QUARTERLY
SPRING 2018
STUDENT FEATURE: NANIA ELERSON
Facing the challenge South Arkansas Community College has more than 1,400 students, but many will tell you that El Dorado’s Nania Elerson, 19, is one of a kind. The self-described “awkward nerd” quickly offers that she can cross her eyes and wiggle her nose and ears (no word on whether she can do all of that at the same time). She’s not as quick, though, to divulge that she has sickle-cell disease, even though she’s carried that challenge her entire life—but for a reason that you might not suspect. “I may be in pain at any given point but I hate pity, so I hide that and keep it moving, which can sometimes look counter intuitive,” Elerson said. “Because of this, when I do allow myself to show my pain, it may seem less severe or as a desperate grab at attention.” Additionally, because her immune system is compromised, it’s easy for Elerson to get sick, and harder for her to recover. She fell very ill late last semester, which put her into the hospital and forced her to withdraw from all of her classes. She is taking a lighter load, all online, this spring. “I struggle with the ability to be present in classes, which means becoming withdrawn from both needed hands-on experience for easier learning, and from opportunities of spending time with others and having fun,” she said. “My lack of attendance or obvious physical
ailments can cause others to doubt that my struggle is real.” Her many experiences with nurses have inspired her to become one herself. “I am working feverishly to become a nurse practitioner,” Elerson said. “I spent the vast majority of my childhood around nurses, either in hospitals or at home—seeing as so many family members and friends are nurses as well, which gave me great role models. Through them I found an avenue to living comfortably while doing something I enjoy (helping people while being nerdy).” Initially, Elerson wanted to move away and attend a university after high school, but things did not work out that way and she ended up enrolling at SouthArk—a decision that she says that she does not regret. “I graduated high school when I was 16 years old and in a medically-turbulent period,” she said. “Moving away to attend college while ill and younger than everyone else was a potentially-detrimental and entirely-unnecessary plan (though I still wanted to do it). “My favorite thing about this school is that because everyone here also has a story, I don’t feel ostracized because of mine,” she said. “Plus, instructors understand that sometimes changes need to be made to accommodate everyone.” College has been a challenge
Nania Elerson.
under the circumstances, Elerson admitted. “Honestly, my most long-term challenge has been keeping my emotions and morale in check,” she said. “Sickle-cell can be a very lonely illness since you don’t normally have a lot of energy to be out and about making friends. I miss the connection to others that has long since seemed lost.” Elerson’s fighting spirit, though, shines through. “Good thing I like challenges,” she said.
NEWS & NOTES FROM FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL SouthArk hosted the International Business Institute in early February. Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Week was recognized in February with a proclamation by El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash.
The annual African American Family and Friends Day was held on Feb. 17.
Collegiate Advertising Awards. The annual Spring Fling was held for students in March.
Former NASA scientist Olympia LePoint was the speaker for a March 15 Lecture Series engagement. LePoint also visited several classes.
Arkansas State Leadership Conference in April. A welding competition was held for secondary technical centers throughout the area. SouthArk’s team placed second.
The first ever SouthArk Literary Festival was scheduled for the weekend of April 13-14, though the second day of the event was cut short due to the Administration Building fire. The Semi-Annual Student Recognition Ceremony was held in mid-April. SOUTHARK FOUNDATION
An open house was held for Bradley County adult education services at SouthArk’s Education Center in Warren on Feb. 27. SouthArk was awarded a Verizon Innovative Learning grant to implement a computer coding program for middle-school girls. The SouthArk promotional video “This Is Your Time” was selected as a Silver Winner in the 2017
Fifteen students were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in early April. PBL members won awards in more than 25 categories at the
The biennial An Evening With the Stars gala was held on April 12. The annual Donor-Scholar Luncheon took place on April 26.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
A
dversity shines on character, and the recent fire at our historic Administration Building has revealed with unmistakable clarity both the character and the compassion of the employees of the college and the citizens of our area. Known on the National Register of Historic Places as the 1905 Junior College Building, the structure has been an enduring educational icon for countless students in its 113-year history. Since the April 13 fire, we have heard many times about the importance of this local structure, and the place that it occupies in the hearts and memories of those in the community. Through the tireless efforts of our local firefighters—not to mention phenomenal engineering of architects and builders more than a century ago—the structure was not a total loss. All initial signs show that this facility can be restored to its former glory and even better. That is our goal and our aim. Our thanks go out first of all to the brave men and women of the El Dorado Fire Department and Lawson Volunteer Fire Department, who worked to exhaustion in order to battle this fire; and to the El Dorado Police Department, which initially reported it. We also want to thank and recognize our amazing team at SouthArk. From only minutes after the fire was reported to the fire department, our employees responded. Many of our employees have put in untold extra hours and taken on additional responsibilities in order to get us through this trying time. Those who were displaced by the building fire have continued to work their hardest—and harder—despite dealing with the unforeseen challenges of being in unfamiliar offices and lacking many of their usual resources. They are resilient and courageous. We are so proud of our SouthArk family.
Concerned citizens across our community, and even across the state, have offered thoughtful words and assistance of all kinds. We are so thankful for the donations of food and beverages from multiple local benefactors and of offers of equipment and space from local businesses. Our own SouthArk Foundation provided meals and stands ready to assist in the recovery process, as needed. We also have been provided a generous monetary donation from our friends at the Southern Arkansas University Foundation, which will aid us in our business continuity. We have had kind expressions and offers of support from many, many local elected officials, up to and including Gov. Asa Hutchinson. We are so grateful, because despite the difficulties that we are facing, as no lives were lost, there were no injuries, no classes were impacted, and the damage was limited to one facility—the contents of which can be replaced, and the structure of which we will rebuild—even better and stronger! And so, with your continued encouragement and support, we press on with the important duties of operating the college and educating students for the future workforce. As noted, our outstanding Phi Beta Lambda students won at state and are making plans, once again, to participate in national competition. Commencement will be held soon with 285 students’ receiving diplomas and certificates. The construction of the Charles A. Hays Advanced Manufacturing Training Center is nearing completion, with the grand opening planned for this summer. The life of this great college moves on.
COMING EVENTS MAY 9 Employee Recognition Ceremony 10 Girls Learning About Math and Science
11 Spring Commencement 15 Board of Trustees meeting 28 Memorial Day (closed) 29 Summer terms begin
JUNE 20 Hays Advanced Manufacturing Training Ctr grand opening JULY 17 Board of Trustees meeting