Tag Archives: Arkansas State University

Arkansas State Football Playing with Sun Belt West Division On the Line.

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Story by DDNS Reporter Jared Burton

On November 8th, 2025, the Sun Belt West Division will be on the line as the Southern Miss Golden Eagles will travel to Jonesboro to take on a red-hot Arkansas State Red Wolves. The Golden Eagles of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, enters the matchup coming off its bye week, while the Red Wolves of Jonesboro, Arkansas, are coming off a dominant defense performance with a 23-10 victory over Troy last week. This game has West Division title implications as the teams are currently 1st and 2nd in the West Division. If Southern Miss wins this game, it will win the West. If Arkansas State wins this game, they will win the West Division as they would have the head-to-head tie breakers with both Troy and Southern Miss.

Arkansas State head coach butch jones and Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff were asked about the Sun Belt West Division showdown on Monday during the Sun Belt weekly Zoom press conference.

“Well, just, you know, not giving up explosive plays, and they force you to execute. They force you to play in space. They force you to tackle a quarterback who is a dynamic player, deserving of all his honors, deserving of all the expectations in terms of preseason conference Player of the Year. They do a great job in terms of getting their skill players, their hands on the ball, and creating space, and really putting the ball in play. I think that the whole key is the ability of the quarterback to put the ball in play, and they’re big up front. So again, they’re extremely talented, and then defensively, you know, as good a defense that we’ve faced all year. Therefore, it will be a challenge,” said Arkansas state head coach Butch Jones.

“We have to go play a really good Arkansas State football team, you know, arguably the hottest team in the country over the last month. And that’s a fact. I mean, they’ve been able to go on the road and win games. They’ve been able to win close games, and that’s what good teams do: good teams find a way to win games, bad teams find a way to lose them. Obviously, they’re playing at a really high level with a lot of confidence. I have known Coach Jones for a long time. His process is set up for them to be playing well at the back end of the season, you know, at this level, sometimes our schedule doesn’t allow, you know, for the miraculous runs in the beginning of the season with the P4s that you have to play and those types of things. But people remember what you do in November, and they are setting themselves up for a really good run. Planned a really high level. I think their quarterback is arguably the best in the conference. I can’t judge my guy cause I see him every day, but as an opponent, he creates a lot of issues. Defensively, they give you a lot of looks. We’re going to an environment that’ll be different than the environment we went to, we plant at a different time as far as kickoff. We play a completely different team. I think we have learned throughout the course of the season, the key to all of it is preparation and mental disposition, whether you’re playing at home or away. I think when you play on the road, you’ve got to have a little more intentional focus. When the game time adjusts and you are adjusting, you have to have a little bit of awareness of that. We anticipate a really good game day environment. You know, you got a team that’s playing really well with a community and fan base that truly supports. So, we’re expecting a very hostile environment, obviously, with the kick time and location and all those things, we’ve got to make some adjustments in our schedule,” said Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff.

Both Coach Jones and Coach  Huff were asked about the Sun Belt West Division showdown on Tuesday during their weekly press conferences.

“And now we’ve got to get prepared for a really good Arkansas State football team that’s playing extremely well, arguably, the hottest team in the conference right now on the four-game win streak. Doing a really good job of finding ways to have gritty wins. I truly believe good teams find ways to win games; bad teams find ways to lose them. Over the last month, Arkansas State has done a really good job of finding ways to win games. Coach Butch Jones does a phenomenal job. You can see the culture, you can see the process that they have, how they go about it. I think they play extremely hard on both sides of the ball. I think their quarterback is arguably the best in the conference. I can’t rate hours because obviously I’m a little bit biased, but the kid’s dangerous. He can make all the throws. Obviously, he can activate his legs. I think he’s taking a step in growth from last year to this year, or from when he was a freshman and we played him at the other place. He’s not just pulling the ball down to run now. He’s pulling it down and still keeping his eyes downfield, which creates another whole set of issues. I think their O-line does a really good job of finishing blocks. Probably the best group of receivers as a cord that we faced all year. Offensively, they stress you with different formations, and they play with tempo. You always have to have a quarterback player with eyes on the quarterback, probably two quarterback players because of his ability, which takes guys out of coverage or out of your run fits, or they have dual responsibilities. They got to run fit and a quarterback responsibility, which is extremely tough defensively; they’re defensive line probably plays as hard as any group we’ve seen. They play with a high motor, a lot of effort. The back end stresses you with a lot of different coverages. I think you’re doing a really good job of mixing up different looks to formations. So, it’s going to be a challenge. I expect a really hostile environment. Their fans do a really good job of supporting. So, I expect you know the 11 o’clock kickoff to be rocking down there in their stadium. I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s one of the nicer stadiums and setups in the conference. They’ve done a really good job over the history of their time in this league of improving facilities and improving their profile. So, it’s going to be a challenge for us by no means, are we overlooking them? Truly, the word appropriate fear comes into play, probably for the head coach here. It’s a little bit more of true fear. 
When you watch these guys play, even when you watch games in the beginning of the season, when they were, battling the schedule of P4 teams and those type of teams, they were in the games, and one or two plays here didn’t go their way the last four games, those plays have gone their way, but they’ve never been out of a game. They’ve never been blown out, if that makes sense. Arkansas is probably the biggest score differential that they’ve had, even against Iowa State. 
They’re in the game. They’re competing. A couple plays here or there, even games where they get behind Texas State, Georgia Southern. Kennesaw State, even though they lost that game, battled back. At the very end. So, they’re definitely a scary team. We’ve got a lot of work to do to focus on what we can control and how we play. 
It starts with how we prepare. I thought we had a really good day yesterday, even over the break, you know, our leaders had guys watching film, Braylon, Chris Jones, those guys were in the group text, making sure guys were watching the game, even though we were off that week. When they came on Sunday, they came in with a really good knowledge base, a little bit further ahead than some of our opponents. So, we’ve got a chance to rest this week, and then we’ve got to go play really well. Does it matter how much attention you put on the team if you don’t go out and execute? So, our players are fully understanding what we’re walking into,” said Coach Huff

“This is as good a team that’s been in the Sun Belt since we’ve been here. And I know Coach Huff, you know, tries to play the game and God love him, but they’re a really talented football team, you know, and it’s the age of college football. We’re playing the defending champion. You look at their starting defense, seven of those 11 came from Marshall. And then the quarterback, who is as good a quarterback as I’ve seen. And I think the thing about him is he can throw the deep ball exceptionally well. He’s big, he’s physical, he can make all the throws. He’s impressive. The receiving core is probably as good a receiving core as anybody in the group of six. You know, they have tall guys, they have mid-range guys, they all can run, they all have good ranges that catch the football. I think their tight ends are really, really talented. Running backs are hard to bring down offensive line is big and imposing. I mean, there’s a reason other record is the way they are, and they know how to win, and then defensively, their defensive front is violent. They’re physical, probably the best back end of any team we’ve faced all year. 
Their break and drive, their ability to drive routes is really, really impressive. Special teams. So when you really look at this football team, they’re the defending champion. Their players know how to win. I think it’s. Kind of the circumstances that surround college football. Who would ever have thought that four or five years ago, you would take a championship team on their coach, and be displaced, and go to another school in your conference, and everybody follows, and they kind of pick up where they left off at their previous school? I think, you know, that’s if there’s ever an indication or a definition of where we’re at in the profession, and, you know, Coach Huff has done a great job there. But they’re as talented a team as we’ll face. I definitely have my respect. The more videos I watch, the more impressive they are, and then, you know, every game is about the style, you know, the Style of fights dictates how you’re going to play, and you know, they play differently. They do a really good job offensively. They go really fast. 
They do a great job with their cadence. They get a lot of gimmes and a lot of free plays because they’re such good at what they do in their cadence, they control the tempo, they can run the ball, they can push the ball down the field. So that style of play is going to be different, very similar to summer, regards to Kennesaw, but there are a lot of differences as well, and then defensively, really, really good at all three levels of their defense. 
Like I said, there’s the secondaries elite. Their defense is elite. So it’s going to take a great effort of complimentary football, and it’s going to take winning the process and you know, how do we prepare day in and day out and just working to win the day and then just stack days and, you know, these games are always great to see and kind of roll the ball out and play at 11 a.m. and kind of see how you how you face off and try to give your players, you know, every competitive advantage you can. And you have to search for them because they have no weaknesses. They’re a really good football team. And, you know, I’ve been up here and told you like it is, I’ve been very complimentary of our opponents, but I don’t think you’ve ever heard me this complimentary of a football team before, because they’re really a complete team in all three phases,” said Coach Jones.

