Hollensworth Discusses Genetics

Honors student Lillian Hollensworth recently gave a talk to the Union County (AR) Genealogical Society. Her talk revolved around the use of information from 23andMe, a service that provides a kit for obtaining genetic information.

Rankin Visits Honors Seminar

President David Rankin visited the Honors Seminar classes on Wednesday, October 9, 2013.

Dr. David Rankin paid his annual visit to the Honors Seminar classes this week. He began by telling the students that he was a licensed pilot during his freshman year in college and that he had spent too much time in the air and not enough time in the classroom. He urged them not to follow his example. After graduating, he went to work for Eastman Kodak and soon discovered that employees there treated one of his co-workers, a man with a Master's degree, with deference. A deference that did not seem to be reflected in the man's performance or intelligence.

Nevertheless, Rankin decided that he too needed to earn a master's degree. He did so and while a graduate student discovered that he loved teaching. That was a profession he had never previously considered. He began to teach economics at Middle Tennessee State University. He left there to pursue a PhD at Ole Miss. Along the line, he met Louis Blanchard, who was working at Southern State College (now SAU). Blanchard nominated Rankin for a faculty position at Southern State.

Rankin told how he had decided to accept the position only if it paid at least $8,000 per year. So, when Imon Bruce, then president at Southern State called Rankin and offered him the job for $8040, Rankin immediately accepted. Back then, Rankin said he had never thought of being a dean or, much less, a president. But, he told the students that they, too, had to be aware of leadership opportunities and to accept them when then came along. Students, he noted, needed to begin building their resumes as quickly as possible. He said that a resume that only includes the dates of high school graduation and college graduation would not garner any interest from employers or graduate schools.

Rankin spoke about his duties as president. Most of his time, he said, involved dealing with people be they students, parents, faculty, or even US senators. He urged his audience to take advantage of his open door policy and to visit him at any time. One of the more important things he had done since assuming the presidency was the Blue and Gold Vision. That document outlines the future of Southern Arkansas University. He invited students to come see the plan as it stands in his office. This LINK will take you to SAU's Master Plan too.

Rankin wrapped up by talking about personnel. He stated that all of his top-level administrators needed to communicate with each other or the school would not function properly. He reminisced about an interview he had with a potential faculty member some time back. That would-be-professor wanted to schedule all of his classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When Rankin asked why, the professor said so he could get all of his teaching out of the way and have more time to pursue his research. That professor was not hired. Professors, Rankin said, should know their material, love teaching, and love interacting with students. That recipe is a good one with which to run a university.

Thompson, Bryan: Bucket List

Some people say Alaska is a cold and dangerous place, that only a fool would ever want to go there. That statement for most people is right. But for an outdoorsman, it’s a true paradise. It has some of the best hunting and fishing in the entire nation, along with breathtaking views of nature. So, a trip to Alaska going elk hunting, fishing for iconnu, and enjoying the beauty of wilderness are at the top of my bucket list.

            I’ve also always been a daredevil. When I know my number is almost up, I’m going to do crazy things. One thing that I’ve always wanted to do is skydive. I love the feeling of falling on rollercoasters and want to feel what falling from the sky must feel like. That tingly feeling I get inside my stomach is amazing and that’s why I want to go skydiving.

            I’m also a person who likes a good joke and before I die I want make a joke no one will ever forget. I want to be in a hospital bed or in my own bed with the whole family gathered around. My last words to them would be, “I left all my money in bags buried next to the…” That is the funniest way I can think of to leave this world.

            No one ever wants to leave this world but when the time is near, people change their mindset. They remember the things they used to dream about and said they would do, but never got around to doing. The lack of money or the fear of doing things out of the norm doesn’t matter anymore because they realize this is the end. They don’t want to die with their dreams unfulfilled.

Honor College Report

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Honors College Report

October 2, 2014

Activities and News:

• The annual matriculation ceremony will be held in Foundation Hall on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 2 pm. A reception will follow in Grand Hall. The speaker will be Dr. Loretta McGregor, Chair of the Psychology Department at Arkansas State University. McGregor is a former SAU faculty member.
• The 2013 Honors Seminar class consists of 55 students.
• Twenty three honors students attended the Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and Gainsborough exhibit at the Arkansas Arts Center on September 8, the last day of the exhibition.
• The annual Honors College pool party was held at the Magnolia Country Club on September 3, 2013. Food for the event was donated and catered by Marlar's Cafeteria. Twenty five students attended.
• On August 29, 2013 a meeting of all SAU Honors Students took place in Foundation Hall. (See photo below) David Wingfield called that gathering the largest meeting of SAU honors students in one place ever.
• At that meeting, Dr. Kardas announced an adopt an honors student program. That program, Honors College Adoption Program or HCAP, is now underway under the direction of Cheyenne Meyer. The idea is to create more communication between honors classes and to help new students more easily adapt to SAU and the Honors College.

