Kinnaman is the founder of Kinco Constructors Inc., a Little Rock based construction company. He served as its president and chief executive officer for 27 years. He will receive on Saturday an honorary doctor of construction education.

Kinnaman’s contributions to the Construction Management program at UALR include funding the Jack Kinnaman Constructor Endowed Scholarship and the Phyllis Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship in memory of his first wife.

He is also leaving a bequest in his will to provide additional funding for construction scholarships.

UALR Professor and Department Chair Michael Tramel said Kinnaman and one of his company managers were instrumental in getting the program its American Council of Construction Education accreditation in record time.

“As a long-time member of the ACCE, he provided valuable insight into the self-study, selection of the ACCE visiting team, and assistance from the Industry Advisory Council during the visit,” Tramel said.

Kinnaman is a founding member of the Arkansas chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, and in 1996 was named “Business Executive of the Year” by Arkansas Business. In 2002, he was inducted into the Arkansas Construction Hall of Fame.

Kinnaman is a fellow and former president of the American Institute of Construction (AIC), where he co-authored the AIC Code of Ethics and was a two-time recipient of the National AIC Professional Constructor Award.

In late 2000, Kinnaman sold the company he founded to four longtime employees and formed Kinnaman Consulting LLC, a consulting firm with an emphasis on construction dispute resolution.

He owned and operated Kinnaman Consulting until his retirement in 2006.

“No business leader in Arkansas has devoted as much time, nor had as much impact, on the programs for educating and training future construction industry leaders as Jack Kinnaman,” said UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson.

Anderson added, “He had a vision for construction education in the state. Not only did he help launch the program at UALR, he has promoted it and supported its development into the highly successful regional and national level it enjoys today.”

In addition to UALR, he has served on the Construction and Architecture Advisory Committees at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Clemson University, Southern Arkansas University Tech, and John Brown University.

The post Kinnaman to receive honorary degree appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

Ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Both events will be available for viewing online via the Spring 2013 Ceremony Live Stream.

At the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees:

• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Education
• College of Professional Studies

For the 3 p.m. ceremony, the following colleges will confer degrees:

• College of Business
• College of Science
• George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology

The UALR William H. Bowen School of Law Spring 2013 Commencement ceremony will also take place on Saturday. It will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. A reception honoring the Class of 2013 will follow immediately after the ceremony in the ballroom foyer.

The post 1,500 expected to graduate appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

Yarbrough, 35, knows a thing or two about diligence. She is graduating after a 17-year gap since she first enrolled as a full-time college student.

There will be no such gap when she starts graduate school this fall, however. Yarbrough will focus her studies on cellular and molecular biology at the master’s level, leading to a Ph.D. in applied bioscience from UALR.

This summer, she hopes to work in the biology lab at UALR, trying to replicate a protein based recombinant gene known as RabK2.

“I prefer to never be bored,” she said, “and cellular and molecular biology lets me ask new questions. Plus, it’s really interesting to see the relationships between organisms. Who would have thought we humans had something in common with worms?”

Yarbrough attended college for two years directly after high school and originally dreamed of going to work for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

But her education was placed on hold following the birth of her daughter, who had a bleeding disorder. Five years later, her son was also born with the disorder, initially diagnosed with severe autism accompanied by violent outbursts. His final diagnosis was sensory integration dysfunction.

To support herself and her children, Yarbrough worked two and sometimes three jobs. But whether she was bartending, assisting at a veterinarian clinic, or helping disassemble vehicles at a garage, she never stopped dreaming of returning to school.

One Dream Realized, Another Ignited

Three years ago, her grandmother’s generous offer to pay for tuition enabled Yarbrough to stop thinking about, and instead, start living her dream.

Two weeks into her first molecular biology course, Yarbrough says she found something she could do forever.

“When I found that class, everything fell into place. That class compared to three jobs was nothing,” she said, laughing.

Along the way, Yarbrough, a Supplemental Instruction Leader at the Academic Success Center, also realized she had a knack for teaching.

“I’m not highly motivated by money,” she said. “I want to investigate what I want to study, and teaching allows you that freedom.”

Yarbrough said tutoring, with all its perks and drawbacks, is fine, but helping adults who want to learn is really a lot of fun.

“I’ve had a lot of students say I was really good at it, plus I love being at school,” she said.

Yarbrough was so determined to finish her undergraduate degree that even a prolonged hospital stay last year due to an abscessed mass and kidney failure did not deter her.

When asked what kept her going through the years, she answered, “my kids.”

She said her children, now 15 and 10, will no doubt cheer her on as she leads her college as a student marshal during the processional at commencement, an honor bestowed on outstanding students.

“I want them to know that no matter how hard it is, you can still achieve your goal,” Yarbrough said. “Life is full of difficulties and challenges, but you have to know how to overcome them.”

