Chelsea Barnett, a recent graduate of Arkansas State University-Newport, took top honors in the Cosmetology di-vision, and current ASUN stu-dent Mysti Kirkpatrick won the Esthetics division at the Nation-al SkillsUSA competition held June 20-24 in Louisville, Ky.

Barnett, of Jonesboro, and Kirkpatrick, of Little Rock, won the gold medals by defeating competitors from across the na-tion who won their state-level SkillsUSA competitions.

Barnett and Kirkpatrick competed under the instruction of Melinda Odom and Rebekah Vinson, ASUN Instructors of Cosmetology on the Marked Tree campus. Ashlyn Warren of Brookland served as the model for Kirkpatrick at the competi-tion.

“Everyone at ASU-New-port is extremely proud of the efforts of these students and their instructors,” said ASUN Chancellor Dr. Sandra Massey. “The strong tradition of our success at SkillsUSA, both on the national and state level is a testament to the talent and hard work of Melinda Odom and Re-bekah Vinson, our Instructors of Cosmetology. Chelsea and Mysti have taken that tradition to another level, putting in the hard work that led to their first-place finishes. I am confident that their wins at SkillsUSA will only enhance what would have already been a successful begin-ning to their careers following their graduation from ASUN.”

Barnett’s first-place finish

was the first for an ASUN stu-dent in the Cosmetology divi-sion, while Kirkpatrick’s gold medal marks the second time an ASUN student finished first in the Esthetics division. Bri-gitte Schwartz, a 2014 ASUN Cosmetology graduate, won the Esthetics competition that same year.

The Cosmetology competi-tion evaluated each contestant’s preparation for employment and recognized outstanding students for their excellence and professionalism in the field of Cosmetology. The compe-tition was divided into four separate skills performance tests, consisting of three haircut styles and an evening up-do. Competitors also took part in a written examination and an oral communications competi-tion.

The Esthetics competition evaluated each contestant’s preparation for employment and recognized outstanding students for their excellence and professionalism in the field of Esthetics. The competition was made up of an oral commu-nications assessment, one writ-ten examination and separate skill performance tasks. The performance tasks included fa-cial, massage, daytime makeup and fantasy makeup.

Arkansas State Universi-ty-Newport’s Cosmetology students have competed in SkillsUSA competitions for 29 consecutive years. The ASUN Cosmetology program is locat-ed on the Marked Tree campus, and applications for the January 2017 class are currently being accepted. To begin the appli-cation process, call the ASUN

Marked Tree campus at 870-358-2117.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and indus-try working together to ensure America has a skilled work-force. SkillsUSA helps each student excel, and is a national nonprofit organization serv-ing teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.

SkillsUSA enhances the lives and careers of students, instructors and industry rep-resentatives as they strive to be champions at work.

The organization serves more than 300,000 students and instructors nationally, with more than 13,000 school chap-ters in 54 states and territories.

Month ReviewThe

June 2016 Arkansas State University - Newport Volume 3, No. 6

www.asun.edu

ASUN Students Win Gold at National SkillsUSA

From left, Rebekah Vinson, ASUN Instructor of Cosmetology; Ashlyn Warren, Esthetics model; Mysti Kirkpatrick, gold medalist in Esthetics, Chelsea Barnett; gold medalist in Cosmetology and Melinda Odom, ASUN Instructor of Cosmetology.

Kim Childress

Academic Coordinator

Before Joining ASUN, Kim worked at Arkansas Rehabilita-tion Services.

A native of Batesville, Kim is a graduate of Arkansas Tech Uni-versity and is a fan of the Ala-bama Crimson Tide.

Kim enjoys spending time with her family and attending church.

William Crowder (center) is congratulated by Justin Smith, South Central Region 3M Sales Representative (left), and David Milam, Instructor of Collision Repair and Refinishing Technol-ogy at ASU-Newport.

New Face at ASUN

ASU-Newport Recent Graduate Awarded ‘Hire our Heroes’ Grant

Arkansas State Universi-ty-Newport announced in June that Collision Repair Technol-ogy recent graduate William Crowder has been selected as a recipient of the Collision Repair Education Foundation “Hire our Heroes” grant.

