President’s Scholar Awards

announced at Honors Reception

Dr. Les Wyatt, president of Arkansas State University, today announced the winners of the President’s Scholars Award for 2003-2004.

Wyatt presented the awards during the 71^st Annual Student Honors Awards Ceremony and Reception, an annual event hosted by the university to recognize ASU’s most outstanding graduates.  The reception is the highlight of Convocation of Scholars.

The award is presented to the graduating senior in each college who has the highest overall grade point average.  Graduates from August and December 2003 as well as those graduating in May of this year were eligible.

Recipients and their respective colleges were Chad W. Froud of Judsonia, Agriculture; Courtney E. Hays of Little Rock, Business; Alexander Cale Block of Wiener, Communications; Kim R. Ferren of Kensett, Education; Jason Ryan Oliver of Salem, Engineering; Rachel M. Jaramillo of Jonesboro, Fine Arts; Leslie J. Pruitt of Newport, Humanities and Social Sciences; Erin Yates of Caraway, Nursing and Health Professions; Victoria L. Zachary of Jonesboro, Sciences and Mathematics; and Kelli Parks of Searcy, University College.

Agriculture – Chad W. Froud

Froud will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the College of Agriculture.  Among his many achievements, he holds the Blanchard Scholarship from the College of Agriculture and has been on the President’s List all four years while pursuing his undergraduate degree.

Froud is married to Beverly Kimbriel Froud and his parents are Winston and Margaret Froud of Judsonia.

His advisor is Dr. Lew Brinkley.

Business – Courtney E. Hays

Hays will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the College of Business.  She has been on the National Dean’s List every year while attending ASU and is the current president of Order of Omega.  She is also a member of Gamma Beta Sigma.

Hays is the daughter of Phil and Peggy Hays of Little Rock.

Her advisor is Dr. Patricia Toney-McLin.

Communications – Alexander Cale Block

Block will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, news-editorial emphasis, from the College of Communications.  Following graduation, he plans to attend law school.  Block is active in the ASU Honors Association, serving as president and vice president, and he was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha.  He was also named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 2004.

His parents are Ricky and Sandy Block of Weiner. 

Dr. Jack Zibluk is his advisor.

Education – Kim R. Ferren

Ferren will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the College of Education.  She has been a President’s List student for the past two years and is currently working on an internship at Ward Central in the Cabot School District.  She plans to enroll in graduate school and begin work on her master’s degree. 

Ferren is the daughter of Dennis and Debbie Ferren of Searcy. 

Her advisor is Ms. Angie Howard.

Engineering – Jason Ryan Oliver

Oliver will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering.  His future plans include pursuing a master’s degree in engineering.   A President’s List student for seven consecutive semesters, Oliver also served as chair and treasurer of the ASU Chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was the recipient of the Good Citizen Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution.   

He is the son of Mickey and Judy Oliver of Salem. 

Dr. Paul Sherman is his advisor.

Fine Arts – Rachel M. Jaramillo (Jer-uh-mill-o)

Jaramillo will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in vocal music from the College of Fine Arts.  After graduation she plans to teach music at a public school in the local area.  Jaramillo’s achievements include, holding the office of corresponding secretary for Sigma Alpha Iota and receiving the second place award at the State National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in 2002. 

She is married to Micah Jaramillo of Jonesboro and her parents are Steve and Ginger Richey of Marmaduke. 

Mrs. Julia Lansford is her advisor.

Humanities and Social Sciences- Lesley J. Pruitt

Pruitt will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.  She will be attending graduate school at the University of Queensland in Australia on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.  During her undergraduate studies, Pruitt received the prestigious Harry S. Truman scholarship.  She is also active in many organizations including the Model Arab League, Pi Gamma Mu and the ASU Honors Association, currently serving as president.

She is the daughter of Diane Atkins of Bono and Wesley Pruitt.

Her advisor is Dr. David England.

Nursing and Health Professions – Erin Yates

Yates will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from the College of Nursing and Health Professions.  An Arkansas Distinction Scholarship recipient, Yates was awarded the Outstanding Academic Achievement award from the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 2002.  She was also a President’s List student for seven consecutive semesters.  Her future plans including attending graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in communication disorders.

Her parents are Gale and Vicki Yates of Caraway. 

Dr. Richard Neely is her advisor.

Sciences and Mathematics- Victoria L. Zachary

Zachary will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Sciences and Mathematics.  She plans to attend veterinary school at the University of Missouri at Columbia in the fall.  Zachary is a Trustees’ Scholar and an active member of the ASU Honors Association, currently serving as secretary.  She also received a SILO/SURF grant for her senior thesis research on “The Effects of Continuous Nicotine Exposure on Pre-Attentional Processes in Rats.”

She is the daughter of Robert and Diana Zachary of Jonesboro.

Her advisor is Dr. Ronald Johnson.

University College – Kelli Parks

Parks will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from University College.  She plans to enter the physical therapy doctoral program at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.  Parks has been a Trustees’ Scholar for four years and is also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. 

Her parents are Danny and Mary Jane Parks of Searcy. 

Dr. Herman Strickland is her advisor.

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-- This and other releases are online at http://ASUnews.astate.edu/newspage.htm

Back row, from left, is Chad W. Froud, Jason Oliver, Cale Block, Rachel Jaramillo, and Lesley Pruitt. Front row, from left, is Kelli Parks, Kim Ferren, Erin Yates, Courtney Hays and Victoria Zachary.