The post Undaunted biology student among leading grads this Saturday appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

Hodges, a criminal justice major, will be joined on the floor of the Jack Stephens Center by her mother, 51-year-old Dawn Teer, who is about to complete the requirements for a bachelor of arts in professional and technical writing.

“I think it’s pretty neat,” said Hodges. “I am extremely proud of her for returning to school to complete her degree. I know what a challenge it has been at times.”

“I’m so stunned,” said Teer. “I didn’t think this day would ever come.”

And, like mother, like daughter, both are getting minors in business management.

Teer still has an upper-level Spanish course to finish before the degree will be issued, but because she is within the required number of credit hours, she will be able to share her commencement experience with her daughter.

Teer stopped attending college when she got married and started a family several years ago. It was a decision her father – who died unexpectedly at 53 of a massive heart attack – predicted she would later regret.

When Teer’s youngest son graduated high school in 2006, she decided it was time to honor her deceased father’s wishes and finish the education she started long ago.

“I know where he’s at and I know he’s watching,” Teer said. “This one’s for him.”

The post Mom, daughter to walk at commencement appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

• Tuesday, April 23 @ 12:00 noon
• Tuesday, April 23 @ 5:00pm
• Wednesday, April 24 @ 12:00 noon
• Wednesday, April 24 @ 5:00pm

For more information you may contact the Office of Records and Registration by emailing records@ualr.edu, calling 501.569.3110, by visiting them in person at Student Services Center 218.

The post Spring 2013 Commencement Information Sessions appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

The post Spring 2013 Graduation Application Deadline appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

The first ceremony at 9:30 a.m. will include graduates of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Education; and College of Professional Studies.

Chancellor Joel E. Anderson will recognize civil rights activist Gertrude Jackson with an honorary degree during the morning ceremony. Jackson worked for 60 years for social change and racial justice in the Arkansas Delta.

The second ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. with graduates of the College of Business, the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology, and the College of Science.

Among those who applied for graduation are more than 350 students who finalized coursework in the summer.

Among the students graduating are:

• Deanna Shelton, who will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education. Shelton had three military deployments since she began college in August 2007. The first one was to Iraq during her first semester on Oct. 1. When she found out she would be coming home in December 2008, Shelton worked with UALR staff to register for spring classes while overseas. Two semesters later, Shelton, who is a military journalist, found out she was being deployed to Washington, D.C. After returning home in August 2010, she got deployment orders for a second tour in Iraq that began that December. Shelton came home after Christmas last December and was back at work doing her teaching internship on Jan. 3. While she admits a classroom full of kindergarteners was intimidating at first, Shelton is glad she persevered. “I am very, very thankful for the faculty and staff at UALR for helping me to finally reach this goal,” she said.
• Memory Apata of Maumelle came to UALR after studying in Latin America while enrolled at Little Rock Parkview High School. Majoring in applied music and German studies at UALR, Apata got the opportunity to study abroad again as a Donaghey Honors Scholar for a semester in Salzberg, Austria. “She has been a great success in our opera program,” said Dr. C. Earl Ramsey, director of the Donaghey Scholars Program.  “She has had several important roles, including the lead at times. She has done musical and theater performances at UALR and in the community. Memory also organized one of the major German cultural events this fall.” Apata gave her senior Donaghey Scholar presentation this month on “Think Transatlantic Concert: The Music of European Immigrants to the United States.”

The Jack Stephens Center, accessible off 28th Street via Fair Park Boulevard or University Avenue, will open for commencement guests at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. Guests are encouraged to park in the lots nearest the Jack Stephens Center — Lot 13, Lot 14, and Lot 15, but all interior campus parking lots will be open during commencement, including the parking deck and Lot 8. The Trojan Trolley will pick up visitors in Lots 14 and 15.

The ceremonies will be streamed live over the Internet. To view the video, find out more about the ceremonies, or view the campus and parking maps, go toualr.edu/commencement.

The post Fall 2012 Graduating Class is 1,200 Strong appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

• Tuesday, November 27 @ 12:00 noon
• Tuesday, November 27 @ 5:00pm
• Wednesday, November 28 @ 12:00 noon
• Wednesday, November 28 @ 5:00pm

For more information contact the Office of Records and Registration.

The post Fall 2012 Commencement Information Sessions appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

The cost for the Bachelor’s and Associate’s cap, gown and tassel will be $42.98 plus tax.

The cost for the Master’s cap, gown, tassel and hood will be $73.98 plus tax.

The cost for the Doctoral’s cap, gown, tassel and hood are covered in the graduation application fee but will still need to be ordered in the bookstore as soon as possible.

For more detailed information on ordering your academic regalia please contact the UALR Bookstore.

The post Cap and Gown Orders appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.

The post Hello world! appeared first on Commencement <br />Ceremonies.