The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is bringing nationally-known educator Dr. Jean Feldman to Fort Smith on June 1 to conduct an all-day workshop for early childhood professionals, preceded by a free concert on May 31.

The seventh annual Early Childhood Conference will be held from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. A registration fee of $50 per person is due by May 17. A 6 p.m. free concert May 31, which is open to the public, will be held at the Arkansas Best Corp. Performing Arts Center, 55 S. 7th St.

Lavaca High School Senior Hannah Springer, a national rodeo champion, has signed with Southern Arkansas University to ride for their team. She recently accepted a $26,000 full-ride scholarship from SAU after considering nine different schools. Springer will compete both as an individual and with the team as part of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

“The coach is awesome. He’s a father figure,” Springer said of her decision to attend SAU. “The facilities are amazing, and it just fit. It was kind of like a puzzle piece.”

A graduation ceremony was held Tuesday, May 7, for the 2013 class of Leadership Franklin County – the organization’s inaugural class.

The ceremony was held at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus, where LFC is housed, and saw 18 graduates receive commemorative plaques for their completion of the program.