Press Releases
SHERRY BISHOP RECEIVES ACBSP TEACHING EXCELLENCE
AWARD FOR
COMMITMENT TO BUSINESS EDUCATION
(Harrison, AR) – Sherry Bishop, business instructor at North Arkansas College has been named a recipient of the prestigious ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award presented by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). She was selected in a competition with other ACBSP member schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Bishop will be honored at the 2008 ACBSP annual conference in New Orleans this summer. ACBSP is responsible for accrediting business programs at associate degree and baccalaureate/graduate degree colleges and universities with a focus on teaching and learning in the classroom. North Arkansas College has recently been accepted as a candidate for accreditation by ACBSP.
"Sherry Bishop is an excellent example of our dedicated, award-winning faculty at Northark,” explains Dr. Jeff Olson, president of Northark. “In addition to ‘writing the book’ on the subjects she teaches, she stays current with regular professional development, and for the last year she has served as the president of the Northark Faculty Senate. She is a leader in our effort to achieve ACBSP accreditation, and I believe her award is richly deserved."
The ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award Committee looked at five criteria in evaluating professors for the award, including quality of classroom teaching and learning; institutional versatility; curriculum development; professional development and community commitment. Sherry Bishop, as the regional award winner will compete with winners from other regions and be eligible for receipt of the international award.
Sherry teaches Web Design and Graphic Design classes at North Arkansas College. She is the author or co-author of nineteen books in the Design Professional, Revealed, and Illustrated series through Course Technology, Cengage Learning. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops around the country and was the recipient of three North Arkansas College endowed chairs in technology. She was selected as the Outstanding Faculty Member at North Arkansas College in 2003 and was recognized with the NISOD International Conference on Teaching Excellence Award in 2004.
The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) recognizes the significance of the classroom teacher to the mission of business degree granting institutions. Based on this, the Associate Degree Commission and the Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Commission have established the Teaching Excellence Award to recognize individuals who exemplify excellence in teaching.
About ACBSP: The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence. ACBSP membership includes 586 member institutions and over 5,400 individuals at these institutions located in 17 countries. Over 400 ACBSP member institutions also have achieved accreditation. ACBSP is located in Overland Park, Kansas which is in the Greater Kansas City area. For more information, go to www.acbsp.org.
ENDOWED CHAIRS LUNCHEON
Community First Bank hosted a luncheon Thursday for donors and recipients of the FedEx Freight, Woodrow Magness, and Dr. J.G. Gladden Endowed Chairs awarded by North Arkansas College. Attending the event were (front row, from left) Northark instructors Sherry Bishop, Stefan Szabo, Rana Burnside, and Cheryl Keymer; (back row) Bill and Marcie Magness, representing the family of the late Woodrow and Vivien Magness, donors of the Magness and Gladden chairs; Dave Morton of Community First Bank; Larry Miller, Pat Reed, Ken Reeves, Gini Coyle, and Frank Conner, all of FedEx Freight; and Dr. Jeff Olson, Dr. Gwen Gresham, and Dr. Jim Stockton, all of Northark. Bishop received the FedEx Freight Endowed Chair, Burnside was the recipient of the Dr. J.G. Gladden Endowed Chair, and Keymer received the Woodrow Magness Endowed Chair this past year. During lunch Szabo showed a video produced with equipment purchased with proceeds from the FedEx Freight Endowed Chair. The college has 11 endowed chair funds created by gifts to the North Arkansas College Foundation.
Local Bull Rider is Riding High
Northark President Dr. Jeff Olson is shown with Kori Kimes
and Coach Landon Sullivan.
To trade sitting upon a bucking bull for sitting inside a custom designed 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Series diesel truck is a bit hard to swallow for Kori Kimes, a lucky Northark cowboy who won the truck in a drawing on June 21st. He is the recipient of the Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s 2008 Dodge Truck award.
The drawing was held at the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s national office on the afternoon of May 2nd. The NIRA’s Certified Public Accountant, Nancy Nestler, and the entire national office staff witnessed the drawing. Kori’s name was selected from 3,500 members of the NIRA association nationwide.
