The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith 2019-20 Chancellor’s Leadership Council is wrapping up the service project and leadership training portion of their four-year scholarship program, having partnered with numerous leaders from across the state to better their university and their community.

The CLC program pairs a highly competitive scholarship with an immersive first-year experience for students demonstrating leadership promise and strong academic performance. Students selected for the scholarship enroll in a three-hour leadership course at UAFS, taught by UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley, vice chancellor for student affairs Dr. Lee Krehbiel, director of government and community relations Jordan Hale, and assistant to the chancellor Jennifer Belt. Throughout the course, students hear from regional leaders who inform their individual approaches to leadership and provide context to community involvement as they plan and implement their service projects.

 

Students in the 2019-20 CLC class are:

  • Michelle Atkins of Fort Smith, a Northside High School graduate, who plans to major in International Business. She served as Arkansas District 1 FBLA Treasurer, FBLA President, Dance Lieutenant, Dance Captain, and a peer mentor, and participated in the National Honor Society, Junior Council, and Upward Bound. Michelle volunteered at Midland Heights United Methodist Church, Abilities Unlimited, the River Valley Regional Food Bank, the Sebastian County Humane Society, and STEPS.
  • Nathanial Gonzales of Greenwood, a Greenwood High School graduate, who plans to major in Chemistry. He served as an intern at Johnson Dermatology and participated in FBLA, Spanish Club, Cross Country, Track, and Beta Club. Nathaniel volunteered with Street Reach Ministry in Memphis, Tennessee, Greenwood First Baptist Church, and Mission Arlington.
  • Callie Pixley of Van Buren, a Van Buren High School graduate, who plans to major in Business Administration. She served as Student Senate President, Cheer Captain, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, FCCLA, Teenage Republicans Cub, 2016 Miss Teen VBHS, 2018 Girls State Delegate, 2018 Miss Crawford County, 2018 Miss Ozark Highland’s Outstanding Teen, and a National Cheerleaders Associate All-American Cheerleader. Callie volunteered with local schools as a reader and a cheer and dance teacher, the United Way, the Make a Wish Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
  • Skyler Putman of Bella Vista, a Bentonville High School graduate, who plans to major in Psychology. She served as a Goodwill Sales Associate, Secretary of Troupe 3430 - Bentonville High School Productions, Choir member, and theater member. Skyler volunteered with the Bentonville Public Library and is certified in First Aid/CPR/AED.
  • Samantha Roberts of Fort Smith, an American Online High School graduate, who plans to major in Studio Art. Samantha served as a Sunny Cider Freelance Illustrator, Association Services Network Creative Coordinator, Level Up Program Creative Engineer, and was a First Place Beginner for the Arkansas Anime Festival Cosplay Contest, and earned Best Prop for the Arkansas Anime Festival Cosplay Contest. She volunteered with the Van Buren Senior Citizen Center, Lady D’s Birthday Celebration contributing to the Children’s Emergency Shelter, and the Fairview Charity Fall Carnival.
  • Jade Rogers of Roland, Oklahoma, a Roland High School graduate, who plans to major in Marketing. Jade served as Technology Student Association, Varsity Cheerleading Captain, National Honor Society President, Student Council member, and Parrot Island Waterpark Lifeguard. She volunteered with the Muldrow First Assembly of Good, Gary Lattimore Scholarship Run, Prom and Homecoming Decoration committees, and cheerleading assistant.
  • Callie Scherrey of Fort Smith, a Greenwood High School graduate, who plans to major in Legal Studies. Callie served as an All American Cheerleader, All State Cheerleader, Beta Club Secretary, Sophomore and Junior Class Secretary, Varsity Cheerleading Captain, National Honor Society, FBLA, DECA, and Student Athletic Trainer. She volunteered with the GHS Blessings Closet, Make-A-Wish Radiothon, Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Arkansas’ Children’s Hosptial, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Salvation Army.
  • Halie Standerfer of Cove, a Mena High School graduate, who plans to major in Finance. Halie served as CEO and Manager of Halie’s Apron Strings and Things, FBLA Secretary, National Honor Society President, and FFA President, and earned an Associate of General Studies from the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain. She volunteered with Relay for Life, numerous food drives, Mountain View Methodist Church and Mena High School.
  • Emily Staton of Magazine, a Magazine High School graduate, who plans to major in Marketing. Emily served as Class President, FFA President, 4-H President, BETA Co-Vice President, Varsity Cheer Captain, Pep Rally Coordinator, Member of Senator Boozman’s 2017 Youth Congressional Cabinet for District 4, and Girls State representative and attended two Girls in STEM Conferences. She volunteered with the Magazine Beautification Committee, VBS, and participated in park cleanups, rabies clinics, the Booneville Marathon, and teaching kids to halter break/clip/fit calves.
  • Nathan Ulmer of Poteau, Oklahoma, a Poteau High School graduate, who plans to major in Business Administration. Nathan served as a Choctaw Nation Summer Worker, Junior High Wrestling Assistant Coach, State Qualifying Wrestler, Varsity Wrestling Captain, 2018 Maverick Conference Champion for Wrestling, earned the Patrick Lynch Award and participated in varsity football and the National Honor Society. Nathan volunteered as a referee for the Football Jamboree, field markers worker, and assisted with the Poteau Balloon Fest, Poteau Golf Tournament.
  • Faith Walker of Fort Smith a Southside High School graduate, who plans to major in Social Work. Faith created, developed, and presented a Professional Development workshop on Dyslexia for 100+ Southside Faculty Members, served as band Color Guard Captain and Partners Club President and participated in National Honor Society, Motorsports Club Secretary, Girls’ State, National Business Honor Society and Arkansas Scholars. She volunteered with the Children’s Service League, Make-A-Wish Coke Castle, Trinity Basketball Tournament, Rye Hill Baptist Church Youth Pastor Search Committee, VBS.
  • Avreigh Watson of Edmond, Oklahoma, a Deer Creek High School graduate, who plans to major in Radiography. Avreigh served as Band and Colorguard Captain, Falls Creek Decision Team member, Founder and President of Deer Creek’s Creative Writing Club, and participated in the National Honor Society, Deer Creek Gay Straight Alliance, and earned the Academic Excellence in Creative Writing and Academic Excellence in Peer Mentoring awards. She volunteered with the OU Medical Teen Volunteer Program and Putnam City Baptist Church Childcare.

