University officials hosted a “Topping Out” ceremony on Jan. 12 to celebrate a milestone in the construction of Bear Hall.
The ceremony is a tradition in the construction and engineering fields and takes place when the highest piece of steel is placed on a building’s frame. However, high winds prevented the beam from being raised. More than 50 students, staff, administrators and construction workers took part in the event by signing the beam.
Construction of Bear Hall started in December 2010. The project is on schedule to open the fall of 2012. The 122,200 square-foot facility includes 362 beds, office space, and skyboxes.
Bear Hall will be the home of UCA’s Entrepreneurship, Public Scholarship, Innovation, & Community Engagement (EPIC) Residential College. EPIC will allow students from the College of Business, College of Liberal Arts and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to build an innovative residential community that will generate an entrepreneurial climate and promote community engagement.
“UCA is once again demonstrating its institutional commitment, not only to the holistic well-being of our students, but also to the well-being of the state of Arkansas,” said Lance Grahn, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
Charles Nabholz, chairman of the board of directors for Nabholz Construction Services, expressed his gratitude to the construction workers, administrative staff and UCA.
President Tom Courtway was also on hand to speak about the impact that Bear Hall will have on UCA.
“This will be a great facility that will benefit the entire university,” Courtway said.
The restoration of a 75-year-old auditorium on the University of Central Arkansas campus is under way.
Sgt. Jake Moss recently completed the School of Law Enforcement Supervision Program. SLES is designed by Arkansas law enforcement leaders to set a standard that focuses on leadership, education and advancement in the law enforcement profession.
UCA Police Chief Larry James is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Shaw to the rank of Corporal. He has served the department for seven years and is a certified Field Training Officer. Cpl. Shaw will be responsible for assisting with supervision of day shift patrol operations. The command staff of the department has come to rely heavily on Cpl. Shaw’s leadership and shift knowledge and is pleased to have this opportunity to recognize his achievement with this promotion.
Prior to enrolling at the University of Central Arkansas, Wilson Alobuia (major: Biology; minor: Honors Interdisciplinary Studies) served as an intern at the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana. As an intern in the Educational Advising Center of the Public Affairs section, he worked as a college counselor for students interested in attending college in the United States. Serving with a group of other counselors, he helped students understand the American College Education system, helped them prepare for and take the SATs, ACTs and other standardized exams, as well as select and apply to colleges that fit their criteria, needs and interests.
This fall Joanna Swirszcz (Class of ’08; major: Psychology; minors: Linguistics & Honors Interdisciplinary Studies) began studying at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where she will graduate with a Master’s in Foreign Service with a concentration in International Commerce and Business in May 2013. The school is ranked the number one international relations program by Foreign Policy magazine, and provides its students with rigorous, cross-disciplinary insights into the dynamic world of global affairs. The ICB concentration helps students master functional business-related skills while gaining understanding of the complex political and social environments within which international business takes place. In addition, since the school is in DC, students have ample opportunity to network with distinguished practitioners and make meaningful professional connections. Georgetown alumni find work in national governments, international organizations, private businesses, and civil society groups. Swirszcz recently began an internship with McLarty Associates, an international strategic advisory firm, and provides research and language support to the firm’s Europe and Eurasia team. After graduating, she hopes to find work in the US government or in a consulting firm.