NIRA Commissioner John Smith told Mr. Kimes the good news over the phone that afternoon. “It's always interesting and somewhat fun to have the opportunity to call a person and tell them they have won a new truck. The reactions are always different, but the surprise is always the same. Normally they are thinking it is some kind of joke, but cautious while it sets in that they did win the truck,” said Commissioner Smith.
Kimes said when he received a call from someone with such a common name as “John Smith” 
telling him he had won a truck he was immediately skeptical. He asked if he could call Mr. Smith back later and promptly called Coach Sullivan.
The national office received a phone call from Kori’s coach, Northark’s Landon Sullivan, about a half hour after his name was drawn confirming the award.
Sullivan said, “It couldn’t happen to a nicer kid. Kori is the kind of person who asks what he can do for you instead of what you can do for him.”
Kori and his family traveled to Casper, Wyoming to attend the College National Finals Rodeo during which the keys to the truck were presented to him. He enjoyed seeing the sights along the way while spending time with his family. Kori said the prize hasn’t really sunk in on him, although when he was presented with the keys it added a bit of reality to the situation.
Kori attended North Arkansas College and was a recipient of the Don Young Memorial Scholarship. He plans to transfer to Arkansas Tech University this fall and study agriculture business with an emphasis in agriculture education. His parents are Randy & Jamie Kimes of Valley Springs. North Arkansas College is the only two-year institution in Arkansas with an active rodeo program.
North Arkansas College Phi Beta Lambda Chapter won a record 37 individual awards during the state competition held recently in Hot Springs, AR. The local collegiate chapter of Future Business Leaders of America received the Gold Chapter Award of Merit, the Associate Level Sweepstakes Award indicating the highest overall number of points earned for a two year college and has second largest local chapter membership of the 22 two-year colleges in the state of Arkansas. Thirteen students will travel to Atlanta, GA to compete in the national competition June 21-24th. Cheryl Keymer, a business instructor at Northark is PBL advisor and was recently selected as Outstanding Faculty member at Northark.
Students shown are:
Front Row (left to right)
Amanda Blair
Laurie Ross
Jennifer Williams
2nd Row (left to right)
Katie Young
Chelsea Flud
Mandi Utz
Destiny Wilhite
Ashley Keymer, National PBL President
Tonya House
3rd Row (left to right)
Hilary Cleaver
Veronica Diaz
Sondra Dailey
Lisa Howard
Kristina Setzer
Tonya Smith
Nikki Taylor
Becky Russell
Cheryl Keymer, Advisor
Tabitha Sullins
Back Row (left to right)
Chris Allred
Chris Kennedy
Jessica Cone
Steven Smith
Terry Henson
Brock McVay
Jason Kauffman
Matt Morrell
Marty Dicus
Joe Murray
Matt Cleaver
Stacey Evans
Tony Russell
Deborah Poyner
Aaron Bueg
Tommy Flud
Gwen Evans is the recipient of the Linda R. Goertz Nursing Scholarship. 
Gwen is a nursing student at North Arkansas College. From left to right are Don Goertz, Nona Guynn, a Northark Nursing instructor and member of the selection committee, Gwen Evans, and Don’s wife Linda Goertz in whose honor the scholarship was created to help students with their NCLEX exam expenses.
Cody Allen Hall Scholarship Recipients
Stephanie Short and Hannah Dean have been selected as the 2008 recipients of the Cody Allen Hall Memorial Scholarship to attend college at North Arkansas College this fall. Both are from single parent households and are eager to start their education with the assistance of this scholarship. Stephanie intends to major in Business, while Hannah is undecided upon her field of study.
Stephanie was a member of the FBLA, Annual Staff and was on the Honor Roll. She is a graduate of Western Grove High School and is the daughter of Rachel Short of Mount Judea.
Hannah was a member of the basketball, track and softball teams, FBLA, FCA, National Honor Society, Youth Alive and the Honor Roll. She is a graduate of Western Grove High School and is the daughter of Debbie Dean and the late Wayne Dean of Western Grove.
This scholarship was funded by donations to the North Arkansas College Foundation from friends and family of Cody Hall. Cody, age 17, was a student and a basketball player at Western Grove High School. He was a popular student who is remembered for his ever-present smile and ability to make everyone feel good. The award benefits Western Grove graduates, friends and classmates of Cody.
