Established 47 years ago by the Alumni Association, the award recognizes a senior man and woman who exhibit outstanding academic achievement, campus and community involvement and leadership. Students were required to be a member of the graduating class of 2012 (finishing degree requirements in August or December 2011 or May 2012.) The citation includes a personal memento, a $500 cash award, life membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association as well as permanent recognition on the student Honor Wall at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

Williams is a chancellor’s scholar who received her degree in international business in economics with minors in Asian studies and political science. Grateful for her experience at the University of Arkansas, she is thankful for the opportunities she received inside and outside the classroom. While studying abroad in Taiwan, she was one of two freshmen among 30 upperclassmen studying Mandarin Chinese. She chose to study Mandarin because of the importance China has in global business.

Becoming a successful leader on campus, Williams served as chief of staff for the Associated Student Government and helped to develop the first advancement committee of ASG to receive corporate funding for Safe Ride. During her senior year, she served as student chair of the Distinguished Lectures Committee and helped to bring various speakers to the U of A, including Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor.

Harris, a University of Arkansas Alumni Endowed Scholar and Honors College Leadership Scholar, received his degree in biology with departmental honors. Crediting the U of A faculty for motivating him to achieve his academic goals, he went on to conduct research at the Arkansas Children’s Research Hospital.  While studying abroad in Sweden, he observed the Swedish commitment to research. During his honors undergraduate research project, he conducted enzyme linked immunosorbent assay immunology testing for antibodies.

His leadership skills have evolved from his time spent at the U of A and within the local community. He served on Student Alumni Board and was the New Greek Council President. During his time in the Greek system, he received the opportunity to help a food drive collect more than 20,000 items for Life Source International. He also organized the Hogs for Haiti relief effort, which raised more than $20,000 for Haitian earthquake victims.

“The University of Arkansas gave me a foundation as diverse as the field I am in now,” she said. Growing up in Little Rock, Brunson always wanted to be a Razorback. Liking the idea of going to the “top school in Arkansas,” she applied and received the Dr. J. Michael Stair Endowed Scholarship, becoming the first of her siblings to go to college.

Unlike many students who enter college and are undecided about their field of study, Brunson knew her calling was in social work. “My family, we were part of a church that had a daycare and many of the kids were in foster care and had been abused or neglected. I worked there during high school and wanted to know more about children and social welfare, which ultimately led me to want to become a therapist for children,” she said.

Focusing on her studies, she made time for student involvement by joining Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Black Students Association. However, getting involved in the student organization, S.W.A.G. (Social Work Action Group), led her to become more knowledgeable about the field of social work, as well as prepared for what is needed to become a successful social worker. As she neared the end of her four years at the University of Arkansas, she realized the importance and necessity of obtaining a master’s degree in the field.

Before graduating in 1999, she spoke with Dr. Joe Schriver, her social work professor. He knew Dr. Barbara White at the University of Texas at Austin and urged Brunson to apply for the program. “He literally made me apply and asked Dr. White about getting me a fellowship opportunity so that I could go to school there,” she said. Only taking one year to complete, she received her master’s degree from UT Austin in 2000.

Entering the professional world, her goal to work with children remained. She worked at a center for youth and families in Little Rock, helping to place therapists within the schools, which enabled her to work with children in the school system every day. As the years passed, her resume included working as the director of clinical services at Hull House, an independent clinical therapist and director of violence prevention coordination at Cook County Department of Public Health.

In the 13 years since she graduated from the University of Arkansas, her goals have slightly changed but her passion for serving and helping others remain. Today, Brunson works as the senior program officer for the Chicago Foundation for Women, which is an organization that helps to “raise money and support organizations that are dedicated to helping women and girls succeed in the Chicago area.”

Overseeing the grant making process, she looks to see that the organizations they are supporting have the ability to do the work. “We offer the money and the assurance that these organizations can do the work they set out to do,” she said. As a leader in the organization, her involvement in helping others succeed is just one of the rewards of her profession. “The idea that I am seen as a partner to these non-profit organizations is such a great reward,” she added.

Her passion for helping others, especially students, can not only be seen through her work with the Chicago Foundation for Women, but through her work with the Chicago Arkansas Club. As a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Brunson was looking for a way to stay connected and up-to-date on campus news. Joining the Chicago Arkansas Club, she became the scholarship and recruitment chair. “We currently only fund one student, Collin Pitts. The scholarship pays for his tuition and the University waives his out-of-state tuition fee,” she said.

