The group started a Campus Action Day, which included students in the class using the Reynolds plaza and SAU mall area to inform the campus community about ONE’s mission of ending world poverty on April 15, 2013. Students carried large signs and took to the sidewalks to inform others in the campus community about how their signatures could help solve issues related to global poverty. Their tactics were so successful that they had to print additional sheets for signees as their goal of 150 signatures was quickly surpassed to nearly double their goal with a total of almost 300.

Christensen said that the signature sheets will soon be mailed off to ONE. Once received, the organization will add the citizens to the global database. When representatives are considering legislation for global aide funding, ONE uses its database to mail lists of signees to their respective representatives.

“I referred to this group of students as my ‘small but might social psychology class’ because they all worked so hard toward our goals, but they also learned so much about empathy, social responsibility and themselves,” said Christensen. “Many of them said they had never participated in a project like this before, and because of this project they feel like they need to do something more.”

When the group members learned that less than 1% of the U.S. budget is used for international aide, it spurred several of them to hand-write letters to their legislatures. This action was recommended by ONE during a Skype meeting earlier in the semester.

Christensen said she meeting President and CEO of ONE Michael Elliot in 2012 at the Clinton School of Public Service inspired her to base her next social psychology class on helping this cause. She spent around several months preparing before the first day of the spring semester, using Liberal Education for America’s Promise (LEAP) as a cornerstone to design the class, which includes learning outcomes, high-impact educational practices, authentic assessments and inclusive excellence.

This was a group effort, according to Christensen, who was impressed not only by the representatives at ONE and her students, but also by others such as SAU Communication Design student Kody Kasper, who helped with the graphic design needs of the project. Her collaboration with Christensen and the social psychology student helped the group build a professional portfolio and the psych students had a great time learning more about design, said Christensen.

He met with students most mornings giving a short lecture, then opened up for a time of questions from the students. Babbitt said that most of the students’ English language learning comes from studying the British dialect, so he was able to share some “American English” with the curious learners. He covered such differences as spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary. He saw himself as an informal resource for the students to have some real-world experience conversing with an American in English. The students then took turns being a resource for Babbitt as they gave him tours around Moscow, a vast city of 15 million people spread over a large geographic area.

The biggest difference Babbitt noted about the Russian students at the university was that they were deeply committed to learning despite not having a lot of technological resources in the classroom. Most students commute to campus and may live up to two hours away.they travel through snow and bitter cold to work on their degrees.

“They travel through snow and bitter cold to work on their degrees. The things Americans take for granted are a luxury in the Russian classroom,” said Babbitt. “Professors don’t have projectors or computers in their classrooms, and there is no Wi-Fi on campus.”

The campus is large, but spread throughout Moscow, so even those who live in dorms have to travel to get to class. The campus also does not provide places to study or offer social events hosted by the university. Most students study on the bus or subway on their way to or from campus, Babbitt learned.

One of the pressing questions asked by students in several of the classes was what Americans thought about Russians. They did not have a frame of reference to know where Arkansas was located or the typical stereotypes of southerners; what they did know of Americans was general. However, the students did know a lot about American pop culture, probably more than Babbitt.

“I think the funniest question I was asked,” recalls Babbitt. “’Is it true Americans don’t eat soup?’”

He shared with the students that Americans do, indeed, eat soup, just maybe not as often as those who were asking. Babbitt did have some borscht soup while he was in Russia. Borscht is a beet soup. He said you can get cuisine from all over the world in Russia, but his favorite meal was typical Georgian lamb dinner.

Babbitt was in Russia during their annual celebration of pancakes. They call them blinis and it’s a cross between an American pancake and a crepe, even though the translation comes out pancake. Even a stack of pancakes could not warm this southerner up in Moscow’s frigid weather.

“It snowed 10 of the 14 days I was there,” he said. “The temperature was only above freezing twice.”

But it was not the amount of snow that Babbitt was most impressed by, it was the Russian women’s ability to wear high heeled shoes and still keep a fast pace the ice and snow.

Babbitt even had the chance to attend a soccer game, which the Russians call soccer football. Despite having several checkpoints upon entering the stadium, fans still managed to bring in smoke bombs and firecrackers, Babbitt recalled, which kept the stands lively.

Overall, Babbitt enjoyed his trip. If he had to do it all over again, he said would learn more Russian before going. He got away with it this time, he said, because of the eagerness of the Russian students to speak with him in American English.

