2022 Outstanding Community College Alumni Honorees

Arkansas community college students completed more than 17,000 college credentials in 2021. These are often in high-demand, high-wage careers that support the backbone of the state’s economy and well-being – such as nurses, protective service workers, early childhood teachers, plumbers, welders, and more.

Every year, ACC member colleges nominate an outstanding alumnus for statewide recognition. We are proud to announce this year’s outstanding community college alumni awardees.

Laray white, farmers bank & trust
arkansas northeastern college

LaRay White of Blytheville is Arkansas Northeastern College’s Outstanding Alumnus. A 1999 graduate of ANC, she currently serves as the VP of Community and Business Development at Farmers Bank & Trust where she improves the financial awareness of people throughout Mississippi County. She volunteers in the community, serving on the county’s chamber of commerce board of directors. She is one of Mississippi County’s biggest advocates and makes it her personal mission to raise awareness of organizations, events, and great things happening throughout the county. LaRay and her husband Dean are proud parents of their son, Garrett Cloud, and her stepson, Zac White.

Deanna long, white river ems, inc
arkansas state university newport

Deana Long graduated from White River Vocational School, now known as Arkansas State University Newport, in 1987 with a Certificate of Data Processing. Deanna credits ASUN professor Janna Ellis for encouraging her to develop her skills. After graduation, she began working for the fire department. She served as a first responder from 1987 to 2003, and in 2003, she purchased White River EMS, Inc. Since then, she has been a consistent presence at community events, and she credits her time at ASUN with giving her the confidence, drive, and persistence to achieve her dreams.

Dr. jason ulsperger, arkansas tech university
arkansas state university beebe

Dr. Jason S. Ulsperger is a 1995 Arkansas State University Beebe graduate and professor of sociology at Arkansas Tech University, where he holds faculty excellence awards in both teaching and scholarship. He served as President of the Mid-South Sociological Association and is regional representative for Alpha Kappa Delta. Dr. Ulsperger has authored more than 60 journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries, and presented more than 50 research papers at a variety of conferences, including locales such as Naples, Italy. He says, “I always wanted to do something for fellow Arkansans in teaching, writing, and service. I encourage students to achieve more than imaginable.”

micthell stokes, west memphis school district
arkansas state university mid-south

For 18 years, Mitchell Stokes has been the lead guitarist for the Soul Shockers, one of the region's most sought-after R&B bands. In addition to owning a musical production company, Ja'Mar Productions, Mitchell is a mentor, role model, and 6th Grade Math and Science Instructor at Jackson-Wonder Elementary, a position he's held for nearly twelve years. It's important to recognize God-given talent, but it's even more important to recognize strong, positive male role models in our schools. Mitchell Stokes should be recognized for all of these things.

allen moore, first security bank
arkansas state university mountain home

Allen is a 2005 graduate of Arkansas State University Mountain Home with an Associate of Arts. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Arkansas. Allen recently served as the president of the Baxter County Chamber of Commerce Board and is an active member of the Mountain Home Rotary Club. Two memories that Allen enjoyed during his time at ASUMH were the healthy debates that took place in his macroeconomics and microeconomics courses. Allen addressed his peers at graduation as the student speaker for commencement. Allen and his wife, Lauren, also an ASUMH graduate, have one daughter, Hannah.

tommy castelan, crazy horse memorial foundation
black river technical college

Tommy Castelan is a U.S. veteran who earned technical certificates in welding, industrial electricity, and machine tool in 2015-16. He and his family live in Custer, South Dakota, where he is a mountain carver on the Crazy Horse Memorial. In his work, he and a partner use precision math and machining skills with laser levelers and massive drills with 6 bits to drill holes. Blasting material is inserted in the holes to cleanly blow apart mountain rock sections. In spring 2022, Tommy and his partner were featured in the Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe (pictured).

kathy barron, St. Francis County Health Department
east arkansas community college

