Alumna receives Wings of Excellence Award

Dr. Ruth Jones, pictured with Alan Phillips, Director of the NASA Safety Center was awarded the Cleveland Federal Executive Board’s Wings of Excellence Award at the 27th Annual Awards Program.

CLEVELAND, OH – Dr. Ruth Jones, a 1994 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) graduate received the Cleveland Federal Executive Board’s Wings of Excellence Award at the 27th Annual Awards Program for serving as an inspiration to others and bringing credit to the Federal service.

Employed by NASA Safety Center’s Mishap Investigation Support Office, Jones was honored for significant contributions to three agency investigations that required rapid intervention and assistance as well as an extended temporary duty at Glenn Research Center to complete one of the investigations within the 75-day requirement.  Jones is also a mentor for the Youth Motivation Task Force at UAPB, which offers students assistance transitioning to a professional environment.

A native of West Helena, Arkansas, Dr. Jones received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from UAPB in 1994 and is the daughter of William and Essie Jones and a 1989 honor graduate of Central High School in West Helena. Dr. Jones is also an alumna of Alabama A & M University where she received her Doctorate of Philosophy and Masters of Science degrees in Physics/Materials Science in December 2000 and July 1997, respectively.

Dr. Jones is the second African American woman to receive a Ph. D. in Physics in the state of Alabama, and the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from UAPB. The author of numerous articles on optical physics, Dr. Jones is also a member of the System Safety Society, American Physical Society, Optical Society of America, SPIE, National Society of Black Physicists, National Society of Black Engineers and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Her ultimate goal is to teach Physics at a Junior College or University because she has never had a female professor or a black professor throughout her educational career. She feels that if she gives back by teaching she can show other young girls that women can excel in science and math. In addition, Dr. Jones is frequently invited to high schools and colleges to deliver commencement speeches as well as workshops, which encourages students to pursue college degrees and advanced degrees. One of her goals is to help young people, particularly minorities in small towns, understand the excitement, opportunities and enjoyment in pursuing a technical career.

Alumnus receives distinguished service award

MISSISSIPPI – The Honorable Jimmy Hammock, International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated was given the President’s Honorarii Alcornite Societatis during Alcorn State University’s commencement in recognition of an individual’s “distinguished service within their profession, discipline or other human endeavor”.

“The Alcorn family is pleased to honor and recognize the distinguished service of these individuals”, said Alcorn State University President Christopher Brown. “As our graduates envision their future footpaths, they will be enthused by the ways these men and women have demonstrated the knowledge and character emblematic of Alcornites with a spirit of excellence”.

A native of Fordyce, Arkansas, Hammock recently retired from ArvinMeritor, formerly Rockwell International as Materials Manager after 29 years of service. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) in 1972 with a degree in Business Administration. Prior to attending UAPB, he attended J. E. Wallace High School in Fordyce, and received a full four year academic scholarship to UAPB.

His awards and recognitions include the Global Excellence Award from ArvinMeritor, Good Citizenship Award from Rockwell International, 2005 Healing Hearts Award from Morristown-Hamblen Health Care Systems, Boys and Girls Club Appreciation Award, Outstanding Community Service Award from United Way and the Phi Beta Sigma Service to the Region Award from Southeastern Region.

Short film produced by alumna chosen by NC film festival

NORTH CAROLINA – “The Beholder,” a short film produced by May 2011 UAPB graduate Tenisha Allen was chosen as an Official Selection of the North Carolina Black film festival. The film has already won an award for Best Actress, honoring Alexis Skinner, UAPB Theatre Instructor. Filmed on a shoe string budget, this homegrown film needs community support and sponsors to cover the travel expenses of getting the filmmaker and cast to Wilmington, North Carolina. Mrs. Allen is setting high goals to bring her film national success.

The sensational young filmmaker exercises her instruction from UAPB’s philosophy department highlighting sibling rivalry. The spin on this classic tug-of-war is unique to people of color and is often an unhealthy stratification which ranks dark skin at the totem pole’s base and lighter skin at the top worms its way into individual self-esteem. Inspired by her own sisters’ struggles rooted in jealous envy seeded by colorism, Tenisha Allen penned a parable-like script, a story of loving who you are on the threat of losing it.