More information on Moscow State Pedagogical University can be found on their school website.

Ochs is nationally recognized as a fine artist within the decorative concrete industry, but is known around campus for challenging students year after year and for being passionate about student success. He teaches ceramics, 3D design, both basic and advanced digital photography.

“While his exhibits have impressed audiences in museums and galleries, he has gone beyond the conventional artistic spaces and brought his work to communities, schools, and businesses,” said 2012 Honor Professor Mary Armwood while announcing her successor at the Faculty Awards Dinner at SAU on April 12, 2013. “His workshops with school children and teachers integrate the creative process into learning in a manner that prevents it from being simply an object of study.”

Ochs began teaching at SAU in 1991, and since then he has not only inspired his own classroom students, but a myriad of artists through his community art projects. During an interview at the World of Concrete 2011 conference in Las Vegas, he recalled one of his biggest concrete projects, the Riverwalk in Little Rock.

“It was more than 200 feet long, and we had to do research in 22 different museums and documented artifacts that were important in telling the story of the people and the relationship to the river,” Ochs said. “We hired only local artists in Little Rock. Anywhere we go in the U.S. our crews actually become the local artists of that region.”

According to Dan May, the chair of the Department of Art and Design at SAU, Ochs leads by example. “Mr. Ochs shows what artists aspire to be by tirelessly experimenting with form, materials and expression, and in the process of discovery shares what he has learned with students and faculty selflessly,” said May.

“This award is certainly the highest and most meaningful honor of my career, and the fact that it was an acknowledgement by my peers makes it even more so. As I reflect on what was significant and consistent in my 22-year tenure at SAU, I accredit this University with the academic freedom bestowed upon my colleagues and me,” said Ochs. “All of us must perform and strive for balance between teaching, research and service, but how we approach that is entirely up to us. The trust in us to prepare students for the future while pursuing our personal and professional interests is greatly prized and seemingly rare in education today.”

Ochs received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Arts from the University of Illinois and his Master of Fine Arts from Ohio University. He and his wife, Kerri, reside in Magnolia.

Harris, a senior history major from Maud, Texas, has a history of success and leadership at SAU. Along with the two Student Leader awards, he has also had his name engraved on six other major student honors, such as the Donald A. Haefner Freshmen of the Year award and two Mulerider Excellence awards, as well as being named to SAU’s Who’s Who.

These accolades did not come to Harris easily. In fact, it is tiring just looking over his college transcript, which is chalked full of leadership and involvement. He has served as president of the Student Government Association since the fall of 2011, as well as holding leadership roles in the Student Activities Board, Honors College Association, Residence Hall Association, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Model United Nations, and as a resident assistant.

“I don’t take leadership positions for the recognition; I do it because I want to be able to make a difference. I want to leave everything I start better than the way I found it,” said Harris, while giving credit to this mentality from what he learned on his path to becoming an Eagle Scout. “Being able to represent the school in so many capacities has helped me grow immensely into who I am today.”

He has not only represented SAU on campus, but also at the nation’s capital for an internship in Washington, D.C. in the summer of the 2012 through the Fund for American Studies. He worked with the Student Conservation Association during the day, and took classes at Georgetown University at night. The passion he has shown at SAU must have shined through during his internship as well; he was asked to work with the Fund for American Studies again this summer.

Harris has great advice for students just starting their journey at SAU: “Get involved in as many organizations as you can. Find those people who are passionate like you and make a difference.”

He has certainly made a difference while at SAU, and he plans to continue his studies as a Mulerider into graduate school as he will be pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration before going on to law school.

Two associate professors, who were each born in China, consider foreign languages essential for learning and recognize their value long beyond the boundaries of the March event.

Since America is the melting pot of the world its people have to compete in a competitive global economy, having knowledge of another language not only helps students communicate with others from different backgrounds, it can be vital to future success.

Growing up in an obscure coal mine in the city of Datong, in China’s Shanxi province, SAU Spanish Professor Dr. Juping Wang remembers black being the dominant color of her childhood.

“Wherever I went, I saw coal. Even the dust in the air was black,” said Wang.

Wang was able to overlook the dismal surroundings and find comfort in books. Living in rural China meant there was no public library, so she borrowed books from friends, classmates and siblings. Her older brother Ju Wang bought many books and subscribed to several major literary magazines. She credits him for instilling in her a love of reading and writing.

“He initiated me to a life-long love affair with words, ideas and learning,” she said. “Reading opened a window for me to see into the other side of the world.”