New for the 2025 season, the Sun Belt Conference announced that they are doing weekly football availability reports for all 14 teams that are playing conference games. It is similar to the NFL’s injury report, but the availability reports don’t say what kind of injury the player has, unlike the NFL’s injury report. The report will have players listed as available, questionable, doubtful, probable, or out, and will have the same say game time decision on the reports that are listed on gamedays. The first initial report will be announced three days before each conference game, which will be on Wednesday. Another update to the availability reports will happen on gamedays at 10:30 EST/9:30 CST. Both Arkansas State and Southern Miss submitted their availability reports on Wednesday night. The players on the list for Southern Miss are OL Jahmir Davis (out) and DB Ishmael Ibraheem (out). The players on the list for Arkansas state are WR  Nazeviah Burris (out), TE Jabari Bush (out), RB JaQuez Cross (out), DB Malik McConnico (out), OL Tristan Smith (out), DL Quincey Wright(out), TE Tyler Little (questionable), and DB Brandon Greil (questionable).

Freshman to Physician Partnership Formed

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DDNS Story and Audio by reporter Mia Young

Young: Arkansas State University and the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine are working together to make the path to becoming a doctor a little bit smoother for Arkansas State students. The Freshman to Physician Pathway is a new partnership this year between A-State and NYITCOM that lets qualified students secure early admission to medical school while they are still undergraduates. Jennifer Wharton, media contact for the program, knows the ins and outs of the program and how it can help students. [0:31]

Wharton: Our goal is to help students who are interested in going into healthcare, specifically becoming a physician, become more confident and a more competitive applicant for medical school. We’re seeing a lot of need in the delta region for students who not just have an education, but have a quality education. And one of the things we know about medical education is that students who are from an area, who are able to stay in that area and go to school are going to be more likely to in turn, practice medicine in that area. [0:34]

Young: Students in the pathway will major in biological sciences with a pre-professional emphasis. If they maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, complete the required coursework, and pass an interview, they will earn a spot in NYITCOM after graduation. Program leaders say the collaboration between the two schools will give students extra mentoring, academic support, and confidence, along with peace of mind about their medical future. Jamie Howell is a prospective student for the Freshman to Physician pathway. [0:30]

Howell: I would like to do this program because it provides me with a quicker opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. I also believe, if I understand the program correctly, that it can help you get into med school without taking the Mcat. This can be beneficial to me because I typically struggle with test anxiety and tend to not do as well as I should or as well as I believe my knowledge permits. [0:23]

For more information about the program go to AState.edu/FreshmanToPhysician. I’m Mia Young and you’re listening to KASU. [0:09]

Journalism alumna hosts 2025 Greenfield Lecture

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Story by DDNS Reporter Jerry Don Burton

Students, faculty, staff, friends, and other Greenfield Lecture attendees listen to Rose Stuckey Kirk’s speech. Kirk is an Arkansas State University journalism alumna with a successful corporate career spanning 35 years. Photo courtesy of Ibuki Hinohara, Photo Editor, The Herald.

JONESBORO – Rose Stuckey Kirk, an Arkansas State University journalism alumna with a successful corporate career spanning 35 years, presented the annual Corinne Sternheimer Greenfield Lecture, sharing her journey with struggle, support, and success.

Kirk’s speech, titled “From Innocence to Innovation: A Lattice (not Ladder) Climb to the Top of Corporate America,” was given at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Fowler Center at A-State.

Audio Story by DDNS Reporter Jerry Don Burton.

At the start of her speech, Kirk listed three things she wished to accomplish: break down the title of her speech, describe how she uses her support systems to have a successful corporate career and suggest how attendees can build on the platform of success she has laid out.

“It struck me a number of years ago that I was never climbing the corporate ladder, because when you are climbing a ladder, you are either going up or down and there are huge gaps in between those rungs and one wrong move, and you can seriously hurt yourself,” Kirk said. “Instead, I was clinging to a lattice. This grid-like structure is flexible and organic; its lines are sometimes diagonal, sometimes curved.”

The Greenfield Lecture speaker said she always made slow and steady progress, despite many missteps and lateral movements. She said that as she climbed, she never forgot her childhood aspirations.

“I never stopped remembering that little girl from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who just knew one day she would take New York City by storm,” Kirk said.

Rose Stuckey Kirk, presents her speech at the 2025 Greenfield Lecture. In her speech, titled “From Innocence to Innovation: A Lattice (not Ladder) Climb to the Top of Corporate America,” Kirk shared her journey with struggle, support, and success. Photo courtesy of Ibuki Hinohara, Photo Editor, The Herald.

Kirk said that while in elementary school, her teacher showed her class a picture of the Statue of Liberty and told everyone to remember what it looks like, because most of them would never make it to New York City to see the statue. She said this stirred something up inside her innocent self.

Decades later, Kirk said she lived in New Jersey and would drive to New York multiple times a week. Every single time the Statue of Liberty came into view during her commute, she said she would pause whatever she was doing and look at it until she could not see it anymore.

Kirk said she does not think her teacher meant any harm, but she would not let her life experiences be based upon what she saw in a book, but instead what she had personally experienced.

“Sometimes in life we look for signs, these big moments of lightning flashing or fireworks to affirm for us those dreams,” Kirk said. “But it’s often the quiet moments, the little things that come into your world that can and will set a path to live your best life.”

Kirk said her strategic mindset and self-reliance, developed from her childhood as one of eight children, helped her succeed as a student at A-State.

Lillie Fears, professor and interim director of the School of Media and Journalism at A-State, said she met Kirk when they were both undergraduates.

“I thought she was very energetic, very outgoing, popular, one of those outgoing personalities. When she said she was an introvert [during her speech], I thought, ‘you sure fooled me,’” Fears said.

Cherisse Jones-Branch, College of Liberal Arts and Communication (CLAC) dean, said Kirk’s status as an alum of A-State and CLAC set her apart from previous lecture hosts.

While hosts for the Greenfield Lecture series are not limited to A-State alumni, Jones-Branch said bringing successful graduates back to A-State to host the Greenfield Lecture is important.

“I like people like that to come back and talk to our students so that they can see what’s possible,” Jones-Branch said. “We saw someone who came from small-town Arkansas, who’s talking to students, many of whom come from small-town Arkansas. The way she was able to connect with them, because they come from the same place, was really special.”

During her time at A-State, Kirk worked at The Herald student newspaper, tutored students and attended a full course load, in addition to working as a clerk for the Social Security Administration. Kirk said college was one of the most impactful times of her life.

“I learned curiosity and how to translate that curiosity into written words that allowed me to explain both simple and complicated issues to the mass population,” Kirk said. “So you can only imagine how amusing it was to me when corporate America began to talk about attributes of successful leaders, and one of those key attributes is that great leaders, often, are great at storytelling.”

Before Kirk could face the corporate world, however, she first had to face rejection.

After graduating, Kirk said her eyes were set on working at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, one of the predecessor companies of AT&T. She sent her resume and was served back a rejection letter, stating they only hired people with at least two years of experience.

So, Kirk began work at the Pine Bluff Commercial newspaper. Eight months later, she moved out of state to work for The Times Daily, a set up from her hometown paper. However, she would soon face struggles again.

While working in Alabama, Kirk said she received news of her sister’s death. She said she grieved for weeks and was lost at work, which annoyed all but one of her coworkers.

She said one peer, a quiet man who was a Vietnam veteran, pulled her aside and spent time with her.

“He let me know he saw my suffering. He didn’t pry into my struggle, but instead, he told me a story about his own struggle,” Kirk said. “I learned from him the value of empathy and compassion in the workplace and the need to speak up for others when no one else will.”

Fears said the way Kirk confronted challenges, dealt with tragedy and helped others impressed her. Fears said a friend was having a hard time recently and she did not know how to help beyond listening. But, she said Kirk’s speech touched her and helped her understand what she can do to help in the future.

“It let me know that when I see somebody, it’s okay to reach out and help them,” Fears said.

While working in the journalism industry, Kirk earned awards from the Associated Press and the New York Times. Eventually, she updated her resume and applied again for a position at Southwestern Bell. Within weeks, she was hired.

“Rejection is not bad. What you do with it, how you learn from it, how you respond to feedback, is your choice,” Kirk said.

Even in the corporate industry, Kirk was not free from struggle. She said she spent six months under the leadership of someone who did not believe she was worthy of her position.

John Thompson, a sophomore political science pre-law major from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, attended the lecture. He said struggle was the most important theme Kirk explored in her speech.

