CONWAY, Ark. (January 24, 2012) - Hendrix College has been selected as the winner of the Jack Evans Regional Leadership Award for 2011.
The Jack Evans Award, given by regional planning authority Metroplan, is reserved for an individual or institution that "exemplifies outstanding public service in advancing sound planning and intergovernmental cooperation in central Arkansas."
Hendrix was nominated jointly by Conway Mayor Tab Townsell and Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin.
"First, Hendrix College was instrumental in the early development, use, and popularization of modern roundabouts in central Arkansas," said Townsell and Scroggin in their joint nomination letter. "Further, Hendrix College is at the forefront in central Arkansas of the planning, development, and construction of a fully articulated Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) adjacent to its campus that combines and integrates office, commercial, and a variety of residential forms into a very walk-able, livable, sustainable urban environment."
"To add even more "oomph" to the sustainability quotient, an old creek system that flowed through the area was reclaimed as the 13.5 acre Hendrix Creek Preserve project which simultaneously manages storm and provides a park setting and an educational resource as an outdoor classroom," they said in the letter. "As a result of Hendrix College's leadership, central Arkansas has beautiful working examples of two of the most cutting edge planning concepts: Roundabouts and Traditional Neighborhood Development fully utilizing New Urbanism principles."
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a national leader in engaged liberal arts and sciences education. Hendrix was named the country's #1 "Up and Coming" liberal arts college for the third consecutive year by U.S. News and World Report. Hendrix is featured in the 2011 edition of the Princeton Review as one of the country's best 376 colleges and is listed in the 2012 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of 25 "Best Buy" private colleges included. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.