Arkansas State Representative Bruce Maloch and Arkansas 2007 Principal of the Year Jim Warnock are scheduled to be guest speakers at the invitational. The event’s theme is “Science Focus: Building a Bridge for Our Future,” and is expected to include diverse presentations.

During the day, Dr. Tom Smith, professor of biology , will conduct a DNA lab extraction. In addition, a program evaluation on a $300,000 No Child Left Behind math/science partnership grant will be presented by project director Dr. Roger Guevara. Tim Daniels, associate professor of biology, will also provide an overview of the science grant. The invitational will also include a personal welcome and an SAU science building update by SAU President Dr. David Rankin.

The ERZ Invitational is sponsored by the Southwest-B Educational Renewal Zone, part of the College of Education at SAU and a statewide initiative by the State of Arkansas to improve overall school performance and the academic performance of all students.

For more information about this event or the ERZ, contact Andrew Guy at 870-235-5143 or aeguy@saumag.edu.

Dr. Elba Birmingham-Pokorny, a member of the SAU faculty since 1990, was chosen as Honor Professor at the University. She is a professor of Spanish and serves as advisor of the Spanish Club. Pokorny received her B.A. from Portland State University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

Dr. Kathryn Benson, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, received the Outstanding Research Award. Benson, who also serves as a member of the graduate studies faculty, has been with SAU since 2001. She received her B.A. from Northwestern State University and her M.Ed. and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.

Dr. Richard Ambler received the Auburn Smith Service award at SAU. Ambler, who has been at SAU since 1979, is an assistant professor of sociology. He received B.S. from Sam Houston State University, M.S. from Texas A & M University, and his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Viktoriya Black received the Robert Walz Teaching Excellence Award. Black is an assistant professor of biology and has been with SAU since 2005. She received her M.D. from Donetsh State Medical University.

Dr. Tim Schroeder received the Calvin Wetzig Teaching Excellence Award. Schroeder is an assistant professor of chemistry. He joined the SAU faculty in 2000. He received his B.S. from Truman State University and his Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University.

Representatives from various health organizations will be available to speak with students about career opportunities in health-related fields. Students are encouraged to bring resumes and register for door prizes at the event.

Participating organizations include Christus St. Michael Health System and HealthSouth Rehabilitation of Texarkana, Texas; Christus Schumpert Health System of Shreveport, La.; Magnolia Healthcare; Magnolia City Hospital; SAU School of Graduate Studies; Springhill Medical Center of Springhill, La.; Saint Vincent Health System; U.S. Army Medical Recruiting; and U. S. Navy Officer Programs of Little Rock.

For more information or to view information sheets on participating agencies, contact the Employment Resource Center at Reynolds 217 or call 870-235-4097.

Dr. Henry W. Robison, distinguished professor of biology, co-authored an article with Dr. Thomas Turner of the University of New Mexico entitled “Genetic Diversity of the Caddo Madtom, Noturus Taylori, with Comments on Factors that Promote Genetic Divergence in Fishes Endemic to the Ouachita Highlands.” Their research in volume 51 of the journal The Southwestern Naturalist has implications for the conservation and management of fish species in areas where barriers such as dams and bridge construction may affect fish movement and re-colonization of native species.

Dr. Hong Cheng, associate professor of math and computer science, is the co-author with Dr. Gui-Liang Feng of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette of the article entitled “A Fast Implementation of Algorithms in Public-Key Cryptology” that was published in the recent volume three of the Proceedings of Neural, Parallel, and Scientific Computations produced by Dynamic Publishers. Their work involved developing computer programs that reduce significantly the number of computations required to encrypt and decrypt secret messages associated with famous encryption and decryption algorithms used by business, industry, and government.

Ly Phan, a recent graduate of SAU with a degree in computer science, is the senior author of an article published by the Eurographisc Association with Dr. Cindy Grimm of Washington University in St. Louis. The article, based on Phan’s presentation at a workshop in Vienna, Austria, this last summer, is entitled “Sketching Reaction-Diffusion Texture.” Their work involved the development of computer programs that allow the creation of more complex textures, including realistic 3D surfaces, that could be applied to fabric or construction surfaces. Phan is working on a Ph.D. in computer science at Washington University.

“The Governor has been a staunch supporter of higher education in Arkansas, and I believe this is certainly a great example of his continued efforts to strengthen education for everyone in the state,” said Rankin.

This included $101,747 from the Emergency Grant Fund and $414,163 from the Executive Division of the General Improvement funds. An additional $85,837 will be released at the end of the biennium.

Huckabee said that the University deserved some additional attention because of the important role it played in the region, and that there had been times in the past when the University was overlooked in the funding process.

According to Rankin, this new funding will be a significant boost to efforts to construct a new science center and to meet the essential maintenance challenges at the University.

“I think the Governor understands the tremendous challenges and opportunities we have here at Southern Arkansas University,” said Rankin. “I appreciate this substantial grant toward our efforts.”

Ly Phan, a computer science major who graduated in December was recognized as the outstanding student from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as well as the College of Science and Technology Outstanding Student.

While at SAU, Phan served as secretary of the Mathematics and Computer Science Club and as team leader of the SAU programming team for the ACM Programming Contest and was an active member of the French Club and International Student Association.