Since Pitts will be a senior this coming year, Brunson looks forward to what the future holds for the Chicago Arkansas Club, saying,” I want to see us raise more funds, but we need to work harder at engaging local alumni and promoting the U of A as a place where Chicago kids can go to school.” One other aspect that she hopes to see expand is the career network that is available to recent graduates. “This career program helps so many kids find jobs; however, I would like to see it expand to major cities.”

Witnessing the positive impact of professional and personal growth in herself, Brunson is proud of her alumna status at the University of Arkansas and hopes more students will see the University as a school that can stand up to the rest. With a 10-month-old daughter at home, she is raising her to be a future Razorback and looks forwarding to seeing her name etched on Senior Walk one day.

Named the recipient for service, Ritter is a professor of education and public policy and holder of the Endowed Chair in Education Policy in the department of education reform in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. He is also the director and founder of the Office for Education Policy at the university. The office serves as a resource that aids state legislators, school board members and other policymakers in thoughtful decision-making concerning K-12 education in the state of Arkansas. Ritter has been a faculty member at the U of A since 2000.

Venkatesh, a distinguished professor and the first holder of the George and Boyce Billingsley Chair in Information Systems in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, is receiving the award for research. Venkatesh, who completed his doctorate at the University of Minnesota in 1997, joined the University of Arkansas faculty in June 2004. He previously taught at the University of Maryland. In addition to presenting his work at universities across the world, he has held many visiting appointments at Australian National University, Helsinki School of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Indian School of Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Hawaii. His research focuses on understanding the diffusion of technologies in organizations and society.

Rapert (B.S.B.A. 1985, M.B.A. 1987), associate professor in the department of marketing in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, is receiving the Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award. She is also the director of the Walton College of Business Center for Teaching Effectiveness. An annual member of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Rapert is a two-time U of A graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration.

She returned to the University of Arkansas in 1991 after receiving her doctorate from the University of Memphis and teaches in the area of marketing management and global consumers. Passionate about teaching, she incorporates the unique approach of a readings-based, seminar-style undergraduate course that is designed in collaboration with her advisory board of 20 executives. In their evaluations and emails, her students often write that her classes are the best they have ever taken, often because of the energy and enthusiasm she brings to the classroom to make her class relevant to real-world experiences.

The members of the board of directors include Boyce Johnson, Suzanne Pennington, Taylor Adams, Ron Rainey, Penny Storms, LeeAnn Bullington and Angela Waldup who all brought bags and boxes of rice, cereal and other items to help support the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry.  The 200 pounds in rice donations came equally from Richland Rice and Stimson Foods West Memphis.

Full Circle intern B.J. Galloway stated that, “the Full Circle Pantry supplies food to 150-200 people per week. Of the 200 people, about 60 percent are students and 40 percent are staff. When students, faculty and staff come in for donations, we give them a bag of three days worth of food so that they have enough to last them through the weekend and around our operating hours.”

In March, the Full Circle Food Pantry was recognized at the White House as one of five winners in the Campus Champions of Change Challenge.

For more information about the Full Circle Food Pantry, email pantry@uark.edu or call 479.575.7693.

At 12 years old, Gamboa knew she wanted to join the military, saying, “I went to meet with a recruiter when I was 17. When I told my mom, she immediately said no. When I told my dad, he asked if I was sure it was something I wanted to do.” She joined during the time of Desert Storm and although she did not see combat, her time spent in the military has enabled her to find common ground with those who enter her office each day.

Working in higher education, she admits it wasn’t until she entered the program at the University of Arkansas that she realized her passion. While pursuing a master’s degree, she grew to admire three professors, Dr. Lyle Gohn, Dr. Michael Miller and Dr. Christopher Lucas, all of whom became her mentors. “They see the qualities you often don’t see in yourself,” she said. As a single mother, much of her time was dedicated to school work and taking care of her daughter; however, she did receive a graduate assistantship at University Housing.

Later, she became the academic coordinator of the Veterans Upward Bound program. According to the pamphlet, the program “is here to guide you through the challenges of entering and succeeding in college.” Gamboa praised the program for its ability to provide military personnel with the tools needed to prepare for college. Some of the services that the Veterans Upward Bound program provides are a two-hour consultation that will determine the student’s academic capabilities, books, supplies and a stipend for gas, all of which are free of charge.