• Honors College continues to search for a location for a late night study hall. Such a place would be open from midnight to 2 am and would serve any student looking for a quiet place to study during those hours.
• Dr. Trey Berry and Dr. Deborah Wilson have met with officials from South Arkansas Community College and Cossatot Community College about extending the Honors 2 + 2 program to those schools. The Honors College is hopeful that MOUs will be signed soon.

Gurung, Tashi: Bucket List

Honestly, the majority of my bucket list is no different than that of most people. I want to go on a world tour, look at the Northern Lights, visit the Grand Canyon, hike the stampede trail, bungee jump, and visit the Everest base camp, among others. Performing Tango and Salsa in front of a crowd, going to and confessing in a church, and praying in a mosque may be bit distinctive.  Like everyone else, I am enthusiastic about all of these amazing experiences. However, I want to underscore the objectives that are more important and unique to me.

The first thing on my bucket list is to intern and then work in Wall Street.  During my high school years, I listened to BBC World Service, an FM station, more than I listened to music. This exposed me to the world of finance.  Apparently, I am halfway towards my goal because I’m already in the United States. I want to spend a considerable amount of time in the United States and engage in extensive research especially on economies that have had astronomical economic growth in the past decade, such as China, India, South Korea and Chile. My next goal is to work in the Finance Ministry of Nepal and have my picture hung on its wall for my contribution to the system.

The last thing I want to do is to see the prefix ‘Dr.’ in my name. And I want my Mom to see it, along with all her friends.

Harder, Cassie: Bucket List

Life is short; make the best of the one life you are given. When you are at the end of your rope, you should be able to look back at what you have done and remember with a smile and not be full of regrets.

                  Listed “top priority” on my bucket list is having my dream job.  I want, more than anything, to be an Ophthalmologist. I decided I wanted to practice ophthalmology when I was a child. Eyes, their design, function, and how vision works, have held my fascination for as long as I can remember.

                  Second on my bucket list is to have a cookie cutter family, home, and neighborhood. Of course, I prefer for this to happen after I have acquired my medical license and I have started working. The image in the back of my mind has always been to have a chic, plush neighborhood to come home to. Perhaps have a few children to fill my home with laughter, noise, and love.

                  Before I “kick the can,” I would love to have a real vacation. I have never been on a vacation, be it a cruise, a trip or Disney Land or Six Flags. Before this life is over for me, I would like to have said I’ve done all three.

                  Fourth on my bucket list, I would like to be able to say that I was able to help someone less fortunate than me. Growing up wasn’t the easiest, but if I stay the course I’ve set for myself, I hope to be in a position to give aid to someone more deserving.

                  Last, but not least, I would like to say I had a happy life. Through every bump and twist in the road, I want to say I made it with a smile.

Wade, Kahlil: Bucket List

                  To complete my life, there are probably a million things that I would want to experience before I die. My bucket list could be described as the biggest bucket in  the world because there are so many little things I would love to do in my life, but to make my life  complete I only need to do three things, which are to eat a subway sandwich with every type of meat, cheese and sauce on it, climb to the top of a rock climbing wall on the easy setting, and buy some odd color striped zebra socks.

                  To eat a subway sandwich with every type of meat, cheese and sauce on it would be a dream for me. I’m a broke college student, so I can barely afford the $5 foot long sandwich, much less adding extra types of meat or cheese because the struggle is real in my life right now. When I get a 9 to 5 with my intended job, or get really drunk out of my mind to not care about the consequences it would have on my bucket list. I will probably go to Subway and ask for that dream sub of mine. I don’t even need any type of vegetables. Just a sub on Italian herbs and cheese bread, with all the meats and cheeses toasted to where the meat juices will excite my taste buds. I also want to climb a rock wall; I always sucked at it. But, to be able to press the red button on top will enhance my life greatly, because I never could do that before. Regarding the socks, I get jealous of people when I see them wearing their odd colored striped zebra socks because I could never find any and I want to get even with them by having a pair of my own.

 I’m a simple guy with a simple bucket list.