A native of Jonesboro, Crowder applied for the grant as a veteran of the United States Army, where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division. The grant, funded by the 3M cor-poration, was awarded for an initial amount of $1,500 in tools utilized in the Collision Re-pair field. Upon employment, Crowder will receive another $3,000 in equipment.

“Not only are we extremely proud of William as a recipient of the ‘Hire our Heroes’ grant, but we are also very thankful to him for the sacrifices he made in serving our country,” said Robert Summers, ASUN Dean

for Applied Science. “His hard work as a student was recog-nized last week when he grad-uated from the Collision Repair Technology program, and we

know that he will be successful as he enters the workforce, aid-ed by the tools that he received as a result of the grant.”

ASU-Newport Awarded Automotive Service Technology Grant

Michael Nowlin, Arkansas State University-Newport Assistant to the Dean & Instructor of Automotive Service Technology (fourth from left), accepts a check from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson for the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission grant.

Arkansas State Universi-ty-Newport announced in June that the college was recently awarded a grant from the Ar-kansas Motor Vehicle Commis-sion for use in the institution’s Automotive Service Technolo-gy program.

The grant, in the amount of $11,000, will be used to train ASUN students enrolled in the Automotive Service Technolo-gy program on light duty diesel technology.

“We are very appreciative of the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission for this funding,” said Michael Nowlin, Assistant to the Dean & Instructor of Automotive Service Technol-ogy. “We offer one of the best and most comprehensive Au-tomotive Service Technology training programs in the state,

and the ability to train our stu-dents on light duty diesel tech-nology will not only enhance our program, but will make our students more attractive to employers as they enter the job market following employment.”

Arkansas State Universi-ty-Newport was one of 12 in-

stitutions statewide to receive funds from the grant.

In addition to ASUN, the Commission also awarded funding to: Springdale School of Innovation, Black River Technical College, Cabot High School, Dumas New Tech High School, Pulaski Technical Col-

lege Saline County Career Center, River Valley Career Academy, Southern Arkansas University Tech, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, University of Ar-kansas at Fort Smith, Waldron High School and Northwest Technical Institute.

ASU-Newport Selected to Participate in Second Chance Pell Program

Arkansas State Universi-ty-Newport announced Tues-day that ASUN has been se-lected as one of 67 colleges and universities across the country to participate in the Second Chance Pell Grant pilot pro-gram. The experimental pro-gram is designed to test wheth-er participation in high-quality education programs increases after expanding access to finan-cial aid for incarcerated indi-viduals.

The pilot program will allow eligible incarcerated Americans to receive Pell Grants and pur-sue postsecondary education with the goal of helping them get jobs and support their fam-ilies upon release. The selected institutions will partner with over 100 federal and state penal institutions to enroll approx-imately 12,000 incarcerated students - likely to be released in five years - in education and training programs. The select-ed sites all demonstrate strong partnerships between the post-secondary institution and cor-rectional institution(s). These partnerships will help to facil-itate high-quality educational programs, strong academic and career support services, and re-entry support. Many state departments of corrections in-dicated strong support for the proposed postsecondary edu-cational programs at both the leadership level and in the co-ordination of day-to-day oper-ations such as scheduling, staff-

ing, and facilities. Arkansas State Universi-

ty-Newport has coordinated efforts with the Grimes and McPherson Units, both lo-cated in Newport, to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals for ap-proximately 15 years. ASUN’s prison outreach program has been under the direction of Dr. Allen Mooneyhan, Dean of In-stitutional Effectiveness & Aca-demic Outreach since 2006.

“Dr. Mooneyhan has been deeply involved with our in-mate prison program since 2006,” said ASUN Chancellor Dr. Sandra Massey. “ASU-New-port offerings have grown from a couple of courses a year to a full degree. Under his leader-ship, we have well-trained fac-ulty dedicated to teaching in this environment, a collabora-tive relationship with the cor-rectional facility staff, an on-site academic advisor and numer-ous inmates with college credit and a more hopeful future! Re-ceiving this grant will allow us to continue helping individual inmates transform their lives.”

