Arkansas State University presents its DSA winners for 2023-2024

Six exemplary students from Arkansas State University have been selected as Distinguished Service Award (DSA) winners for 2023-2024. The DSA recipients will be recognized during Convocation of Scholars as the institution’s most outstanding graduates based on their record of leadership, scholarship and citizenship.

One of these students will be announced as the 2024 recipient of the university’s highest honor, the R.E. Lee Wilson Award, on Thursday, April 25, at a campus dinner for the DSA winners.

This year’s recipients of the Distinguished Service Award are Bailey Blackmon of Perryville; Christopher L. Crutchfield of North Little Rock; Natan Gomez of Irapuato, Mexico; Ann Long of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; William "Garrett” Partain of Lepanto; and Khushi Singh of Bryant.

Faculty, staff and advisers nominate top students for the prestigious annual awards.

All of the nominees have achieved excellent academic records and provided countless hours of service to the community, their classmates, campus organizations, their departments and colleges, and to Arkansas State University. A committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and previous Wilson Award recipients makes the final selections.

Bailey Blackmon of Perryville, an pre-professional biological sciences major in the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics, Blackmon will graduate in May. Blackmon has been on the Chancellor’s List, Dean’s List, and Honors College Director’s List.

The recipient of numerous scholarships, Blackmon was awarded the Dr. Willie Young Memorial Scholarship, A-State Scholar Scholarship and Arkansas Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship. She also has a myriad of on and offcampus community involvement. During her time at A-State, she served as recruitment director for Red Wolves for St. Jude, Greek Life Director, Chancellor’s Ambassador, and was part of the Pre-Dental Club. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has volunteered as a tutor at El Centro Hispano and as a translator at Mission of Mercy.

In preparation for a career in the field of dentistry, Blackmon has job shadowed at five dental offices in the state. Following graduation, she will begin a Doctor of Dental Surgery program at Louisiana State University Health Science Center. Her adviser is Dr. Scott Mangan, associate professor of ecology.

Christopher Crutchfield of North Little Rock will graduate in May with a degree in instrumental music education from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. He has numerous accolades including being named to the Chancellor’s

List and Dean‘s List.

Crutchfield was the first recipient of the Herman W. Strickland Memorial Scholarship, a band performance scholarship, and an Academic Excellence Scholarship from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Theta Mu Chapter for having the highest grade point average.

His academic achievements have served to elevate his standing with professors and peers. He served on the University Academic Integrity Committee, Diversity Planning Committee, and was part of the Student Diversity and Recruitment Organization. Crutchfield has performed with many bands on campus and is co-founder of the newly developed Natural State Saxophone Club. His adviser is Dr. Elissa Kana, instructor of music.

Natan Gomez of Irapuato, Mexico with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0, will graduate in May with a degree in biotechnology from the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics. He speaks four languages including his native language of Spanish in addition to English, French and German.

Gomez has been recognized as a finalist for a graduate scholarship at the University of Gottingen and is the only Arkansas resident to be chosen as a finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship in Canada. He has received several awards for academic excellence including the Red Wolf Works Signature Experience Medal. Gomez was part of several research teams as part of his studies.

Extracurricular activities include work with registered student organization Hermana y Hermano, where he served as president and vice president. He credits this organization for helping provide not only purpose, but as a stepping point for success. His adviser is Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, professor of plant metabolic engineering.

Ann Long of Cape Girardeau, Mo. will graduate in May with a double major of political science and history from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. Described as a student always seeking excellence, Long received many awards and scholarships. She has conducted research, studied abroad and interned in Washington, D.C.

A member of the Honors College, Long has been on the Honors College Director’s List and the Chancellor’s List. She has studied Spanish, Modern Standard Arabic and French. In addition to her academic excellence, Long served on the Academic Integrity Committee, was vice president of community engagement for the Honors College Association, a senator for the Student Government Association, and an intern at the Women’s

Leadership Center.

Following graduation, she will attend the Clinton School of Public Service as part of the master's in public service program. She will attend on a fullride scholarship and living stipend. Her adviser is Dr. Andrea Davis, associate professor of history.

William “Garrett” Partain of Lepanto will graduate in May with a degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. He has been listed on the Chancellor’s List and the Dean’s list on numerous occasions during his academic career. An outstanding student, Partain has received numerous scholarships.

In addition, Partain received a Middle East Studies Grant for a language fellowship that took him to study Modern Standard Arabic in Morocco. He also received an internship through The Washington Center at 50 State, a state-focused government and public affairs firm, in Washington, D.C., where he spent his final senior semester.

A senator for the Student Government Association, Partain has served on several committees and was instrumental in the establishment of a housing scholarship to help less fortunate students. He is part of the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society and Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, has served on the University Academic Integrity Committee, and participated in Model United Nations. His adviser is Natasha Neal, instructor of political science.

Khushi Singh of Bryant, a biological sciences major in the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics, will graduate in May. An exceptional student, she has been recognized for her outstanding achievements with admission to the Honors College, has been on the Honors College Director’s List, the Dean’s List, and won numerous scholarships.

Seeking a post-graduate degree as a dentist, Singh has shadowed various dentists to get a better understanding of the career she wishes to join. She worked on the creation of two new labs as a student and worked as a teaching assistant.

Singh is described as having a heart to always serve others with kindness and respect, volunteering in many roles that would benefit the A-State and Jonesboro communities. Seeking her place of belonging on campus, Singh worked with several registered student organizations but found a calling to the A-State Food Pantry. She has led and participated in many initiatives to better serve others while working with the food pantry. She is a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and led her sorority to win a top award for fundraising. Her adviser is Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, professor of plant metabolic engineering.