“She really didn’t hold back on all the struggles that she experienced in her life. She claims that it did, in fact, shape her, but it shaped her in the best ways possible,” Thompson said.

John Thompson, a sophomore political science pre-law major from Pine, Bluff, Arkansas, asks Rose Stuckey Kirk a question following her speech. Thompson said he will take what he learned from Kirk’s speech about the inevitability of struggle and rejection and apply it going forward in his life. Photo courtesy of Ibuki Hinohara, Photo Editor, The Herald.

Years later, after Kirk said her career surpassed his, she bumped into her old boss. She said he was surprised by how far she had come in her career.

“I thought to myself, ‘my success is based upon my opinion of me.’ There will be many people along the way, for whatever reason, will not be your supporters. Sometimes you can change their minds, many times you cannot. Your goal is to build a massive amount of support in your circle so that non-believers don’t have the votes or the voice to block you.”

Thompson, a CLAC ambassador, said Kirk’s definition of success initially confused him. He said people usually gauge success by comparing themselves to others.

“I think I’m struggling with that concept of success,” Thompson said. “However, I do think that that is beneficial to me, because success really is in you and it is what you want out of this world.”

Carson Campbell, a junior creative media production major from Jonesboro, met Kirk during a breakfast event held before her speech. He said Kirk was very personable.

“She was a very down-to-earth person and very successful, so it was cool for her to come in and spend time with us and try to get to know us before her busy day,” Campbell said.

Kirk said she wanted to exhaust her life of all it has to give.

“When I die, I want the people at my funeral to go ‘yup, she did it. She exhausted this life,’” Kirk said.

Fears, Thompson and Jones-Branch said this phrase resonated with them.

Kirk concluded her speech by addressing A-State students.

“I hope that what you take from this is that you’ve got to believe in this institution. You’ve got to lean into whatever your professors are trying to teach you. You have to take advantage of everything that is here,” Kirk said. “Be flexible, build your lattice, network, be a good person and launch yourself into society in a way that you can make this institution proud and you can be proud that you are a graduate of Arkansas State University.”

Fears said one of the most important messages Kirk touched on is to take advantage of everything being taught in class.

“Even if you’re bored to death, you might be very surprised at how it’s going to help you later,” Fears said. “You can take the skills that you get here and take them to any workplace and keep developing them.”

Thompson said he anticipates rejection in his career and faces struggles already in college. However, he said he will take what he learned from Kirk’s speech about the inevitability of struggle and rejection and apply it going forward.

“In front of me was a woman who had struggled, not only in her adult life, but also as a young child, and here she is giving a lecture on 60 years of success,” Thompson said. “What I take from this is that struggle is going to be on my career path, but that’s just a part of the path itself.”

Thompson said he did not know much about Kirk before her speech, but loved her story. He said he had never been to a Greenfield lecture before, but believes the series is a great tradition because it allows students to spend a night listening to a success story from an A-State graduate.

Fears said even though she and Kirk are near the same age, she was still inspired by her speech.

“That lets me know you can never be too old, or too advanced, to get some inspiration from people,” Fears said.

After numerous promotions, setbacks and movements in all directions on the lattice, Kirk is successfully retired and said she is excited to work on her garden.


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Rose Stuckey Kirk presents her award for hosting the 2025 Greenfield Lecture. The Greenfield Lecture is funded by an endowment established to honor Corinne Sternheimer Greenfield. Photo courtesy of Ibuki Hinohara, Photo Editor, The Herald.

A-State to Host Civil Rights Trail Photography Exhibit

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Story by DDNS Reporter Jerry Don Burton

JONESBORO – KASU is welcoming photographer Art Meripol to Arkansas State University with a reception and “art talk” for his photo exhibit, “We Shall Overcome.”

Headshot photo of Art Meripol. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol


The reception, hosted by KASU, will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29, in the Humanities and Social Sciences building atrium.

The photo exhibit, also located in the humanities building and presented by KASU, comprises 25 photographs of various landmarks along the Civil Rights Trail. The exhibit opened to the public June 13. Meripol said his Civil Rights Trail photography is some of his most rewarding work.

“I’ve had a 50-year career and I’m more proud of this work than probably anything I’ve done in those 50 years, and I wanted to share it,” Meripol said.

LaDawn Lee Fuhr, KASU corporate relations specialist, said Meripol’s background in journalism, passion for history and skill in photography will be of interest to a wide range of people at the “art talk” and reception.

“We feel like bringing this history and this art together is great for the overall community,” Fuhr said. “We’re hoping that people will come out and see it and meet Art, talk to him, and understand his process.”

Audio story by DDNS Reporter Jerry Don Burton
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. Meripol said he woke up at 4:30 a.m. to capture the center in pre-dawn light. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol.


Fuhr was a major force in bringing Meripol’s photography to A-State. She said the concept of the exhibit and reception blossomed from a conversation between her and Meripol.

After not having seen each other for decades, Fuhr and Meripol reconnected at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock on July 12, 2024. Fuhr said she was impressed by his photography work on “The Official United States Civil Rights Trail: What Happened Here Changed the World,” a book published in 2021 by Alabama tourism director Lee Sentell, and wanted to create an exhibit of his Civil Rights Trail photographs.

Meripol said he knew the project would be worthwhile, but was initially daunted by the work, time and logistics it would take to complete such an exhibit.

“Once I got started, I got pretty excited about the possibilities to go through all the work I did on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and narrow it down,” Meripol said. “I think that was what intimidated me more than anything was trying to pick 20 or 25 pictures out of all that.”

A majority of the photos featured in the exhibit were taken in 2017, when Meripol said he traveled to 10 states in 12 days to expand coverage of the Civil Rights Trail. Starting in Alabama, where he is based currently, Meripol covered sites in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

Landmarks photographed in the exhibit include Little Rock Central High School, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Edmund Pettus Bridge, Medgar Evers’ home, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Little Rock Central High School. In 1957, nine teens known as the “Little Rock Nine” were the first African American students to enter the school following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that made segregated schools illegal. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol.

Meripol said some of his favorite career experiences came from his work photographing the Civil Rights Trail.

Meripol said one such experience was his visit to Medgar Evers’ home. Evers, a civil rights activist and the first NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, was assassinated in the driveway of his home in 1963.

Prior to his arrival, Meripol said the caretaker of the home did not know he was coming to take photos. He said she was suspicious at first, but they ended up having a wonderful time together.

“We ended up sitting at the kitchen table at Medgar Evers’ home with her, and she was telling stories of when she was in high school and how they all adored Medgar Evers,” Meripol said. “Just seeing her face as her mind went back to that time and her memories was just magic.”

Evers’ home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017.

Medgar Evers’ home. Evers was dedicated to ending racial segregation at the University of Mississippi, enforcing voting rights and expanding opportunities for African Americans prior to his assassination in 1963. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol.

Meripol said another particularly memorable experience was his time in Washington photographing the Martin Luther King Jr. and Lincoln memorials.

Due to flight delays caused by storms, Meripol didn’t arrive in Washington until midnight. He took an Uber at 4 a.m. to the memorial to capture it before sunrise. He said he could not have asked for better lighting and was so inspired in fact, he decided to walk to the nearby Lincoln Memorial.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, located in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol.

The Lincoln Memorial is typically a high-traffic tourist attraction, making it hard to photograph. But, due to the storms, Meripol said the memorial was empty, save for one employee.

“A U.S. government employee, an older Black man, was polishing the floors in front of Abraham Lincoln with the morning lights streaming through the columns and lighting him up,” Meripol said. “And I shot maybe one of my single favorite pictures of my life.”

Lincoln Memorial. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol.

Meripol said he hopes his work inspires viewers to visit the historic landmarks in his photos.

“I have a picture of the Edmund Pettus Bridge where the Bloody Sunday marches happened for voting rights,” Meripol said. “I hope they see that picture and want to go experience the bridge themselves. If they do, they’ll walk over the bridge as the marchers did back in the early sixties.”

Edmund Pettus Bridge, located in Selma, Alabama. The bridge was the site of Bloody Sunday, a conflict on March 7, 1965, when police attacked civil rights demonstrators as they were marching to the state capital. Photo courtesy of Art Meripol.

Fuhr said Meripol’s photography is important for preserving and highlighting the history of the United States.

“It’s a trite statement, but it’s true. If we don’t know our history, we’re doomed to repeat it,” Fuhr said. “I think any of us have a connection to the history that made this country. I feel it’s important to be seen in such a beautiful way. Because there was such pain, but it’s presented in such an appealing, beautiful way that people can appreciate.”

