News
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Grant Targets Poverty in North Central Arkansas
Over 35,000 individuals in area live 200% below federal poverty line.
Helping community organizations reduce poverty in Baxter, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Searcy and Stone counties is the aim of a new grant awarded to Arkansas
State University-Mountain Home by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
The $84,168 grant will support a consortium of local organizations led by ASUMH. The consortium will create a strategic plan to help unemployed and underemployed residents in these counties. Among the plan's goals are:
- To help adults and families who are living below 200 percent of the federal poverty line to find, enroll in and complete job training programs
- To increase the rate of completion of associate degree and certificate programs or technical certifications
- To "Move the Needle" toward reducing poverty in north central Arkansas.
The needs in this area are critical, with more than 35,000 individuals under the age of 65 who live 200 percent below the federal poverty line," said Dr. Sherece West, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation president and CEO. "The challenges of geography and the lack of new industry call for a more efficient and coordinated system of delivering existing services and support. This grant fits the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation's mission because it will help mover these individuals out of poverty and toward increased employment and earnings."
ASUMHJ will partner with representatives of local public agencies, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations that have direct interaction with unemployed and underemployed workers in the area. The project duration is 18 months, beginning October 1, with a total project cost of approximately $241,000.
For 35 years, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has worked to make a difference by helping to build and sustain the organizations that serve and strengthen Arkansas. Through grantmaking and strategic partnerships, we are working even harder to help close the economic and educational gaps that leave too many Arkansas families in persistent poverty. Working together, the needle can and must move from poverty to prosperity for all Arkansans. For more information on the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, go to http://www.wrfoundation.org/.
Twin Lakes Veterans Members Donate $25,000 to ASUMH
Two anonymous Army veterans who are members of the local Twin Lakes Veterans organization donated $25,000 to Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
recently. The donation will fund an elevator in the new Sheid Community Development Center on the ASUMH campus. The donors felt it was important that
the new facility be readily accessible for all, especially the disabled citizens of the community. In making the presentation to Dr. Ed Coulter, Twin
Lakes Veterans association President Jimmy Bradley commented, All of us veterans hope that others will step forward and commemorate seats in the
Veterans section of the Auditorium in the Vada Sheid Community Development Center to their lost loved ones who have served our country in times of both
peace and war.
Pictured left to right: Martha Grant, Twin Lakes Veterans Treasurer; Jimmy Bradley, Twin Lakes Veterans President; Ed Coulter, Chancellor of ASUMH; Gary Lee, Twin Lakes Veterans Vice President and Martha Lee, Twin Lakes Veterans Secretary.
Balloon Event at ASUMH Celebrates Annual Fund Goal Being Met
Balloonists from four states were in Mountain Home over the weekend celebrating the achievement of ASUMH's Annual Fund Goal of $325,000! Arknasas,
Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri all had hot air balloons in town as a competition flight and balloon glow were the showcase events of the weekend.
Sponsors for event were Carter's Jewel Chest, Studio 9.2.3, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, First National Bank & Trust, C. Michael Risk
General Dentistry, and Mountain Home Charter Service. These sponsors provided crew for the balloons over the weekend and made the event possible.
Additional thanks go to Baxter Bulletin, Blu Pig, AmeriGas, Ranger Boats, ASUMH Subway/Magness, and the Baxter County Sheriff's Department. Committee
members of the Annual Fund Drive were Karen Montgomery, Kathryn Miles, Cindy Young, Debbie Coleman, Glenda Bodenhamer, Sam Rhodes, Stacy Sheid and the
ASUMH Development Staff.