In another area of China a young boy began life as a quiet, yet smart and responsible child. Dr. Yonghu Dai, also an associate professor of Spanish at SAU, grew up in the port city of Ningbo in the Zhejiang Province – about two hours south of Shanghai. Dai discovered a love of academic works. Nobody forced him into learning; He just developed the love on his own. He was a top student who chose geometry problems over open-air movies. His parents gave him a strong foundation in life and taught him he could be anything he wanted to be.

“My father had strong family values and my mother taught me to strive for my own life – the idea of self-reliance,” said Dai. “Her teachings were profound and simple. She simply sits down and [imagines] with me what will happen, what will become of my life, if I cannot do this or if I cannot achieve that.”

That exercise was very motivating for Dai, who would meet Wang, his future wife, at Peking University in Beijing – the Harvard of China. Both were studying Spanish. It was quite an honor to be admitted to the prestigious school. The university only accepts about a dozen students into the foreign language department from the entire country. It was there the couple would marry while still working on their respective degrees.

“Those years we spent at Peking University were really important,” said Wang. “Those were the years for reading through the nights, playing guitar and singing, writing and reciting poetry, attending lectures by famous writers, thinkers and scholars, visiting museums and debating philosophical, social and political issues.”

Once Dai finished his master’s degree in Spanish, he was highly sought after in the United States as a Ph.D candidate. With offers from more than ten colleges such as University of Texas Austin, Boston College, Ohio State and Southern California University, Dai decided to pursue his Ph.D in Spanish at Tulane University in New Orleans. He moved his family to Louisiana where he earned his doctorate in 2000, followed closely by his wife who earned hers in 2003.

In 2001, Dai was hired as an assistant Spanish Professor at SAU and moved his family to Magnolia. Wang taught as an adjunct for a year before being hired as full-time faculty in 2003.

The couple has two sons, Jesse and Chris. They used to discuss things in Spanish that they did not want their children to understand, but that is no longer an effective stategy.

“Since Jesse is taking Spanish at school, we cannot even use Spanish as a safe secret language anymore,” said Wang. “It is time to learn a new language.”

Both Wang and Dai are fluent in their native tongue of Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English with Wang also being fluent in Italian and currently studying French.

Dai says learning a language only requires a desire and serious learning.

“I like the way a colleague put it. ‘How do you get to play basketball so well? By throwing the ball into the basket again and again,’” he said.

Both Wang and Dai have made great memories at SAU. Wang fondly recalls visiting Machu Picchu in Peru last year while attending a conference.

Dai remembers a student who knew no Chinese, but used Google translator to find words and draw Chinese characters on paper to tell him he was a good teacher.

Dai notes that with the growing Hispanic population who are choosing to hold onto their language unlike previous waves of immigrants from Europe, the importance of learning Spanish is self-evident. He feels that learning less commonly taught languages such as Arabic, Russian or Chinese would be a valuable contribution for members of society as a whole.

SAU offers three bachelor degrees in Spanish: Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages: Spanish; Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages: Spanish with Education minor, and Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages: Spanish and French. Study abroad opportunities with Casa Xelaju, a language school in Guatemala, affords students an opportunity to study outside of the country and transfer credits back to SAU. The Dr. Betty Blue Scholarship is available each year to a Spanish major or minor, who excels in language. The Foreign Language Department also offers a Spanish Club, which coordinates field trips, movie screenings, poetry readings, food feasts.

“From the moment I stepped on campus, I loved it,” Kornegay said. “The people were nice, the campus was beautiful and it felt like home to me.”

Initially, Kornegay, a band student at Lake Hamilton High School in Hot Springs, was drawn to the music program with a degree in music education on his mind, but once he discovered the digital cinema program, his plans changed and he didn’t look back.

“The digital cinema was the closest thing to broadcasting that SAU had to offer, so I gave it a try. After being in the major and learning a lot about it, I have fallen in love with film,” he said.

As a child, Kornegay watched TV and news casts with his family. He found the programs fascinating.

“I always wanted to do that or have some part in doing it, but never gave it any thought until I experienced the process in college,” said Kornegay.

Marek Dojs, assistant professor of Mass Communication and Digital Cinema, has served as quite the mentor to students in the program. Kornegay is no exception.

“He cares about his students and he wants to see them make it in the real world,” he said. “He is always there when we need him.”