Meripol said the United States has always acknowledged its failures, but the current political climate is leading to the burial of some history.

“When we start hiding those failures, then you don’t know what needs to be paid attention to,” Meripol said.

In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting funding for programs that “degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.” A few months later, in August, the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House ordered a review of exhibits at the Smithsonian Museum to align with Trump’s interpretation of American history.

Civil rights leaders, advocates and historians have criticized these moves as singling out content on slavery and civil rights in an effort to minimize the contributions of Black Americans.

National Museum of African American History. Photo Courtesy of Art Meripol.

“There is an effort to try to hide those things, hiding Black history, which is American history. It hurts to see it happen,” Meripol said. “I’m hoping this exhibit will keep people discussing these things and finding ways to move forward.”

Fuhr said KASU’s involvement in creating the exhibit and reception aligns with the non-commercial public radio station’s mission to be a resource for the community.

“This is the kind of thing that public radio does that others don’t really do, which is to go deeper in the world and be able to bring this to the community.”

Mark Smith, KASU station manager, said the radio station is excited to bring Meripol’s photographs to the community. He said viewers will be immersed in the rich history and the craftsmanship on display.

Fuhr said bringing the exhibit to A-State was a joint effort between many individuals, both within and outside of A-State.

The event is sponsored by the A-State Office of the Provost, A-State College of Liberal Arts and Communication, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Arisa Health.

Kendall Moody, interior/exterior team leader for facilities management project services at A-State, was responsible for much of the physical preparation regarding the exhibit. Fuhr said his contributions were integral in ensuring the photos were placed properly without damaging the walls and columns of the humanities building.

Fuhr said the exhibit is planned to stay up until early 2026, but is interested in presenting the photos at other venues as a traveling exhibit.

“Each time I look at a photograph, I get a different sense of it, and so I want it up long enough for people to really appreciate it and really feel it,” Fuhr said.

More information on Meripol and KASU can be found at https://artmeripol.com/ and https://www.kasu.org/, respectively.

ASU System Reports Preliminary Fall Total Enrollment Growth

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Picture and story by ASU System.

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State University System institutions reported strong 11th-day preliminary fall total enrollment growth of 7.6% with multiple record-setting performances, System President Dr. Brendan Kelly announced today.

“Six of our seven campuses had an overall enrollment increase, including record enrollment for A-State and an extraordinary upswing for Henderson,” Kelly said. “Our two-year institutions also attracted more students as workforce training programs grew. I appreciate the work of our teams across the ASU System to seek out and meet the needs of students and Arkansas employers.”

Total ASU System preliminary 11th-day enrollment was 30,339, up 2,132 students or 7.6% compared with official final enrollment of 28,207 in fall 2024. Full-time equivalent totals were up 7.2%.

Kelly noted that the traditional 11th-day enrollment measure, while positive for the ASU System, has become antiquated in today’s higher education environment because it doesn’t reflect collective enrollment throughout the year.

“Our campuses are enrolling and serving new students almost every week through online and non-credit training programs,” he said. “And ASU-Newport is piloting an initiative for eight-week general education courses that simply doesn’t align with the traditional reporting periods. The ASU System’s ultimate service numbers throughout the year are substantially higher.”

Arkansas State led the growth for the system with a record 17,926 students – a 7.4% increase of 1,239 over last fall’s record of 16,687. First-year students totaled 2,222, a 12% rise over last year, and include 1,764 Arkansans – who make up 79% of the class and represent a 30% increase from a year ago.

“This class is a clear sign that Arkansas families see A-State as their home for opportunity,” A-State Chancellor Todd Shields said. “It means they believe in what we are building here, and they trust this institution to shape their future and strengthen our home state.”

A-State on-campus enrollment grew by 7.8% while online program enrollment is up 6.7%. The A-State total also includes 1,053 students at Campus Queretaro in Mexico, which is a 10% increase over fall 2024.

Total preliminary enrollment at Henderson climbed 9.9% to 2,258, up 203 students from the fall 2024 total of 2,055. The number of first-time freshmen jumped 46% to 572 compared with 391 a year ago while transfer students were up 32% to 196 compared with 149.

“The Reddie Spirit is alive and well on campus as we welcome our returning students and the largest freshman class in six years,” Henderson Chancellor Trey Berry said. “Our faculty, staff, alumni and friends are committed to the success of our students, and it is inspiring to see the growth and tremendous energy throughout our campus community.”

Leading the way for the system’s two-year institutions in the fall reporting are ASU-Beebe with 3,588 students, which is an 9.5% increase over 3,277 last fall; ASU-Newport with 2,118 students, a 13.4% increase over 1,868; ASU-Mountain Home with 1,318, a 0.2% increase over 1,315; and ASU Mid-South with 1,180, a 15.5% increase over 1,022. ASU Three Rivers reported 1,951 students, a 1.6% decrease from 1,983.

The two-year institutions and A-State reported robust growth in high school concurrent credit enrollment with 5,650 students as the ASU System works with the state’s high schools to fulfill goals outlined in the Arkansas ACCESS Act.

A-State, NYIT to Train More Doctors for Arkansas

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Wilson Hall at Arkansas State, home of NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. Story and photo courtesy of Arkansas State University.

JONESBORO – Arkansas State University and the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) at A-State today announced the launch of the Freshman to Physician Pathway, a new opportunity for Arkansas students to secure early admission to medical school and begin preparing for careers in healthcare from the first day of college.

The initiative is designed to grow the number of physicians serving rural and underserved areas of Arkansas. Since opening its Jonesboro campus in Wilson Hall in 2016, NYITCOM has graduated 650 new doctors in six classes — and nearly 70 percent of those from Arkansas have chosen to stay and practice in the state.

“This is a game-changer for the health of Arkansas,” said A-State Chancellor Todd Shields. “By eliminating traditional barriers and offering early admission assurance, we’re making medical education more accessible for high-achieving students who want to stay and serve right here at home. This is about investing in the next generation of healthcare leaders — and in the well-being of every corner of our state.”

A Streamlined Pathway to a Medical Degree

The Freshman to Physician Pathway offers a direct route from undergraduate enrollment at A-State to NYITCOM, provided students meet clearly defined academic and professional standards. Participants pursue a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with a pre-professional studies emphasis and apply for admission to NYITCOM during their third year.

To qualify, students must maintain a 3.5 GPA in science and overall coursework (with a one-time waiver option for a single semester), complete all required pre-med classes, receive a favorable recommendation from A-State’s pre-medical committee and pass an admissions interview with NYITCOM faculty. Students who meet these criteria will not be required to take the MCAT, significantly reducing the cost and complexity of applying to medical school.

“The path to medical school is difficult and challenging, however there are hurdles that can be overcome when we have strong academic partners at the collegiate level that are preparing the students for the rigor of medical education,” said Dr. Shane Speights, dean of NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State. “Leveraging our higher education relationships creates a stronger university, medical school, and most importantly, future physicians.”

A Proven Commitment to Arkansas

NYITCOM’s osteopathic philosophy emphasizes whole-person wellness, prevention and community health — making it particularly aligned with the needs of Arkansas. Graduates go on to pursue a wide range of specialties, with many choosing family medicine, internal medicine, emergency care and OB-GYN — fields in especially high demand throughout the state.

With access to world-class instruction, early clinical experience and the full resources of the A-State campus, students in the pathway program are well prepared for the demands of medical school and a future of serving Arkansas communities.

“At most colleges, the path to becoming a doctor feels far removed from the undergraduate experience. But at A-State, it’s a part of everyday life,” said Chancellor Shields. “Having a medical school in the heart of campus creates a culture that few universities can offer.  It sets A-State apart, giving our students a front-row seat to the next chapter of healthcare, and in many cases, the inspiration to pursue their own bold career path.”

Applications for the Freshman to Physician Pathway open this fall for students entering A-State in 2025. A similar program is in development for A-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, expected to launch in fall 2026.

For more details, one may visit AState.edu/FreshmanToPhysician.

A-State Sets Fall Enrollment Record

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Photo and story courtesy of Arkansas State University.

JONESBORO – Arkansas State University is celebrating a record-breaking student body this fall with 11th-day enrollment surging to 17,926. Fueled by the largest freshman class ever and record credit hours, A-State’s growth marks another milestone in its rising trajectory as the destination for students across Arkansas and beyond.

The Class of 2029 includes 2,222 first-year students, a 12% increase compared to last year. Among them are 1,764 Arkansans, who make up 79% of the total class and represent a 30% increase from the previous year.

