Six students and a professor from the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, attended and participated in the ArkAHPERD state convention in Eureka Springs.
“The convention was very informative,” said Katy O’Pry, a senior health, kinesiology, and recreation major from El Dorado. “By attending the convention we were allowed to network and meet other future professionals.”
O’Pry serves on the 2005-06 ArkAHERD with Dr. Sheri Baggett-McMinn, an associate professor of health, kinesiology, and recreation. As a board member, O’Pry served as a program presider and delivered the invocation for the awards luncheon. Baggett-McMinn serves as the current president of the organization.
Using the convention theme “Whatever it Takes,” O’Pry and Baggett-McMinn presented a program with Peggy Sue Bryant and Dr. Lynn Glover-Leggett from Henderson State University titled “Faculty and Student Perceived Values on the Importance of being an Active Member of a Major/Minor Club.”
At the awards luncheon, O’Pry received the Newman McGee student scholarship, the most prestigious student award given by the association.
“The scholarship is based on a student’s participation and involvement with health, kinesiology, and recreation,” said O’Pry.
Four students, calling themselves the Riders, participated in and won the Student Super Stars state competition. The team bested six other teams from Arkansas Universities. The winners received a gift card from Wal-Mart.
Students attending the state convention include O’Pry; Christy Thompson, a senior HKR major from Bearden; Elizabeth Tankersley, a senior HKR major from Ashdown; Mark Legge, a junior exercise science major from New South Wales, Australia; Richard Bell, a senior HKR major from De Queen; and Melody Manning, a senior exercise science major from Magnolia.
