Makenzie Spurling
Collin Gallimore
Computer science graduate Makenzie Spurling, and senior broadcast journalism major Collin Gallimore were recognized as Bear CLAWS recipients at the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees’ August meeting.
CLAWS, an acronym for Celebrating the Lofty Achievements of our Wonderful Students, is awarded to one or more exceptional students or recognized student organizations during regularly scheduled board meetings.
Spurling worked simultaneously as a software developer intern at Gainwell Technologies and as a graduate research assistant at UCA this summer.
A native of Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, Spurling published two papers with the Information Processing and Management of Uncertainty in Knowledge-Based Systems (IPMU) this year and presented another publication at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence in 2021.
A student in the Schedler Honors College, Gallimore was the executive producer for UCA’s News 6 in the spring and fall 2021 semesters. His help was instrumental to News 6’s first place win as the Arkansas Collegiate Media Association’s (ACMA) Television Outlet of the Year in the spring 2022 semester.
“UCA has provided the channels and resources for me to learn about others, and in doing so, about myself,” said Gallimore. “I am specifically grateful to the specific faculty and staff individuals who mentored me throughout my college experience.”
Gallimore, originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, was a recipient of the National Collegiate Honors Council Portz Fellowship and won second place in weather reporting from the ACMA in the spring 2022 semester. He is also involved with UCA’s Catholic Campus Ministry.