“This class is a clear sign that Arkansas families see A-State as their home for opportunity,” Chancellor Todd Shields said. “It means they believe in what we are building here and they trust this institution to shape their future and strengthen our home state.”

Total enrollment at A-State has increased by 28% since Dr. Shields arrived on campus in the summer of 2022.

This year’s Red Wolves are taking more classes as well, with total credit hours reaching 161,204, an 8% increase over last year and a university record.

A higher number of returning students is also driving enrollment growth, with nearly 750 more students resuming classes this fall, representing a 7% increase over the previous year.

“Our duty goes beyond recruitment. We must ensure that students persist, succeed and graduate ready to make a difference,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin White Jr. “The historic number of credentials awarded last year and the improvement in returning students show that A-State is fulfilling its mission to advance student success at every level.”

During the 2024-25 academic year, A-State awarded more than 6,000 credentials, the highest total in its history.

This fall, more students are choosing the full A-State experience. On-campus enrollment grew by 7.8%, outpacing a 6.7% growth in online programs. The shift signals a rising demand for the traditional college environment, with students seeking the energy of campus life alongside strong academics. The trend also extends to A-State’s Campus Queretaro, which has seen enrollment grow to 1,053 students, up 10% from 2024.

Student life at A-State is thriving with residence halls filled to capacity. Currently, 3,242 Red Wolves and osteopathic medical students are living on campus, which accounts for 99.8% of the available beds. Meal plan selections rose 6.7% compared to last year, an additional sign of growing student engagement on campus.

“As someone new to A-State, I have been immediately impressed by the energy and excitement on campus,” said Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Amanda Nickerson. “It’s clear that students are drawn not only to our academic opportunities, but also to the sense of community here. That combination makes A-State an easy choice for families.”

Looking ahead, A-State is building on this year’s success with new opportunities for future students. The university has expanded its investment in merit scholarships, raising its top award to $18,000 per year and adding a new $10,000 A-State Trailblazer Scholarship for high-achieving students.

Innovative pathways are also fueling excitement, including the Freshman to Physician program that offers early admission to the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at A-State. In addition, the new A-State College of Veterinary Medicine, anticipated to open in fall 2026, will provide Arkansans with the opportunity to pursue veterinary education closer to home while helping to meet the state’s critical need for veterinarians.

Historic Football Game Saturday in Little Rock

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Story by DDNS Reporter Jared Burton

On September 6th, 2025, for the first time, the Arkansas Razorbacks will take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 pm. This is a historic matchup as it is the first time that the FBS schools in the state of Arkansas will finally play each other. Many people would not have thought it would happen because of a statement made by the previous Arkansas Razorbacks Athletic Director John Barnhill, who said that the hogs would not play against in-state schools like A-State, UCA, UALR, and UAPB. This policy was continued by his successors, Frank Broyles and Jeff Long.

But Jeff Long’s successor, Hunter Yurachek, broke this policy in 2018 by having Arkansas play against in-state schools for the first time in Arkansas Athletics history. Still, those games were scheduled for sports outside of football and basketball. However, on February 3, 2021, a jaw-dropping announcement was made, stating that hogs and red wolves would play a football game against each other on September 6, 2025, in Little Rock. Finally, the game that everyone has been waiting for in the entire state of Arkansas has a date. Fans of both programs were split on this, as A-State fans wanted this game to happen in the early 2010s when both Arkansas and Arkansas State were doing really well in football, with the hogs ranking inside the top 25, while the Red Wolves were winning conference titles and going to bowl games with a new head coach every single season.

Coach of the University of Arkansas Sam Pittman (left) and Coach of the Arkansas State Butch Jones (right) will coach the Arkansas-Arkansas State game.

Butch Jones and his players, Jaylon Raynor and Brandon Barnes, were asked about this matchup at the 2025 Sun Belt media days in New Orleans, LA.

“ Being able to go play in our state capital against the University of Arkansas, and you look at the excitement, you look at the revenue that it’s going to bring to the entire state comes to one place for a weekend, it is going to be a great challenge for us, but I think it is a great opportunity for us, and it’s truly a great opportunity for the entire state of Arkansas” said Coach Jones.

Junior Quarterback Jaylon Raynor said,” Definitely, it is a great opportunity for us to play Arkansas.” Sophomore safety Brandon Barnes said,” I would say that there is some excitement about being able to play a team like Arkansas.” Both players are excited for the game, but are focused on the fall camp and the first game against Southeast Missouri. Coach Jones was asked again about this matchup at the Sun Belt media day with the host of the Locked-on Sun Belt podcast, Dave Schultz.

“I will say it is in the world of college football expansion and conference expansion and coast to coast for two in-state schools to come together at a neutral site in Little Rock or the state capitol and play. That’s as big for our players or their players, it is for the entire state and the fan bases, but also the economic value that it brings to the state in Little Rock, AR.

Before the Sun Belt Media Days this year, Coach Jones was asked about the game between the Hogs and the Red Wolves back in March of this year on the Coaches and the Mouth Show with hosts Jeff Williams and Brey Cook.

“Obviously it’s a great challenge for us and it’s an uphill battle for us, but have so much respect uh, you know for everyone in that program, but when you look at what it does to the entire state of Arkansas, the excitement, the economy, you know, everybody going to Little Rock for the weekend, I think it’s really going to be a unique atmosphere and it’ll be a great experience for really both of our players, but especially our players playing a program and a team that’s, you know, been very, very competitive in the Southeastern Conference in terms of our program.” Said Coach Butch Jones.

Fans, players, and coaches of either team are not the only ones excited about this game; media members are excited about this game as well. One of the media members who is excited about this game is Chris Hudgison of Kait8 Sports, where he covers both the Razorbacks and the Red Wolves. Chris was asked about this matchup on Aug. 6 on the Chuck and Bo show with hosts Chuck Barrett and Bo Mattingly.

“It’s been fascinating, I think it was 2021 when the game first got announced, and it has been kind of like a snowball that slowly kind of getting down the hill, and then once it got closer, okay, now it’s 2025, now it’s actually happening, it’s been a combination of things.” Said Chris Hudgison of Kait8 Sports. Later in the show, Chris was asked about the matchup and whether could A-State pull off the upset against Arkansas. “It is possible, yes, because in college football, anything could happen. I think matchup wise, I think a-state has a decent chance offensively against the Razorback defense just because of all the experience coming back, obviously there is a big question mark at offensive line, but in terms of the skill position, there’s a lot of depth there, and having a essentially a 3-year quarterback, which doesn’t happen very often in the sunbelt with Jaylon Raynor, having experience in these type of settings against power 4 is gonna help. What I’m gonna be interested to see is the matchup between the very new A-State defense goes up against the Razorback offense, and special teams has been an ace in the hole for A-State, so if the game is close on the sixth, A-State has a definite more than a puncher’s chance to pull it off.” Said Chris Hudgison.

War Memorial Stadium will be the site of this first-ever game between the hogs and red wolves.

War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock will be the site of this first-ever meeting between the hogs and red wolves. Both teams have a history of playing in this stadium. Razorbacks have played at War Memorial more often than the Red Wolves, which has led fans to call the stadium the Razorbacks’ second home stadium, with Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville being the primary home stadium for the Hogs. The Red Wolves have not played at War Memorial Stadium since 2006, and have played their home games at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. The game on September 6th will be the first Red Wolves game at War Memorial Stadium in 19 years.

Everyone in the state of Arkansas is excited about this game. Fans of both programs will be divided when the game kicks off on September 6th, but they can all agree that September 6th will be a historic day for college football in the Natural State.

Red Wolves for St. Jude Surpasses Goal

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Story from DDNS Reporter Shailey Wooldridge

Members of Red Wolves for St. Judge who attended the Scarlet Formal pose with a check of the amount raised for the 2024-2025 fundraising year, totaling $71,475. Members who raised $100 or more for St. Judge were invited to the Scarlet Formal.

Red Wolves for St. Jude, a philanthropic initiative organized and operated by students at Arkansas State University to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hosted the Scarlet Formal at the Woodard McAlister Family Club to celebrate the end of the fundraising year with dinner from Olive Garden, dancing and giveaways. 

At the end of the Scarlet Formal, Red Wolves for St. Jude executives announced the total amount of money raised in the 2024-25 fundraising effort: $71,475, surpassing their goal of $65,000.

“It’s super impressive what they have done. I mean, you go to other colleges. This is not normal at all, but it’s super inspiring, and it really helps us inspire the next generation,” Sebastian Villegas, a development representative for St. Jude and a Memphis native, said. “I think that’s super important, is getting the messaging out and Arkansas State does an amazing job with that.”

