The Arts & Science Center honored its volunteers during the annual Volunteer Night, on April 27, 2023. The Volunteers honored were Will Witt (from Left), Arin Bell, Matthew Howard, Crystal Jennings, Raymond Wallace, Laura Beth Shaner, Teanna Williams, and Portia Jones (not pictured).

Volunteer Night 2023 Dedicated to Becky Simpson

Community members who have gone above and beyond to support The Arts & Science Center were celebrated Thursday night, April 27, during ASC’s annual Volunteer Night.

Approximately 60 volunteers, guests, and staff gathered on the Catherine M. Bellamy stage for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and the awards ceremony.

Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Co. and MK Distributors sponsored the evening.

This year’s event was held in memory of Becky Loyd Simpson. The Pine Bluff business owner and longtime volunteer passed away April 12, 2023.

Dr. Rachel Miller, ASC’s executive director, noted how Simpson applied her great business acumen to her service on the ASC Endowment Fund Board and Board of Trustees.

“Becky was also generous, compassionate, and loved her community,” Miller said, “all which came across through her volunteer service at ASC.”

Simpson also was on planning committees for major fundraising events at ASC, including the biennial gala Potpourri. One of her biggest contributions to ASC was her organization of the Potpourri “Spirits” auction, one of the most popular features of the fundraiser.

“Anyone who has attended a Potpourri event probably will agree with me that one of the best parts of the event is Spirits,” Miller said.

For her volunteer service, Simpson and her husband, Dr. P.B. “Junie” Simpson Jr., received ASC’s Margaret Spearman Memorial Volunteer of the Year in 2006.

Miller and Lindsey Collins, ASC’s theater programs manager, presented the 2023 volunteer awards:

Matthew Howard was honored with the Margaret Spearman Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award. It is presented to a volunteer who has given significant time and assistance to ASC, in a non-performing arts capacity.

While Howard is ASC’s visitor relations coordinator — greeting and attending to guests since 2018 — he has put in countless additional hours at the museum as a volunteer.

Miller remarked that he has given off-the-clock time on numerous occasions to help with events, greet and help visiting artists get settled into their apartments, assist with activities such as monitoring the community kiln in the ARTSpace studio, and respond to after-hours security calls.

“Everyone might recall that the Arts & Science Center had to shut its doors in March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic,” Miller noted in her presentation of the award. “While it was a time of great uncertainty, the ASC staff was certain of one thing — we could rely on Matthew Howard to be at the museum every day, making sure the facility was safe and sound. He continues to do so today.”

Crystal Jennings was honored with the Catherine M. Bellamy Award for the Performing Arts. It is awarded to an outstanding volunteer for the performing arts program, whether through stage or backstage work.

“Crystal has volunteered for every theater production, special event, and fundraiser since 2019,” Collins said. Jennings appeared on stage in the recent run of Charlotte’s Web. An award-winning visual artist, she regularly works on ASC productions as a set painter and prop master.

Good Egg Awards are presented each year to volunteers who make noteworthy contributions of time and effort to ASC. This year’s recipients are:

Arin Bell. A senior at Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff, Bell is the youngest of this year’s honorees. “Arin has been a constant fixture at ASC since 2022, volunteering for every theater production and special event,” Collins said.

Portia Jones. “Portia has quickly become an enormous advocate for ASC and all of its programming, volunteering for theater productions and special events,” Collins said.

Laura Beth Shaner. She served as chair of Potpourri in November, which raised close to $170,000 for ASC. “Potpourri 2022 was the first one were able to host since 2020 and, reportedly, was the highest-earning Potpourri ever,” Miller said. “And that wouldn’t have happened without Laura Beth as the chair.”

Raymond Wallace. “Raymond has been a constant figure around here, volunteering for EVERYTHING: rentals, special events, productions, you name it,” Collins said.

Teanna Williams. “Teanna has quickly become an advocate for ASC, volunteering for productions, receptions, and special events,” Collins said.

Will Witt. “Will has given more hours to ASC than I would be able to count at the moment,” Collins said. “Between performing and working crew, Will also volunteered to work numerous events and Potpourri.”

If you are interested in volunteering at ASC, please contact Lindsey Collins at lcollins@asc701.org or call 870-536-3375.