Fall Drive Viewing Fall Foliage in Southwest Arkansas

What a wonderful weekend it was to enjoy the fall colors in southwest Arkansas. This video was taken yesterday at Cossatot Reefs Park below Gillham Lake Dam. Hope there are some leaves remaining after all the wind and rain today and tonight! And watch for more tourism videos coming soon to our ed88radio.com website!

It was a beautiful weekend for checking out the fall colors. Hope there are some leaves left after the next two nights! Enjoy the colors filmed below DIERKS Lake Dam. And look for mire tourism videos coming soon to our ed88radio.com web page.

8th Annual Veterans Day Breakfast at UA Cossatot in De Queen

UA Cossatot Employees Graduate from ACC Leadership Class XI

UA Cossatot has announced that two of the college's employees have graduated from the Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) Leadership Class XI. The two graduates include the college's Coordinator of the Center for Student Success, Erika Buenrrostro and Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, Tommi Cobb. The graduation took place on Sunday, October 13, 2019, at 6:15 P.M. in Little Rock, Arkansas.

ACC is known for collaborating with educational institutions to help improve the ability of member colleges, like UA Cossatot, to meet the needs of their students. They also help meet the needs of their local businesses and industry leaders. In 2008, ACC organized and established an ACC leadership Institute.

The Institute is designed to provide instruction and guidance to current and future leaders of community colleges in Arkansas. Training in leadership, higher education administration, and advocacy training are provided to each member chosen to take part in the ACC Leadership Institute.

This event is open to ACC members who are nominated by their institution's President/Chancellor. Out of all of the ACC community college members in the state, approximately twenty-four people are chosen to attend this annual, multi-session event.

Buenrrostro and Cobb were chosen by UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole to participate in this educational experience. Both UA Cossatot employees attended the graduation reception along with Dr. Cole, leadership alumni, and the new leadership class who will graduate next year.

YOUTH SUICIDE: A SILENT EPIDEMIC

YOUTH SUICIDE: A SILENT EPIDEMIC, presented by Brittany Palermo, at the Barbara Horn Civic Center at UA Cossatot in Ashdown

Cossatot Honors Sponsors Prior to Tuesday Night's Game in Lockesburg

The Colts held on for a 90-86 win over Central Baptist College JV on Tuesday on a night that Cossatot honored all of the sponsors who made the newly redone court possible in Lockesburg. Dee Williams of Star City led five Colts in double figures with 22. Troy Spivey had 11 and Marion McFadden, Ladrakkus Thomas, and Nashville's Jamarta Gilliam each had 10 for the Colts who are now 2-0 on the season. Prior to the game UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole honored the Colt sponsors including Husqvarna, Coca Cola of Nashville, AEP SWEPCO, and the Jackson family of Lockesburg. Next time out for the Colts and Lady Colts will be this Friday and Saturday when they compete in the Southern Shreveport Classic.

Little River County 4-Hers Selling Poinsettias

Little River County 4-Hers are selling floral quality poinsettias in 6” foil wrapped pots for $12 each.

This is the 3rd year they have held this fundraiser to support educational programs and camps for our youth.

Orders of 30+ will be only $11 per pot.

There are 3 colors to choose from: red, white or mauve pink

You can order by contacting the County Extension Office at 870-898-7224 or e-mail Roxie at rjones@uaex.edu, Bethany Barney at bbarney@uaex.edu, or Jennifer Sansom at jsansom@uaex.edu

UA Cossatot Provides Lunch at Disabled Youth Hunt

On Friday, November 1, 2019 UA Cossatot provided lunch for the participants of the 2019 Disabled Youth Hunt. This event took place at the Starch Creek Hunting Club where the college served grilled hamburgers and dessert.

In 2004, Little River County Judge, Mike Cranford founded the Southern Sportsmen Foundation. In 2008 the foundation began an annual deer hunt for disabled youth.

The primary objective of this event is to take people with severe mobility impairments or life-threating illnesses on hunting trips. The Southern Sportsmen Foundation’s mission involves providing more quality outdoor and hunting opportunities to everyone.

The college prepared a lunch for everyone present and also provided the participants with a backpack and other UA Cossatot merchandise. UA Cossatot has been involved with the Disabled Youth Hunt for the past sixteen years and plans to continue that in 2020

Little River County Health Coalition The Silent Epidemic: Youth Suicide November 11th

Join us Thursday, November 7th at 11am, in the Civic Center or on Facebook Live through UA Cossatot’s radio station Ed 88 as Brittany Palermo discusses The Silent Epidemic: Youth Suicide. The Civic Center is located on the UA Cossatot Ashdown Campus, 1411 N. Constitution Ave. Parking is conveniently located near both the front and rear entrances to the center.