Olivia Wham, executive director of Red Wolves for St. Jude, said the Scarlet Formal culminates everything they have worked towards for the year.

“Showing students that their hard work comes together is very important to create a sense of community,” the senior finance and global supply chain double major from Mountain Home, Arkansas, said. “Red Wolves for St. Jude is not only an organization to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital but also to spread awareness of what we have in our backyard in Memphis.”

Kristin Rodgers, a Jonesboro woman and mother of a St. Jude patient, attended the event.

Rodgers said St. Jude gives people hope in the darkest moments of their lives and allows them to focus on getting their children better.

“You don’t have to worry about bills, you don’t have to worry about where you’re going to eat, anything like that. They just try to make it the happiest place for your child while they’re sick and the least stressful place for a parent,” Rodgers said. “We will do anything to help raise money for St. Jude because we’ve been the recipients of the money raised.”

Rodgers said she was blown away by how much money was raised by college students.

“I’m very thankful that college kids can think outside themselves and do something for others when they could do so many other things. They are busy with college and choose to spend time getting donations and raising money for such a wonderful place,” Rodgers said.

Wham said it’s hard not to be passionate about raising money for St. Jude.

“St. Jude is a children’s hospital that provides research from its findings worldwide and has significantly strengthened and advanced the medical community. They also give children world-class medical care for free. So that takes a lot of stress off of families,” Wham said. “In my family, we’ve had people pass away from cancer, and being able to give back and donate to a place that can advance medical care like this really warms my heart.”

Christina Green, a first-year nursing major from Memphis, raised $1840 and was recognized as the highest individual fundraiser.

Green said St. Jude means a lot to her and her family.

“My mom always worked in the restaurant industry, but she always saw St. Jude as her dream job, and she worked hard for it, and she got there, and she’s been there for coming up on four years now, and it moved us up to Memphis,” Green said. “It’s cool to know your mom works there, but to know you’re making a difference, kind of on your own adds a little bit more. I feel a bit of pride for it, a good amount of pride.”

A-State Media Students Win 60 Awards at State Conference

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Students (from left) Ibuki Hinohara, Herald photo editor; Shailey Wooldridge, Herald news editor; Elijah Templeton, Herald life editor; Benjamin McDowell, Herald staff writer; Jerry Don Burton, Herald editor-in-chief; Laila Casiano, Herald opinion editor; Will Livingston, Herald sports editor; and Tristan Harlen, ASU-TV station manager, celebrate with their awards received at ACMA.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas State University’s student media outlets from the School of Media and Journalism earned 60 awards at the Arkansas College Media Association’s annual spring conference and awards banquet.  

The Herald, A-State’s student newspaper, won 52 awards, including Website of the Year and honorable mention as Newspaper of the Year in the General Excellence categories.  

“This is exciting!” Herald adviser Sandra Combs said. “The students worked hard and it showed. They had big smiles and great hope that they would come away with a big win.”  

Retiring after 17 years of service to A-State, Combs has served as adviser to The Herald since 2015. Gretchen Hunt of NEA Premiere Magazine assisted as Herald adviser in the fall 2024 semester.  

“The Herald staff members are already putting into practice real-world journalism skills as they produce a weekly newspaper and maintain a website and social media accounts, and they are doing it very well,” Hunt said. “They are already learning that having multiple skill sets is advantageous and provides them with the ability to present the news in a variety of forms. Obviously, I’m very proud of them for the work they do and the accolades they have earned.”  

ASU-TV and Red Wolf Radio won four awards each. ASU-TV adviser Dustin Sullivan also praised the student work.  

“We are proud and honored that students involved with ASU-TV and Red Wolf Radio were recognized for their hard work and efforts in providing professional and entertaining content for our viewers and listeners,” Sullivan said. “We thank ACMA for the opportunity to have our students recognized as award winners.”  

Students attending the conference hosted by Northwest Arkansas Community College went through breakout sessions covering media job opportunities, sports reporting, audio reporting/producing, the business beat, magazine visual storytelling, entertainment, breaking TV news in digital formats, yearbook publication, and magazines in the digital age.  

Award winners included:  

Laila Casiano of Paragould won first place for newspaper election/political coverage, newspaper headlines, online arts and entertainment article, social media breaking news, and social media promotion; second place for audio podcast, online election/political coverage, online meeting/speech coverage, editorial page layout and online feature writing; third place for in-depth news and editorial page layout; and honorable mention for online newswriting.  

Shailey Wooldridge of Caraway won second place for newspaper meeting/speech coverage, newspaper newswriting, online breaking news (within 24 hours), online election/political coverage, and online personality profile; and third place for online breaking news (within 24 hours) and online meeting/speech coverage.  

Caroline Averitt of Jonesboro won first place for newspaper meeting/speech coverage and online headlines; second place for newspaper personality profile, in-depth news, and social media promotion; and honorable mention for newspaper feature page layout.  

Former editor Rachel Rudd of Searcy won first place for online news photo, second place for newspaper election/political coverage, newspaper feature writing, and online feature writing, as well as third place for online personality profile.  

Editor-in-Chief Jerry Don Burton of Vanndale won first place for newspaper meeting/speech coverage; second place for in-depth news; and third place for editorials/commentary/blogs and online breaking news (within 24 hours).  

Anna Cox of Paragould won first place for personality profile and sports feature writing, and second place for online breaking news (within 24 hours), and newspaper meeting/speech coverage; and third place for sports page layout.  

Will Livingston of Hot Springs won first place for sports feature writing; second place for sports feature writing; and honorable mention in online editorials/commentary/blogs.  

Shelby Russom of Paragould won second place for newspaper news photo, online news photo, and audio podcast.  

Elijah Templeton of Jonesboro won second place for newspaper review writing and honorable mention for online arts and entertainment review and online arts and entertainment article.  

Abigail Leggett of Jonesboro won first place for online sports photo and third place for newspaper sports photo.  

Allie Carson of Jonesboro won third place for online headlines, and Jack Douglas of Paragould won third place for online news photo.  

Ibuki Hinohara of Nagano, Japan, won second place for online sports photo, and Benjamin McDowell of Wynne won second place for newspaper sports story.  

Luke Morse of Jonesboro won first place for best specialty music show, while MacKenzie White of Trumann won first place for best radio documentary.  

Emily Pilkington of Clinton won second place for best radio documentary. and Christian Sandoval of Jonesboro won second place for best specialty music show.  

ASU-TV’s Tristan Harlen, Cooper Melder and Caton Marsh, all of Cabot, won first place in television sports reporting. Harlen and Marsh also took first place in television sports feature.  

ASU-TV’s Makenzie Cutler of Harrison, Carson Campbell of Jonesboro, Pilkington and Christian Wilcox of Jackson, Tenn., won second place for television political coverage.  

ASU-TV’s Colby Thompson of Conway, Jack Roach of Paragould, Markell McCoy of Clarksdale, Miss., and Mehr Aslam of Garden West Karachi, Pakistan, won third place in television feature.

Six A-State Students Selected for Distinguished Service Awards

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Courtesy of Arkansas State University

JONESBORO – Six outstanding students from Arkansas State University have been selected as Distinguished Service Award (DSA) winners for 2024-2025. The DSA recipients will be recognized during the Convocation of Scholars as the institution’s most outstanding graduates based on their record of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. 
 
One of these students will be announced as the 2025 recipient of the university’s highest honor, the R.E. Lee Wilson Award, on Thursday, April 24, at a campus dinner for the DSA winners.  
 
This year, the recipients are Elizabeth England of Piedmont, Mo.; Rachel Mooneyham of Jonesboro; Sabrina Pierce of Maumelle; Braden M. Ross of Nashville, Ark.; Jonathan Schaufler of Salem; and Amber Yates of Salem. 
 
Faculty, staff, and advisers nominate top students for the prestigious annual awards.  
 
All of the nominees have achieved excellent academic records and provided countless hours of service to the community, their classmates, campus organizations, their departments and colleges, and Arkansas State University. 
 
A committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, and previous Wilson Award recipients makes the final selections. Here are some highlights about each of this year’s DSA winners. 
 
Elizabeth England of Piedmont, Mo.  
With a double major in political science through the College of Liberal Arts and Communication and economics with the Neil Griffin College of Business, England will graduate in May. During her time at A-State, she has been on the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists and been awarded numerous scholarships.  
 
England interned at the Washington Center, was a Truman Scholarship nominee, and was awarded the Public Policy and International Affairs Graduate School Scholarship. She served as director of food pantry operations with the A-State Volunteer Council, was a senator of the Student Government Association, and volunteered with the A-State Women’s Business Leadership Center. 
 
