South Arkansas Community College freshman infielder MaKenna Denofrio was selected as the NJCAA Region 2 Player of the Week for the week ending May 1 after hitting .714 with a home run over a four-game stretch.

Denofrio, of Opelousas, Louisiana, had nine RBIs over a span that saw the Stars (6-26, 4-12 in region play) go three of four on the road and qualify for postseason play.

Their next game will take place Friday in the Region 2 Tournament in Owasso, Oklahoma, vs. top-seeded Murray State.

HOT SPRINGS—Several South Arkansas Community College students fared well at the Arkansas State Leadership and Skills Conference here recently.

Capturing gold-medal awards in the college postsecondary division were Diego Roman (auto service), Olivia Creager (extemporaneous speaking), Russell Pridgen (pipe welding) and the team of Savanah Belt, Tori Cruse, Tanner Barnett and Bre’Ara Howell (crime-scene investigation).

Capturing a gold-medal award in the high-school division was the team of Kinsley Dumas, Josephine Gallipeaux and Kadedra Henry (crime-scene investigation).

Silver medal winners in the college postsecondary division were Daniela Arellano (auto service) and Evan Pietranski (pipe welding).

Silver medal winners in the high-school division were Aleyah Golden (health occupations) and Tyler Sharpe (pipe welding).

Bronze medal-winner in the college postsecondary division was Tyler Sexton (pipe welding).

Bronze medal winners in the high-school division were Jillian Gorman (health occupations) and Dalton Fleetwood (pipe welding).

All gold-medal winners are eligible to compete at the national level, except for those in pipe welding as this area does not have a national competition.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK—Four members of the South Arkansas Community College Phi Beta Lambda chapter recently placed in the top three in their respective areas of competition at the 60^th Annual Arkansas Future Business Leaders of America-PBL Conference here.

James Goode captured first in client services and third in retail management; Mara Neal was first in job interview; Jennifer Silvers was first in help desk; and Joseph Myers was second in computer concepts.

These students now are eligible to move on to national competition at the National PBL Conference in Chicago this summer.

The marketing and communications department at South Arkansas Community College recently won two awards in the national 2021 Collegiate Advertising Awards contest.

The department took a Gold award (representing first place in its group) in the category of Sports Specific for the 2021-2022 SouthArk Stars women's basketball hype video “#WeShine.”

The video was shot, edited and directed by SouthArk marketing director Heath Waldrop and featured members of the Stars women’s basketball team.

It took a Bronze award (representing third place in its group) in the category of TV and Video Advertising or Public Service Announcement Series for the commercial series “Signs.”

The series of three commercials was written, shot, edited and directed by Waldrop with music written and performed by website administrator Charley Hankins. The commercials featured students Keely Fennell of El Dorado, Gracie Ragan of Smackover and Jaylon Brown of Crossett in on-screen roles.

SouthArk competed in the business and community colleges group.