LITTLE ROCK – Minnijean Brown Trickey, one of the nine blacks who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957, says the election of Barack Obama as president last year was comparable to the crisis in which she played a role 52 years ago.

“Our going to Central had the same kind of shock value ... of causing Americans to look at themselves, and the world to look at the U.S.,” Trickey told a group of teenage girls Tuesday.

Trickey, speaking to participants in the Cinderella Princess Leadership program of the Safe Places advocacy and support center, said the lessons from 1957 are still being taught – but often not learned.

She said the need for diversity in people’s lives has never been stronger, and lamented the relative lack of diversity in her hometown.

Little Rock teacher touted for excellence

The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK – A former math teacher in the Little Rock School District has been named as a winner of a Presidential Award for Excellence and is to receive her award at a White House ceremony this fall.

Monica Norwood is now the assistant principal at Cloverdale Middle School. Prior to her current posting, she taught math at Romine Elementary.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are awarded annually to top pre-college-level math and science teachers across the country. The Little Rock district said Norwood is the only teacher in Arkansas to receive the award.

President Obama said there is “no higher calling” than inspiring the next generation of leaders.

ASU receives money for doctoral work

The Associated Press

JONESBORO – Arkansas State will receive a $219,984 grant to help prepare low-income students, first-generation college students or students from “under-represented” groups for work on their doctorate degrees.

The funding was announced Tuesday by members of the Arkansas congressional delegation.

Conservatives promise Boozman challenger

The Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE – A leader of the conservative Arkansas Independence Caucus is promising a challenger to U.S. Rep. John Boozman in the Republican Party primary.

Independence Caucus chairman Bernard Skoch of Elkins says the challenger will be supported by fiscal conservatives who are worried about the federal government’s deficit spending.

Skoch would not confirm nor deny if he’ll be the candidate – saying only that he’ll have a formal announcement on Aug. 3 and not before.

Boozman was first elected in 2001 after Rep. Asa Hutchinson resigned to take a post in the George W. Bush administration. He’s served four full terms and hasn’t had a primary challenger since winning the seat.

–––

Information from: The Morning News, http://www.nwaonline.net/