The Beholder Film is a snapshot of Pine Bluff’s young artist community composed of UAPB students, local designers, and musicians. The cast includes: Lauren Akins, Bennu Ankh Re, Carlton Brewer, Danny Burl, Na’shall Castle, Marquis Carter, Marchello Eans, Winter Eans, Obafemi Karamoko, Kelsey Newman, Obum Nwankwo, UAPB SGA Presidient, Amirha Singleton and Alexis M Skinner. The Beholder was produced in cooperation with Bobby Dandridge and The Black Butterfly Media team’s production assistance.

For more information, visit 3WCfilms.com or contacting Tenisha Allen at info@3wcfilms.com.

UAPB art professor included in exhibit at Gallery Guichard

CHICAGO, IL. – Danny Campbell, art professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) will be one of the artists exhibiting at Gallery Guichard in Chicago, Illinois. The exhibit will open on Thursday, February 21 with a collector’s preview and an artist reception on Friday, February 22 with the show running to April 1. His exhibition titled, “Repurposed Wonders” will feature over 40 works of art and will be a mixture of floor sculptures, wall assemblages and collages.

These works are made from recycled tires and found objects on the highways and byways. He is an exciting artist who uses tire fragments by constructing, overlapping and weaving them into beautiful works of art.

“I started using tire fragments years ago when I nearly had a severe accident on the Atlanta interstate when a busted tire was thrown over the top of my vehicle from an 18 wheeler truck,” said Campbell. “I am not in the business of saving people’s lives like doctors or physicians do, but I do my part to prevent accidents by using these tire fragments to make art. I want to repurpose them into something positive and meaningful.”

The tire is also used as a way to illustrate the world going green, globalization, the turbulent economy and the working class citizen.

“I want the public to understand what contemporary art is and to shed light on the material around us to make our world a better place to live, work and play. These tires have become a relic symbol of status, fame and association in our society.”

Campbell plans to conduct a national recycling tire campaign and use the tires to create art to reach a wider audience and raise road obstruction awareness.

Danny Campbell is a 1992 graduate of UAPB; he obtained his MFA degree from Howard University and a MA Ed from Charleston University. Recently, his work was featured in the International Scope Exhibit during Art Basil in Miami, Florida and in April he will be one of the featured artists on the Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage Cruise to help support Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The foundation was established to help students stay in school.

For more information, call (870)575-8237.

Alumnus retires after nearly three decades as newsman, credits Alma Mater for foundation

Tisha Arnold | Public Information

1967 AM&N graduate Al Allen recently retired from WJBK Fox 2 News in Detroit after nearly 30 years in the industry. Having begun his higher education with an associate degree from the Detroit College of Business, the Little Rock native had warm memories of his time at Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N) while pursuing his degree in Mass Communications-Broadcast Journalism.

“I had a great time [while at AM&N],” said Allen. “I enjoyed it thoroughly.”

Allen tells his student interns that the experience of attending a black college is something you can never take away – he spent a good deal of his time working at a local radio station in Pine Bluff where he was able to do a news segment, act as an on-air personality and sell advertising.

“We did a little bit of everything,” said Allen.

Allen credits the work ethic it took to accomplish so much in his life to one of his journalism instructors while at AM&N. “He always said that you are only as good as your last newscast,” said Allen, adding that his instructor would end the statement with, “and your last newscast wasn’t that good.”

He has been awarded several honors for his work, including the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for a half-hour documentary about Black on Black Crime in Detroit. The honor afforded him an opportunity to meet the Kennedys at their mansion.

Despite his numerous accolades, Al Allen remains humble. “They tell me these things I’ve done and I don’t believe all that,” said Allen. “I just showed up and worked every day.”

Allen continues to be passionate about reporting and misses his work, adding that former 60 Minutes host Mike Wallace didn’t retire until he was 90 years old. “He didn’t think he could do anything else. [As a news reporter] you become consumed by what you do.”

Encouraging everyone to go to college, Allen noted that the experience of being around new people and a new environment can be a challenge, but added that attending a smaller institution like the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff allows students to get more attention and ultimately learn more.

“You become a part of the fabric of the institution,” said Allen. “And that’s a wonderful thing.”