The new name will be announced in Magnolia at a 2 p.m. news conference, Thursday, October 30 in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center on the Southern Arkansas University campus. The conference will be hosted by the Arkansas Small Business Development Center at Southern Arkansas University. SAU Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brian Canfield, College of Business Dean Dr. Lisa Toms and a Representative from U.S. Congressman Mike Ross’ Office will join Center Director Paul Considine and other ASBDC officials in making the announcement.

“Changing our name illustrates an extension of our mission to serve Arkansas’ entrepreneurial community,” said Janet Roderick, Arkansas Small Business Development Center state director. “We began a decade ago to develop services for innovation and technology-based businesses when it became apparent that a key to economic growth in Arkansas would be our own innovation. Arkansas must be on the leading edge of technology to compete with other states and internationally in this economy.”

The center earned special technology accreditation from the national Association of Small Business Development Centers late last year. Of 63 SBDC’s across the country, Arkansas was just the fifth to receive the technology designation. ASBDC had to demonstrate the ability to assist clients in areas such as technology transfer, commercialization, research and development funding, intellectual property and equity financing.

Arkansas Small Business Development Center assists innovation-based businesses through its network of offices across the state. Established in 1980, the program is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business.
In addition to the lead center at UALR and office at SAU, other regional offices are located at Arkansas State University, Henderson State University, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology in McGehee. All services, which include consulting, research and training, are available at low or no cost through the center’s partnership with the SBA and higher education institutions across Arkansas.

About the SBDC Network
Uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local non-profit economic development organizations, the Small Business Development Center national network is the SBA’s largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With approximately 1,000 offices across the nation, the SBDC network assists approximately 725,000 small businesses every year.

For more information, call Felicia Bozeman, fabozeman@saumag.edu, (870)235-4007 or Gwen Green, gagreen@ualr.edu, (501)683-7700.

“It is going to be really quick and convenient to register on campus, and this way people don’t even have to worry about going downtown to do this,” Thomas said. “Plus, it won’t be long until the election and we want to stress to students the importance of making their voices heard.”
While people are registering to vote on Wednesday, a mock presidential election will be held. The results of who would be president if SAU were the only deciding body will be made public after votes are tallied that afternoon, Thomas said.

In addition to these activities, an expert panel will also speak on issues as well as their views on the candidates. The panel will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Foundation Hall in the Reynolds Center. The panel will include Mark Trout, instructor for business and marketing, David Talley, local attorney and adjunct instructor in the College of Business, Claudell Woods, an associate professor of history, geography and political science, Jan R. Duke, assistant professor and chair of behavioral and social sciences in the College of Liberal and Performing Arts and Dr. Paul Babbitt, an assistant professor history, geography and political science. Babbit is teaching a course about the 2008 presidential election which allows students to compare the election to past elections.

“We have had a number of lively, though civil discussions and I can say without
hesitation, the thoughtfulness and sophistication of the class’s analyses of the election
season far surpasses anything you would find on television newscast,” Babbitt said.

This is the third year that Constitution Day has been recognized on the campus of SAU. The day recognizes the day the American Constitution was ratified in 1787.
This event is being sponsored by the SAU history and political science department, the Student Activities Board and Students for a Better Tomorrow.

The Executive in Residence program began in 1986 as a means of bringing top-level executives to the College of Business to interact with students and to provide them opportunities to learn about management and leadership in the corporate world.

“We are excited to have Mr. Choate as our Executive in Residence,” said Dr. Lisa Toms, dean of the College of Business. “Giving our students and community the opportunity to interact with a leader of his quality continues our tradition of providing excellence in academic enrichment programs.”

Choate earned his B.B.A. in business management in 1975 and his B.S.E. in business education in 1977. While attending SAU, Choate was a member of the SAU football team and was chosen to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All America Team in 1974. Since then, he has attended executive education programs at Purdue, Stanford, and Harvard Universities and earned the following professional designations: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), and certified Health Consultant (CHC).

Choate joined Delta Dental of Arkansas as president and chief executive officer in July 2000. Prior to joining Delta Dental, he worked for 20 years in the managed healthcare industry in leadership roles at NovaSys Health, HealthScope Benefits, and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Under Choate’s leadership, Delta Dental of Arkansas has more than doubled enrollment and revenue while tripling assets and has been recognized with the following awards: 2005 Arkansas Community Foundation and Arkansas Business Corporate Philanthropy Award; and 2005, 2006, and 2008 Governor’s Work-Life Balance Award.

Choate was named the 2006 Arkansas Business Executive of the Year and, in 2007, a Distinguished Alumni at SAU.
Choate serves as vice chairman of the national Delta Dental Plans Association board of directors. Delta Dental Plans Association has more than $13 billion in revenue.
He and his wife, Marilyn (a 1975 SAU graduate), live in Conway. They have two children and will celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary later this year.