An opportunity to intern at Channel 7 in Little Rock made him realize even more his desire to work in communications, in the news industry or in some form of media even more so than filmmaking.

He gained valuable experience and made connections that would network him to opportunities on his chosen path. He returned to work as assistant to SAU Communications Director Aaron Street during the 2012 fall semester, contributing his filmmaking skills to creating feature promotional videos for SAU.

Together, the two brainstormed and feverishly worked with students, teams, faculty and staff to compile in two weeks a funny “Gangnam Style” parody video they called “Mulerider Style.” Their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. “Mulerider Style” went viral, garnering more than 43,000 YouTube views in a matter of weeks. In January, the collaborative effort was awarded a gold and “Best in Show” by the Service Industry Advertising Awards. The video was picked above 2,000 other entries from larger universities, corporations and national ad agencies.

“That has to be one of my high points at SAU,” said Kornegay. “But, my most proud moment would have to be when I received SAU’s Freshman of the Year Award in 2008. There were a lot of people involved throughout my freshman year that helped me to become the person I am today.”

Most notably, Kornegay said he remembers advice from Dustin Wolfe, the graduate assistant for the Greek organizations.

“He told me that I should always be myself and never to be someone I am not. I will always remember that,” he said.

During his time at SAU, Kornegay has been active in the Student Activities Board, Realife College Ministry, Residential Housing Association, Leadership Academy (leader), and BAM (leader).

He continues to make productions for the SAU Communication Department. His work at SAU has opened up new possibilities in his future.

“I am still passionate about the media in general, but I would love to be able to work promoting a business through video or working for a news station,” he said. “I think the digital cinema department really makes us do things on our own. It is kind of like a job in that we have to come up with ideas and make them happen,” said Kornegay. “(Marek) Dojs gives us the confidence that it can happen, so that we will be prepared for our future and know what it takes to make it happen.”

Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tan was homeschooled, which is not as commonplace as is it is in the U.S. Spending time with her mother, she heard intriguing stories of her life as a flight attendant for Saudi Arabian Airlines before Tan was born.

“All her stories seemed so magical and amazing, and I always had it in my head that one day when I grow up I would travel the world, just like her,” Tan said.

As she grew older, she has had chances to travel and learned just how tough and taxing working for the airlines would be. So far she’s traveled to Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Dubai, China and the U.S. She’s deciding that she would also like to one day see Europe and the rest of the world, but as an airplane passenger, not an employee.

The hardest part about coming to the states was actually living away from home for the first time. She was excited to come to SAU, but she would miss home, friends and family. At the airport her friends gave her a going away gift, but told her not to open it until she was on the plane. She managed to hold in her tears during the good-byes, until she opened the gift on the plane. It was a T-shirt scribbled with messages from all of her friends.

She has enjoyed how friendly and accommodating everyone at SAU is. She recognizes that Southern hospitality is a real virtue.

“People hold doors open for other people, strangers say ‘hi,’ that sort of thing,” said Tan. “That’s something I don’t see a lot of in Malaysia.”

Now a junior psychology major, Tan likes the smaller class sizes and individual attention she gets at SAU. She’s in Honors College, but has also joined the International Student Association, Psychology Club and Psi Chi. She is a President’s Ambassador and a supplemental instructor for general psychology and statistics.

Her favorite professors are Dr. Ed Kardas, who is her advisor and Honors College Director, and psychology professor Dr. Chrisanne Christensen.

“They’ve given me much solid advice and guidance during my time here at SAU. I’ve worked closely with them long enough to know that they genuinely want to see me succeed both academically and in life, and that was something I never expected,” said Tan.

While she doesn’t really have a favorite class, she knows she lacks interest in chemistry.

Once she finishes her psychology degree at SAU, she plans to go on to graduate school, and possibly on to a Ph.D.

Tan thinks getting out of her comfort zone has been one of her best experiences and she encourages others to stretch beyond theirs and reach for their goals.

“Do your absolute best. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, because that’s where you gain the most experience. Know your goals and make sure you keep up with them.”

The one thing she hasn’t had time to do while at SAU is start a gaming club to foster her love of video games. She hopes it’s something she will find time to do in the future.

As she’s nearing the completion of her bachelor’s degree, she appreciates the support from her family and the great experience she has had at SAU. She can’t think of a single thing she would change, if she could.

“I’m glad [my parents] didn’t let me choose to study back home,” she said. “The experience I’ve gained here is priceless.”

