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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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On average, an Arkansan with a bachelor’s degree will earn $700,000 more in a 30 year career than those who drop out of college. The gap climbs to $1.5 million for those with a doctorate.

This information is included in the 2018 Economic Security Report which was presented this week to the Arkansas Legislative Council Higher Education Sub-Committee.

The report makes clear that the cost to obtain any certificates or degrees at an Arkansas public postsecondary institution is significantly lower than the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in additional average career earnings.

Not including living expenses, the estimated cost in Arkansas for an associate’s degree is $10,000. The estimated cost for a bachelor’s degree $30,000.

Each level of educational achievement provides a boost in earnings power. In fact, the report shows a significant difference in earnings just the first year. On average, first year earnings for Arkansans with a bachelor’s degree are $31,800. Average first year earnings for high school graduates are $11,900.

Employment rates are also impacted by levels of education. First year full-time employment rates for college dropouts is 29%. The rates climb to 44% for Arkansans with a Certificate of Proficiency and 58% for those with an associate’s degree.

In most cases, what you study matters more than where you study. For those with an associate’s degree, science technology and health professionals make the most in average first year earnings. For those with bachelor’s degrees, engineering students make the most in average first year earnings.

Studies of health professions are the most popular over all degree areas in Arkansas as well as being the most popular choice for Certificates of Proficiency, Technical Certificates, and First Professional degrees. The most common Bachelor’s degree programs are in Business, Management, and Marketing.

Although each graduate’s success will reflect a variety of factors such as the local job market, where they choose to live, and what area they chose to study, the Economic Report provides valuable information as students and parents consider education and career choices. We have posted the report on our website: www.arkansashouse.org.

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Public Retirement & Social Security Programs - Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Programs - Joint meets at 1:30 PM at ASU-Mt Home, The Sheid Building, 1600 South College Street, Mountain Home ASU-Mt Home, The Sheid Building, 1600 South College Street, Mountain Home Meets at 1:30 pm

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UA Cossatot Agricultural Students are Headed to Washington, D.C.

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UA Cossatot students Dusty Kesterson and Kinley Wright along with UA Cossatot agriculture faculty, Kelli Harris, will be in the nation’s Capitol October 22 -25 attending the 26th National ATE Principal Investigators' Conference. Kinley and Dusty were selected to present information about their GIS (Geographic Information System) projects in agriculture at the conference.

This conference is held by the American Association of Community Colleges, with the support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The conference is by invitation only and will bring together NSF ATE grantees and their project partners to focus on issues related to advanced technological education. Conference attendees represent community colleges, industry, secondary education, and 4-year colleges covering projects in a variety of areas, such as information technology, nanotechnologies, biotechnology, and more.

UA Cossatot has been a part of an NSF ATE grant called OPENGATE (Opening Pathways to Employment through Nontraditional Geospatial Applications in Technical Education) for the past three years. This grant is a collaboration between four community colleges in the University of Arkansas system with the University of Arkansas Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, or CAST, serving as a technical resource. The goal of this grant is to increase access to education in location-based technologies to prepare students for employment in a wide variety of industries. As part of the grant, GIS technology and training has been integrated into the curriculum of the agriculture program at UA Cossatot.

Kelli Harris was able to nominate two students from UA Cossatot to apply to attend the conference. Dusty and Kinley were involved in numerous GIS projects in their agriculture classes at UA Cossatot. Both students have also attended and presented at the ArcGIS Users’ Forum in Little Rock, and Kinley attended additional training provided by Hanna Ford and Malcom Williamson from CAST this summer. After being nominated by Ms. Harris, the students submitted an application with the OPENGATE team. Only two students from all of the community colleges participating in the grant would be selected to apply to represent OPENGATE at the 2019 ATE conference in Washington, D.C., and Kesterson and Wright made it through both rounds of the selection process.

At the conference, the students will present a poster about their projects. This will allow them to highlight their program of study and the opportunities to use GIS technology in agriculture. On October 25, Dusty and Kinley will be recognized by the National Science Foundation for their achievement in ATE programs.