In addition to his lecture, Choate will also meet with senior business classes during the afternoon. He will be meeting with the Business Student Advisory Council, the Students In Free Enterprise and Phi Beta Lambda officers, members of the College of Business faculty, SAU president David Rankin, SAU vice presidents, the SAU Foundation, and members of the SAU Board of Trustees.

The married couple, who both teach school in the Stephens School District, both received a master’s in elementary education with a specialization in gifted and talented.

“It was really challenging for us to both be in school at first, but the professors were understanding, and a lot of the projects they assigned us were things that helped us in the classroom,” Veronica Davis said.

The couple was part of the 55 students who received graduate degrees, the largest number to ever receive graduate degrees at SAU.

“I think that the record number of graduates can be attributed to the graduate faculty who have listened to graduate students and created course delivery methods based on student needs,” Dr. Kim Bloss dean of graduate studies. “Innovative programs such as the on-line degree in curriculum and instruction and summer intensive programs in library media, special education and gifted and talented were largely responsible for this increase.”

The Davis’ also received their undergraduate degrees at SAU. Veronica Davis finished her bachelors of science in education, with an emphasis in middle school education, in December 2005. Husband Tyrone Davis completed his bachelors of science degree in education, with an emphasis in early childhood, in December 2006.

Veronica Davis, who now teaches seventh through 10th grade English, said she will begin pursuing her doctorate degree in February, but is undecided about what school she will select at this time. Ultimately, she would like to be a college professor and teach an English course, perhaps a course in English literature or American novels. She said she hopes her son, Keyonte, 13, will want to attend school wherever she is a professor.

Tyrone Davis, who now teaches fourth grade, is eventually interested in taking an administrative position at a small school district.

Wyrick has deep roots in this area. His mother, Mary K. Williamson Wyrick, organized the Newcomers Club, an organization that for many years provided an opportunity for people who moved into town to get acquainted and become active in the community. She also had the “Mary K Show” on KVMA for 47 years where she was famous for saying “news of people you know or wish you did.”

Wyrick’s wife is the former June Gray. Her father, Artie Gray, as well as Wyrick’s father, Tullie Wyrick, were business partners in Gray Steel, which gave them both a knowledge of the area and an interest in SAU.

Wyrick is a graduate of Magnolia High School, received a bachelor’s of science in education at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and received his law degree from Southern Methodist University Law School.

Wyrick has served as a chancery judge in Arkansas, has served five times on the Arkansas Supreme Court for individual cases and has served on the Texarkana, Arkansas Planning Commission.
His civic service includes membership with the Kiwanis, the Boy Scouts of America, the YMCA board, the American Red Cross board, the Girl Scouts board and the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce board.
Wyrick has also served as the president of the University of Arkansas Alumni board and is a member of the University of Arkansas Foundation. The Wyricks have three children, Kristen Jones of Houston, Kelvin Wyrick Jr. of Magnolia, and their youngest son, Michael Wyrick, who is about to move to Doha, Qatar.

The first ceremony begins at 11 a.m. for the School of Graduate Studies, with a 1 p.m. ceremony following for graduates from the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Liberal and Performing Arts and the College of Science and Technology.

The speaker for this year’s graduation will be Arkansas State Representative Bruce Maloch of Emerson. Since 1986, Maloch has been with Farmers Bank & Trust and currently serves as regional president and chief operating officer and is a member of the bank’s board of directors.

Maloch received a B.B.A. in business agriculture from Southern Arkansas University in 1980 and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. While at SAU, Bruce served as president of the Student Government Association and later served as president of the SAU Alumni Association.

Community and governmental affairs have long been a part of Maloch’s interests. He served 10 years on the Columbia County Quorum Court, has served as president of the Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Columbia County Bar Association and the Group 4 Arkansas Bankers Association for Southwest Arkansas. He is a member of the Magnolia Economic Development Corporation and serves on the Magnolia Airport Commission. Maloch is current chairman of the Arkansas FFA Foundation and has long been active in Arkansas Farm Bureau and Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association activities. He is an auctioneer and donates his services for charitable events throughout the area. In 1997, Maloch received the Outstanding Young Alumni award for Southern Arkansas University.

Maloch and his wife, Martha, live on a farm south of Magnolia where they raise registered Brangus cattle. Martha is a retired educator from the Emerson-Taylor School District. They have three children, Ryan, Lauren, and Victoria; a son-in-law, Scotty Covington and daughter-in-law, Amy; and granddaughters Reese Covington and Marley Kate Maloch. The Maloch’s are members of First Baptist Church of Magnolia where Bruce is an adult Sunday school teacher.

