PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Weaver, Melony Ritter
(501) 760.6410 office
press@np.edu
October 26, 2016
NPC BOARD ENDORSES NIGHTHAWKS MASCOT
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 26. Items for report included endorsement of the new mascot, new art and criminal justice degrees, and an update on the Innovative Technologies Center (ITC).
The Board welcomed new hire, Anne Benoit, NPU Admissions Representative. The October
Student of the Month, Jacob Albrecht, was introduced by Communications and Arts Division
Chair, Roger Fox. Fox said, Albrecht was nominated for the award by Dr. Ferris Allen,
his Music Appreciation instructor. He graduated from Lake Hamilton High School, where
he played trombone in the Lake Hamilton Powerband. He is taking general education
courses and plans to work toward a degree in engineering. Dr. Allen said Albrecht
has “insightful observations in writing and class discussion” and that, “instead of
stopping at an introductory level of appreciation, he insists on reaching for a deeper
understanding.”
The Board approved three new transfer degrees with Henderson State University (HSU).
The Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences (ASLAS) degrees for Digital
Art and Design, Studio Art, and Art Education will each transfer seamlessly to HSU.
The guaranteed course transfer will allow students to enter HSU Bachelor of Fine Arts
or Bachelor of Education degree tracks as a junior. These are the first transfer degrees
NPC has offered in Art. Dr. Wade Derden, Vice President for Academic Affairs said,
“These new transfer agreements build on the strong history of art programs at NPC.
We are excited to be expanding new opportunities for our students who wish to seek
professional careers in art.”
The Board also approved new transfer agreements in Criminal Justice with the University
of Arkansas System’s Criminal Justice Institute (CJI). The collaboration with CJI
allows active Arkansas law enforcement personnel to complete degrees in either Crime
Scene Investigation or Law Enforcement Administration tuition free.
Dean of Enrollment, Jason Hudnell presented a resolution asking the Board to endorse
the new mascot, NPC Nighthawks, and officially marking October 26, 2016 as the birthday
of the NPC Nighthawk mascot. He noted that the students voted overwhelmingly for the
nighthawks. The College hosted a mascot reveal and pep rally in the NPC gymnasium
Wednesday. The Lake Hamilton Powerband drumline performed alongside cheerleaders from
eight area high schools, including, Lake Hamilton, Lakeside, Hot Springs, Jessieville,
Mountain Pine, Cutter-Morning Star, Caddo Hills, and Fountain Lake. Hot Springs Baptist
Church provided free hamburgers to attendees. Hudnell emceed the event explaining
that the mascot was about more than a name. He said “It is about creating something
that we can all rally around - faculty, staff, students, and our community. One heartbeat,
one vision, one goal; student success.” The board unanimously approved the resolution.
William Polk, Director of the ITC provided an update on renovations to the new facility located at 2233 Albert Pike. The ITC is funded by a $894,000 Regional Workforce Training Grant from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education. Renovations to the 4,700 square foot facility are nearly complete and include an ADA compliant restroom, electrical upgrades to support equipment, air conditioning for the industrial training area and computer networking.
The initiative’s primary focus is training for local industry, enhancements for local K12 schools and classes and events for the local community. Long-term sustainment plans include collaboration with other schools and industry leaders in automation and machining. Polk explained the ITC is already working with Irby electric to hold two events in 2017 to display the latest technologies in automation and process solutions from Rockwell, Cisco systems and Panduit. The ITC has hosted classes in the basics of drones and 3D printing. This fall and spring the ITC will offer CATIA 3D modeling, CNC machining, and robotics training for industry plus coding, 3D modeling and printing for K12 and the public.
Dr. John Hogan concluded the meeting with the president’s report. He welcomed Christi Nation from Henderson State University and expressed his appreciation for the new partnership and transfer degrees. He noted that the month of October has been full of events for faculty, staff and students, including Manufacturing Day, Legacy Hall dedication, State and Local Candidate Debate, Phi Theta Kappa inductions, mascot reveal and pep rally, and many others. He thanked the Board for their support explained what he described as a “movement” and an “energy” on campus that creates a healthy learning environment for students. He went on to add that this energy is “symbolized in a mascot.” Hogan thanked all of the faculty, staff, students, and volunteers who have contributed to numerous campus events during the month of October.
Photo 1: Jacob Albrecht, October Student of the Month
Photo 2: Dr. John Hogan, NPC President (front left) and Christi Nation, Executive Director HSU-Hot Springs (front right) sign three new articulation agreements in Art. Back row left to right Dr. Wade Derden, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Roger Fox, Communications and Arts Division Chair, Lana Taliaferro, Art Faculty, and Richard Browne, Visual and Media Arts Program Director.