Dusty Kesterson's poster is about a project created in his Natural Resources class using a Survey123 app called "Naturally Fun in Sevier County". The app collects data about recreational activities that involve natural resources in Sevier County. Data was collected about the location of hiking trails, boat ramps, swim beaches, public hunting areas, and much more. Dusty's poster will show how the data was collected and analyzed. The Natural Resources class is also developing a partnership with the Sevier County Economic Development Commission to use the data collected to help promote tourism in Sevier County, Arkansas.

Kinley Wright's poster will describe a Survey123 app she developed called “Just Show It” that collects information from livestock exhibitors about their awards. The data can be used by livestock exhibitors, agricultural teachers, and 4-H leaders to organize, analyze, and display that information.

UA Cossatot instructor, Kelli Harris said, “I am very excited about the opportunity these students have to visit Washington D.C. and represent UA Cossatot at the ATE Conference. They have worked very hard on their projects and I know they will make us proud.”

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UA Cossatot Job Fair to Take Place in Nashville

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On Thursday, October 31, 2019, UA Cossatot will be hosting a job fair at the college’s Nashville Campus. The job fair will begin at 9:00 A.M. and end at 1:00 P.M. in the entrance hall.

This job fair is open to UA Cossatot students, high school students, and community members. Registration is not required. Many different industries will be available and are interested in employees for full-time positions, part-time positions, and internships. At this fair, individuals will have the opportunity to explore the benefits of working with local area employers in the UA Cossatot Nashville Atrium.

Red River Credit Union, Department of Workforce Services, LaSalle Corrections, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Central Arkansas Development Council, Mission Plastics, Tyson Foods of Nashville, Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, Husqvarna, Manpower Staffing, Domtar, Conquest Industrial Services, and Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind will all have booths at the job fair. UA Cossatot’s Career Pathways and Adult Education department will also be at the event to provide information.

More businesses are still being added to the job fair list. For any questions about the 2019 fall UA Cossatot job fair, please contact UA Cossatot Workforce and Placement Coordinator, David Sirmon, at 870-584-1136 or dsirmon@cccua.edu

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Health Fair Happening in De Queen and Nashville at UA Cossatot

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The University of Arkansas Cossatot Center for Student Success will host a free health fair on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at the UA Cossatot De Queen Campus. This event will take place in the Skilled Trades Building from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Another free health fair will also take place at UA Cossatot’s Nashville Campus in the atrium from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

The UA Cossatot Health Fair is an annual event held at the college to promote healthy living in our local area. At the fair, free flu shots, glucose monitoring, blood pressure readings, and body mass index (BMI) calculations will be available.

This event is open to the public, students, and UA Cossatot employees and is in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health.

For more information, please contact the Center for Student Success Coordinator, Erika Buenrrostro at 870-584-1133 or ebuenrrostro@cccua.edu.

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Lockesburg Lions Club and UAC Foundation Raises Money at Trade Days

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On September 27 and 28, the Lockesburg Lions Club and the UA Cossatot Foundation hosted the third annual Blue Darter Trade Days. The two-day event raised over $2,000 to help support the organizations’ projects.
Blue Darter Trade Days is an event that invites vendors from Southwest Arkansas and the surrounding area to sell unique merchandise. In addition, event festivities included a fish fry, a pumpkin patch, and Bingo.
“It was great partnering up with the UA Cossatot Foundation to not only raise funds for each of our organizations, but also provide a fun community event for people in Southwest Arkansas,” said Zebbie Launius, Lockesburg Lion’s Club Member.
The UA Cossatot Foundation hosted a fish fry from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday. UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole and Sevier County Judge, Greg Ray fried the fish. Proceeds went to benefit the Colt’s Basketball teams.
UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors hosted fall festival games and sold pumpkins for the community to purchase. UA Cossatot’s student organization, Rotaract also participated in the event by providing a concession stand.
The Lockesburg Lion’s Club hosted Bingo at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 28. The proceeds will fund an upcoming beautification project in the city of Lockesburg.
The fourth annual Blue Darter Trade Days is set to take place in September 2020.

