Community Events

UCA Hosts 64th Annual Employee Service Awards

The University of Central Arkansas hosted its 64th annual Employee Service Awards Tuesday, April 18.

The university presented three awards to outstanding faculty in the following areas:

Taine Duncan, Department of Philosophy and Religion, received the Public Service Award.

President Houston Davis; Dr. Taine Duncan, Department of Philosophy and Religion, the 2017 Public Service Award recipient; and Dr. Steve Runge, executive vice president and provost

Charlotte Yates, Department of Physical Therapy, received the Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award.

President Houston Davis; Dr. Charlotte Yates, Department of Physical Therapy, the 2017 Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award recipient; and Dr. Steve Runge, executive vice president and provost

Melissa Kelley, Department of Chemistry, received the Teaching Excellence Award.

President Houston Davis; Dr. Melissa Kelley, Department of Chemistry, 2017 Teaching Excellence Award recipient; and Dr. Steve Runge, executive vice president and provost

The university awarded the Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award to Dr. Taine Duncan, Department of Philosophy and Religion.

President Houston Davis; Dr. Taine Duncan, Department of Philosophy and Religion, 2017 Diversity and Inclusiveness Excellence Award recipient; and Ronnie Williams, vice president for Student Services and Institutional Diversity

Staff members recognized were Dr. Shaneil Ealy, Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, as the non-classified Employee of the Year and Thomas Bertram, Schedler Honors College, as the classified Employee of the Year.

President Houston Davis with Dr. Shaneil Ealy, Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, 2017 non-classified Employee of the Year

President Houston Davis with Thomas Bertram, Schedler Honors College, 2017 classified Employee of the Year

Employees with milestone records of service of at least 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service were also recognized and recent university retirees were also honored.

UCA Hosts 7th Annual Night of Distinction

The University of Central Arkansas hosted its seventh annual Night of Distinction Saturday, April 29th, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the McCastlain Ballroom.

Night of Distinction is the awards gala honoring past and present recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Alumni Service Award. Proceeds from the event benefit student scholarships.

2017 Alumni Honorees:

herby — Herby Branscum, Jr. ’63 Distinguished Alumnus

Charlie Strong '92 — Charlie Strong ’92 Distinguished Alumnus

Sue Voegele '62 — Sue Voegele ’62 Alumni Service Award

Branscum practiced law in Arkansas for more than 50 years and served eight years as District Judge of Perry County, as well as 11 years on the Arkansas State Claims Commission, during which he served his last 6 years as Chairman. He served 10 years on the Arkansas Highway Commission.

Strong was the head football coach at the University of South Florida, two-time conference coach of the year and was later inducted into the University of Central Arkansas Hall of Fame in 2009. Since 1995, Strong has coached 15 players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and had 37 taken in the first four rounds.

Voegele is currently in her second term on the Alumni Board of Directors where she serves on the scholarship committee. She also served as the chairman for the Class of 1962 Half Century Club Induction as well as the Alpha Sigma Tau Housing Committee.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award presented to UCA alumni. It is given to alumni to recognize outstanding contribution to the university, community, state or society; outstanding achievement in a particular field of endeavor; or a reputation that enhances the reputation of the university. Recipients also serve as an example to students and contribute to the goals or welfare of the university.

The Alumni Service Award was established in 2007 to honor an individual or couple, who, through their deeds or actions, reflect and recognize the importance of the UCA Alumni Association and demonstrate extraordinary commitment, dedication, service, and loyalty to the UCA Alumni Association.

UCA Celebrates Occupational Therapy Centennial with Gov. Asa Hutchinson

The University of Central Arkansas, along with The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), is proud to announce that the profession of occupational therapy is turning 100 years old this year.

The University of Central Arkansas Department of Occupational Therapy celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the profession with an event, “Cheers to 100 Years,” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 at UCA Downtown.

The celebration featured music, hors d’oeuvres, and work from artists who have benefited from occupational therapy. Dr. Jennifer Moore, chair of the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy, also spoke. Attendees included occupational therapy practitioners, service providers, and educators from programs across the state, as well as UCA faculty, staff, students, alumni, members of the UCA Board of Trustees and friends of the profession.

OT1 — Representatives from the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy accept a proclamation from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, along with representatives from Baptist Health, during a presentation at the Arkansas Capitol Friday, April 7.

In addition to these festivities, AOTA named Dr. Letha Mosley, associate professor in the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy, and UCA occupational therapy alumnus Dr. Kenneth Ottenbacher, professor and director of the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, among the profession’s “100 Influential People in Occupational Therapy.”

Occupational therapy practitioners focus on helping clients perform everyday activities to their highest potential. Some examples include: teaching Wounded Warriors how to hold their children again after limb loss; helping babies in the neonatal intensive care unit learn to feed, breathe and swallow so they can thrive; providing recommendations for assistive technology in the vehicle or home so older adults can age in place safely; and helping stroke survivors relearn how to bathe, groom, dress and cook for themselves, among other occupations. Independent studies recently found that occupational therapy is the only therapy that reduces hospital readmissions and nursing home admissions.

OT2 — Brittany Saviers, visiting clinical instructor, shakes hands with Gov. Asa Hutchinson

“In the past 100 years, occupational therapy practitioners have facilitated function and independence by helping countless children of all abilities access education, facilitating relearning life skills lost as a result of illness or injury, supporting persons with mental illness to thrive in their communities, and helping older adults age in place,” said AOTA President Amy J. Lamb. “As we embark on our next 100 years, occupational therapy will continue to improve health care outcomes through the therapeutic use of meaningful, necessary and familiar occupations.”

Today, more than 213,000 occupational therapy practitioners nationwide help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). To learn more about occupational therapy’s rich history, visit their website.

For more information about these events and the Department of Occupational Therapy, visit their website.

Concentration Camp Liberator Alan Moskin Visits UCA

Concentration camp liberator, Alan Moskin, recently visited the University of Central Arkansas on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

alan

Alan Moskin was born in Englewood, New Jersey on May 30, 1926. He attended Syracuse University both before and after his military service in World War II and graduated in May 1948.

He then attended New York University Law School, graduating with a J.D. degree in June 1951. He practiced law as a civil trial attorney in New Jersey for over 20 years and subsequently worked in the private business sector until he retired in 1991.

Alan was drafted into the military service at the age of 18 and served in the Unites States Army during World War II from September 1944 until August 1946. He was a member of the 66th infantry, 71st Division, part of General George Patton’s 3rd Army. Alan’s outfit fought in combat through France, Germany, and Austria during which time he was promoted in rank from Private to Staff Sergeant.

At the beginning of May 1945, his Company participated in the liberation of the Gunskirchen Concentration Camp, a sub-camp of Mauthausen. After the war ended, Alan remained in Europe until June 1946 as a member of the U.S. Army of Occupation.

Alan presently resides in Nanuet, New York and speaks extensively about his experiences as an infantry combat soldier and a “Concentration Camp” liberator.

Moskin’s talk was followed up by a Q & A session.

UCA Archivist Jimmy Bryant Appointed to Arkansas History Commission

jimmy Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed University of Central Arkansas Director of the Archives Jimmy Bryant to the Arkansas History Commission.

Bryant’s appointment expires January 14, 2024, and he is replacing Michael Lindsey.

Bryant is the director of the archives at UCA, and his work can be found here.

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