Tri-County Regional Library System Board Meeting November 12

Tri-County Regional Library System Board will meet for their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, November 12 at 5 p.m. at the Sevier County Library-De Queen Branch. Items to be discussed are the 2020 meeting dates and distribution of funding for January,2020.

Marilyn B. Archer, MLS

Tri-County Regional Library System Director

Serving 11 Public Libraries in Southwest Arkansas in Howard, Little River and Sevier Counties

National FFA Gives UA Cossatot a Living to Serve Grant

The UA Cossatot collegiate FFA has received a semester-long Living to Serve grant through the National FFA for $1,200 to partner with Runnin’ WJ Ranch this fall. Runnin' WJ Ranch is a non-profit equine assisted activities facility in Texarkana, Texas for special-needs children and adults.

The grant will allow the collegiate FFA to donate feed and forage for the more than twenty horses that live and work at the ranch. In addition to the donation, the students are raising awareness about ways people can get involved at Runnin’ WJ Ranch. Volunteers are needed for the 2019-2020 school year to lead horses or walk alongside the riders during classes. To participate as a leader or side walker, volunteers will need to complete a free training program provided by the ranch. For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact Narda Launius at 903-838-3223 or visit their website at: www.runninwjranch.org

On Thursday, October 17, eight agriculture students and their instructor, Kelli Harris, accomplished the first part of the project and delivered 120 square bales to the ranch. Over the next few months, students will also be delivering feed and completing training to volunteer during riding classes

Pictured (left to right): Karen Akin, Mack Dean, Shelly Raulston, Kirsten Nicholas, Kelli Harris, Cody Chandler, Codie Jamison, Lindy Price, Will McAlister, Dusty Kesterson, John Hardin, and Hadley Philamlee.

8th Annual Veterans' Day Breakfast at UA Cossatot in De Queen

Veterans' Day is only one week away and Tommi Unruh was in our De Queen studio Monday to talk about the 8th Annual UAC Veterans' Day Breakfast.

UA Cossatot Celebrates First Generation Students

UA Cossatot will recognize first-generation students by celebrating First-Generation Student Week from November 4 through November 8. During this week, current first-generation students will be recognized and acknowledged for their educational accomplishments.
A first-generation college student is a student whose parents did not graduate from college. This fall semester UA Cossatot’s total enrollment was 1,521 students. 74% of those students are first-generation students.
UA Cossatot Admissions and Recruitment Specialist, Addison Hill is the coordinator for First Generation Student Week. Addison Hill said, “I want to celebrate the success of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff on our campuses so they know how special they are. I, myself, am a first generation student and I look forward to meeting students who have overcome the same barriers as me. Recognizing first generation students is something that doesn’t need to be celebrated one week out of the year, but every day because our number of first generation students is steadily increasing.”
Hill added, “Students need to take pride in being first generation because they are inspiring someone else to step out and better their future with education.”
UA Cossatot plans to celebrate First Generation Student Week the first full week of November with three parties that will include free cupcakes. The UA Cossatot Ashdown Campus will have a party on Monday, November 4, at 11:00 A.M. in the campus hallway. Nashville Campus’s celebration will be on Tuesday, November 5, at 10:00 A.M. in the Atrium. UA Cossatot’s De Queen Campus will celebrate on Wednesday, November 6, at 11:00 A.M. in the campus courtyard.
All UA Cossatot first-generation students are encouraged to attend. First-generation students who are now UA Cossatot faculty and staff members will also be wearing a t-shirt representing the college they graduated from on the day their campus has a party.
During the celebration week, Student Services will also be on the Ashdown, Nashville, and De Queen Campuses for anyone seeking information about how they can start pursuing post-secondary education at UA Cossatot. Walk-ins are welcome, and Student Services can also be reached at 870-584-4471.

From “Meet the Colts Event” Tuesday Night in Lockesburg

Meet the Colts night in Lockesburg! Season starts this Thursday in the UA Cossatot - Bank of Lockesburg Historic Gym. Season passes now on sale for $50.

De Queen Medical Auxiliary Donates to UA Cossatot Foundation

The De Queen Medical Auxiliary donated over $10,000 to the UA Cossatot Foundation to establish the De Queen Medical Auxiliary Scholarship. The scholarship will award $300 for one Sevier County student in the LPN or RN program for the spring semester.
The De Queen Medical Auxiliary was a non-profit organization and operated inside the gift shop at the De Queen Medical Center. The organization’s purpose was to raise funds to provide grants to De Queen Medical Center employees seeking continuing education assistance.
“Once De Queen Medical Auxiliary dissolved, the board wanted to continue to give local nursing students the opportunity to receive scholarship funds,” said Mary Johnson, De Queen Medical Auxiliary President.
The UA Cossatot Foundation exists to create awareness of the need for scholarships while focusing efforts on raising resources to meet the need and furthering UA Cossatot’s institutional development.
UA Cossatot Foundation Director, Dustin Roberts said, “One of the biggest focus areas for our foundation is seeking scholarship funds to help UA Cossatot students reach their educational goals. We are truly grateful for the De Queen Medical Auxiliary gifting us these funds to help our nursing students.”
For more information on how to support UA Cossatot Foundation, please contact Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu

Brown Establishes Scholarship with UA Cossatot Foundation

De Queen resident, Julie Brown, donated $25,000 to the UA Cossatot Foundation to establish the Cathy Sennett Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship is to honor the memory of long-time Southern LP Gas employee, Cathy Sennett. The scholarship is for Sevier County college students attending UA Cossatot. Eligible applicants will need to have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have financial need. The scholarship will award one applicant $1,250 for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Brown said, “Cathy was a dedicated employee with Southern LP Gas for nearly 40 years. I am honored to be able to provide a gift that will leave a lasting memory of Cathy while helping local college students.”
The UA Cossatot Foundation exists to create awareness of the need for scholarships while focusing efforts on raising resources to meet the need and furthering UA Cossatot’s institutional development.
UA Cossatot Foundation Director, Dustin Roberts said, “Ms. Brown has been a big supporter of our foundation and its mission. We are pleased to receive this gift to honor the memory of Ms. Sennett and to provide scholarship opportunities for our students.”
For more information on how to support UA Cossatot Foundation, please contact Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu

Red Ribbon Week at UA Cossatot

Red Ribbon Week activities at UA Cossatot include a mock traffic stop at the Skilled Trades Building in De Queen. Thank you Sgt Wayne Baker of the De Queen PD for conducting the mock stop.

Ashdown Junior High School Awarded

The Ashdown Junior High School has been recognized by the Office for Education Policy (OEP) at the University of Arkansas as a school where students demonstrated high growth on the ACT Aspire! The OEP creates an annual report entitled the Outstanding Educational Performance Awards where schools are recognized for high student academic growth.

AJHS received the following awards:

High Overall Growth: Middle Level (Southwest Region)

High Math Growth: Middle Level (Southwest Region)

High ELA Growth: Middle Level (Southwest Region)

Mr. James K. Jones, AJHS Principal says, “The teachers and staff are committed to student academic success as well as making AJHS a place where students expect to succeed and do so. Our improved growth in student test scores for the last several years indicate that we have excellent teachers in English/Language Arts, Math and other key core subjects who work together as a team.”

Awards are based on the 2019 content growth score calculated by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. These growth scores reflect how much students at the school improved from 2018 compared to how much they were expected to grow considering prior achievement.

Ashdown Public School Superintendent Casey Nichols said, “We are extremely excited about the direction our campuses are going and we could not be more proud of the awards AJHS has received and for all of the hard work and commitment that our students and staff have put forward to making this positive growth happen."

Greetings from Washington, DC!

Pictured left to right: Congressman Bruce Westerman, Dusty Kesterson, Kelli Harris, Kinley Wright, and Rep. Jason Smith

I just wanted to share a little bit about our trip with everyone. Yesterday the conference opened and we’ve heard from representatives at the National Science Foundation and the American Association of Community Colleges. The best part of yesterday was our night tour of the Capitol with Representative Bruce Westerman. It was a truly amazing experience. We walked onto the Senate Floor and the House Floor. Congressman Westerman and Representative Jason Smith from Missouri shared many amazing facts and stories with us. There were several areas that we were not allowed to take pictures, but I’m sure it’s something we’ll never forget.

Innovation in Youth Programming Award

Jean Ince, Howard County Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension Agent, was honored recently at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) 85th annual session, whose theme was “Nurturing the Richness of Lifelong Learning”. She was a member of a team of neighboring county FCS agents that received the First Place National and First Place Southern Region for the NEAFCS Innovation in Youth Programming Award at the conference held September 30 - October 3, 2019 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

In receiving the award, Ince and teammates were recognized for planning and implementing a program focused on teaching students practical food preparation skills, learning to read and follow a recipe, hands-on cooking and clean up, table setting and etiquette. Of course, the team taught MyPlate and Dietary Guidelines each day to stress the importance of choosing a healthy diet.

The Innovation in Youth Programming Awards was established in 2019 to recognize innovation and accomplishment in the design and implementation of a Family and Consumer Sciences program for a youth target audience. The award was sponsored this year by the NEAFCS membership and awards fund. Ince‘s commitment to meeting the needs of individuals, families and communities is exemplary.

Sophie Jackson and Lexi Powell from Acorn High School

More basketball recruits visiting UA Cossatot. Enjoyed the visit with Sophie Jackson and Lexi Powell from Acorn High School today.