12 May 2025 Outstanding ASU-Beebe students, faculty and staff honored at Vanguard Awards

Posted at 5:10 PMh in News by

BEEBE — Arkansas State University-Beebe hosted its annual Vanguard Awards banquet on April 29, honoring outstanding students, faculty and staff. 

Each year, student awards are presented for leadership and outstanding achievement, with the most prestigious being the annual Citizenship Award. In addition to students, one faculty and one staff member were also recognized with distinguished awards for service to the student experience.

Dr. Jennifer Methvin, Hailey Stephens and Carter Blackmon.

The Citizenship Award has been presented annually to exceptional students since 1959. This year’s award was presented to Hailey Stephens from Beebe, a business major, and Carter Blackmon, from Searcy, a biology major.

Stephens has excelled academically and through her involvement in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Business Club and serving as the TRIO Leadership Council president. Under her leadership, TLC expanded its volunteer efforts and established the TLC Community Volunteer Service Awards. She will graduate in May and will transfer to the University of Central Arkansas and pursue a degree in business administration and human resources.

Blackmon is the recipient of the 2024 Academic All-Star Award for the Arkansas Community Colleges. He was noted for being an exceptional student leader, serving as this year’s president of the Student Government Association. He also served as a resident assistant, was a founding member of the Knights of the Round Table Chess Club, a member of TRIO Leadership Council, the Student Government Association’s Warren Harshaw Diversity Committee and president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. After graduating in May, Blackmon plans to continue his studies at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro toward a degree in biology.

Leadership Scholar graduates were also recognized, including: Carter Blackmon, Emma Cariker, MaKayla Collum and Taylor Twisdale. The Outstanding First-Year Award was presented to Augustus Harris from Carlisle, an education major, and Lauren Cox from Hot Springs Village, an agriculture major. The Outstanding Nontraditional Award was presented to Faith Bettis from Cabot, an education major, and Amber Privett from El Paso, a registered nursing major.  

The Outstanding Academic Award for the arts and humanities division was presented to Shawn Metz from Russellville, a theater major, and Ethan Davenport from Lonoke, a liberal arts and sciences major. The Outstanding Academic Award for the career education division was presented to Taylor Twisdale from Cabot, a business major, and Landon Holliman from Searcy, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration major. 

The Outstanding Academic Award for the math and science division was presented to Telah Whitbey from Searcy, a practical nursing major, and Danielle Slater from Cherokee Village, a veterinary technology major. The Outstanding Heber Springs Campus Award was presented to Laiken Crossen from Searcy, a nursing major, and Brady Taylor from Rose Bud, a health sciences major. The Outstanding Searcy Campus Award was presented to Tessa Hise from Jacksonville, a nursing major.

The Outstanding Little Rock Air Force Base Campus Award was presented to Mary Shellenbarger from Cabot, a health sciences major, and Kyle Hannah from Beebe, a health sciences major. Jerry Sites, assistant professor of agriculture, was presented with the Student Government Association (SGA) Outstanding Faculty Award and Estella Cordero, theater and facilities technician, received the SGA Outstanding Staff Award. The Outstanding Registered Student Organization Award was presented to the TRIO Leadership Council for their exceptional volunteerism, managing the mini library on campus and fundraising to support the Swindell Scholarship.

The SGA presented a Vanguard Legacy Award to the Ag Club, in honor of their instructor Chuck Wisdom, who was an associate professor of agriculture when he passed unexpectedly on March 10. Wisdom taught agriculture at ASU-Beebe since 1995. The proclamation reads: “He inspired and mentored hundreds of students with his hands-on, practical approach to agricultural education.” The award will be placed near Wisdom’s former classroom.

At the end of the program, Zackery Tucker, dean of students, thanked Carter Blackmon for serving as the 2024-2025 president of the Student Government Association. Blackmon then administered the oath of office to SGA president-elect Augustus Harris. Others elected to serve on the SGA were Madison Scott, student activities council chair and Elizabeth “Quinn” Darnold, SGA sophomore vice president.