Twenty-three students from Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, were honored as national outstanding campus leaders at a banquet held in their honor for being named to the 2007 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
“This is a really important recognition,” said Dr. David Rankin, president of SAU. “I want to congratulate you. Those elected to Who’s Who are a special group of students.”
Campus nominating committees and editors of the annual directory have included these students based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success.
Jeff Holcombe, a 1993 and 1995 graduate of SAU, spoke to the students. Holcombe currently serves as counselor at De Queen High School. Holcombe was elected to the 1989 class of Who’s Who at SAU.
“Being selected to Who’s Who is an award that you should be proud,” Holcombe said. “I congratulate each of you and encourage you to keep up all of the good work that you do.”
They join an elite group of students from more than 2,300 institutions of higher learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations.
Outstanding students have been honored in the annual directory since it was first published in 1934.
Students named this year from SAU are:
Maribeth Adams is a junior accounting and finance double major from Warren. She has been a member of the Harrod Hall Council, College Republicans, Phi Mu, Association of Baptist Students, and Student Government Association. She served as vice president of PBL, historian of Phi Mu, and College of Business senator, 2005 homecoming royalty chair, and 2006 homecoming co-chair for SGA. She served as a 2006 homecoming maid. Adams was awarded the 2005 RHA Freshman of the Year and 2006 Mulerider Leaadership Award. She is also a resident assistant in Honors Hall.
Sarah Anyieth is a junior accounting and marketing double major from Saudi Arabia. She has been a member of Phi Beta Lambda, Alpha Phi Omega, Business Students Advisory Council, International Students Association, Student Activities Board, Residence Hall Association, Black Students Association, Students in Free Enterprise, and Genesis Ministries. She served as vice president of PBL, president of RHA, and publicity chair for BSA, SIFE, and Genesis Ministries. She is also a resident assistant in Honors Hall.
Aneeka Bhalla is a junior biological science major from Nepean, Ontario, Canada. She has been a member of the tennis team, International Students Association, and Student Government Association. She served as an associate justice for SGA. She is also a resident assistant in East Hall. She was a member of the 2006 homecoming court. Bhalla has been named to the President’s List.
Khurram Burney is a senior marketing major from Saudi Arabia. He has been a member of the International Students Association, Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity, and Cricket Club. He served as public relations officer for ISA and vice president of the Cricket Club. He is a resident assistant in East Hall.
Summer Carter is a senior early childhood education major from Texarkana. She has been a member of the SAU cheerleading squad and Phi Mu. She served as a leader for Leadership Academy and Mulerider Round-up. She has served as Phi Mu pledge class president, Panhellenic delegate, provisional membership director, campus activity chair, formal chair, and coordinator of the Miss SAU pageant. She was crowned Miss SAU 2007. She received a 2006 Mulerider Leadership Award.
Julie DeBoer is a junior agriculture sciences major from Vicksburg, Mich. She has been a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, Rodeo Club, Mule.org, Collegiate FFA, Pre-vet Club, and Encore. She served as standards chair and historian of Alpha Sigma Alpha. She is a resident assistant in East Hall. She was awarded Mule.org Member of the Year, Mule.org Academic Achievement Award, Mule.org Outstanding Service Award, and a 2006 Mulerider Leadership Award.
Kory Dedmon is a junior agricultural education major from Waldron. He has been a member of Mule.org, Agriculture/Business Club, Collegiate FFA, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Alpha Tau Alpha, and President’s Ambassadors. He served as president of Alpha Tau Alpha and treasurer of the President’s Ambassadors. He was recognized as Outstanding Alpha Tau Alpha Member.
Mudassir “Moody” Farooqui is a senior finance major from Dumman, Pakistan. He has been a member of President’s Ambassadors, Students in Free Enterprise, International Students Association, Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity, Cricket Club, and Student Government Association. He served as movie committee chair and team leader for ISA, captain and coach for the Cricket Club, associate justice and College of Business senator for SGA, and vice president of the National Residence Hall Honor Society. He is also a community advisor at University Village.
Lindsey Foster is a junior social work major from Brinkley. She has been a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, Panhellenic Council, Social Work Education Leaders, and Student Activities Board. She served as treasurer and parliamentarian for Alpha Signa Alpha, secretary and vice president for Panhellenic Council, and secretary for SWEL. She was recognized with a Panhellenic Outstanding Service Award.
William Chance Hugh is a junior mathematics major from Stahlstown, Penn. He has been a member of the Rodeo Team, Phi Lambda Chi Fraterntiy, Student Government Association, and National Residence Hall Honor Society. He served as a calf roper for the rodeo team, treasurer of Phi Lambda Chi, and chief justice for SGA. He is a resident assistant. He received the 2005 Donald Haefner Freshman of the Year Award and the 2006 Mulerider Leadership Award.
