tri-Societies” conference of agronomy, soil science and crop
science. Their poster was titled, “A Community Garden Project at Holt Middle School Located in Fayetteville, AR.” Club
members are Michael Kirch, Stephanie Kulesza, Sammi Jones,
Kristen Karnes, Sean Flynn and Troy Warden. Faculty advisers
are Chuck West and Mary Savin.
Gov. Mike Beebe participated in the presentation of
U of A Graduate Student Research Competition awards
to 14 students in Bumpers College graduate programs. First
place winners in their categories were Vijay Singh, weed science; Tyson Raper, cotton physiology; Emily Arijaje, food
science; Ujvala Deepthi Gadde, Poultry Science; George
Botha, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences; and Mahmoud Sharara, Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
Second place winners were Jill Motschenbacher, soil physics;
Dimitra Loka, cotton physiology; Nicole Poquette, human
nutrition; Jessica Robinette, animal science; Sandeep Rana,
weed science; Luke Brockman and Gurdeep Singh, Biological and Agricultural Engineering; and Jacob Lum, Cell and
Molecular Biology.
Eighteen undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students received awards in the annual Gamma Sigma Delta
Research Competition for oral and poster presentations at
the awards program on April 24. A list of the winners and
their presentations’ titles is online at http://gsd.uark.edu/
awards.student.program12.html.
The Graduate
Alumni awards recognize major career accomplishments
T
he Agriculture Hall of Fame inducted Lionel Barton,
BSA ’58 MS ’60, of Fayetteville and the late Stanley
Reed, BSA ’73 JD ’76, of Marianna on March 9. Also
inducted were the late Jon S. Fitch of Hindsville, Abraham
Carpenter Sr. of Grady and Howarth E. Taylor of Hickory
Ridge.
During his 28-year career as a poultry specialist with
the Cooperative Extension Service, Barton worked with
poultry companies and producers on nutrition, management, housing and disease control. He also led 4-H poultry
activities statewide and conducted the National Collegiate
Poultry Judging contest. Barton was the first president of
the U of A Poultry Science Alumni Association and remains
very active in alumni activities.
Stanley Reed was passionate about agriculture and
spent his life advocating for it prior to his death in July
2011. As detailed in last fall’s issue of The Graduate, he
was president of Arkansas Farm Bureau for five years and a
member of the University of Arkansas board of trustees for
10 years. Reed’s wife, Charlene, BSHE ’69 MS ’77, said,
“Even though he went to law school … agriculture was a
passion he never gave up.”
The Agriculture Hall of Fame is sponsored by the
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas Farm
Bureau.
T
he Biological and Agricultural Engineering Academy
inducted three alumni April 20.
Shawn Brewer of Conway, BS ’94 MS ’98, is a hydraulic engineer for the Arkansas division of the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service. He has performed analyses for watershed lake rehabilitation, farmed flood plain
inundation and the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto irrigation projects.
Jeff Keeter of White Hall, BS ’84, is the owner and
operator of a corporation that includes RJR Farms, Marje
Farms and Keeter Farms in Grady. He has expanded the family farm from 1,100 acres to 5,000 acres producing cotton,
corn, soybeans and rice.
Billy Slaton of Russellville, BS ’91 MS ’95, is a certified Arkansas nutrient management planner and a registered
professional engineer. As environmental director for Terra
Renewal Services, he supervises environmental permitting
and compliance land application projects in 17 states.
F
our Animal Science alumni awards were presented April
18. Donnie R. Campbell, BS ’71 MS ’73; Clinton
Depew, BS ’72 MS ’73; and Richard Sellers, MS ’79, were
named Advanced Graduates of Distinction. The Graduate of
Distinction award went to Billy Bob Webb, BS ’93.
Campbell has been a swine nutrition researcher for
Roche Vitamins, which was purchased by DSM Nutritional
Products, in Kansas City, Mo., where he focused on maximizing swine performance, improving health status and
reducing feed costs while protecting the environment.
Depew has been at Louisiana State University since 1977
where he served as Cooperative Extension Service associate
director and is now an Animal Science professor.
Sellers became vice president of the American Feed
Industry Association in 2000 and was previously in the
Office of the Texas State Chemist in the Texas A&M University System.
