Alumni Association Board of Directors Tech Action
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Tech Action Celebrates 50th Year of Publication, Undergoes Re-Design Welcome to a new era for Tech Action magazine. Every time we print a class note telling about the latest Your alumni publication has evolved over the years. One of the promotion, award, marriage, birth biggest changes came in 2004, when Tech Action transitioned from or anniversary, it brings the Tech a newsletter printed on newsprint to a full-fledged magazine. Family closer together. Please do Now, as Tech Action celebrates its 50th year, it is time to once not allow humility to prevent you again re-invent this publication. The re-design provides a modern from letting us know when you’ve look and feel that was developed by the Office of University done something great. Your fellow Arkansas Tech alumni want to Relations and the Office of Alumni Relations. read about it and they will be proud of your success. And while the packaging is different, Tech Action will continue to It is our hope that the re-designed Tech Action is a reflection of bring you the same mix of alumni news, campus happenings and the continued growth and progress at our university. Arkansas feature stories that Arkansas Tech alumni have enjoyed since the Tech has been a great institution for generations, but continuous publication was first developed a half-century ago. improvement is necessary for us to fulfill our mission. That same This is your magazine. Please know that we always welcome your spirit is reflected in our alumni magazine. feedback and suggestions. One of the most important ways that Enjoy the new Tech Action. Fight On! you can assist us is by submitting class notes when you or one of Sincerely, your fellow Arkansas Tech alumni has an accomplishment worthy of celebrating or reaches a life milestone. Those class notes may be sent via e-mail to [email protected], by traditional mail to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Relations at 1313 N. Arkansas Avenue in Russellville (zip code 72801) or call us Kelly Davis ‘81 on the telephone at (479) 968-0242. Director of Alumni Relations and the Tech Loyalty Fund Alumni Association Board of Directors President: Todd Sweeden ‘76 President-Elect: Truman Hill ‘70 Jim Higgs ‘73 12/14 Jared Wood ‘97 12/14 Melissa Owens Steeves ‘07 12/15 Brad McBride ‘10 12/16 Truman Hill ‘70 12/14 Leila Bean Alston ‘77 12/15 Kendall Tabor ‘89 & ‘92 12/15 Ryan Ritchie ‘03 12/16 Sarah Beth Phillips ‘06 12/14 Susan McIntyre Dunn ‘83 12/15 Adam Anderson ‘11 12/16 Ross White ‘08 & ‘12 12/16 Joshua Ray ‘06 12/14 Cody Hill ‘07 12/15 Larry Brown ‘10 12/16 Jimmy Rofkahr, Ozark Campus Rep. Sandy Smith ‘86 12/14 Sherry Nordin Polsgrove ‘81 12/15 Alyssa McTeer Carter ‘02 12/16 Matthew White ‘06 12/14 Dustin Parsons ‘10 12/15 Denise Clayton ‘85 12/16 Cara Hammond Witherspoon ‘78 12/14 Justin Price ‘01 12/15 Steve Kesner ‘77 12/16 Tech Action, Volume 50, No. 1. Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association, Alumni House, Russellville, AR 72801 Tech Action is published quarterly by the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association, Director of Alumni Relations Editorial Committee Cover Photograph 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, & Tech Loyalty Fund Kelly Davis, Jayne Jones, Submitted AR 72801. It is sent to alumni, Kelly Davis Julie Nebben Morgan, Susie parents, friends and faculty/staff of Nicholson, Sam Strasner Contributing Photographers Arkansas Tech University. We welcome Coordinator of Young Alumni Liz Chrisman, Steve Newby, manuscripts and photographs from & Student Philanthropy Publications/Creative Services Tim Carr, Sadie Slagle, our readers. Please include a self- Alison Parks Taylor Felisha Weaver Alex Duvall, Caleb Williams addressed, stamped envelope if you Coordinator of Alumni would like your originals returned. Communications & Activities Director of New Media E-mail address Parents, if your son or daughter Aaron Jones Carrie Harris Phillips [email protected] attended Tech and is no longer living at this address, please notify our office Alumni Office Administrative Assistant Sports Information Director Web site of his or her new address. Address Terry Holland-Finley Paul Smith www.techties.atu.edu updates can be submitted to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Services by calling (479) 968-0242 or by sending e-mail to [email protected]. SPRING 2014 02 TECH ACTION Arkansas Tech to Induct Three Alumni Into Hall of Distinction on May 10 FREEZE, RAMSEY, & WOMACK TO BE INDUCTED DURING COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Arkansas Tech University has selected three of its alumni to receive the highest honor that the institution may bestow upon an individual in 2014. Thomas Michael “Mike” Freeze of England, Congressman Stephen A. Womack of Rogers and Dr. Andrea L. Ramsey of Columbus, Ohio, were chosen for induction into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction by the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees during its From left, Steve Womack, Mike Freeze, Dr. Andrea Ramsey November 2013 