ASBA Annual Conference
Awards Continued from page 15
Pat Roby, Lawrence County; Ira Lee Whitfield, Marked Tree; Lennie Hogan, Nettleton; Ronnie Ledbetter, Ouachita; and Jerry Daniels, Warren. In addition, René Knowles of Drew Central received the President’s Award for achieving at least 500 hours of continuing education credit. Receiving the Platinum Award for achieving at least 400 hours were Mike Pennington, Drew Central; Jerry Bishop, Nevada; and Carla Gipson, Stuttgart. Receiving the Pinnacle Award for achieving 200 hours of continuing education credit were the following school board members: Rebecca Powers, Bentonville; Todd Hales, Greenwood; Daryel Jackson, Marion; Sandra Campbell, North Little Rock; Torian Bell, Osceola; Jeff Lisenbey, Sheridan; Michelle Cheek, South Conway County; Mark Stobaugh, South Conway County; and Spencer Parker, Wynne. Receiving the Master Award for achieving 50 or more hours were the following school board members: Gina
White, Arkadelphia; Scott Jowers, Armorel; LaDonna Gibson, Bald Knob; Chad Hipps, Berryville; Joe Trusty, Cabot; William King, Cleveland County; Jennifer Cunningham, Conway; Joe Burton, County Line; Katie Jordan, Crossett; Jim Harbin, Cutter Morning Star; Kevin Smith, Decatur; Stephanie Jones, Dermott; Clarence Thrower, Dermott; Gary Lucas, Drew Central; Brandon Akridge, East End; Daniel Nooner, East Poinsett County; and Christopher McClung, Eureka Springs. Also receiving the Master Award were Will Segraves, Foreman; Yolanda Mason, Forrest City; Evetta Whitby, Forrest City; Talicia Richardson, Fort Smith; Gary Dunlap, Gentry; Lee Ketchum, Gosnell; Jodi Moore, Gravette; Jay Oliphant, Gravette; Brad Johnson, Greenwood; James Rooney, Guy Perkins; Jim Wells, Hamburg; Alan Ferguson, Hampton; Frank Magness, Harrison; Mark Martin, Harrison; Sandra Penn, Hazen; Cynthia Rogers, Hot Springs; Greg Coats, Hoxie; Janeal Yancey, Huntsville; Joel Brasel, Jasper; Skip Emmett, Jasper; and Tiffany McCain, Lake Hamilton.
Also receiving the Master Award were Jason James, Lamar; Brittany Schmidt, Lawrence County; Michael Gipson, Mansfield; Gary Wehrum, Marion; Pat Raney, Mayflower; Bob Briley, McCrory; Allen Holmes, McCrory; Arnold Knox, Mountain Home; Michael Palmer, Mountain Pine; Susan Allen, Mt. Vernon Enola; Harry Harvey, Nettleton; Rochelle Redus, North Little Rock; Beth Ullrich, Paris; Sandy Button, Pea Ridge; Mike Brickell, Riverside. Also receiving the award were Adam Fritsche, Scranton; Cliff Preston, Smackover-Norphlet; Debbie Creek, Springdale; Vivian Finney, Star City; Larry Barnes, Stuttgart; Todd Reed, Valley View; Brant Tosh, Valley View; Tim Nolan, Vilonia; Owen McAdoo, West Fork; and Doug Coleman, White Hall. School boards received the Master Board Award for having all of their board members accumulate 50 hours of boardsmanship credit. The following boards received the award: Conway, Drew Central, Greenwood, Hot Springs, Hoxie, Paris, Valley View and White Hall.
Farmington junior wins speaking contest
Farmington High School junior Summer Wolfe won ASBA’s Student Speaker contest with her essay and speech, “A Quarantine Fling.” She presented her talk virtually at ASBA’s Annual Conference and received a $1,000 cash award. First Security Beardsley Public Finance sponsored the contest. Eighteen juniors and seniors submitted an essay and a video on time. The topic was, “Identify and discuss what weaknesses and what strengths the coronavirus is exposing in our society.” Wolfe’s speech was a clever “breakup letter” addressed to the virus where she said, “It’s not us; it’s you. ... This relationship has to end.” On the plus side, Wolfe said the virus had inspired people to display empathy and volunteer to help others. However, it also had divided the country and inspired some to mock science. 18 March 2021 Report Card
“Good people who care about their country have turned against each other, misled by your devious ways,” she said. Regarding the disease’s infectious nature, she said, “You are incapable of a monogamous relationship. It’s like you can’t survive unless you are involved with everyone.” But humanity was fighting back through the vaccine, she said, adding, “I was not immune to you, but someday I will be.” The second place winner, Conway High School senior Lydia Quinn, received a $750 cash prize for her presentation, “Revelations from COVID-19.” The third place winner, Bentonville High School senior Muskaan Arshad, received a $500 cash prize for her presentation, “COVID-19 and Race.” Quinn and Arshad also presented their speeches virtually at the conference.
Summer Wolfe placed first with her speech entitled, “A Quarantine Fling.”