Webb earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the UA
School of Law after receiving his Animal Science degree. A
founding partner of Keith, Miller, Butler and Webb, PLLC
in Rogers, he now owns the Webb Law Office in Springdale.
He is a past president of the Arkansas Farmhouse Fraternity
Association.
Photos and longer biographies are online at arkansasaghalloffame.org and at http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/BCNews/4891.htm
Poultry Science
Scholarship Golf
Tournament —
Scott Martin with CobbVantress prepares to
make a putt during the
12th Annual Poultry
Science Scholarship Golf
Tournament April 24 at
the Springdale Country
Club. Cobb-Vantress
was a Flight Sponsor for
this year’s tournament,
which raised more than
$24,000 for Poultry
Science scholarships.
FOR EMILY — A 5-K run Oct. 29 organized by the Crop, Soil, and
Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Association raised $4,000
for a scholarship fund for Emily Grace Stiegler, daughter of Chris and
Jenny Stiegler, who died in an auto accident Christmas Eve 2010. Chris
received his doctorate in Horticulture in May 2010.
Spring/Summer 2012
17
Class Notes
James L. Barrentine, BSA ’63 MS ’65,
and his wife, Doris Barrentine, BSHES ’00,
Fayetteville, celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary on Jan. 24.
Arkansas Department of Human Services in
Howard, Little River and Sevier counties.
John S. Bragg, BSA ’43, Camden, died
Feb. 15. He was a veteran of World War
II, receiving the Bronze Star and Good
Conduct Medal. He was director of the
Ouachita Conservation District, president
of the Ouachita County Farm Bureau for
seven years, a farmer and a rural mail carrier
for 32 years.
Nancy Robins DeLee, BSHE ’45, Dallas,
Texas, died Oct. 22, 2011. She worked as a
residential real estate agent for 23 years.
William S. McGuire, BSA ’47, Texarkana, died Dec. 25, 2011. He served n
the U.S. Navy during World War II in the
Pacific Theatre. He retired from the Texarkana, Texas Independent School District
after 25 years of service.
H.H. Simmons, BSA ’49, Fayetteville,
died Feb. 16. He served in the U.S. Naval
Air Corps during World War II in the Philippine Islands. He later worked for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture as a meat and
poultry inspector for 38 years.
1970s
1950s
Penny Storms, BSHE ’75, has been
nominated vice-president of Bumpers College Alumni Society.
Clarence W. Webb Jr., BSA ’50, Springdale, died Feb. 27. He served in the Korean
War as a master sergeant with the 5th U.S.
Air Force. Later he worked for Wyandotte
Chemical for 17 years and George’s Egg
Company for 15 years.
C. Joann Phillips, BSHE ’51 MS ’67,
Malvern, died Nov. 7. She was retired from
the Hot Spring County Cooperative Extension Service.
Robert L. Gill, BSA ’52, Watson, died
March 7.
Richard D. McMullen, BSA ’55, Farmington, died Feb. 26. He served in the U.S.
Army.
Hickey Henry Himstedt Jr., BSA ’56,
Searcy, died Feb. 19, 2011.
Leon D. Braddy, BSA ’58, Fayetteville,
died Nov. 2, 2011. He was a Korean War
veteran. He worked for Joe Ray Poultry
and worked in the poultry industry until he
retired.
David E. Womack, BSA ’59 MS’62, Perryville, died Oct. 26, 2011.
E-mail your class notes to
Trina Holman, [email protected],
or fax to 479-575-6890 or mail to
Bumpers College Alumni Society,
E108 AFLS Building, University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
1950s
Hugh Nutt, BSA ’50, and Frances
Barton Nutt, BSHE ’50, Ozark, Mo.,
celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary
on Dec. 21.
Jack Cavness, BSA ’57 MS ’58, and Julia
Cavness, Bella Vista, celebrated their 60th
wedding anniversary on Oct. 6, 2011.
1960s
1980s
Boyce Johnson, BSA ’82, Marion,
began in January a two-year term as
president of the Bumpers College Alumni
Society.
1990s
Charles E. Wilson Jr., MS ’88 PhD ’92,
DeWitt, has been appointed director of the
University of Arkansas Systen Division of
Agriculture Rice Research and Extension
Center.
