2018 Best of South Arkansas County Citizen of the Year: Sydney Beth Dumond

Citizen of the year, Sydney Dumond with Charles Albert Horton, President of DeWitt Chamber of Commerce

Over the previous years, there have been many deserving citizens who have been chosen as the Citizen of the Year. This year’s Citizen of the Year was announced during the Best of South Arkansas County Banquet on Thursday, January 24, 2019, and it was no surprise that Sydney Beth Dumond was announced as the 2018 Citizen of the Year!

Citizen of the Year is presented to the individual who best represents the qualities that each of us admires and respect among our friends, neighbors, and associates. It is not given so much for achievement but as for helping others achieve. Long-term commitment to the community and being there when their service is needed is what makes a true Citizen of the Year and that is why Sydney Dumond is most deserving of the award of 2018 Best of South Arkansas County Citizen of the Year.

Dumond, daughter of Dale and Chrystal Dumond of DeWitt, is a student at DeWitt High School, but that has not stopped her from being an active citizen. Dumond has represented Arkansas County as the 2018-19 Miss Arkansas County Rice and went on to be named 2nd Runner Up at Miss Arkansas Rice. As Miss Arkansas County Rice, Dumond spent countless hours promoting rice and educating others on the rice industry. Dumond also utilizes social media to help promote rice, document the many speaking engagements she participated in and sharing past winning recipes for rice dishes. Dumond appeared on Good Morning Arkansas in May 2018, where she prepared her award-winning dish and promoted rice. Throughout her reign as 2018-19 Miss Arkansas County Rice, Dumond not only spoke at different speaking engagements promoting rice, but she hit the fields and mills to get a hands-on experience on the complete process of growing rice.

Some of the events she spoke at and promoted rice throughout the year were: HIPPY, Arkansas County Extension Homemakers Spring Council Meeting, 5K Rice Run, Kiwanis Antique Car show, Rotary Club, Girl Scouts Troop 1309, DeWitt High School cafeteria, Gillett Farmers & Businessmen’s group, Lion’s Club-DeWitt, MASH, Arkansas County Farmer’s Market, Crockett’s Bluff 4th of July Celebration, Master Gardener’s, DeWitt Food Pantry, Webb’s Fall Fest, and so many more.

Dumond worked on the “Numbers for Safety” program for the City of DeWitt where she conducted door to door investigations in the community, informing residents of the required placement of the 911 house numbers. Upon the completion of the project, Dumond was awarded a Proclamation of Appreciation from the City of DeWitt in April 2018. The project was part of Dumond working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award.

An Ambassador for Girl Scout Troop 1309, Dumond has previously served as Vice President and is now serving as President. Dumond was awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award which is the highest award that a Girl Scout can earn. Dumond also serves on the Council Advisory Team for the Girl Scout Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Dumond was selected to attend the 2018 Ducks Unlimited Youth Camp where she learned about the habitats needed to ensure the growth of ducks in the Winter months, as well as conserving the birds. Dumond loves duck hunting and being selected to attend the camp proved to be another great learning experience for her.

As if that weren’t enough to constitute Dumond being named Citizen of the Year, Dumond is also a member of Teachers of Tomorrow and the Student Council at DeWitt High School. When she is not attending school, Dumond is a summer employee at the Sugar Shack.

In addition to Dumond, Tee Buie, Charlotte Purdy, Trisha Rawls, Tami Hornbeck, Troy Hornbeck, Tiffani Burns, DeWayne Grisham, Cherie Graham, Carole Ann West Sneed, and Alta Lockley were nominated for 2018 Best of South Arkansas County Citizen of the Year. Dumond and the other Best of South Arkansas County recipients were honored at the Best of South Arkansas County Banquet.