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Arkansans to Demonstrate “Shakeout, Don't Freak Out” This Week

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK— This week thousands of Arkansans will participate in the Great Central United States ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. This year’s annual drill is set for Thursday, October 17 at 10:17 a.m. The theme for this year’s drill is to “ShakeOut, Don’t Freak Out”.

To date, more than 192,000 of Arkansans are registered for the 2019 ShakeOut Drill. Last year more than 208,000 Arkansans participated.

Held annually on the third Thursday of October, the ShakeOut Drill is a “day of action” providing an opportunity for people to take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes and other disasters. The self-led drill encourages participants to practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On”. For most people, in most situations the recommended earthquake safety action is to:

· DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees;

· COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand, as you crawl for shelter under a nearby table or desk;

· HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand until shaking stops (remain on your knees and covering your head and neck with your other arm and hand).

Citizens in Arkansas are not immune to earthquakes—the state is home to several active seismic zones capable of producing damaging earthquakes, including the New Madrid seismic zone.

The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate at www.shakeout.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

It’s important to remember that even though the official drill is being held this Thursday, there is no wrong time, nor is it too late to become more prepared. If you can’t participate this Thursday, go ahead and register and schedule a drill for yourself, your workplace or any other type of organization any day of the year!

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills

Most participants are in one of the Official ShakeOut Regions listed below (with current registration totals). People and organizations in other countries can also register. All regions participate on October 17, 2019 unless specified. To learn more, select your region below or choose from this list:

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Noah Reed Student of the Month at De Queen Lions Club Meeting

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Noah Reed was recognized as Lions Club “Student of the Month” at Tuesday’s meeting in De Queen. Noah is a senior at De Queen High, the National Honor Society President, Quiz Bowl Captain, MVP and State Champ in Quiz Bowl, and Fellowship of Christian Students President. Lion President Bryan Blackwood presented Reed with a certificate for Student of the Month.

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De Queen Open this Saturday at De Queen Country Club Golf Course

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De Queen Country Club will host the De Queen Open golf tournament this Saturday and Sunday. Tee times 10 am Saturday, 1:00 pm Sunday. Five divisions. Entry fee $20 and that includes a Saturday night pulled pork meal. Jeff Brown and Phyliss Phillips visited with Loren Hinton Tuesday morning about the tourney.

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Tuesday in Nashville FAFSA and Parent Teacher Conference Night

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Nashville High School Career Coach Amy Westphal reminds students and parents that Tuesday is a big day for NHS seniors. Tuesday is FAFSA workshop day and financial aides will be be at the high school library from 10 am till 6 pm to assist families of college bound students in filling out their financial paperwork. Also Tuesday, seniors will order their caps and gowns, and Tuesday night is National Parent Teacher Conference Night in the NHS cafeteria.

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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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A 2017 study titled “Indicators of School Crime and Safety,” published by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education, reported that 20% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school during the previous school year.

The same study also reported that about 33% of students who reported being bullied at school indicated that they were bullied at least once or twice a month during the school year.

The persistence of school bullying has led to instances of student suicide across the country, including Arkansas.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person repeatedly. It can include name calling, inflicting physical pain, exclusion, public humiliation, hurtful pranks and defacing property.

The Arkansas legislature began passing anti-bullying legislation in 2003. This year we strengthened those laws in an effort to reduce the instances of bullying in our schools.

In 2019, the General Assembly passed Act 1029, an Act to Amend the State Anti-Bullying Policy.

It requires parents of the victim of bullying be notified as soon as reasonably practicable. It requires schools to investigate and write a report on the complaint within 5 school days. The act also requires the school notify the parent or legal guardian of the student who is determined to have been the perpetrator of the incident of bullying.

In addition, it requires the superintendent to annually update the school board on the number of incidents of bullying reported and the actions taken.

Act 1029 states the Department of Education shall require 2 hours of professional development for licensed public school personnel in bullying prevention and recognition of the relationship between incidents of bullying and the risk of suicide.

This General Assembly also passed Act 190 which requires school counselors to spend at least 90% of his or her working time providing direct and indirect services to students.

The legislature will continue to study the issue of bullying but there are things we can all do.

Help children understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure they know how to get help.

And finally we can all model how to treat others with kindness and respect.