Following graduation, England plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy. Her advisers are Natasha Neal, instructor in political science and Dr. Chris Brown, professor of economics.  
 
Rachel Mooneyham of Jonesboro 
Mooneyham will graduate from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication in May with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication with a minor in marketing. During her time at A-State, she achieved a 4.0 GPA and was named to the Chancellor’s list for the past four years. 
 
The awardee of many scholarships, Mooneyham received the Gena and Neil Griffin Business Scholarship, Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation Pearl Johnson Essay Scholarship, and Adrian Headley Memorial Textbook Scholarship.  
 
She wore many hats as part of the Student Government Association serving as a senator, chief of staff, and public relations director. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, where she served in leadership roles. She is currently studying in England for her final semester. Her adviser is Rachel Freeze, instructor in strategic communication. 
 

Sabrina Pierce of Maumelle 
A psychology major in the College of Education and Behavioral Science, Pierce will graduate in May. With a cumulative GPA of 4.0, Pierce has been on the Chancellor’s and Honors Director’s Lists and was also named the 2024-2025 Bachelor of Science Psychology Student of the Year.  
 
A recipient of numerous scholarships, Pierce was awarded the Global Student Leaders Scholarship, Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship, and was a Barry Goldwater Scholarship nominee in 2024. In addition to her studies, Pierce has been involved in several extracurricular activities. She serves as president for Psi Chi: International Honor Society in Psychology, A-State Society for Neuroscience, and vice-president of Alpha Lambda Delta. On campus, she was part of the Student Activities Board, Volunteer A-State, the Honors College, and several more organizations. 
 
She worked as a Communication Center coach on campus and said that experience gave her a sense of belonging and connection. Following graduation, she plans to attend graduate school seeking a Specialist in Education degree in clinical mental health counseling. Her adviser is Dr. Anthony Eldridge, assistant professor of psychology. 
 
Braden M. Ross of Nashville, Ark.  
A pre-professional studies biological sciences major in the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics (BCSM), Ross will graduate in May. He has been on the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists, as well as the Honors Director’s List.  
 
Ross is the winner of several scholarships. He interned as a grant-funded research assistant with New York Institute of Technology’s neuroscience research lab, held numerous leadership roles within the Student Government Association, served as a tutor and ambassador for BSCM, and was involved in the pre-professional club. 
 
Described as being a very determined student, Ross plans to continue his education at A-State to attend graduate school. He also plans to attend flight school. His adviser is Dr. Kyle Gustafson, assistant professor of biology and environmental health. 
 
Jonathan Schaufler of Salem 
Graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Schaufler has been on the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists and was the 2024 Arkansas Nursing Student of the Year.  
 
He serves as president of the Student Nurses Association, president pro tempore of the Student Government Association, and is a member of the College of Nursing and Health Professions Dean’s Student Advisory Board. A Chancellor’s Ambassador, Schaufler has also served in leadership roles in his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta.  
 
In addition to his campus involvement, Schaufler has been involved with the community. He has interned at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital where his ingenuity and drive were recognized. His adviser is Addie Fleming, associate professor of nursing. 
 
Amber Yates of Salem 
Yates graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. She has been on the Chancellor’s and Deans’s Lists and is the winner the Excellence in Student Diversity Award in 2022, and the Black Student Association (BSA) Advocate and BSA Humanitarian awards in 2024.  
 
She served as president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and held several leadership roles with the Omicron Tau chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. In her time at A-State, she was pivotal in reactivating the sorority on campus after a 16-year hiatus. Yates was a volunteer with the A-State Food Pantry, a Pack Leader, a Communication Center coach, and served on the Student Government Association. Yates also served as an ambassador for the Multicultural Center. 
 
Her adviser was Matthew Robins, instructor in communication studies and director of the Communication Center.

Ryan Pannone Named A-State Men’s Head Baskebtall Coach

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Ryan Pannone, Photo courtesy of the University of Alabama

JONESBORO, Ark. (3/30/25) – Arkansas State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Purinton announced Sunday that Ryan Pannone, who has gained a reputation over the course of his 23-year career as one of the nation’s top offensive minds and player-development coaches, has been named the Red Wolves’ 18th all-time head men’s basketball coach.

A 2025 selection to Silver Waves Media’s prestigious Elite 75 Future Head Coach Power Lunch, Pannone (pronounced Puh-Known) comes to A-State after most recently spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Alabama.  The Crimson Tide boasted the nation’s highest scoring average both years as Pannone helped lead the program to Final Four and Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively.  However, his path to Jonesboro also went through six different countries, including the United States, China, Germany, Israel, Korea and Slovakia.

“We conducted a thorough national search for our next head men’s basketball coach and had an outstanding pool of candidates,” said Purinton.  “Coach Pannone is highly respected for his work as a coach at all levels, and during the search process it became clear that he was a great fit for our program.  Our System President Dr. Brendan Kelly, Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields and I were completely aligned that he is the right person at the right time to lead our men’s basketball program into the future.

“Coach Pannone has achieved success both nationally and internationally, running high-tempo offenses in systems that emphasize player development.  He is well-known as an elite basketball tactician and great recruiter with the ability to get the very best out of his players.  He truly cares about the young men he coaches, placing a priority on their success both on and off the court.”

An introductory press conference open to the public will be held soon on a date to be announced at a later time.  The press conference will take place in the Centennial Bank Athletics Operations Center, located in the north end zone of Centennial Bank Stadium, and be streamed live on the Arkansas State Athletics Facebook page (/AStateRedWolves).  The press conference will also be carried lived on the Ticket Radio Network (95.3 FM, 96.9 FM and 970 AM in Jonesboro) and through the EAB Media app.

Pannone owns a wealth of experience at numerous levels, including NCAA Division I, NBA, G-League, various professional leagues overseas, junior college, high school and AAU.  He has claimed 204 career wins in nine years as a head coach, including stops with the G-League’s Erie BayHawks and Birmingham Squadron and the Slovak Basketball League’s BC Prievidza.

His background includes 18 years of coaching players with NBA experience.  He has coached 82 total NBA players and 46 players selected in the First Round of the NBA Draft, including 30 Lottery picks.

“I am excited and honored to be the head men’s basketball coach at Arkansas State University, and I want to thank Jeff Purinton, Dr. Todd Shields, Dr. Brendan Kelly and the ASU Board of Trustees for this opportunity,” Pannone said.  “My family and I are looking forward to being part of the Jonesboro community, which shows outstanding support and love for the university and its athletics programs.  I would not be in this position without the support of my wonderful wife, Sarah, who has always been a great source of encouragement while following me all over the world and making many sacrifices during this journey.

“The A-State basketball brand is on the rise amid great momentum, and that is a testament to the amazing job Bryan Hodgson, his staff and the players have done the last two years.  They built a strong foundation, and I’m fortunate to be stepping into a fantastic situation – we’re in a great place to continue elevating this program together.  Our staff and players will be committed to working extremely hard to put a fun and winning product on the floor while representing our community in a first-class manner.

“I also want to thank everyone associated with the University of Alabama, including head coach Nate Oats, Athletics Director Greg Byrne, the coaching staff and the players, for a wonderful two years in Tuscaloosa.”

Serving as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under head coach Nate Oats, Pannone orchestrated the country’s most explosive offenses the last two seasons.  The Crimson Tide averaged over 90 points per game both of his years in Tuscaloosa, including a school-record 90.7 average in 2024-25.  Alabama made an NCAA Tournament-record 25 three pointers in its Sweet 16 victory over BYU.

The Crimson Tide eclipsed 100 points in 17 contests during Pannone’s time with the program, including an SEC-record nine games this year.  Alabama also led the nation in offensive tempo each of the last two years while posting a combined 53-21 record.

“Coach Pannone is not only an outstanding basketball coach, but a man of great integrity and high character who cares deeply about his student-athletes,” said A-State Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields.  “He is a proven winner, as well as an outstanding communicator who will connect with his players and our community on a very authentic level.  We couldn’t be more excited to announce him as our new head men’s basketball coach.”

Pannone spent the season prior to his arrival at Alabama as an assistant coach for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, helping lead the squad to 42 victories and a Play-In Tournament berth.

He served as head coach of both the Erie BayHawks and Birmingham Squadron as part of the NBA’s G-League from 2019-22.  His squads made back-to-back playoff appearances his last two seasons and had 11 combined NBA call-ups.

Pannone was also on the BayHawks coaching staff as an assistant during their 2014-15 campaign, but spent a season before that and the four years after coaching internationally.

