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Geology Class Unearths Fossil at Lake Ouachita

November 08, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – Students in Dr. George Maxey’s Geology class participated in a field trip in October. The class discovered graptolite fossils in the Womble formation west of Checkerboard Point on Lake Ouachita. Maxey explained that the graptolites were preserved as a carbon imprint at the bottom of the Tethys Sea, which no longer exists. “Plate tectonics closed the ancient sea and scraped the sediments off the bottom of the sea floor and folded the sediments up and onto what is present day Arkansas - forming the Ouachita Mountains. The upper folds eroded away leaving the roots of the mountains that are exposed at present,” said Maxey.

Active Shooter Training at National Park College

November 07, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – The National Park College (NPC) Community and Corporate Training Division offered its first Active Shooter Training class in October. More than 35 employees from Baxley/LogPro participated in the training. Workforce Specialist Barry Ballard said the training is in high demand and has been crafted by an expert in the field. Travis K. Sorrows, President and co-founder of Corporate Resilience Solutions (CRS) facilitated the course. He is retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after 25 years as a Special Agent in various cities across the country. Sorrows served as one of the FBI’s experts in crisis intervention and personnel risk management, providing services at critical incidents such as the Columbine school massacre and the Pentagon after September 11, 2001. “There isn’t a better expert around,” Ballard said.

Military Service Scholarship

October 28, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) student, Nick Cullen received the Military Service Scholarship this semester. The $1000 scholarship is provided by Bob and June Luciew of Hot Springs Village. The Luciews are committed to helping students who have served in the armed forces complete their education. Mr. Luciew served in the U.S. Navy and Mrs. Luciew had a career as a registered nurse. They established a $50,000 endowment in 2014 after attending an NPC graduation ceremony where they witnessed a large number of veteran students stand and be recognized. Mrs. Luciew said, “I just knew we had to do something to contribute. These men and women have sacrificed so much for all of us. Helping them complete a degree and move into a career path is the least we can do. He has offered his appreciation for the scholarship, but we would like to say ‘thank you’ to him for his service to our country.”

NPC, GC Farm Bureau Host State and Local Candidate Debate

October 27, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – The National Park College (NPC) Student Government Association and the Garland County Farm Bureau (GCFB) hosted a State and Local Candidate Debate Tuesday. All state and local candidates seeking public office were invited to participate. Dick Antoine, host of the KZNG-AM 1340 morning show, “Talk of the Town” moderated the event. The debate panel included Dr. Charles Argo, Social Sciences Division Chair, Michelle Godwin, SGA President, Tommy Sorrells, GCFB President, and Corey Alderdice, Director of the Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts.

NPC Board Endorses Nighthawks Mascot

October 26, 2016

Melony Ritter

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.”

PEO Chapter CH Helps Student Find Her Path to Physics

October 21, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – The Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Chapter CH scholarship was awarded to Stevie Renee Wells this semester. The $1000 scholarship is dedicated for non-traditional female students who may have been over looked by other scholarships. Wells graduated a year early from Lake Hamilton High School, earning a full academic scholarship to Arkansas Tech University (ATU). After struggling to connect with a major and working full time, she lost her scholarship and dropped out of college. Wells spent years in the workforce where she was able to understand her strengths and weaknesses and identify her passion for math and science.

Hospitality and Tourism Instructor Earns Certification

October 20, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hospitality and Tourism Administration Instructor, Eve Baum Victory, was certified by the American Hotel and Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) as a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE). Internationally recognized as the premier source for delivering quality hospitality education, AHLEI awards the CHE designation to instructors who demonstrate knowledge and experience, and a commitment to maintaining the highest standard of competence as a hospitality professional. David Hughes, Dean of Business, Technical and Early College Programs, said that Eve has been integral to evolving NPC’s Hospitality and Tourism curriculum into a robust and competitive program of study. “Attaining the CHE certification will surely be the first of many professional milestones for Eve,” Hughes stated. Originally from New York City, Eve Baum Victory holds a Bachelor of Arts degree which she used to pursue a career in marketing communications and event planning. Working on both coasts, she has been responsible for rebranding and developing customer communication strategies for multiple companies as well as managing million dollar tradeshow and meeting budgets.

NPC Hosts Elected Officials For Community College Work$ Month

October 14, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) will host a breakfast for elected officials Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 a.m. in the boardroom for Community College Work$ month. The Board of Trustees and the College cabinet will discuss the upcoming legislative session and College’s legislative agenda. Elected officials will be asked to share their thoughts about priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Governor Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed October 2016 as "Community College Work$ Month" in Arkansas. Community College Work$ Month promotes community colleges in the state by increasing public awareness of each college's mission and vital role in meeting local economic development and workforce needs. Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) and its member institutions are holding public events during the month that highlight economic development initiatives and technical training programs.

Students Awarded Mahlon Grigsby Scholarship

October 14, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – Two National Park College (NPC) students received the Mahlon Grigsby Scholarship this semester. The $2000 scholarship was awarded to Keanna Peck and Riley Goad. Both Peck and Goad are studying criminal justice at NPC and attended the dedication of the newly named Legacy Hall Thursday. Pictured left are Riley Goad and Keanna Peck beside Mahlon Grigsby’s plaque inside the building. Peck is from a military family and has traveled the world. She believes her diverse experiences will help her with her dream to serve children in the juvenile justice system. She has served as a volunteer intern with the Garland County Juvenile Court and is active on campus working with TRiO student support services and student ambassadors. Goad chose criminal justice because of his father’s influence as a police officer. His dream is to use his career in law enforcement to save lives and make the world a better place every day. He serves as Vice President of the Student Government Association and says “hard work” is what he loves more than anything.

NPC Dedicates Legacy Hall to Commemorate Campus History

October 14, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) hosted a building dedication for the newly named Legacy Hall Thursday. Past presidents of National Park College, Garland County Community College, directors of Quapaw Technical Institute, and Board of Trustees members were invited to recognize the legacy of their leadership. The College unveiled new signage on the front of the building, formerly the Math and Sciences Building. Inside the building, a tribute wall showcased past board members and presidents commemorating their service to the campus and the community. A similar display will be installed to honor faculty and staff at a later date.

2nd Fiber Optics Technician Training to Begin at NPC

October 13, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) partnered with BDI DataLynk in the spring to offer industry recognized, Fiber Optic Association (FOA) sanctioned, fiber optics networking courses. Fiber optics networking is a highly technical, hands-on field that is forecasted to experience high growth through 2022. Employment opportunities could include jobs in the cable, satellite television, or phone industries. The second series of courses will begin November 14, and can be completed in one week. Industry certifications are awarded with the completion of each course. Instructor, Bob Ballard is a Vietnam veteran and a FOA certified master instructor.

Engineering Students Learn Arduino Coding

October 12, 2016

Melony Ritter

Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) students in Paula Welch’s Introduction to Engineering class used SparkFun ® Arduino circuit kits to learn interactive programming. Students were able to wire circuits to drive a small motor, project slogans on an LCD monitor and make a fan touch sensitive. Pictured are Alex Abernathy and William Earner showing their program for sequential lighting of LED bulbs, James Creech with a touch sensitive motor and Hayden Breving who programmed an LCD monitor.

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