The Sun Belt Tournament gets under way in this weekend in Hot Springs and no one is more excited than Curtis Williams. You may not recognize his name but if you’ve attended a Trojan basketball game in Jack Stephens Center you’ve seen him dance! I met Curtis a little more than 20 years ago when he became a member of the student-led Homecoming committee. He was a shy freshman who wanted to get involved. He quickly came out of his shell and we saw him blossom right before our eyes. He had great ideas and a big heart for his alma mater.
After Homecoming, he became a somewhat “unofficial mascot” exciting the crowd by tumbling across the basketball court during time-outs and encouraging the crowd to get on their feet when the cheerleaders performed. But his legacy will ever be the “Curtis Dance” – a highlight of Trojan basketball games! Check it out. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBF-cYmVPb4] I talked to Curtis recently about his passion for Trojan Basketball and his prediction for the Sunbelt Tournament. Here’s what he told me:
‘Derek Fisher’s my all-time favorite Trojan player because he gives so much of himself on the court for the team, while Wimp Sanderson’s my all-time UALR coach because he tells it like it is with no apologies whatsoever and I can respect that.
If there is one thing about attending Trojan basketball games over the years that I like the most, win or lose, is when the game’s decided in the last minute. That is when I know that both teams are giving it their best for those in attendance. Regarding the women’s basketball team, I believe they’ve come a long way during the past 10 seasons. They definitely had quality players in the first 4-5 seasons, but their play was inconsistent and had more than their fair share of losses.
Now, under Coach Joe Foley, UALR is about ready to become a key player on the national scene, and it shows in players like Kim Sitzmann, Shanika Butler, Asriel Rolfe and Chastity Reed. As far as the Sun Belt Tournament goes, it’s Middle Tennessee’s to lose on the women’s side, but should UALR face them in the finals, UALR is more than ready to win it all and go the NCAA Tournament.
On the men’s side, it’s virtually anyone’s guess. Western Kentucky should be the favorite, along with North Texas and probably Arkansas State. However, watch out for the lower seeded teams such as UALR, who could pull an upset or two before you know. It should be a fun time for basketball in Hot Springs.”
Curtis Williams graduated from UALR in 1988 with a B. A. in Liberal Arts. He’s been employed at the UALR Bowen School of Law for 19 years where he does a variety of jobs, such as sorting and delivering the mail, checking in and updating the library’s microfiche collection and state codes, book repair, and book preservation. What he likes most about his job is that there are plenty of things for him to do, which keeps him busy throughout the day.
UALR Counseling and Career Planning Services and the Cooperative Education Program invite students, alumni, and employers to attend Career Connections Day, the spring career fair, on Wednesday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center. All majors and degree levels will be represented, and successful connections will be made! Employers are welcome to conduct on-the-spot interviews or meet candidates after the event.
Resume writing and interview workshops are available to students prior to the event.
To register as an employer, click here or visit the Career Connections Day website.
In yet another post filed under: Things Found on Youtube, I present this short video produced by the Department of Rhetoric and Writing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQmZWmlntPg]
Learn more about the UALR Department of Rhetoric and Writing:
https://ualr.edu/rhetoric/
Interesting facts about the department:
- Courses for the major and minor are divided into three different emphases: persuasive writing, creative non-fiction, and Technical writing.
- The department offers the only Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional and Technical Writing (PTW) in the state of Arkansas.
- The list of courses Rhetoric and Writing offers is quite comprehensive.
The UALR Alumni Association will host the Lettermen’s Weekend 2010 on February 26 and 27. On Friday, Feb. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. there will be a Lettermen’s Social in the Legends Room of the Jack Stephens Center along with tours of the center. On Saturday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a pre-game homecoming rally with barbeque catered by Corky’s. For more information and to RSVP, call Chasse Conque at 569-3382 or email him at csconque@ualr.edu .
You know you’re a true journalism student when the thought of seeing Tom Brokaw in person gives you butterflies. That’s exactly what happened yesterday when I found out the award-winning news anchor and journalist would be on our campus delivering a stand-up for his upcoming show about baby boomers. Some people get excited thinking about seeing a favorite singer or good-looking actor. But just mention the possibility of seeing Tom Brokaw in person, and it’s enough to make me act like a ridiculous five-year-old little girl who can’t stop giggling.
Our encounter with Tom began when we stalked him in the food court and took note of his food choices. Orange juice and a fruit parfait. I wanted to stand and watch him eat, but decided I needed to be a bit more professional.
So instead Caroline and I took cheesy pictures of ourselves with him in the background.
Oh, and we also helped out with the purpose of his visit by providing him with an attractive background for his stand-up. That was the point of this visit, right? To find some eager and giddy girls to stand behind him? No problem, Tom. We got you covered.
Finally, we met the man himself. We talked about the Olympics and being mass comm graduates and he asked us to come work for him in New York. Okay, that last part didn’t exactly happen, but a girl can dream.
Apparently we weren’t the only females excited about meeting him.
It was definitely a day to remember. I’m already setting my DVR to catch my national television debut on CNBC, oh, and to learn about Tom Brokaw’s thoughts on the successors to the baby boomers. Check me out at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 4th on CNBC. I’m in the red coat.
The Campus Life Checkpoints Orientation Series features “Making Relationships Matter with the Dating Doctor” on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Rooms B and C.
The English Department’s Student Poetry Reading will be Tuesday, February 23 at 7 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center, meeting room G. Michael Inscoe, Susan Wallace, and Daniel Evans will be reading their own poems. For more information, please call Ralph Burns at 786-3772. This event is free and open to the public.
As part of Black History Month, the Office of Campus Life is sponsoring a film discussion of the Chris Rock documentary, “Good Hair,” on Tuesday, February 23 at 6 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Leadership Lounge.
Dr. Tim Edwards, associate professor of mass communications, and Ben Gry, general manager of KLRE/KUAR and adjunct professor in the School of Mass Communication, will host the film screening and discussion.
According to USA Today, the film “…sets out to explore the historically fraught concept of ‘good hair,’ which for African Americans – burdened by the twin legacies of slavery and racism – have traditionally been defined as hair more like white people.”
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 569-3308.
College Goal Sunday is a one-day event on Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Bryant High School designed to help students and parents complete the application for the FAFSA. If you are thinking about education beyond high school, you will most likely need financial help. College Goal Sunday is the perfect place to get the help you will need to complete your financial aid application.
This is a free event, but you should bring the following with you-
- The PIN you receive by going to www.pin.ed.gov at least one week before College Goal Sunday. A PIN is needed for both the student and at least one parent.
- Your latest tax information (2009 Tax Returns) for both you and your parents. If you don’t have your 2009 tax forms yet…come to College Goal Sunday anyway.
- 2009 W-2 Forms
- Social Security Numbers
- Proof of Social Security Benefits received in 2009
- Amounts of untaxed income received in 2009
- Amounts of child support received or child support paid in 2009
- Knowledge of your checking and savings account balances
- Knowledge of the worth of other family assets (other than your home)
To register, click here or call 569-3035 for more information.