The experience she gained in the program led her to accept the position of Director of the Veterans Information and Resource Center (VRIC). As the point of contact for veterans and their dependents, Gamboa and her staff provide guidance and insight into finances, benefits, class schedules and the application process. “I create a checklist for each student. When we talk about benefits, when they served and for how long usually determines how much money they will receive. We also look at external benefits, including scholarships and personal needs such as daycare for their children,” she said.

Her dedication to helping veterans extends beyond office walls. Gamboa also co-teaches a course with Dr. Danette Heckathorn called “From Boots to Books: Healthy Transitions for Military Personnel.” According to the class description, “The curriculum integrates a network of campus resources, guest presentations, student research and writing, and discussion sessions.”

Helping student veterans become acclimated within the classroom is important; however, Gamboa works hard to make sure they are integrated and informed outside the classroom as well. In 2011, the VRIC coordinated the first Veteran’s Week Celebration, which included a veteran’s resource fair, guest speaker Gen. Wesley Clark and recognition of the Pat Tillman scholars. On Veteran’s Day, staff, ROTC members and students read the names of fallen soldiers who died during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Becoming emotional, Gamboa said, “I guess there was a campus tour going on and people just stopped. Suddenly I noticed this man stepped forward and he saluted…he was a Vietnam vet.” Another instance included a student walking by wearing a military jacket. “He asked if there was an open time slot. I told him there was but it was in two hours and he told me he would be back. When he came back, he was wearing his full uniform to read the names.”

While Gamboa enjoys the work she does with veterans on campus, as a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association, she devotes much of her time to the Association’s Latino Alumni Society. “I was one of the first two Latinas in the higher education program here on campus,” she said. With very few Latino organizations on campus, Gamboa became involved with the Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee. Organizing a campus day, the group helped to bring area high school students to campus, with the intention of showing them a place that could be a part of their future.

Years later, after talking to various friends, an interest was shown in starting a Latino Society. “Angela Monts was our angel. She really helped us through this…the Association supported us and opened its doors without question. They showed us what we needed to do so we didn’t have barriers along the way.”

Since the formation of the Latino Alumni Society, the group consists of Bolivians, Colombians, Mexicans, Brazilians and other diverse backgrounds. “We want to be the communication between young Latino students, saying, ‘You’re welcome here.’ We want to keep the community connected and encourage Latino students who may not see the University of Arkansas as a possibility in their future,” she said.

On April 27, the Latino Alumni Society will host its second annual “La Pachanga.” This year’s event will be special because the Society will receive its official charter as well. In an effort to raise money for scholarships for future Latino students, Gamboa encourages all Association members to join and attend.

“Being a part of the Alumni Association has given me a sense of pride. They think about the students before they become alumni…by being a part of the Association and the Latino Alumni Society, this is my way of giving back.”

Sybil Marty Cheesman and Zoe E. Marty Brumfield were greeted by Lewis Epley (halftime announcer for the Razorback Band under Marty & KKPsi), Martha Berry Cate (former majorette) and husband Stan Cate (Kappa Kappa Psi brother), T. O. Spicer (also KKPsi and Razorback Band Alumni Society founding president) and his wife Martha Spicer (RBAS founding secretary) and Frances Barton Nutt (RBAS board member and famous flute carrier).  Lewis Epley, before giving the Marty sisters a tour of the much-changed U of A Campus, introduced the ladies to the RBAS Board who were fortuitously meeting Saturday morning in the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House across from Razorback Stadium.

Needless to say, there was much conversation and reminisces exchanged between the folks mentioned above and many questions asked by RBAS Board members regarding Professor Marty’s tenure with the Razorback Band.  It must be noted that Marty’s wife, Ruth, was also a strong supporter of the band and was the official sponsor/advisor of the Psi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

The Razorback Band Alumni Society salutes not only Sybil and Zoe in their return to campus, but also the Razorback Alumni listed above who took time from their busy schedules to treat the these ladies with such kind hospitality during their return visit to Northwest Arkansas.  What a grand event for all involved!

This article was written by Tyler Thompson, Razorback Band Alumni Society Board Member Emeritus.

“My mother, my aunt and my grandmother all went to the University of Arkansas.  I guess I just wanted to follow in their footsteps.” Awarded a cross country and track scholarship, Towns planned to go to Texas A&M, his father’s alma mater.  One day, on a fishing trip, he remembers his dad saying, “You don’t want to go to Texas A&M, do you?” Remarking that he would rather spend his undergraduate years at the University of Arkansas, a few phone calls were made and Towns soon found himself enrolled as a student on “The Hill.”