“I realized that my place was in the College of Education where I could have impact on so many more students by helping to teach great teachers,” she said.

Pursuing her master’s degree, Dobbins quickly found a mentor who helped her navigate through and encouraged her to seek her doctorate.

“During my first teaching course I realized immediately that teaching was most definitely for me,” she said. “The teacher in that course is still my mentor and best friend. Because of her, I know that I must continue to learn and implement new techniques to be a great educator.”

Because she obtained her Ph.D online, Dobbins has experienced clear and concise classes, as well as unclear and confusing classes. Because of those experiences, she strives to keep her online classes rigorous and meaningful.

She presents her classes in a week-to-week format. She uses clearly marked tabs for weekly assignments and due dates. A to-do list helps students keep their assignments in order. She also incorporates a specific teaching theory into her classes so students can actually experience the theory while learning how to share it with their own students. She strives for consistency in the online classes.

“Candidates respond in a positive manner and are appreciative of having clear expectations and procedures,” she said. “There is no deviation in the method for teaching.”

Content goes up each week at the same time, she said. Discussions and assignments are consistent and due dates and format are clearly outlined. There are continued opportunities for clear communication in the hopes that students have a feeling of confidence in the process and their abilities.

For Dobbins, whether students are face-to-face in real-time classes or learning via online options, she incorporates the same material into the lesson plans, but adapts the format, depending on the needs and environment of the class.

Relationships are the foundation of her teaching style. Helping students realize their dreams and goals, while knowing she is impacting the lives of more than just those she is teaching motivates Dobbins. There is a satisfaction that comes from knowing her role in the lives of teachers makes a difference for every future student her candidates will teach after they graduate. It’s a mission she takes seriously.

“The best part about teaching is building relationships with candidates – Helping candidates fulfill their dreams… and watching them grow into excellent teachers,” said Dobbins.

In Thompson’s second semester at SAU he began playing his guitar outside much to the delight of passers-by. More recently he began playing his saxophone in the swing under the moonlit bell tower or outside of Reynolds. Initially afraid that his music would disturb evening classes, he soon realized people were enjoying his playing.

“I figured if someone stopped to listen then it must not sound too bad,” he said. “Then I started seeing that people stopped to listen a whole lot more often than I thought.”

Some of his favorite places to play are the duck pond, the Greek theater, the mall area and Java City. He feels playing outside gives him new acoustic environments he wouldn’t normally experience, and playing for others gives him practice in playing for an audience.

“The mall area and Java [City] provide me with a continuously circulating audience,” said Thompson, “Meaning that if I want to play the same thing a couple of times in a row, I can usually get away with it.”

Growing up in central Arkansas, Thompson always had an artistic mindset and loves art – drawing and painting- but decided that he didn’t want to be like other artists who were only known for one type of medium. Instead, he decided to learn as many arts as he possible. Eventually he signed up for band and realized after about four years of playing the saxophone that music was really his first love.

He credits his family with being supportive of every endeavor he has pursued.

“My parents are the very best parents anywhere…, hands down, no argument, no contest,” he said.

Thompson said his parents have supported every decision he’s made and helped guide him through problems without attempting to change his course.

Once he graduates from SAU, he intends to pursue graduate school. He has his options laid out and has a tentative schedule of where his life is going for at least the next three years.

The most memorable experience he’s had on campus was when he moved in as a freshman and had to explain to his new roommate why he had a Bugs Bunny quilt that looked like it was made for a 10-year-old on his bed. He related that his grandmother made it for him when he was 10 years old and he keeps her memory close through that quilt.

Dr. Dykema is Thompson’s favorite professor, but also has given him the most challenging course – written music theory III.

“Even for someone with a broad mind, this class stretched it to the breaking point and beyond,” said Thompson.

It’s this kind of challenge that has made his time here at SAU so enjoyable. The most valuable lesson he has learned from Dr. Dykema is that music is felt internally first before it can be shared externally.

His proudest moment came when he played his own composition as the finale to his senior recital. He said it received a better reception than other pieces that had been written by well known composers.

Music isn’t the only thing Thompson feels he does well. He’s also into chess, gaming, drawing, painting, sculpting, crocheting, sewing, cleaning, working on cars, playing music, writing, reading, leatherworking, hiking, fishing and cooking.

With such an array of skills it’s easy to see that Thompson has taken his own advice to heart as he nears graduation.

“Let no one get in your way… and take no prisoners,” he said. “Your life is your own, so make the most of it.”