Dr. Lauren Schack Clark, professor of music, has been designated as a MTNA Foundation Fellow. The foundation bestows this honor upon outstanding individuals who have 'made a significant difference in the music world.' She will be recognized in March during the conference gala at the MTNA National Conference in Las Vegas. According to the MTNA, Clark's contributions to the music profession have inspired numerous teachers and students.

Dr. Jill Simons, dean of University College, has been honored with a "First-Year Student Advocate Award" by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina and Cengage Learning. The award honors individuals for their outstanding work on behalf of first-year college students and for the impact of their efforts on the culture of their institutions. Ten recipients were selected from 116 nominations.

The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas has presented its Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement to Dr. Ruth A. Hawkins for her work in preservation, tourism and education. Hawkins is the director of the Arkansas Heritage Sites program, director of the Arkansas Delta Byways regional tourism association, and faculty member for the Heritage Studies Ph.D. program. Her work has helped protect important facets of Arkansas history and demonstrated their value to Arkansas's economy.

Jennifer Jasinski, director of business services and risk management in the division of Finance and Administration, has been appointed to serve on the Governmental and Regulatory Affairs Committee for the University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA). This committee keeps members informed of about new and revised laws and regulations and provides recommendations for URMIA formal comment to regulatory bodies. She has been an A-State staff member since 1990.

Nominations and applications for the 2015 Faculty Achievement Awards, to be presented during Convocation of Scholars, are due by Friday, Feb. 13. Each of the four annual awards includes a $2,500 stipend.

Ideas, news tips and feedback for Inside A-State are always welcome. Forward information or comments to the Marketing and Communications Staff at news@astate.edu or call us at (870) 972-3820.

Dr. Michael Bowman, assistant professor of media, wrote a successful grant application for $3,542 from the Arkansas Humanities Council. The grant will be used to support the first Delta Flix Film and Media Festival, for which Bowman is director. Sponsored by the College of Media and Communication, the festival will feature creative work by filmmakers and multimedia content specialists on a range of topics during its April 7-11 schedule, which will run concurrently with the 21st annual Delta Symposium.

Ideas, news tips and feedback for Inside A-State are always welcome. Forward information or comments to the Marketing and Communications Staff at news@astate.edu or call us at (870) 972-3820.