His first overseas coaching opportunity came in 2013-14 as an assistant with the Guangzhou Long Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.  His next international coaching job came with the Hanau (Germany) White Wings, also as an assistant in 2015-16.

The 2016-17 season saw Pannone work as an assistant coach with Hapoel Jerusalem, helping the team appear in the Final Four of the EuroCup and claim the Israel Winner League Championship.  He then spent the following year as head coach for a BC Prievidza (Slovakia) team that led its league in defense, opponent points per game, rebounding and three-point field goals made and attempted.

Pannone returned to Hapoel Jerusalem as an assistant coach for the 2018-19 season, when the squad led the Champions League in points, assists and rebounds.  He also worked remotely as an advanced scout and video coordinator for the Angola National Team in 2019.

“I am thrilled to have Coach Pannone join our team and community,” said ASU System President Dr. Brendan Kelly.  “Our efforts to continue to elevate depend on us attracting great talent and excellent leaders.  Coach Pannone embodies both of those descriptors.”

Pannone began his coaching career in 2003 while working on his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida, taking an assistant position at Oldsmar (Fla.) Christian School.  He was elevated to head coach three years later in 2006 and served in that role until 2011, posting a 131-42 record that included wins over three USA Today nationally-ranked teams.

Following his time at Oldsmar Christian, and one year before he joined the Guangzhou Long Lions, Pannone spent the 2011-12 campaign as an assistant coach at Wallace State (Ala.) Junior College.  His lone season in Hanceville saw the Lions win the Region XXII Championship and Alabama State Championship.  They were one of 16 teams in the country to qualify for the JUNCO National Tournament.

In addition to his numerous coaching stops from 2006-19, Pannone worked at the Pro Training Center as its NBA Director.  During that time, he oversaw the development of over 50 NBA players, 33 First-Round NBA Draft selections and 22 Lottery picks.

The Clearwater, Fla., native earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration of public health from the University of South Florida in 2011.  While working on his degree, he was a student manager for the men’s basketball program under Robert McCullum in 2006-07.

Pannone and his wife, Dr. Sarah Pannone, have three children — Raylan (7), Dahlia (5), Trajan (3).

RYAN PANNONE FILE

Coaching Experience

2023-25 | Alabama, Assistant Coach

2022-23 | New Orleans Pelicans, Assistant Coach

2019-22 | Erie BayHawks & Birmingham Squadron, Head Coach

2019 | Angola National Team, Advanced Scout & Video Coordinator

2006-19 | Pro Training Center, NBA Director

2018-19 | Hapoel Jerusalem, Assistant Coach

2017-18 | BC Prievidza, Head Coach

2016-17 | Hapoel Jerusalem, Assistant Coach

2015-16 | Hanau White Wings, Assistant Coach

2014-15 | Erie BayHawks, Assistant Coach

2012-13 | Guangzhou Long Lions, Assistant Coach

2012 | Wallace State Community College, Assistant Coach

2003-11 | Oldsmar Christian School, Head Coach (2006-11) & Assistant Coach (2003-06)

Summer Experience

2021 & 2022 | NBA Draft Combine & G-League Elite Camp, Coach

2019 & 2021 | NBA Summer League, New Orleans Pelicans Assistant Coach

2017 | NBA Basketball Without Borders Camp, Tel Aviv (Israel) Assistant Coach

2015-17 | Korean Basketball League, LG Sakers Director of Player Development

2013 | NBA Summer League, Memphis Grizzlies Assistant Coach

By the Numbers

1 Final Four appearance

1 Elite Eight appearance

3 different continents of pro basketball coaching experience

5 years of international coaching experience

6th best record in the NBA’s G-League during last two seasons (2020-22)

9 years of head coaching experience

17 total 100-point games the last two seasons combined

18 years of coaching players with NBA experience

22 years of coaching experience

30 NBA Lottery picks coached

46 first-round NBA Draft selections coached

75.2 KenPom offensive tempo ranked 1st in the nation (2024-25)

82 NBA players coached

126.0 KenPom Offensive Efficiency ranked 2nd in the nation (2023-24)

126.8 KenPom Offensive Efficiency ranked 4th in the nation (2024-25)

204 wins as a head coach

Pannone’s Coaching Pillars

Accountability

Organization

Servanthood

Inspiration

Loyalty

Unity

Love

What They’re Saying

“Ryan Pannone is a great hire for Arkansas State.  He has an elite basketball IQ and pairs that with a relentless work ethic that gives him the ability to be a great teacher and developer of talent.  Ryan possesses one of the elite offensive minds in basketball, creating a system for his players to thrive in as Alabama led the nation in scoring during his two years in Tuscaloosa.  His experience in the NBA, overseas and in college basketball has prepared him for the job. He will be a great fit in Jonesboro.

Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach

“Ryan has one of the brightest basketball minds in the business.  His knowledge, work ethic, passion and experience far outweighs his years.  He will have tremendous success at Arkansas State!”

Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

“Ryan Pannone is one of the top basketball minds in the game.  Many of us in the profession have sought him out for ideas.  No one studies the game more than Ryan.  And if you’re a player, you’ll get a chance to play for a guy who has coached the game at every level.  He can help you get where you want to go.”

Stan Van Gundy, current NBA and college basketball commentator and former NBA head coach

“Ryan Pannone is one of, if not the smartest, hardest working coaches I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.  He’s got a devotion for players and a passion for the game, and it shows immensely through his creativity with X’s and O’s and player development.  He’s a leader and a competitor and an elite level head coach.  Any program would be fortunate to have him serving in any capacity.

Bryson Graham, New Orleans Pelicans General Manager

“I am incredibly happy for this next opportunity for Ryan.  He has a tremendous passion for the game of basketball and teaching it to his players.  Every time we speak he is about to watch film or has just finished watching film.  He is always studying how he can improve as a coach and different ways for his players and teams to get better.  Arkansas State is in great hands with Ryan.”

Trajan Langdon, Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations

Carole Farmer Appointed to ASU System Board of Trustees

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Carole Farmer, ASU System Board of Trustees. Image courtesy of the ASU System.

LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed Carole Farmer of Fayetteville to a seven-year term on the Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees.


Farmer succeeds immediate past board chair Christy Clark of Little Rock, who served seven years after being appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in 2018 and reappointed by Gov. Sanders in 2023.

ASU System President Brendan Kelly said he welcomes Farmer to the board.


“Carole Farmer will be an outstanding addition to our Board of Trustees,” Kelly said. “Her experiences in health care, management and finance will be welcome on the board and in the ASU System. We look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”


“I’m also grateful to Christy Clark for her service during the past seven years,” Kelly added. “She has been part of many significant achievements in the ASU System, and I worked closely with her as board chair during the last six months as I came on board as president. She’s been a tremendous resource and asset to the ASU System.”

Farmer is a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) and owns Arkansas Medical Management Consulting, LLC, a medical consulting firm that provides support for physician-owned practices. She worked 17 years for the largest multi-specialty physician medical clinic in northeast Arkansas. Her last seven years, she served as the clinic’s administrator and managed more than 120 employees.

She served for five years on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Medical Group Managers Association, her last year as chair of the organization.  Prior to her medical management career, she worked in the banking industry focusing on internal auditing and regulatory compliance. She is a member of the board of directors of Farmer Enterprises Inc.

“First, I want to thank Governor Sanders for her confidence in me,” Farmer said. “I look forward to working with President Kelly and the other trustees to improve educational and workforce opportunities for our students and all Arkansans.” 

Farmer is a graduate of Arkansas State University with both her bachelor’s degree in accounting (2005) and master’s in business administration (2008). She also served as an adjunct professor of accounting at A-State for two years, primarily focused on managerial accounting. 

A native of Palestine, she is married to Alec Farmer, a 1986 Arkansas State University graduate.  They are 1924 Sustaining Life Members of the A-State Alumni Association and endowed the Dalton A. Farmer Family Scholarship in 2015.

Together they have four adult daughters. Emily, their youngest daughter, is an A-State graduate. The ASU System, based in Little Rock, serves 35,000 students annually through on-site and online options. Member institutions include Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with an additional campus in Queretaro, Mexico; ASU-Beebe, with additional campuses in Heber Springs and Searcy and an instructional site at the Little Rock Air Force Base; ASU-Mountain Home; ASU-Newport, with additional campuses in Jonesboro and Marked Tree; ASU Mid-South in West Memphis; ASU Three Rivers in Malvern; and Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. For more information about the ASU System, visit ASUSystem.edu or follow on X @ASUSystem.

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