John O’Dell, Jr., named Northark’s Distinguished Alumnus for 2008
John O’Dell, Jr., of Harrison, owner of the Christian Book Outlet stores, CBO Distribution, and 
Inspire4less.com, has been selected as North Arkansas College’s Distinguished Alumnus for 2008. He will be honored Oct. 14 during at brunch at the annual Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges Conference in Rogers.
O’Dell says he was unsure about what he wanted to do with his life after graduating from Harrison High School. “What a blessing it was to have all areas of study at North Arkansas College, right here in my back yard,” he says. “I was able to take a variety of classes and get great counseling without the huge expense I would have incurred going away to college.
“After getting a taste of various fields, it was the business classes that came naturally for me,” he continues. “My study at Northark more than prepared me to complete my undergraduate business degree at College of the Ozarks.”
O’Dell, who graduated from Northark in 1988, began working with his family in 1982 at the Christian Bookstore. He and his wife, Maribeth, purchased the Harrison business in 1997, relocated the store, and changed its name to Christian Book Outlet. They now have seven CBO stores. Other CBO locations include Fayetteville, Rogers, Conway, Mountain Home, and two stores in Branson, Mo.
After expanding their Christian bookstore business, the O’Dell’s purchased the former Cicero Bible Press, a 30,000-square-foot building, as a distribution center. Recently, they added the Inspire4less.com business on the Internet.
O’Dell, a graduate of Harrison High School, credits his father, John O’Dell, and retired North Arkansas College business instructor Jerry Wheaton with inspiring in him “a drive and aspiration for the business world.” O’Dell was a student in Wheaton’s marketing class at Northark.
John and Maribeth have two children, Trey and Breanne, and are members of the Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Harrison.
James Morris Selected Outstanding Staff Member
James Morris began his career at Twin Lakes Vocational Technical School in 1987. He now serves as Executive Director at North Arkansas College.
James was described by a colleague as “a mentor for people and programs, even if they have no direct affiliation with his particular area. James will offer advice and go out of his way to give people the tools they need to succeed at Northark. With his unique ability to see the big picture gained through many years of experience, he can provide shortcuts and tips for the newcomer to use to their benefit.”
In his words, James described his work philosophy as one of service, saying “two of my duty areas, Adult Education and Workforce Training, fit extremely well with Northark’s mission to provide high quality affordable learning opportunities. My function is to assist by providing support, direction, facilities, and supplies for the instructional staff to deliver the best education/training possible. I think all employees should exemplify Northark’s “Star Customer Service” attitude. I strive to do that daily and encourage the staff of my area to have the same positive customer service attitude.”
James will receive $500 from the North Arkansas College Foundation.
Both James and Cheryl Keymer will be recognized during an awards ceremony held in October for the Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges.
Cheryl Keymer Selected Outstanding Faculty Member
Mrs. Keymer is a veteran North Arkansas College instructor since 1982. In addition to teaching Accounting, Legal Environment of Business, Business Ethics, and the Business Capstone Course, she has sponsored Northark’s award-winning PBL Chapter for 26 years.
In the words of one of her students, “[Mrs. Keymer’s] job is never over when it’s quitting time.” Her dedication to her discipline is evident not only in the time that she spends preparing for and teaching her courses, but in the hours that she spends with her PBL students, encouraging them to put into practice the skills they learn in the classroom. She contributes to campus governance both within her department and by service on Northark committees. She writes, “I believe the student always comes first. I have an open door policy. Students know they can come to me at any time for assistance. I try to motivate students by positive reinforcement, and I expect the best from them. I tell my students, if you can work for me, you can work for anyone."
Cheryl will receive $500 from the North Arkansas College Foundation.
Both Cheryl and James Morris will be recognized during an awards ceremony held in October for the Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges
North Arkansas College Automotive Program
Receives National Certification
The automotive training program at Northark has received certification by NATEF and The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in Collision Repair.
To achieve this coveted recognition, the school’s automotive training program underwent rigorous evaluation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). 
Nationally accepted standards of excellence in areas such as instruction, facilities, and equipment were used.
“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Donald Seyfer, NATEF Chair. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance the North Arkansas College graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by Northark, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the work force.” Upon completion of the evaluation, NATEF recommended that Northark be certified by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE is a national non-profit organization which tests and certifies repair technicians, in addition to certifying automotive training programs.