Rakesh Karn is a marketing and organizational management double major from Kathmandu, Nepal. He has been a member of Students in Free Enterprise, International Students Association, President’s Ambassadors, Sigma Pi Fraternity, and Cricket Club. He served as chair of the scholarship committee for Sigma Pi and vice president for the Cricket Club. He is also a resident assistant.
Annie Matthews is a senior social work major from Lake Village. She has been a member of Mule.org, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Encore, and the Southern Strutters dance team. She served as homecoming chair for Mule.org, pledgemaster of Alpha Phi Omega, historian, philanthropic chair, vice president of membership education, and president of Alpha Sigma Alpha, and co-captain of the dance team. She received the Mule.org Freshman of the Year award and was named Alpha Sigma Alpha Sister of the Year.
Kyle McCracken is a junior pre-physical therapy major from Fouke. He has been a member of President’s Ambassadors, Student Government Association, and Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity. He served as 2005 College of Science and Technology Senator, 2006 associate justice and 2006 Leadership Recognition Awards co-chair for SGA, secretary of Phi Lambda Chi, and leader for Mulerider Round-up and Leadership Academy. He received a 2006 Mulerider Leadership Award.
Morgan McDaniel is a senior athletic training major from Smackover. She has been a member of Phi Mu, Athletic Training Student Club, and Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation Club. She has served as membership director and president of Phi Mu.
Andrew Musgrove is a junior biological science major from Texarkana. He has been a member of the SAU band, President’s Ambassadors, Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity, Inter-Fraternity Council, and Student Government Association. He has served as public relations chair and president of Phi Lambda Chi, secretary of the IFC, and College of Science and Technology senator and homecoming parade chair for SGA. He was recognized with a 2006 Mulerider Leadership Award. He is a resident assistant in Greene Hall.
Valerie Norris is a junior accounting and finance double major from Fort Worth, Texas. She has been a member of Mule.org, Students in Free Enterprise, Honors Hall Council, Student Government Association, Student Activities Board, Black Student Association, President’s Ambassadors, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Business Students Advisory Council, and National Pan-Hellenic Council. She has served as vice president of the Honors Hall Council, freshman senator and College of Business senator for SGA, membership chair of SAB, secretary/treasurer, vice president, and parliamentarian for BSA, secretary of the President’s Ambassadors, vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and secretary of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She received the 2005 Donald Haefner Freshman of the Year Award and a 2006 Mulerider Leadership award.
Matthew Oliver is a senior health, kinesiology, and recreation major from Montgomery, Ala. He has been a member of the Residence Hall Association, SAU baseball team, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, and the Health, Kinesiology and Recreation Club. He has served as captain of the baseball team. He is also resident director in Harrod Hall and advisor to the Harrod Hall Council.
Quantrell Robertson is a junior social work major from Jefferson City, Mo. He has been a member of the Black Student Association, President’s Ambassadors, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and Social Work Education Leaders. He has served as vice president of his fraternity and SWEL and as a resident assistant. He was also a Project Pal Mentor.
Jamie Smith is a junior agricultural education major from Horatio. She has been a member of Mule.org, Chi Alpha, Student Activities Board, and Alpha Sigma Alpha. She has served as vice president of Chi Alpha and president of SAB. She has been named to the Dean’s List and received the Chi Alpha Outstanding Service award.
Ashley Theriot is a junior mass communication-print journalism major from Sour Lake, Texas. She has been a member of Mule.org, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Panhellenic Council, and Student Government Association. She has served as secretary, philanthropic and public relations chair for Alpha Sigma Alpha, secretary of the Panhellenic Council, and senator for the College of Education in SGA.
Jessica Thompson is a senior art education major from El Dorado. She has been a member of Pivot Point, Harrod Hall Council, Phi Mu, Student Government Association, and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. She has served as public relations chair, assistamt membership director and membership director of Phi Mu, senator for the College of Liberal and Performing Arts and chair of the homecoming royalty for SGA, leader for Mulerider Round-up and Leadership Academy, and co-chair of the Miss SAU pageant.
Brad White is a senior health, kinesiology, and recreation major from Texarkana. He has been a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, the Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation Club, Inter-Greek Council, and Inter-Fraternity Council. He has served as herald for his fraternity and president of the IGC and IFC.
Michael Woods is a senior computer information systems major from Foreman. He has been a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Residence Hall Association, Student Government Association, and intramural sports. He has served as associate justice for the SGA and as a resident assistant. He is the resident director in Greene Hall. He received a Leadership and Recognition Service Award and was named the 2006 Resident Assistant of the Year.