Kathy Barron graduated from EACC with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree. She currently serves as the St. Francis County Local Health Unit Administrator. She is an American Heart Association certified CPR instructor and has served in many other roles in the nursing field including infection control nurse and direct patient care. “After having twins, I decided to fulfill my dream of becoming a nurse. EACC gave me the opportunity to obtain my degree and still be a wife and mother to my children. I received a great education, graduated from college debt free, and feel so blessed to have a community college that enabled me to fulfill my goals in life,” said Kathy.

gregory forrester, psychiatric mental health nurse pracitioner
northwest arkansas community college

NWACC Nursing alumnus Gregory Forrester works as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at the Ozarks Community Hospital Clinic in Gravette, Arkansas. After graduating from NWACC, Mr. Forrester became an RN at the VA hospital’s psychiatric unit, where he found his calling in mental health care. Since then, he has earned a BSN from the University of Arkansas and then an MSN from UAMS. Always willing to give back to his community, Mr. Forrester also serves as Treasurer of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association of Arkansas and has volunteered his time to NWACC History Day for over a decade.

janet yancey, melborne high school counselor
ozarka college

Janet Yancey, of Melbourne School District, has been named Alumnus of the Year at Ozarka College. Janet is Melbourne School District’s high school counselor and district test coordinator. Janet earned an Associate of Arts in General Education in 2000 before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature/Letters from Williams Baptist University. Janet has since gone on to earn a Master’s in School Counseling from Arkansas State University.

carlecia gentry, librarian- helena/West helena school system
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas

Carlecia Gentry graduated from PCCUA in 2008 with an Associate of Arts in education. Since then, she earned her BA in early childhood from UA-Monticello, her MS in library media information systems from the University of Central Arkansas, and her EdS from Arkansas State University. As a Blytheville School System instructor, Carlecia was nominated Teacher of the Year. She also wrote curriculum and taught the first Pre-AP class, which the district still uses today. She returned to Helena/West Helena to teach elementary school until accepting her current librarian position. A proponent for students reading and owning books, Carlecia spearheads the annual Scholastic Book Fair to ensure that every student may purchase books to keep and enjoy.

aida kuettle, conway county school district
university of arkansas community college at morrilton

Aida Kuettle has always felt an obligation to help language learners thrive. She teaches secondary and college Spanish classes and is a Ph.D. student in the Change Leadership for Equity and Inclusion program at the University of Central Arkansas. Aida volunteers as an interpreter for Conway County and is the first Community Outreach Coordinator of the South Conway County School District. She is the recipient of the Arkansas Bilingual Interpreters Credential in Education and a sponsor of the first Latino Student Association of Morrilton High School. She was also selected by her peers as the Morrilton High School Teacher of the Year for 2022.

Cassondra Riddle, posthumous
University of Arkansas Cossatot

Cassie received her Associate of Arts in 2011. She went on to coach cross country, track, and pole-vaulting for Mansfield High School and other schools in East Texas. She opened Royse City Dance Academy in 2016 and went on to study livestock veterinary medicine. She was a full-time mother to her sons, Luke and Gabriel, who suffers from a rare physical condition. Cassie was posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M Commerce in 2021. Though she is no longer on earth with us, Cassie is truly an outstanding alumna.

Matt Jordan, DeMaJo Productions
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College

Matt Jordan's decision to reinvent his career led him to attend University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College for an Associate of Applied Science in Digital Media Production and to open his own business. He stated the courses he took at UAPTC helped him establish his company branding, business strategy, and industry-standard equipment needs. Since graduating, his company has been hired for dozens of local productions, including those seen on ESPN, MTV, Discovery, and PBS. He has also produced, edited, and served as the cinematographer for the narrative documentary, Just Benjamin, which premiered during the 2022 Hot Springs International Documentary Film Festival.

Billy Carmack, Nidec Human Resources manager
University of Arkansas Rich Mountain

Billy Carmack graduated from the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain in December of 2006 with an Associate of Arts and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2007 with a BSE with an emphasis in Human Resource Development. Both of his daughters also attended UA Rich Mountain and are transferring to UA Fort Smith this fall. He feels that the reasonable tuition prices and smaller classes, which offer the students more hands-on help from the instructors, are some of the positive aspects of attending UARM. He is currently the HR Manager at Nidec and has worked there for 27 years.