Ed Proctor, dean of business and technical programs added, “During the past months, we have worked closely with NATEF to make certain that our program would meet strict industry standards, and now we are delighted to join the ranks of the ASE certified training programs. Students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.”
Northark Business and Technology Division
Seeks Coveted Accreditation:
The Business and Technology Division of North Arkansas College has recently been accepted as a candidate for accreditation by ACBSP (the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs). The division was awarded a certificate of candidacy at the annual conference held this past July in Orlando, Florida. Acceptance as a candidate was achieved after a year-long self-study by the division. The next step in the process is a site visit by a mentor, during which time various aspects of the program such as curriculum, instructor qualifications, and assessment will be evaluated. Accreditation by ACBSP will be a great validation of the quality of the business programs at Northark. The same criteria are used for community colleges and four year universities. Recognition as an ACBSP program will be beneficial for business majors transferring to four year universities and for students applying for business positions after they graduate.
BROWN HONORED REGIONALLY
Linda Brown, director of human resources at North Arkansas College, has been selected by the College & University Professional Association for Human Resources as a recipient of the Hugh Avery Award of Distinction for the Southwest Region which includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. Hugh Avery was a former leader in the University Human Resource Profession. Award winners must show long-term continued involvement in Southwest Regional activities; a demonstrated record of Southwest Region leadership; an extraordinary practitioner of the human resource profession; a sense of humor; and a deep concern for the rights of all humans.
“Linda is someone who serves as an example of a long-term employee who has contributed greatly to the success of this college,” said Dr. Jeff Olson, president of North Arkansas College. “She provides outstanding service to the employees through daily support and the crown jewel of her efforts is the benefits fair held annually in the spring. Both employees and vendors are anxious to experience the themes, games and prizes each year during the fair. Linda goes above and beyond the call of duty and her efforts are widespread; recognition such as this award is well deserved.”
Brown has worked at Northark since the doors opened on the south campus of North Arkansas College in 1974. She was honored with the Roadrunner Award in 1996 by the Southwest Region. In February 2006, Linda was inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame at Northark for outstanding work with the Pioneer Spirit Squad. She is married to Fred Brown and has a son, Chris and two grandsons, Adam and Logan.
JONES RECEIVES LYMAN LONG AWARD
K.C. Jones, EMT Instructor at North Arkansas College is smiling. With 30 years experience and the only person to receive the prestigious Lyman Long award not once, but twice for outstanding instruction in the Emergency Medical Technician field, he’s at the top of his game. During the Arkansas State of Emergency Medical Technicians conference in Hot Springs on July 21st, K.C. was directing the award ceremony as he has done for the last several years. During the introduction for the recipient of the Lyman Long award, he heard a quote and thought “That is good…it sounds like something I would write.” After a few more sentences, it dawned upon him it was something he had written. “I was in total surprise,” said K.C. “I received this award in 1992 and I didn’t expect it a second time.” Jones is the first instructor to be presented with the award twice.
The award is named after Lyman Long, an instructor with a passion for Emergency Medical Services. He lived in Fort Smith and trained students in what was at the time a fledgling field of study. His program was one of the first in the state of Arkansas.
In 1992 K.C. was selected as Arkansas Instructor of the Year. Jones was very active in Emergency Medical Services Week, helping to organize a parade of lights and a rally at the Capitol in Little Rock.
“The honors are great, but I’m most proud when I see my students succeed,” said K.C. He joined the faculty at Northark in December of 2000. Jones added his recent class of EMT students achieved a 100% pass rate on their exam.
May 14, 2007
2007 Honor Graduates
May 17, 2007
Spring 2007 Dean's List
April 20, 2007
PBL Noted
May 4, 2007
Arvest Bank Endowed Chair
FedEx Freight Gift
First Federal Bank Gift
First National Bank Gift
Hammerschmidt Gift
April 23, 2007
New Bachelor’s Degree Offered
March 6, 2007
NORTHARK President Dr. Jeff Olson (left) and Dr. Douglas E. Durand are shown with a $500,000 check Durand presented Tuesday to the North Arkansas College Foundation from the estate of his father, L.E. “Gene” Durand. The gift will help fund the L.E. “Gene” Durand Conference Center at Northark’s Center Campus and the Gene and Betty Durand Endowed Chair in Instruction. The two men are posed in front of a drawing of the proposed new entrance for the Center Campus and the Durand Center. The gift is the largest in the history of North Arkansas College.