The SAU Office of Alumni Relations will sponsor a reception for all graduates from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Blue and Gold room. For more information regarding commencement exercises at SAU, call the Office of the Registrar at 870-235-4031.

That is why Sneed is heading to Boston on July 10 to spend five weeks studying at the Berkley College of Music. After this five week period, he will have the chance to audition for an opportunity to attend the school to receive an education in music.

The competition will be stiff.

“I think an average of about 3,000 try out, so it’s around the size of SAU,” Sneed said. “The school is world renowned, so people are trying to get in there day in and day out.”

Sneed was named 2005 Mulerider Idol at SAU. He participated in the contest that gives SAU students the chance to compete against their peers just like American Idol. The song he performed was an original called “That is the way it is.” Sneed said he wrote the song about a guy whose life was impacted just because he got in a friend’s car and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The song is just one of several Sneed has written and produced on a CD. When he is not creating new music, he is planning what songs are the best to worship to at the Full Gospel Holly Temple Church in Magnolia where he unofficially heads the church’s music department.

Sneed said if he is accepted into Berkley, he would like to pursue a music degree from the university and work at a music company like Sony after he graduates. With this job he hopes to combine his talent as a performing musician as well as a producer, something he has learned from experience of putting together tracks for events such as the Miss SAU Pageant.

“I would eventually like to have my own small scale company, and I would like to bring something back to Magnolia,” Sneed said.

But first thing is first. And right now Sneed hopes his next four-year stop is Berkley.

This workshop is titled “What’s Happening? A Global View” will cover topics in globalization for educators at every level to assist in teaching and learning. A fee of $25 which covers training materials should be sent to Economics Arkansas, P.O. Box 3477, Little Rock, Ark., 72203.

Participants will be mailed a $150 stipend upon successful completion of the workshop and eighteen hours of staff development will be provided. There is a limit of 45 people to the class. If interested, please visit www.economicsarkansas.org for information regarding registration or contact Donna Wright at (501) 682-4230.

Participating in accounting internships in the fall semester were Albi Alikaja with David L. Jordan, CPA; Sarah Anyieth with the Department of Finance at SAU; Brooke Grigsby with South Arkansas Youth Service, Incorporated; and Andrea Williams with Evers, Cox, and Gober, PLLC of El Dorado.

Finance internships were held by Bridget Hollis with Alan Nolte of Amerprise Financial; Will Martin with Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas; and Pradeep Sapkota with William P. Cook and Associates, PLLC of Camden.

Those participating in management internships included Vicki Butler with the Southern Arkansas University Communications Center, Web Division; Ashley Dixon with Serenity Day Spa and Tanning Salon; April Jones with Quality Inn of Magnolia; Amanda McAlexander with First Bank of the South in Camden; Demesha McFee with Finishline in Little Rock; Ozair Mukhtar with Allison’s Candle Corner; Josh Phillips with Oreilly Auto Parts; and Matthew Sanders with Walgreens in Flint, Michigan.

Students participating in marketing internships included Rakesh Karn with Holiday Inn Express and Suites; David Nance and Kaitlyn Walthall with The Shoe Box; Amber Sharp with the Vice President of Student Affairs at SAU; and Adam Warbington with Sherwin-Williams. Benton Cater held a management information systems internship with the Magnolia Economic Development Corporation.

If you have needs that an intern could fill for you, call the College of Business Intern Director, Dr. Gayle White, at 235-4302.

Students participating in the ceremony are required to line up at 6 p.m. in Harton Theatre. Graduates of the Colleges of Business and Education are asked to line up on the left side of the theater, while those graduating from the Colleges of Liberal and Performing Arts and Science and Technology are to line up on the right.

In the event of inclement weather, the W.T. Watson Athletic Center will serve as an alternate site for the commencement exercises. If this is the case, two separate ceremonies will take place. The College of Business and the College of Education will have their ceremony at 7 p.m., and the ceremony for the College of Liberal and Performing Arts and the College of Science and Technology will take place at 8:30 p.m.

Bob L. Burns, chairman and CEO of Farmer’s Bank & Trust in Magnolia since 1983, will serve as the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Regardless of the weather, the Nursing Department ceremony will be at 4 p.m. in the Reynolds Center Grand Hall. Participants are asked to line up at 3:30 p.m. in Foundation Hall. In addition, the School of Graduate Studies will hold its ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall as well. Students, faculty and platform guests are to line up in Foundation Hall at 5 p.m.
The Office of Alumni Relations will sponsor a reception for graduates, family and faculty from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center.

For more information regarding graduation at SAU, call the Office of the Registrar at 870-235-4031.