Phan has been named to the Dean’s List every semester during her tenure at SAU. She was also inducted into Alpha Chi and received the SAU Retention Scholarship for International Students for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years. In December 2005, Phan was selected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

She won first place at the SAU programming contest and third place in the SAU writing contest. She led the SAU programming team to represent SAU at the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest and helped ensure the team’s best performance in recent years. She volunteered to work at the 2004 Arkansas Literary Festival at Little Rock as part of the SAU Writing Center.

Sailesh Tripathi, an engineering-physics and mathematics double major from Kathmandu, Nepal, was named the outstanding student from the Department of Physical Science and Technology.

Tripathi is a member of the Engineering Club, Lambda Alpha Beta, Alpha Chi, International Student Association, and the Soccer Club.

His undergraduate research project was “Solar energy transmission by optical fibers.” It is scheduled for presentation at the Undergraduate Research Conference.

The Department of Agriculture named Stephanie Dickerson as its outstanding student. Dickerson is an agricultural education major from Hot Springs.

Dickerson has tutored students in numerous subjects in agriculture, helped advise students, and was the assistant in the computer labs. She regulated the agricultural computer usage.

She has been described as “honest, personable, goal oriented, prompt with assignments, and courteous to everyone.”

While at SAU, Dickerson has been active in the Collegiate FFA and Alpha Tau Alpha, where she served as vice president. She is a member of the National Agriculture Teacher Association.

Tonjeh Mary Stella Bah, a biological science major from Cameroon, was named the Department of Biology Outstanding Student.

Bah has served as president of Tri Beta and the Biology Club, vice president of the Chemistry Club, secretary/treasurer of the Residence Hall Association, and treasurer of the International Student Association. She was a National Residence Hall Honorary, named Resident Assistant of the Year, and served on the Bussey Hall Council.

She was also inducted Alpha Chi, Tri Beta, National Residence Hall Honorary, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and the National Dean’s List.

During her sophomore and junior years, Bah has served as an algebra, chemistry, and biology tutor. She was also a supplemental instructor in statistics in her junior and senior years.

“I would hold my degree against any university in the United States,” says the senior biology major from Texarkana, Texas. “Just because we are a small school, does not mean that our professors don’t expect students to meet high standards.”

One of the reasons Billy chose to attend SAU was because he felt he could receive a quality education and form personal relationships with his professors.

After graduation, Billy will continue to receive a quality education through the SAU School of Graduate Studies. He will pursue a master’s of art in teaching degree. He will then apply to dental school and physician assistant’s school.

“I want to be a dentist in the Liberty-Eylau area,” said the 2002 Liberty-Eylau High School graduate. “I want to contribute to the community that gave me my start and helped me arrive at this point.”

Billy’s favorite thing about college is the student activities he has been involved with during his four years at the University.

“There is always something going on around campus,” said Billy. “I have met so many people through my work as a President’s Ambassador and through my fraternity. There are all types of different people that I have come in contact with through my on-campus activities.”

He offers some words of advice to prospective students.

“Get involved in campus activities, and keep your grades up,” he suggests.

Billy credits his parents, Ray and Genie Whitt, with being the most influential people in his life. Both of his parents work in the Liberty-Eylau Independent School District. His dad teaches auto mechanics and his mother is a secretary on the pre-kindergarten campus.

“My parents have always encouraged me to do my best,” he said.

Held is in residence in Magnolia for the spring semester and was representing the Center for Teaching Excellence in Mathematics and Science located on the University campus.

He presented “Case Studies and the Non-major Science Course,” where he gave examples of providing case studies of scientific progress, ethics in science, genetics, evolution, and biotechnology built around the major concepts normally found in an introductory collegiate science course.

Finding that most non-science students are both interested in and fearful of science, Held has integrated examples of the above topics in ways that are related to their present and past experiences.

Held is a professor at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J. He is working with Dr. Joe Winstead, dean of the College of Science and Technology at SAU, on several forest ecology projects while he in on a sabbatical leave. In addition, he is teaching a section of the general biology course for non-majors.

A native of Kentucky, Held received his B.S. from Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky., his M.S. in biology from Western Kentucky University, and his Ph.D. from Ohio University. Held also presided over the annual business meeting of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society, an affiliate of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, as the outgoing president of that scientific organization.

Dr. Thomas Smith, associate professor of biology, served as a judge for the undergraduate and graduate papers and additionally acted as a section chair in aquatic biology.

Dr. Henry W. Robison, professor of biology, currently serves the AAS as historian and presented two papers at the meeting. Those papers were “Distribution and Status of the Colorless Shiner, Notropis perpallidus in Arkansas and Oklahoma” and “New Lamprey Distributions in Arkansas.”

Robison also co-authored other papers, “New Distributional Records of the Goldspotted Topminnow in Arkansas” with Dr. Chris McAllister of San Angelo University, “Benthic Macroinvertebrates of the Strawberry River” with Dr. George L. Harp of Arkansas State University, and “Fishes of L’ eau Frais Creek in Arkansas” with Dr. Renn Tumlison of Henderson State University.

Janet Rader, instructor of biology, also attended the annual meeting. Students who attended include Carla Thompson, a senior biological science major from Texarkana; Matthew Jimerson, a freshman biological science major from Carthage; Justin Sneed, a sophomore biological science major from Emerson; and Guy Njewel, a senior biological science and chemistry double major from Magnolia.