Banquet keynotes Japanese, American differences

By Jerrica Hutchison, The Herald Staff

The College of Arts and Sciences held its annual honors banquet to honor its most outstanding graduates Tuesday in the Convocation Center Hames Room.
Dean Linda Pritchard began the banquet by "celebrating ASU's academic best." She compared the college to an alphabet soup of courses, from "A in anthropology to Z in zoology," she said.

"We offer 48 different majors in 10 different departments," Pritchard said. "This is lifetime learning for every single ASU student."

Arkansas State University President Les Wyatt said it was a great honor to be there that night. "This is an opportunity to recognize the achievement and accomplishments of students, faculty and staff."

After Wyatt spoke, Pritchard presented the keynote speaker of the evening, Dr. Takeshi Matsuda. Matsuda is a professor of American history at Osaka University and is a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at Washington, D.C.

Matsuda's speech, "Becoming Cosmopolitan: The Joy of Living in Two Worlds," talked about the difference in American and Japanese values. "In America, they value independence and self-assertiveness. Japanese people cherish groupism greatly," he said.

Matsuda ended his speech with the importance of combining independence and acceptance of other people. "It is not him alone that can make it possible to live in this world," he said, referring to the independent figure.

After Matsuda's speech was over, Pritchard began announcing the faculty awards. She said this year the winner for the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Distinguished Achievement Award would be given to two people because of how qualified both were.

One was presented to Dr. Mark Draganjac, professor of chemistry.

He has a direct record of achievement throughout his tenure," Pritchard said.

The other winner was Dr. William Clements, professor of English and philosophy.

Pritchard described Clements as a folklorist by training. Clements, who has been at ASU since 1971, has published nine books, has edited Midsouth Folklore and created the Delta Blues Symposium eight years ago.

Pritchard went on to describe the student awards next. The chair of each department among the College of Arts and Sciences presented the awards to graduates of each department.

Dr. Charles Carr, chair of English and philosophy, presented the three awards for the department. The BSE English award went to Lisa A. Moore of Marmaduke, BA English went to Leslie Hatcher of Jonesboro and BA Philosophy went to Jason Warnick of Jonesboro.

The chair of the history department, Dr. Alexander Sydorenko, presented the awards in his department. The BSE Social Science award went to Travis Crader of Bald Knob. Edward Dodge and Natalie Bari, both of Jonesboro, both received the BA History award. Jeffrey Cline of Jonesboro and Elijah Stancel of Atlanta both received the Outstanding Graduate Student award.

Dr. Scott Darwin, chair of languages, presented the departments awards next. Brent Baker of Walnut Ridge was presented the Outstanding French Student award. The Outstanding Spanish Student award went to Melanie Hulsey of Judsonia, and the Outstanding German Student award went to Neva Simunkovic.

The political science awards were presented by Dr. Jane Gates. Two students received awards. Gaylon Rainwater of Noble received the BA Political Science award, and Stacy McHatton of Jonesboro received the Masters of Public Administration award.

Dr. Paul Nave, chair of chemistry and physics, presented the department's awards. Two people, Melissa Arnold and William Franks, received the BS Chemistry award. Andrea Minor of Jonesboro received the BA Chemistry award, and the BS Physics award went to Matt Tilley of Jonesboro.

The computer sciences and mathematics chair, Dr. Jeff Jenness, presented awards next. The BSE Mathematics Education award went to Marty Riley of Marion, BS Computer Science went to Joseph Burleson of Hardee and the BS Mathematics award went to Steffany Belcher-Novosad of Brinkley.

Dr. Roger Buchanan, chair of biological sciences, handed out awards for the department. Terry Lee Rhodes of Paragould received the BSE Biology award. The BS Preprofessional Studies award went to Ashlei Williams, and the BS Wildlife Ecology and Management award went to Allison Fowler. Lori Gearhart of Salem received the BS Zoology award, and Lynn Alterman of Jonesboro received the MS Biology award.

Dr. George Lord, chair of criminology, sociology, social work and geography, presented the awards at the close of the banquet. Jacqueline Davis of Jonesboro received the BA Criminology award. Erica Brown of Little Rock and Carrie Clubb of Jonesboro received the BA Social Work award. The BA Sociology award went to Ryan Brooks of Jonesboro, and Elizabeth White of Paragould received the BA Geography award.

At the end of the banquet, Pritchard spoke highly of the award winners. "I couldn't be prouder of our faculty and students in the College of Arts and Sciences," she said.