His first semester on campus, Towns believed he was destined for a career in journalism. “I planned to be a world-famous sports writer,” he said. It wasn’t until he walked into the late Ralph Eubanks’ classroom that he discovered his passion for speech and communications. Thoroughly enjoying the course, he wanted to stay committed to the field and one day, teach at the university level, just like Eubanks.

Set on pursuing a major in speech, Towns soon added a minor in history to his curriculum, saying, “because of Walter Brown and James Hudson, I fell in love with history and the South.” The late Ann Vizzier, who taught renaissance and reformation history, also made an impact on Towns, proclaiming her to be “one of the best professors I had in school, as well as a great academic leader and role model.”

Taking the knowledge he gained at the university, he graduated in 1961 and went on to pursue a master’s degree in speech at the University of Florida. After receiving his master’s degree, Towns served in a U.S. Army Reserves Civil Affairs Unit helping to “rebuild schools, the economy” and other areas that were ravaged by war. He later retired as a colonel after 35 years of service. During that time, he also taught as an instructor in the speech and theater department at the University of Arkansas. Opting to further his education, Towns returned to the University of Florida where he received a doctoral degree in speech in 1972.

Fulfilling the commitment he made to himself as a student in Eubanks’ class, Towns accepted a position at the University of West Florida and later became chairperson of the communication arts department. Not only were his days filled with teaching, but he devoted 15 years to coaching the men’s cross country team. Running track and cross country in high school and college, Towns competed in the 1964 Olympic Trials and became a member of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Team. Deciding to take on the role of coach, he said, “I had been there and done that. I think the guys looked up to me more because I’d done it. I’d been through what they were currently going through.”

Living by the theory that goal setting is critical, but one must be committed in order for that goal to become a reality, Towns worked to instill that in his students, both in the classroom and on the track. “I wanted to challenge my students to look beyond themselves,” he said.

After leaving the University of West Florida in July 2000, he took a position at Appalachian State University as professor and department chairperson. He later left Appalachian State to teach at Southeast Missouri State University where he officially retired in June 2011.

It is no surprise that Towns now devotes himself to writing and researching. Fascinated by the Civil War and southern history, he has written and published four books between 1998 and 2012. According to his website, www.southernoratory.com; his latest book, Enduring Legacy: Rhetoric and Ritual of the Lost Cause, “explores the vital place of ceremonial oratory in the oral tradition in the South.”

After the publication of his Enduring Legacy, Towns wasted no time and began working on his fifth book, saying, “We are currently going through the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War. This book is about Jefferson Davis and his speeches.”  It is clear that Towns has no plans of slowing down any time soon.

Although his days of teaching and learning in a classroom are over, his passion for education is not. A devoted member of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Towns feels that being a member is his way of being able to give back. “By being a member of the Association, I’ve been able to make a contribution in some way,” he said. “It’s a great way to stay up-to-date on what is going on at the university.”

Living in Forrest City, he is unable to take part in many chapter events, stating that Memphis is the closest city for alumni-oriented events. However, if a chapter were to form in the area, he and his wife, Helen, who he met during his undergraduate years at the university, would most certainly get involved.

“The University of Arkansas is an important place to my family and those four years were a meaningful time in my life.”

The application deadline is Wednesday, March 28.

Criterion for the citation includes:

• academic excellence
• demonstrated leadership
• significant extracurricular campus and/or community involvement.

To see application guidelines, visit the Arkansas Alumni Association’s Senior Honor Citation web page.

If you have any questions, contact Debbie Blume at dblume@uark.edu or 479-575-6476.

Spending three and half years working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, she graduated in December 2011. Since then, she has experimented “artistically” in bookmaking, textiles and photography. Looking for an opportunity to showcase her talent, as well as her “creativity and love of design,” she entered the Young Alumni logo contest.

“The 4-Ps were described as the guiding principles behind the Young Alumni initiative, so the concept of the compass seemed a natural fit as a visual metaphor,” she said.

Learning that her design was chosen as the winning logo, she expressed her excitement, saying, “I was thrilled to learn that I had won the Young Alumni Board 4-P Logo contest. It’s an honor to give back to the university and have my design used to promote the [Arkansas] Alumni Association.” Having graduated in the fall, Allred is a complimentary member of the Association.