Over the course of the semester, the students hosted six service projects around campus from start to finish, learning the ins and outs of coordinated planning, marketing, delegating responsibilities, setting and meeting objectives arranging vendors and locations and collaborating to meet logistical needs.

During a presentation to UAFS staff Monday, Nov. 18, each group presented their successes, obstacles, and outcomes. Conducting surveys following each event, the students not only learned how to conduct events, but how those events were viewed by the attendees. 

Michelle Atkins and Emily Staton ran a Conservation Station event titled “Why Not Save a Watt?” which focused on energy efficiency, conservation, and awareness.  Nathaniel Gonzales and Faith Walker hosted an event called Throw Back Your T-Shirts, during which they collected more than 150 T-Shirts and numerous other clothing items for the Fort Smith Public School System’s clothing resource center, the Children’s Service League. Callie Scherrey and Nathan Ulmer focused on student wellness through physical health with FitFest, which brought guest speakers and nutrition demonstrations to the Recreation and Wellness Center. Skyler Putman and Avreigh Watson hosted a Halloween-themed haunted trail that shed light on the sensitive topic of sexual assault and violence. Their See Something, Say Something event offered students information on violence as well as how to be an active bystander, not only protecting yourself, but others as well. Jade Rogers and Callie Pixley welcomed students to an event called De-Stress at the Den, a mental health check event where students learned about the mental and physical effects of stress, and ways to mitigate the inherent stress of college life. And Halie Standerfer and Samantha Roberts hosted a Pit Bull Party, an animal-welfare and breed-specific awareness event which brought adoptable pit bulls from Needy Paws animal shelter to campus.