She has received the Collegiate Scholastic Award, Sword of Honor, Rose of Honor, Rose of Dedication, and Ring of Excellence. In addition to her full time job at National Headquarters as Executive Director, she occasionally directs musical theater productions for the Asheville Community Theater and University of North Carolina-Asheville, provides lecture/demonstrations for Elderhostels, and gives concert and recital performances. Her husband, John Johnson, Friend of the Arts, (March 2, 1938 – March 19, 2011) designed and installed the cabinetry at National Headquarters, and always kept a loving eye on the SAI Harmony Rose Garden.

With much gratitude for Sigma Alpha Iota,  Ruth celebrated her 20th anniversary in the position of Executive Director on July 1, 2012.

Just Jeans offers a variety of name brand jeans including Miss Me, Silver, Big Star, LA Idol, and Wrangler. In addition to jeans, the store has accessories, tops, and shoes. Also, they carry Corky’s brand shoes, which are made in North Little Rock. Erin strives for Just Jeans to have a genuine local touch. Just Jeans is the only clothing store located in East End and will be offering snow cones starting in May. The store is open Monday through Friday, 10-7, and Saturday, 10-4. Gift certificates and layaway are available.

Erin has the loving support of her family: her parents, Lori and Larry, and her brother, Cody. Also, her parents own the shopping center in East End that the store is located in. When she’s not busy running her store, Erin enjoys riding horses. She’s been riding since age 4 and enters rodeos frequently. We are delighted to have Erin as a part of UALR’s Alumni and very proud of her work as a local business owner.

Pictured, left to right, are Dr. Deborah Baldwin, dean of UALR College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and associate provost for UALR Center for Arkansas History and Culture; Dr. Calvin R. Ledbetter Jr.; UALR Provost Dr. Zulma Toro-Ramos; and UALR Chancellor Dr. Joel Anderson

The UALR Center for Arkansas History and Culture revealed its newest collection, donated by educator, scholar, and legislator Calvin R. Ledbetter Jr., at a reception held at the Arkansas Studies Institute Tuesday evening, April 30.

The 12-linear-foot collection covers Ledbetter’s life between 1964 and 1988. The papers document Ledbetter’s political career including the state’s legislative sessions from 1967 to 1977. A portion of the papers references his academic career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Ledbetter, 84, led an accomplished political and educational career.

“He went from the JAG Corps, to a Ph.D. program, to a faculty position, to five consecutive terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives, the list goes on. His dedication to political science in all of its expressions is clear to see,” said Monica Mylonas, assistant archivist at the CAHC.

In addition to the collection housed at ASI, there is an online exhibit at ualrexhibits.org/ledbetter. The digitized collection includes photographs, video clips, and a selected bibliography on articles and books written by Ledbetter.

Ledbetter creates endowment to support student research

In 1960, Ledbetter joined the faculty at Little Rock University, now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has served as chair of the Department of Political Science and dean of the College of Liberal Arts, now the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. After retiring in 1997, Ledbetter was named professor emeritus of political science.

In addition to donating his papers for research, Ledbetter has established the Cal Ledbetter Arkansas Legislative Institute Endowment to promote a better understanding of Arkansas through the scholarly study of legislators and legislative process.

According to Mylonas, Ledbetter’s collection not only aids researchers in accessing information about the state’s legislature, it also adds value to the center’s gubernatorial holdings.

“Ledbetter co-authored, sponsored, or otherwise supported many of the bills that now characterize these governorships,” she said.

Ledbetter served for five terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives between 1967 and 1977. In the course of his political career, he served three Arkansas’ governors, Winthrop Rockefeller, Dale Bumpers, and David Pryor. CAHC holds the collections of both Rockefeller and Bumpers.

The UALR Center for Arkansas History and Culture is housed in the Arkansas Studies Institute, a partnership between UALR and the Central Arkansas Library System. For more information, go to ualr.edu/cahc.

The UALR Department of Athletics is proud to announce the Fifth Annual SpectacUALR, presented by Windstream, is set for Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013. A benefit for Trojan Athletics, SpectacUALR is the largest annual fundraiser at UALR, raising more than $750,000 for UALR student-athletes in the first four years of the event.

SpectacUALR includes unique live and silent auctions offering more than 100 items for attendees to bid. Food provided by Ben E. Keith and prepared by Capers, as well as drinks provided by Glazer’s, enhance this one-of-a-kind event each year.

The 2013 SpectacUALR honoree is Dr. John Wilson. The 1995 recipient of the UALR Alumni Association President’s Award, Dr. Wilson is not only a distinguished alum of UALR, he is also committed to giving back to his alma mater. Dr. Wilson worked at OrthoArkansas for 38 years until his retirement in 2007. Two years ago, he missed treating patients and began working again at UAMS in orthopedic triage. An athlete to this day, Dr. Wilson still plays basketball three times a week.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for SpectacUALR 2013 by contacting Andrea Angel at 501.569.3393 or alangel@ualr.edu. Tickets will go on sale later this summer through the Department of Athletics.

Dr. Laura Bednar will oversee the Learning Services Division in the PCSSD. She will manage instruction, curriculum, professional development for certified employees, federal programs, workforce development, gifted and talented programs, fine arts programs, athletics, counseling and testing.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Master of Education in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Arkansas and a Doctor of Education in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Arkansas.

Garner has more than 15 years of audit and accounting experience with Simmons First. Prior to joining Simmons First, Garner served as a staff accountant for Priddy & Holifield P.A. CPA and a regulatory accountant for Stephens Inc.

The award is presented each year to a person who works to further the ideas of volunteerism in the state of Arkansas.

Sink was honored on April 18 during The Summit, the annual conference sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Sherry Middleton, current director of the volunteer division, presented Sink with the award.

“When I survey the list of former recipients of the Paragon Award, I realize I stand on the shoulders of giants,” Sink said. “We benefit from our mentors, our role models, and our colleagues and friends, and our families to light the way.”

Sink added that he particularly wanted to recognize Billie Ann Myers, for whom the award is named. Myers was the founder and first director of the DHS Division of Volunteerism (now the DHS Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support).

“Billie Ann was the pioneer and set the bar of quality very high,” he said.

Past recipients of the Paragon Award include: Willie Oates, famed Little Rock socialite and community volunteer; UALR Professor of Public Administration Roby Robertson; and two first ladies of Arkansas, Ginger Beebe and Betty Bumpers.

Teaching young people to lead

Sink has many years of passionate work in the nonprofit sector. As one of the inaugural professors at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, he firmly believes in the power of people to make changes in their community.

His 22 years of training in the Certified Volunteer Management (CVM) program has contributed to better volunteer leadership in Arkansas.

Regarding his work with CVM, Sink said that one of his favorite writers on leadership, John Gardner, wrote about the overall ineffectiveness of the modern approach to teaching.

Quoting Gardner, Sink said that, “All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants. That is what we are trying to do with CVM.”

Dedicated to ending homelessness

Through Sink’s leadership, Little Rock officials have developed a 10-year plan aimed at ending chronic homelessness. He continues to serve on the Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness and assist with the plan’s implementation.

Sink also contributed to the University District surrounding UALR. Through lasting partnerships between the university, businesses, and residents, the district has developed a collaborative vision.

Since 2004, he has served as the governor’s representative for the Southern Growth Policies Board’s Council on the Southern Community. He is also a member of the Arkansas Volunteer Coordinators Board, American Society for Public Administration, and the National Civic League.

Sink earned a Doctor of Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in geography from Miami University.