Ruth E. Hamilton Nursing Scholarship Established
The family of nationally-recognized nurse Ruth Erlene Hamilton has established a scholarship for students in the Arkansas State University-Mountain
Home licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program. Family members say the scholarship was created to honor Ms. Hamilton who considered nursing a privilege
and an honor, as well as a means to help people, to minister to those in need, and to perform God's work. Hamilton's professional career has often been
called a ministry by those who knew her well. After receiving training at Hesston College and Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas, Hamilton
settled in Gassville, where she was the only registered nurse. While licensed registered nurses were scarce in northern Arkansas in the 50s, nurses with
a college degree were rare indeed. With her modesty and sensitivity to others, Hamilton seldom mentioned her college degree. Ruth served an eight-year
role as the surgical floor supervisor, director of in-service and assistant director of nursing services at Boone County Hospital in Harrison. During
that time, she set up Boone County Hospital's first coronary care/intensive care unit. In 1964, she became the night-shift supervisor for Marion County
Hospital in Yellville. The following year, she became the director of nursing services at Marion County Hospital, and held that position for three
years. In addition to working at Baxter Manor Nursing Home and Baxter General Hospital, Hamilton was given the challenge of establishing the first
recuperative care unit for the hospital that became Baxter Regional Hospital. In 1975, she was named Director of Nursing Services for Baxter Manor
Nursing Home where she worked for over ten years. She was awarded the Arkansas Nurse of the Year Award in 1983. From her position as in-service director
in 1956 to the end of her career, Hamilton was always a teacher. At Baxter Manor, she held nurse's aide-certification classes so that all the aids
became certified caregivers. Later, she served on a national committee to standardize the licensing test for licensed practical nurses across the United
States. In honor of the life Hamilton lived, teaching and mentoring future nurses, a nursing scholarship was established by family members. Pictured at
the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Health Sciences Building is Vi Hamilton Janzen, sister-in-law of Hamilton, and Linda Sallee, who says
Hamilton was her surrogate mother. Both Janzen and Sallee are nurses and credit Hamilton with inspiring them with her life. She would be so pleased to
see the nursing program here at ASUMH. Ruth inspired so many students during her lifetime. It's an honor to establish this scholarship in her name, said
Janzen. Students must hold a minimum 3.0 grade point average and express intent to further their education in a Registered Nursing (RN) program.
Applicants may be from Baxter, Marion or Fulton Counties and demonstrate a need for financial assistance. For more information, contact ASUMH Financial
Aid at 508-6124.
Conference Room Named for Ozark Regional Arts Council
ASUMH Announces Naming of Ozark Regional Arts Council, Conference Room in VSCDC
A glass conference room on the second floor of the Vada Sheid Community Development Center is being named for the Ozark Regional Arts Council, Chancellor Ed Coulter of Arkansas State University - Mountain Home announced on Thursday. At a reception to kick off the ASUMH Annual Fund Drive, Coulter introduced Lucinda Blair, President of the Ozark Regional Arts Council, who shared the vision of the Ozark Regional Arts Council and presented a major gift to the university. "The Ozark Regional Arts Council believes that Art is alive," said Blair. "What better contribution could we make than to the Vada Sheid Community Development Center?"
The gift of $100,000 by the Ozark Regional Arts Council will further the group's efforts in educating, enriching and elevating awareness of the arts in
the community. The Council will hang artwork and display exhibits regularly in the conference room that will bear their name. In addition, they will
schedule various art exhibits in the Dale Bumpers Great Hall.
"Preserving our history, while ensuring all of our cultures extend into the future is our goal," said Blair. "Vada has done so much for this community and we are keeping her dream and the dream of other donors and volunteers alive and moving forward."
About the gift to the university and the Vada Sheid Community Development Center, Coulter told the crowd that the shared vision of preserving the arts by the Ozark Regional Arts Council and ASUMH makes the gift one that the entire community can be proud of. "When two entities like these share a like vision of educating and preserving the arts and culture of a region, everyone wins. The community can be proud of the support of the Ozark Regional Arts Council and the cultural gift that will be shared with the community in this grand space."
Blair echoed Coulter's comments by adding "Experience the Arts!"
For more information on the Vada Sheid Community Development Center or the Annual Fund Drive, contact Carol Gresham at 870-508-6116.
ASUMH Releases Fall 2009 Vision Newsletter
Powell Family Establishes Scholoarship at ASUMH
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home announces the establishment of a new scholarship for single parents by Martha A. Grant, CPA. The scholarship provides $1,000 a year for a non-traditional student with a small dependent child. The gift will continue over four years.
Grant, who is a practicing Certified Public Accountant in Mountain Home, is familiar with the challenges students with small children face. As a single
parent herself, Grant knew education was the only way she and her child could build a better life for themselves. After attending a small community
college in Northern Arkansas, Grant earned both her bachelor's degree and master's degree while raising her son. "It was a long hard road, but I always
knew that I would be blessed to have a good education." Grant's son attended ASU-Jonesboro and Grant said that the ASU system is important in her life.
"I am very happy to be able to give back. Goal setting is so important, and community colleges allow students a chance to make accomplishments toward
their future goals."
About the scholarship, ASUMH Chancellor Ed Coulter said, "I can't tell you how much a gift like this can mean for a student who is a single parent. We appreciate Martha Grant very much for what she will do to Create Opportunities and Change Lives at ASUMH."
For information on this and other scholarships at ASUMH, contact Joyce Rone, Director of Financial Aid at ASUMH, at 870-508-6124.