80th Anniversary Awards Recipients
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Recipients of ASU-Beebe Alumni and Service Awards on March 31, 2007
Front row (left to right): Linda Jenkins, Jeannie Lindsey, Dr. Dianne Tiner, Dr. Eugene McKay, Brenda Shurley, Cathy Eoff.
Back row (left to right): Michael McCarty, Doyle Slaten, Marvin Jones, Garth Martin, Lance Wright, Tracy French, Jim Haynes, Tom Jenkins, Dr. Ruth Couch, Bob Lashlee.
April 24, 2007
News Release
Contact:
Colbie Moody
Director of Public Information
501-882-8224
ASU-Beebe Presents Awards at 80th Anniversary
BEEBE-At the 80th Anniversary Alumni Awards and Banquet, Arkansas State University-Beebe presented several awards to former and current students, faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as alumni and friends of the University, who have each contributed to the success of the University over the years.
ASU-Beebe solicited nominations for a year from the community, institution, and former students. A committee of nine persons from the institution and the community selected the recipients. This was the first time alumni and service awards have been presented by ASU-Beebe.
Tom Jenkins, of Beebe, received the Alumni Service Award. This award is designated for those former students that have provided exceptional leadership and giving in their communities though volunteer service, participation in public service, and/or personal sacrifice to improve the lives of others. Tom Jenkins has provided great service to his community through his professional career and personal interests. After obtaining degrees from ASU-Beebe and UCA, Mr. Jenkins began a 26-year career with the Arkansas Department of Health. He has shown his dedication by serving as board member and volunteer to many organizations that serve Central Arkansas.
The Distinguished Alumni Award honors former students of ASU-Beebe who exhibit exemplary character, success in their chosen professions, and leadership and service to their communities, the University, and society. One recipient was chosen from each decade that the college has operated:
1940s-Garth Martin, of Little Rock, attended ASU-Beebe from 1948-1950 and after receiving his associate's degree, graduated from Hendrix College. Martin played basketball at ASU-Beebe and Hendrix. Martin has been a major donor both to ASU-Beebe and Hendrix and he was chairman of ASU-Beebe's Vision 2000 Campaign to furnish the student center. He has also served on the ASU-Beebe Development Council since its inception in 1997.
1950s-Doyle Slaten, of Searcy, received his education and then dedicated his life to providing opportunities for vocational and technical education to the people of White County. When Foothills Vocational-Technical School, now ASU-Searcy, opened in Searcy in 1966, Slaten served as business manager. A few years later, he became president of the school. In that capacity he served as president of the state's Vocational Technical Director's Association and helped lobby for opportunities in vocational education.
1960s-Linda Jenkins, of Beebe, was selected with a handful of other aspiring educators from around the country, to a graduate program at Harvard University. It was a special program in the College of Education to prepare teachers for excellence in education. Once back at home she dedicated more than 28 years to teaching high school science to the students of Beebe Public Schools and eight years here in the Math and Science Division at ASU-Beebe.
1970s-An ASU-Beebe student in the 1970s, Marvin Jones, of Cabot, has made a permanent mark on ASU-Beebe through his generous giving and leadership. He just completed a term as chair of ASU-Beebe's Development Council; he has also established the Marvin Wayne Jones Family Trust and fostered a partnership with Stephens, Inc. to provide our own business students monies to make stock market investments as part of their educational experience. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the business department.
1980s-Brad Archer, of Greensboro, NC, was the recipient of the largest theatre scholarship ever given by ASU Jonesboro. Archer continued to be as successful in his career after college. After receiving his associate's degree at ASU-Beebe, he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at ASU and a Master of Fine Arts at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
1990s-Lance Wright, of Quitman, attended ASU-Beebe in the mid-1990s and was active in Ag Club, as a student ambassador, and as a Leadership Council member. He earned his associate's degree and then went on to earn a bachelor's, master's and law degree from the University of Arkansas. Today, Wright is as busy with his law practice and with his community work as he was at ASU-Beebe.
2000s-In 2005, after earning agriculture degrees from ASU-Beebe and Jonesboro, Michael McCarty, of Bald Knob, became the most decorated Arkansas soldier of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in Iraq for 12 months as an Infantry Platoon Leader. McCarty now holds the Silver Star (the Army's third highest honor), the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, as well as several other distinguished awards.
The Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes the achievements and contributions of faculty or former faculty who served in the classroom for at least 10 years. Jeannie Lindsey, of Beebe, received the award for her exemplary commitment to students and education while at ASU-Beebe and for her service to ASU-Beebe beyond faculty responsibility. In 1965, she worked to give ASU-Beebe women the chance to compete in basketball. She and her students organized an AAU team as the Beebe Independents and reigned as State Champions for their first two years.
The Distinguished Staff Award recognizes the achievements and contributions of staff or former staff that have worked at ASU-Beebe at least five years and have contributed to ASU-Beebe much beyond their required work duties. Bob Lashlee, of Beebe, was hired in 1975 to serve as security officer. Lashlee would serve ASU-Beebe as Director of Public Information, Director of the Division of Continuing Education, Director of Little Rock Air Force Base, and committee chairperson. Before leaving in 2001 to enjoy retirement, Lashlee was instrumental in developing off-campus sites for college credit in seven surrounding counties, thereby improving access to education for the people of Central Arkansas.
The Meritorious Service Award recognizes distinguished achievements and contributions to ASU-Beebe by a non-student or graduate through professional, civic, and philanthropic activities. All recipients have made a significant impact and contribution to ASU-Beebe over a period of time through volunteer service, leadership positions, or as a former faculty and staff. The following people were recognized with this award:
Dr. Dianne Tiner, of Heber Springs. Dr. Tiner showed great leadership and dedication as she helped begin ASU-Heber Springs. A true member of the ASU-Beebe family, Dr. Tiner has served in seven positions at Beebe and Heber Springs. She is currently Vice Chancellor for ASU-Heber Springs, which will have a new campus at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain this year.
Dr. Ruth Couch, of Beebe. From her tenure in the classroom to her service as ASU-Beebe's first female vice chancellor and longest-serving vice chancellor for academic affairs, Dr. Ruth Couch is still contributing to ASU-Beebe today. In 2005, she established the Dr. Ruth Couch Endowment Scholarship to provide perpetual tuition monies to deserving students.
Dr. Eugene McKay, of Beebe. In 2006, the Beebe Chamber of Commerce recognized Dr. McKay with the Lifetime Achievement Award. That same spring Walter England presented Dr. Eugene McKay his 40-year pin for his service to ASU-Beebe. Dr. McKay's lifetime achievement has been ASU-Beebe and his passion for developing it to be the finest two-year institution in Arkansas. For 21 years, Dr. McKay remained in the classroom, providing our students with the foundations of a strong education. He then served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. For the past 12 years, he has been our Chancellor leading the college to unprecedented growth and expansion.
The Corporate Excellence Award recognizes companies that have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the institution through giving, community relations, volunteer service, or other acts of support that help to improve the University's service to its students and community. The following were recipients of this award:
Brenda Shurley, of Cabot. Brenda Shurley has helped build the bridge for students, ensuring their success and enhancing their experience at ASU-Beebe. The Shurley Learning Center in the ASU-Beebe Student Center has received acclaim from national experts. Access and experience were also improved for agriculture students with the completion of the Shurley Greenhouse at the farm in 2004. She has also provided needed scholarship assistance to students with the Shurley Scholarship, which she endowed in 2005.
Cathy Eoff, of Beebe. Ms. Eoff has been a valuable fixture of the Beebe community since 1975 through her community support and through her business, Eoff and Associates, Inc. In 2006 she shared her family's love of education with ASU-Beebe through the endowment of the Eoff Family Scholarship. A dedicated financial supporter of ASU-Beebe and ASU Jonesboro, Eoff will help to make the difference for many students by providing them the boost they may need to complete their education.
Community Bank. ASU-Beebe has been the fortunate recipient of their benevolence for the last several years. The ASU-Beebe Concert/Lecture series was enhanced in 2004 after Community Bank provided the funding to help the program and provide our community with quality, affordable cultural programming. Community Bank has generously supported student scholarships with donations to the endowment fund at ASU-Beebe. They were the lead sponsor for the 80th Anniversary Golf Tournament and provided the volunteer labor to staff the entire event and raise the money needed to be a success. Volunteers from Community Bank, Tracy French and newly retired Chuck Wisdom, support the Development Council with their time and energy.