Aaron Lee Holcombe, BSA ’94, Jay,
Okla., has been hired as a commercial
banker for Arvest Bank in Siloam Springs.
Robin A. January, BSA ’98, and Chris B.
January, FS ’99, announce the birth of their
son, Owen Thomas, Jan. 4, Springdale.
2010s
April C. Foster, BSA ’11, Conway,
accepted a position of quality management
specialist–food safety for Steritech.
In MemoriAm
1940s
Effie Jones, BSHE ’42, Bella Vista, died
Dec. 17, 2011. She was an employee of the
18
1960s
Robert W. Parham, BSA ’60 MS ’61,
Hope, died May 19, 2011.
Barbara Engler, BSHE ’69, Bentonville,
died March 15. Through the years she held
various jobs, including 15 years in the family
business, Black’s Ready to Wear.
IN MEMORIAM
James McDonald Stewart
1941–2012
James McDonald “Mac” Stewart,
University Professor of Crop, Soil, and
Environmental Sciences, died March
13, 2012, at his home in Bella Vista.
He held the Ben J. Altheimer Chair for
Cotton Research and Development for
many years and taught courses in crop
molecular and physiology genetics.
Stewart was an internationally
known collector of exotic cotton germplasm, and he incorporated traits from
wild species into lines for use by cotton
breeders until he retired in December
2011.
Stewart received bachelor’s and
doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State
University. He was a member of the
faculty at the University of Tennessee
until coming to Arkansas in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Sherry,
three sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.
1970s
Ruth Ellen Guynn Warford, BSHE
’70, Elkins, died Nov. 3, 2011. She was a
former airline stewardess, homemaker and
farmer.
Bud Milton Dawson, BSCHE ’71,
Ozark, died Nov. 6. He worked as a
chemical engineer for Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality until his
retirement.
Frances Morris Price, BSHE ’72, Little
Rock, died Nov. 5. She worked as a dietitian for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Jimmie Wayne Marler, BSA ’74,
Moutain Home, died March 21. He
retired from Baxter Healthcare after 32
years of service.
2010s
Matt P. Rowe, BSA ’10, Wheaton, Mo.,
died Oct. 20, 2011. He was a graduate
student at the University of Arkansas,
working toward a master’s degree in animal science.
The Graduate
Bumpers College appreciates Arkansas Farm Bureau for their support of this publication, alumni events and
the Arkansas Farm Bureau–Romeo E. Short Memorial Scholarship.
DBCAFLS Alumni Society, P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702
Bumpers College — Careers that Matter
Advancing Food, Family and the Environment
Interested in sponsoring Bumpers College alumni events and activities?
Businesses or individuals interested in supporting Bumpers College
alumni events are invited to participate through a sponsorship package.
Sponsor support provides for annual alumni programs and initiatives,
including the DBCAFLS Alumni Society Scholarship.
n
Annual Sponsor, $5,000 — Support a full year
of Bumpers College alumni events AND have the
opportunity to co-host an additional alumni event
of your choice at your site or other chosen location.
n
Event Sponsor, $2,500 — Event sponsors support
the annual Alumni & Friends Tailgate (fall), AND
Senior Celebration Tailgate (spring).
n
Tailgate Supporter, $1,000 — Tailgate supporters
may choose either the fall Alumni & Friends Tailgate
OR the spring Senior Celebration Tailgate.
Sponsorship opportunities include:
n
n
n
n
Alumni & Friends Tailgate, Oct. 15, Ark. vs. Alabama
Ark. vs. Ole Miss, Oct. 27, Little Rock
Ark. vs. LSU, Nov. 23 Fayetteville
Senior Celebration, Spring 2013
— or choose to sponsor a reception, dinner, watch party,
networking event, Hometown Hog send-off party or
the DBCAFLS Mentor Program.
receive
Sponsors
n through
recognitio
motional
event pro
nd
displays a
material,
nce
se
re
p
eb
signage, w
te.
e Gradua
and in Th
Yes!
To secure your sponsorship,
or for more information,
contact Blake S. Bard,
director of development, at
[email protected] or
479-575-2270, or
Trina Holman,
alumni coordinator, at
[email protected] or
479-575-2179.