21 Aug 2011 Business in the 501 – Sept. 2011
‘Wheels to Prosper’
Tara Perkins and her family were recently presented keys to a car, thanks to “Wheels to Prosper” and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of North Central Arkansas.
A & J Collision Repair in Conway was the proud sponsor of the third annual Wheels to Prosper, a national program. A & J donated and refurbished the car, which was also repaired by other local businesses.
The presentation was made at A & J during Community Day, which featured a fun-filled afternoon of festivities including a kids’ bouncy house, hourly door prizes, food and drinks.
For more information on Wheels to Prosper, please visit wheelstoprosper.com.
CBC announces grant, online degree program
Two big announcements were made recently at Central Baptist College – a $750,000 challenge grant and an online degree program.
According to CBC President Terry Kimbrow, the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa has awarded the college a $750,000 challenge grant that will help fund the construction of a 38,000-square-foot academic building and the renovation and expansion of the existing library building.
The two projects are the first in Vision 2020: A Miracle in the Making – a plan to complete 10 major projects in the next 10 years to accommodate an enrollment of 2020 students.
The new academic building will allow the relocation of the current administration offices, now housed in a building shared with the J.E. Cobb Library. When the administrative side is vacated, the renovation and addition to the library will more than double the current floor space.
“We are extremely pleased to receive this challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation,” Kimbrow said. “We have long enjoyed a great partnership with the Foundation.”
Starting in the fall, CBC will offer an accredited online degree program accredited though The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Though the institution has offered classes in the distance delivery method for quite some time, CBC will now offer students the ability to earn their entire degree online from the regionally accredited college.
“The primary purpose of offering distanced-delivered courses and programs at Central Baptist College is to provide access to students who cannot attend face-to-face classes on campus,” said Dr. Gary McAllister, vice president of academic affairs at CBC. “Some live too far from campus, and others have scheduling conflicts that prevent them from taking the classes they need. Distance-delivered courses can resolve these issues.”
CBC Online is convenient and flexible for adults with busy lifestyles. The program offers students a way to study or learn on a flexible schedule. It is also convenient for students with children, full-time jobs or who live far away or are on the mission field.
The slogan for the new degree program is “college at your convenience.”
Active recruitment and enrollment are now under way in preparation for the first online degrees. Prospective students may visit cbc.edu/online for more information or call 501.329.6872, ext. 168.
LRAFB economic impact accessed
Officials recently announced that the Little Rock Air Force Base generated more than $712 million dollars in economic impact for Arkansas in fiscal 2010.
The air base is the home of C-130 Combat Airlift. The 19th Airlift Wing, the base’s host unit, is part of Air Mobility Command and provides the Department of Defense the largest C-130 fleet in the world. As part of Air Mobility Commands Global Reach airlift capability the wing’s tasking requirements range from supplying humanitarian airlift relief to victims of disasters, to airdropping supplies and troops into the heart of contingency operations in hostile areas. Two partner units, the 314th Airlift Wing and the 189th Airlift Wing (Arkansas Air National Guard) report to Air Education and Training Command.
The 314th Airlift Wing is the nation’s C-130 “Center of Excellence,” training C-130 aircrew members from across the Department of Defense, to include the Coast Guard and 42 partner nations.
More than 7,200 active-duty military and civilian members and about 7,200 family members live and work on and around the base. The base’s total population of more than 14,400 includes and is made up of active-duty, Arkansas Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, C-130 students, civilian employees and family members.
For more information, visit littlerock.af.mil.
Birkner selected new NALJA president
Eric Birkner of Solgohachia was recently elected to serve as president of the North American Limousin Junior Association (NALJA). He was elected during the National Junior Limousin Show and Congress in Amarillo, Texas, which featured hundreds of juniors from around the country.
Birkner is the first NALJA president from Arkansas. He has served the past two years as a national board member and has traveled more than 15,000 miles representing the association.
As president, he will lead a national youth organization whose purpose is to develop knowledgeable, motivated beef industry leaders while promoting the Limousin breed of cattle. The national board is responsible for organizing and carrying out the week-long National Junior Limousin Show and Congress including multiple satellite events. As president, Birkner has been invited to attend the North American Limousin Foundation board meetings to represent the NALJA youth members.
A sophomore accounting major at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Birkner is the past president of the Arkansas Junior Cattlemen’s Association and a graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Morrilton.
