Student Success Stories

Vince Anderson

At home, Vince Anderson is husband to wife Michelle and father to his 12-year-old son Alex and 9-year-old daughter Alysa.
                At Arkansas State University Mountain Home, Anderson is a May 2006 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with an emphasis in math and science.
                But at the Baxter County Library this summer children ranging in ages from 7-14 know him as Professor Quest from The Experiment Company.
                The transformation began just three days after Anderson, carrying the ASU-Jonesboro banner, led the contingent of his fellow graduates down the promenade for the commencement activities.
                Anderson said he had planned to ease into the education profession, maybe with a classroom position in the fall.  But a chance meeting with Deborah Edmonds, Children’s Librarian at the Baxter County Library, set him on an unplanned course.
                “Deborah asked me if I could make a presentation the following Monday for a series of library sponsored programs as the L.C. Sammons Youth Center and the Boys and Girls Club at Norfork, a presentation that would require lesson plans and unit preparation,” Anderson said. 
                Anderson’s family are frequent visitors to the Baxter County Library, and at the urging of his wife, he had volunteered his services there, never dreaming it would lead to an opportunity in which he would be compensated for his time.
                When the call came from Edmonds asking if he could make a presentation in just four days, Anderson said, “I was so grateful at that moment for the paces Dr. (Paula) Stewart had put us through to obtain our education degrees.  If I had been asked a year and a half ago to make the presentation with such short notice, my heart would have stopped.”
                Anderson said Dr. Stewart, who is an ASU-Jonesboro Teacher Education Department faculty member at Mountain Home, inspired him to work hands-on with students.  “She taught me to bring things out and let them put their hands on them and experience them.”  Now, his presentations include a deer mount, pelts, and animal teeth, just to name a few tools that the students eagerly want to touch and feel.
                He credits not only Dr. Stewart with preparing him for this opportunity but other ASU Mountain Home faculty members including Sandie Melton and Dr. Rebecca Baird, both of whom are English instructors.
                “Those three have actually put so much into me.  It’s paid off.  The education I could get at ASU is different than other places I have gone,” Anderson said.  He holds Associate of Arts and a second Bachelor’s degree from other institutions. “If you have a problem, you can go and see them (the ASU instructors).  Other places, you’re a number.” Anderson said.
                His ASU education literally began paying off one week to the day he was presented his diploma with the first presentation on physical science and chemistry at the youth center.  Edmonds encouraged him to repeat his presentation that afternoon to Baxter County Library Director Gwen Khayat. She also encouraged him to develop a brochure, a company name and a logo for his company so that he could market himself elsewhere.
                From that suggestion, Anderson became Professor Quest of The Experiment Company, offering programs about “exciting science adventures.” 
                “Come investigate with Professor Quest as he unravels clues to science and nature,” the brochure reads.  Suggested lesson topics include “Get a Leaf…Get a Life,” The Shocking Truth:  Electricity,” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Apple: Physics (Newton’s 3 Laws).”
                Edmonds’ suggestion is paying off for Anderson.   He is a regular this summer at the local library and from that opportunity have come others from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other libraries around the state.
                Anderson said Khayat has sent examples of his work to other libraries from Springdale, to Batesville, to Jonesboro.  He’s now working with the Bentonville Library on an upcoming presentation.
                “I couldn’t see myself in a traditional classroom setting.  It’s definitely out of the box but it’s a dream come true,” Anderson said.
                Khayat said, “It has been a win/win situation for all of us.  We are able to offer stimulating library programs that the kids love; Vince gets to do what he does best and is well qualified to do; and the kids get to learn and have fun at the same time.  We were so pleased, that I just had to share our “find” with other librarians, who are always looking for great programs.”
Anderson was named ASUMH’s Student of the Year for 2007 and was recognized by Governor Mike Beebe at a recent meeting of the Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges. 

Past Student Success Stories

 Laura Towery

Libby Smith and Danielle McVicker

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