A D VANCES - The Newsletter of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Foundation | November 2013 | Vol. 5 - No. 1
TE A CHER O N THE R I S E In Natasha Shoate ’09, Margaret Marsh Newell’s passion for teaching carries forward “Ever since I was a little girl, it’s what I wanted to be,” says third-grade teacher Natasha Shoate, a 2009 graduate of UAFS’s early childhood education program. “I always had good teachers, and I looked up to them.” Now, the third-graders Shoate teaches at Fort Smith’s Cavanaugh Elementary look up to her in turn. In fact, one of them, Elizabeth Kelly, thought enough of Shoate to write an essay that won her recognition as a “Teacher on the Rise” from the Mrs. Baird’s Bread company. The nomination by that particular student came as a bit of a surprise to Shoate, who says the student “wasn’t that enthused about school,” to begin with. But over the course of the year, says Shoate, “she had a change of heart.” It’s just that kind of ability that would have impressed another teacher, Margaret Marsh Newell, whose namesake scholarship played a role in bringing Shoate to UAFS to prepare for her career as an educator. The scholarship, Shoate says, “helped me choose UAFS, and it made it worth it for me to go.” Encouraging students to better their circumstances through a good education was important to Newell, who obtained her master’s degree while raising four children on her own. Newell, says UAFS Foundation director of planned giving Anne Thomas, “had a passion for inspiring and encouraging others.” In a way, the scholarship created in her honor by friends and family after her passing allows her to continue to do that. “A legacy was created,” says Thomas. “Who knows how many lives she has touched? The scholarship perpetuates Margaret’s passion for education and learning.” It’s a passion Shoate herself carries on. If the mark of a great teacher is high test scores, she qualifies. Last year, her class ranked third in the state in mathematics on a standard assessment test. If that mark is a solid
understanding of educational theory, she also qualifies. Even while teaching, she has kept learning and now holds a master’s degree. But when it comes right down to it, maybe the mark of a great teacher isn’t something that should be measured with testing or degrees. Maybe it’s something that should be measured in the eyes of students like Kelly, for whom Shoate was that one outstanding teacher who inspired her to actually care about school. And Shoate doesn’t just support and encourage her students during school hours; her work as an educator and a positive role model goes beyond the classroom. “My students are always asking me to their sporting events,” says Shoate, “and I always go watch when they ask.” She’s partly just being kind, but playing basketball at UAFS also taught her the important role sports can play in a student’s life. It’s not just her students, though, that Shoate reaches; she also remains involved with the College of Education, and this past school year, she had a student intern from UAFS in her classroom for the first time, an opportunity she was excited to have—and an opportunity that further broadens the impact of the giving that created the Margaret Marsh Newell Scholarship. In fact, if giving to support higher education can be thought of as an investment in the future, and the gifts themselves thought of as legacies of those who give them or of those they honor, then Natasha Shoate being assisted by the Margaret Marsh Newell Scholarship is a nearperfect example of both—a scholarship endowment named to honor an inspired and inspiring educator perpetuates her legacy by helping train another outstanding educator, who not only touches the lives of the children of her community but also helps encourage and train still more teachers. Now that’s a legacy. —Jaime Hebert
“ The scholarship helped me choose UAFS, and it made it worth it for me to go.”
In Memory of
Gifts made November 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013
Rebecca Needham Anderson Doris Needham
Andrew “Andy” Jackson Crawford Glidewell Distributing Company
Cynthia Bagby Janice and Bob Powell
Jean Crawford Sandy and Larry McGowan
Charles and Nadine Baum Sally and Elvin Frick
Mazie Dean Cunningham Brenda and Carl Davis
Edgar Bethell Barbara Bethell Suzanne and Bruce Bethell
Roger E. Curtis, Jr. Glidewell Distributing Company
Dr. Sidney Blakely Phyllis Driver Roland S. Boreham, Jr. Fort Smith Symphony Wayne Broyles Mary Ellen and Richard Green Rebecca Redding Cochran Glidewell Distributing Company James “Jay” Coleman Reverend Herschel and Mardell McClurkin Morris Glynn Colquitt Glidewell Distributing Company Hugh Blake Correll Antoinette Beland Dot Hosford Janice and Bob Powell Lt. Col. Thomas W. Cox Susan and Ed Devero Chuck Cramer Sue and Jerry Peerbolte
Walter Davidson Phyllis Davidson Luke Davis Mary and Charles Brooner Sherry and Edward Corbin Corma and R. L. Covington for the Irving, Texas Terry Way Neighborhood Sandra and Wilbur Davis Keith Glass Motor Sales, Inc. Kathy Marks Laverne McCorkle Dorothy Nixon Frankie and Loyd Plunkett Vickie and Ray Webb Randy Davis Shirley and James Bearden Mary and Charles Brooner Calico County Restaurant Ashley Davis Robbie and J. Luke Davis Jamie, Michelle, Courtney, and Katy Glidewell Nadra Hackney Wendell Link Kathy Marks
Laverne McCorkle Gary A. Monroe Debbie Sadler Dori and Harold Scharbor Jean and Michael Sterling Susan and Rick Taylor Terrie and Warren Webb P. J. Douglas Susie and James Dunn Donna Ohlson Senator Ruth Whitaker Lynette and Walter Woodie, Jr. J. D. Edwards Brenda and Courtney Crouch, Jr. Selected Funeral & Life Insurance Company Mary Edwards Brenda and Courtney Crouch, Jr. Selected Funeral & Life Insurance Company Austin Elder Michelle and Jamie Glidewell Paula E. Evans Glidewell Distributing Company Mossie Lene Farrar Genelle and Dave Newton Kathy Fioretti Glidewell Distributing Company Don Flanders Sue Plattner Smith Rebecca Yarbrough
Vida Fountain UAFS Business Office Susan Franks Antoinette Beland Dot Hosford Helen Frasier Dr. Richard and Kay Aclin Anonymous Donors (2) Ann Filyaw Linda and Jim Harwood Pat Hutson Mary Ellen and Brad Jesson Dr. Mary Jane Keel and Richard Keel Millie Kramer Paula Linder P.E.O. Chapter BD Marcy Porter Dr. Taylor and Mary Prewitt Cheryl Schirmer Sherron and Charles Shuffield Mary Thompson Dr. Bobbie N. Walker Nancy Weaver Catherine S. Williams Bobbie Wohlford Kim and Charlie Wohlford Charlotte Weable Frazier Kathy and Wesley Darnell J. B. Garrison, Jr. Kimberly and Jim Garrison Robert “Bob” Gattis Genelle and Dave Newton
Phyllis Gilker Antoinette Beland Dot Hosford Robert Hunt Gregg, Sr. Amy Bailey Carolyn and Cris Carter Pollajean Griffin Betty Carlile Polly Griffin Carolyn and Michael Brown Crawford County Car Club Alice and Donald Dean Ken Griffin Marie and Claude Hatley Louise Melton Jim Grizzle Glidewell Distributing Company Kim and John McFarland Jack Hackney Laverne McCorkle Keith Hadley Glidewell Distributing Company Garland “Gano” Harris Reverend Herschel and Mardell McClurkin Winston Harvey Alice and Donald Dean Mary Ellen and Richard Green Bobbie Jean Hefley Nina Abernathy Genelle and Dave Newton