Northark Receives $500,000 from Durand Family
January 4, 2007
NAPHE Program Tops $1 Million in Prescription Drug Assistance
January 3, 2007
Northark Full-time Dean's List for Fall 2006 Semester
Northark Part-time Dean's List for Fall 2006 Semester
December 12, 2006
Two-Year Colleges Engine of Economic Growth for Arkansas
October 30 , 2006
Arkansas Course Transfer System Approved
October 20 , 2006
Northark To Receive Title III Grant
August 24, 2006
Preliminary Fall Enrollment 2006
March 31, 2006
Massey Selected As State Chair
March 14, 2006
Nominations Sought For Family Of The Year
March 6, 2006
An Invitation to Nominate for the Citation of Distinguished Alumnus
February 14, 2006
Northark Community Forum To Focus on Millage Request
October 27, 2005
Dr. Dan J. Hawkins Community Health Center
July 14, 2005
June 14, 2005
Northark to Receive $500,000 Gift for L.E. "Gene" Durand Conference Center
May 18, 2005
Dr. Gwen Gresham is new VP of Learning
March 11, 2005
Northark to Purchase Regions Plaza for $1.2 Million
March 8, 2004
Dr. Stockton Receives Petrizzo Award
January 26, 2004
Bell To Direct Northark Community Ed Program
December 9, 2003
Becky Poor Receives Customer Service Star Award
May 26, 2003
Northark Educators Honored, Present At NISOD Conference
April 25, 2003
Trustees To Honor Frankie Bellora
Rep. Phil Jackson Will Be Northark Commencement Speaker
L.E. "Gene" Durand To Be Honored
April 16, 2003
Northark Basketball Tournament
April 3, 2003
Northark Instructors Know Their Business
October 31, 2002
Northark Nursing Students Take First Place
October 28, 2002
October 25, 2002
Stockton Named District IV Communicator of the Year
October 10, 2002
Northark PBL Student Elected State Vice President
October 4, 2002
Community First Bank Computer Laboratory
September 12, 2002
Northark Enrollment Hits 2,012
July 2, 2002
Arkansas Tech Schedules Information Session For New Programs at Northark
June 21, 2002
Arkansas Tech University To Offer Three Degree Programs At Northark
May 7, 2002
Arkansas Chancellor Honored, JPH Gets Birthday Surprise
April 19, 2002
Tonya Maxey Selected For Northark Alumni Award
March 7, 2002
February 25, 2002
Future Northark Students To Benefit From Ed Warabow Gift
January 21, 2002
Northark Students Top National Average
January 11, 2002
August 1, 2001
Six Class Cancellations for Fall Semester 2001
July 23, 2001
Five Class Sections Added To Northark Fall Schedule
July 2, 2001
Jack Eldon Baker (9/8/39 - 7/1/01)
June 29, 2001
Northark Welcomes Dr. Jeff Olson As New President
June 6, 2001
Northark to register students for Fall Semester June 18-22
May 29, 2001
Northark Summer School Starts Thursday
May 17, 2001
223 Students Named to Northark Dean's List
April 30, 2001
Dr. Charles Adair to Receive Northark's Presidential Citation
April 27, 2001
North Arkansas College Selects Ben F. Garrison Family Of Harrison For 2001 Pioneer Family Award
April 25, 2001
LaVerne Grayson to Receive Northark Alumni Award
April 24, 2001
Tim Hill To Receive Board of Trustees Award
April 9, 2001
April 3, 2001
Northark, NARMC Partnership Named "Benchmark Practice"
March 19, 2001
NCIV Network, Local Volunteers Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
March 14, 2001
Bellora Scholarship Announcement
Nominations Sought By Northark For Boone County Pioneer Family Of The Year
An Invitation to Nominate for the Citation of Distinguished Alumnus
March 12, 2001
Columnist, Historian Dr. Gwynne Dyer To Deliver Fourth JPH Lecture
March 8, 2001
Northark To Start Area High School Technical Center
Northark Accreditation Extended For 10 Years
March 2, 2001
Olson Selected As Next Northark President