meeting. in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he has returned to his Freeze and Womack will be inducted under the Distinguished alma mater to speak to students in the Arkansas Tech Department Alumnus category, while Ramsey will be inducted under the of History and Political Science. Outstanding Young Alumna category. Ramsey graduated from Arkansas Tech in 2000 with a Bachelor The induction ceremony will take place during Arkansas Tech of Music Education degree. She earned a Master of Music degree spring commencement at John E. Tucker Coliseum in Russellville in choral conducting from the University of Kansas, where she on Saturday, May 10, 2014. became the first female conductor in the 120-year history of the KU Men’s Glee Club. Ramsey holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree Freeze graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1975 with a Bachelor in music education from Michigan State University. of Science degree in fisheries and wildlife management. After working his way through college as a fish researcher on Lake She served as a lecturer in the Ohio State University School of Dardanelle, Freeze served as a fisheries biologist for the Arkansas Music during the 2013-14 academic year, and she has accepted the Game and Fish Commission. position of associate director of choral studies at the University of Colorado beginning in fall 2014. By the mid-1980s, Freeze had entered the fish farming business and acquired an interest in Keo Fish Farms. Over the past Ramsey is a published composer of numerous compositions, three decades, he has served in leadership roles with various arrangements and commissioned choral works. She composed a associations and boards, including chairman of the Arkansas commemorative choral piece, “Doors of Daring,” for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Tech centennial celebration. Freeze has served as president of the National Aquaculture She is a regular guest conductor with all-state and honor choruses Association and the American Fish Farmers Federation. He is a and an ASCAPlus award-winning composer. guest speaker for classes in the Arkansas Tech College of Natural Established in 1964, the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction and Health Sciences and a 2013 inductee into the Arkansas recognizes the accomplishments of Arkansas Tech alumni and Outdoor Hall of Fame. friends in five categories: Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna, Womack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications Distinguished Alumni Service, Outstanding Young Alumnus/ from Arkansas Tech and a commission as a second lieutenant in Alumna, Distinction in Intercollegiate Athletics and Distinguished the Arkansas Army National Guard in 1979. Service (non-alumnus). He spent more than a decade in the radio business before Nominations for the Hall of Distinction may be made by any accepting a position as executive officer for the U.S. Army graduate of Arkansas Tech, any current or former member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University faculty or administration, any currently enrolled full-time student of Arkansas. Womack has served in a variety of command and at Tech or any member of the Hall of Distinction. Nominations staff assignments for the National Guard, including battalion may not be made by a family member of the nominee. commander in Sinai, Egypt, following the events of Sept. 11, 2001. No incumbent member of the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees, He was named to the Arkansas Officer Candidate Hall of Fame in faculty, staff or administration is eligible for nomination for any 2011. category of the Hall of Distinction. Mayor of Rogers for 12 years beginning in 1998, Womack was For more information about nominating an individual for the elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Arkansas Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction, visit www.techties.atu.edu, call third congressional district in 2010. He is serving his second term (479) 968-0242 or send e-mail to [email protected]. SPRING 2014 ALUMNI NEWS 03 Go Out to the Ballpark with the Tech Alumni Association The Arkansas Tech University Alumni Meanwhile, Arkansas Tech Alumni Association invites all former and current Association Night with the Northwest students and all friends of Tech to attend Arkansas Naturals is scheduled for Friday, a pair of social outings at our state’s minor Aug. 22, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. league baseball parks this summer. To purchase tickets and for more Arkansas Tech Alumni Association Night information, call the Arkansas Tech Office with the Arkansas Travelers is scheduled for of Alumni Relations at (479) 968-0242 or Friday, June 6, at Dickey-Stephens Park in send e-mail to [email protected]. North Little Rock. Kennedy Elected Chairman of Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees Tom Kennedy of Little Rock was elected A former prosecuting attorney, Kennedy by his fellow trustees to serve as chairman represented District 12 in the Arkansas of the Arkansas Tech University Board of State Senate for four years.