Special senior citizens recognized in chapel Every day, students filed through the Benson's doors amidst early morning conversation and numerous yawns to attend chapel. They always showed their excitement when they saw special citizens of Searcy seated on the stage for the Resident of the Month program. Sponsored by the Social Work Club, this program honored senior citizens from area nursing homes. Students got a glimpse into these special guests' lives as a member of the club summarized their life stories, their accomplishments and their advice to college students. Debbie Ford, now the faculty adviser for the Social Work Club, founded the Resident of the Month program in 1981 during her senior year at Harding. As president of the Social Work Club, she focused on recognizing the elderly. "We used to go to the nursing homes to present these certificates . My dad would print the certificates for me," she said. Ford later decided to take a different approach. "I thought the residents would enjoy being in chapel, so I presented the idea to Dr. Lisa Beth Lightsey - Broken Arrow, Okla. Linnette Lindahl - Golden, Colo. Stephen Livingston - Norman, Okla. Bob Logsdon - Pleasant Hill, Ill. Brent Long - Little Rock, Ark. Rachel Long - Mt. Morris, Mich. Amy Love - Scotland, Ark. Jay Lovelady - Springfield, Mo. Aaron Lowe - Searcy, Ark. Jeremy Luallen - Searcy, Ark. Dave Lucich - Cotuit, Mass. Shane Lumpkins - Victoria, Texas Banks Lyons - Florence, Ala. Melanie Madison - Codorus, Pa. Karen Mannard - San Luis Obispo, Calif David Marks - Queenscliff, Australia Heather Martin - Crestview, Fla. Scott Martin - Nashville, Tenn. Tad Martin - Searcy, Ark. Greg Massey - Bethany, Okla. Jean Massie - Memphis, Tenn. Greg Mathews - The Woodlands, Texas Kayte Mathis - Nilec, Mich. Cynthia Matthews - Tempe, Ariz. 94 Sophomores [Cliff] Ganus and he liked it," she said. Among the honorees this fall were Mary Dell Neaville from Byrd Haven and Doyle Cook from Dot Beck's Tender Years. Neaville was born in Owensboro, Ky. , in 1912. Her advice to students was particularly appropriate in a presidential election year: "Either vote or keep your mouth shut. " Cook was born in McRae, Ark. He said he enjoyed being Dot Beck's only male resident. Having served as mayor ofMcRae for a number ofyears, he advised students to "go to school and get an education." Sophomore Morgan Bailey liked the Resident of the Month chapel. "They always have neat things to say, and you get to learn stuff about their lives," she said. "It's a great experience." - Darcia Woodward Kristy Little and Doyle Cook visit just before Dr. Burks presents Cook with a plaque in gratitude for his contributions to th e community. Residents of the Month always seemed to enjoy being recognized in chapel. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. (
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