NEWS BRIEFS

Phi Beta Lambda members earn national awards
In July, two members of the UCA Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda who competed in business-related events at the PBL National Leadership Conference in Orlando, earned national awards.

Approximately 1,500 PBL members from across the nation attended the conference. Awards were given to the top ten finalists in each competitive event.

UCA students who placed in competition were:
Scott Brownmiller, 4th place in Finance
Jessica Smith, 8th place in Economics
Candace Cullipher graduated with honors from the National Leadership Institute, which is part of the National Leadership Conference. She also served as UCA's PBL chapter president. Cullipher was elected the state PBL president at the PBL Spring Leadership Conference for the 2001-2002 school year.

The UCA PBL Chapter also received the prestigious Gold Key Award for outstanding service and accomplishments. Only 24 of the 238 PBL chapters at 4-year institutions received this award.

UCA Athletes volunteer at Boys & Girls Club
Several UCA athletes spent Wednesday afternoon with children at the Boys & Girls Club in Conway. "We just wanted to interact with the youth of Conway and the Boys & Girls Club is one of the best places to do that," Senior Assistant Athletic Director Darrell Walsh said.

Athletes from the winter and spring sports were at the club on Wednesday and athletes from the summer and fall sports will also make time next semester to visit the club. This is the third year that UCA athletes have volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club.

Mark Hill, unit director for Boys & Girls Club, was pleased to see the athletes make time for the children. 'It's always positive to include athletes in our youth's lives," he said. "It gives them something to look up to and creates a positive atmosphere for the athletes just as much as it does the kids."

The Boys & Girls Club is funded by United Way and is open to any child between the ages of 6-16 in the Faulkner County area. It operates in conjunction with the school system and is open from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. every afternoon. "We are not here as a babysitting facility, but a positive place for kids to come and interact with other children," Hill said. "We also offer tutorial sessions for the children."

UCA Honors victims at candle light vigil

Serena Jeffery, SGA president, led a memorial service and candlelight vigil last week to honor the victims of the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C. Over one thousand UCA students along with faculty, staff and members of the Conway community came to Estes stadium to show their support. Mayor Tab Townsell was one of several dignitaries who spoke to the crowd. The event was in place of an originally scheduled pep rally that was part of Purple Power Week. 

Purple Power Week recognized
A reception sponsored by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce was held last Monday night at Centennial Valley Country Club in Conway to kick off Purple Power Week.

Dr. Bill Lide, UCA athletic director, welcomed everyone to the reception and introduced the UCA coaching staff.

Mayor Tab Townsell declared Sept. 10-15 as Purple Power Week. A declaration was also read from the Governor declaring Thursday, Sept. 13 as Purple Power Day.

Also speaking at the event was Nancy Elphingstone, director of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. Elphingstone promoted Purple Power Week and encouraged all businesses in Conway to hang up their signs in business windows to show their spirit and support of the UCA Bears.