The Second Chance Pell Grant pilot program builds on the Obama Administration’s commitment to create a fairer and more effective criminal jus-tice system, reduce recidivism, and combat the impact of mass incarceration on families and communities through educa-tional opportunity.

I am very encouraged about

the opportunity for our in-carcerated students to receive Pell Grants,” said Mooneyhan. “ASU-Newport has sought out sources of funding for the pro-gram for the past several years, and has struggled to keep the outreach program active. Most of these students do not have the means to pay for continuing their education, and this oppor-tunity will help them to com-plete courses, gain additional academic experience and even earn credentials and degrees. Ultimately, it may enable these individuals to find work upon release and reduce recidivism in our community and state.”

The United States current-ly has the highest incarceration rate in the world with approx-imately 2.2 million people in-carcerated in American prisons and jails. Hundreds of thou-sands of individuals are released annually from these facilities. A 2013 study from the RAND Corporation, funded by the De-partment of Justice, found that incarcerated individuals who participated in correctional education were 43 percent less likely to return to prison within three years than prisoners who did not participate in any cor-rectional education programs. RAND also estimated that for every dollar invested in cor-rectional education programs, four to five dollars are saved on three-year re-incarceration costs.

“The evidence is clear. Pro-

moting the education and job training for incarcerated in-dividuals makes communities safer by reducing recidivism and saves taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and col-lateral costs of incarceration,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “I applaud the institutions that have partnered to develop high-quality pro-grams that will equip these stu-dents with invaluable learning. The knowledge and skills they acquire will promote successful reintegration and enable them become active and engaged cit-izens.”

The selected colleges and universities demonstrated a focus on supporting success-ful reentry. Many did this by evaluating the local labor mar-ket and providing educational programs that would prepare students with the training and credentials to improve their prospects for employment post-release.

Others offer educational programs that result in mean-ingful degrees that prepare students to continue their post-secondary education. Through partnerships with the correc-tional institutions, communi-ty-based organizations, local non-profits and foundations, the selected postsecondary in-stitutions will enable, prepare, and support incarcerated stu-dents in re-entering society as productive and engaged citi-zens.

ASUN Student Featured on KAIT

Recent ASUN graduate Rachel Scott was featured on KAIT Re-gion 8 News last month as being the first female auto body paint-er to work in Jonesboro. Scott landed the job at Collision Repair of Jonesboro after completing ASU-Newport’s Collision Repair Technology program on the Marked Tree campus, and has now reached her goal of a career she has dreamed of for years. To view the feature story online, copy and paste the following link into your web browser: http://bit.ly/29jXsuh

ASUN Celebrates Jonesboro/Marked Tree Campus Commencement June 30

ASUN Celebrates Jonesboro/Marked Tree Campus Commencement June 30

Cassandra Saddler, a Culinary Services graduate, wore a tradi-tional Native American blanket underneath her cap and gown. Cassandra’s mother was married in the same blanket.

Graduates Get Creative with Mortarboards at June 30 Commencement

ASU-Newport provides an accessible, affordable, quality education that transforms the lives of our students, enriches our communities and strengthens the regional economy.

The ASU-Newport Mission Statement

Images of Success and Service at ASU-Newport

Congratulations to the 17 new Practical Nurses that were Capped and Pinned June 29 in Jonesboro. Special congratu-lations to Brittani Baber, who was named Student of the Year!

ASU-Newport hosted the “Get A Clue” summer camp June 13-16 for students en-tering grades 3-6. The camp was based on the board game “Clue” and students were challenged to “solve a crime” during the week. To solve the crime, students found clues based on knowledge gained from their curriculum throughout the week from the Hospitality, Medical and STEM fields.The camp was administered by Irina Reynolds, ASUN As-sistant Professor/Coordinator of College & Life Skills. See additional photos on follow-ing page.

Congratulations to the 17 new Practical Nurses that were Capped and Pinned June 28 in Newport. Special congrat-ulations to Wayne Odom, who was named Student of the Year!

Having Fun at the “Get A Clue” Summer Camp for Students in Grades 3-6