UA Cossatot Receives Awards from Association

UA Cossatot faculty and staff attended and received awards at the annual Arkansas Community College convention last week in Hot Springs. 

UA Cossatot is a member of the Arkansas Community Colleges, an association with all of the state’s technical and two year colleges.  Each year, the association awards an Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Staff member from each intuition.  The Outstanding Faculty is Kelli Harris, De Queen.  Harris is an instructor in the Professional Studies Division at UAC.  She teaches primarily agriculture classes and some law classes and also serves as the collegiate FFA advisor.  Some of the projects she has taken on include organizing the Colts Classic, an annual FFA contest for high school students, and operating the college greenhouse.

Brenda Young, Newhope, was honored as the Outstanding Staff of UA Cossatot.  Young began her career at UA Cossatot in January 1997 as a student worker and transitioned to a full-time position seven months later. As the college grew, her job responsibilities also grew. Her duties include ensuring that the college follows state guidelines and laws while paying bills and supporting efficient operations.

During the conference, a student and former student of each institution is also recognized.  Tina Daugherty, Nashville, was named as UA Cossatot’s Academic All-Star.  She plans to teach K-2 grades while completing her master’s degree and eventually, a doctorate in education. 

UA Cossatot’s Alumni of the Year is Lilly Bell- Johnson.  A former UA Cossatot student but also a former employee, Bell-Johnson is currently employed at Weyerhaeuser as the Human Resource Manager for Dierks Lumber and Idabel Lumber.  She earned an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management through a partnership with Franklin University. 

At the conclusion of the conference, the Presidential gavel was passed from Wade Derden from National Park Community College to Alisha Lewis of UA Cossatot.  Lewis was elected two months ago from the ACC Board members.  She serves as the Director of Institutional Advancement for UA Cossatot.  She earned her Associate of Arts from Carl Albert State College, Poteau Oklahoma, her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and her Master of Science in Operation Management from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.  She will serve as President until October 17, 2017.