The 4-P initiative was created to help communicate to young alumni what the Alumni Association can provide assistance with as well as how membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association can benefit themselves as well as others.  The 4-P’s the board wants to convey are Pride, Perks, Professional Development and Paying it Forward. The logo will be the face of the 4-P initiative and should illustrate the 4-P’s.  The contest has begun and submissions are due to the Alumni Association by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. It is open to any students or alumni. The grand prize will be a $250 Visa gift card, a spotlight on the Arkansas Alumni Association’s website and publications, and a gift pack from the Alumni Association.

Members of the Arkansas Alumni Association or members of the Razorback Foundation who did not purchase the travel package may purchase Hog Wild Party tickets. Non-Member guests must be accompanied by a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association or a member of the Razorback Foundation. A shuttle will run to and from the Omni and Anatole hotels, taking members who purchased tickets to Eddie Deen’s Ranch.

Registration for the event will be open until Dec. 29 and tickets for the event will be available for pick up at the Omni Hotel hospitality desk on Thursday, Jan. 5 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tickets will also be available for pick up at Eddie Deen’s from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

To learn more about the event, or to reserve your tickets today, visit the Hog Wild Party page.

A 2008 graduate of the civil engineering department, White, a native of Russellville, understands the struggles that students face when contemplating degree programs, finances and homework. Through his understanding, he and two of his fellow classmates, Trenton Ellis and Meagan Berlau, decided to start a scholarship for civil engineering students. “I was a recipient of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering scholarship. It allowed me to not worry about finances and instead, focus on the things I enjoy in school,” he said.

Looking to give other students that same opportunity, White and his two classmates consulted with faculty and staff members within the department, including Dr. Kevin Hall, departmental chair of civil engineering, who supported them on their endeavors. Deciding that each would contribute $500 to the scholarship, the Honorarium for Dedicated Leadership and Outstanding Character Scholarship was started. Set up for junior and senior civil engineering students, White added, “It is an annual $1,500 scholarship for those who demonstrate leadership skills in academic and extracurricular activities.”

When asked why, at such a young age, they decided to take on such a venture, White stated, “We all had the financial capacity to start the scholarship. We didn’t want to wait.”

Apart from his contributions to helping students financially while in school, he stays actively involved in the Civil Engineering Alumni Society, serving as a board member. Joining two years ago, he is an advocate for the society’s purpose of “unifying alumni and providing them the opportunity to come back and connect,” as well as “giving back to students and scholarships.” Proud to be involved in an organization that allows alumni and students to build relationships, he urges students to make connections with professionals; something he understands through personal experience.

As a junior, White participated in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe competition. While building a steel bridge in Lawrence, KS, he met many people within the program, and through his connections, received an internship with Garver Engineers, LLC, his current employer.

“I work in the aviation department. We build airports in the area and help our clients achieve their vision,” he said. Adding that as a project engineer, his job allows him to help with funding, as well as oversee the projects, he claims that “getting to know the clients and seeing a project from its concept through the construction phase is what I like best about my job.”

Although his activities outside of work keep him busy, White can’t imagine it any other way. “The Arkansas Alumni Association is an avenue to connect and give back to the University of Arkansas,” he said. Through his involvement with the Association, he has met fellow professionals who he shares similar interests, such as former Civil Engineering Alumni Society president, Marcus Hopkins, and fellow civil engineer, Paul Selig.

The people he has met, the opportunities he has been given and the impact he and his fellow classmates continue to make on current students are just a few of the reasons why he believes it is worth getting involved.

“It is rewarding to give back to students. You get so much of it and it helps you grow as a professional just as much as they grow as students.”

The Arkansas Alumni Association proudly announces its 2011 award recipients, all of whom personify the University of Arkansas’ tradition of excellence through service and leadership. All 10 honorees were recognized during the 67^th annual Alumni Awards Celebration on Nov. 4 at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

Two University of Arkansas graduates received the Citation of Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievement and extraordinary distinction in a chosen field. The awardees included:

Kay Kelley Arnold BA’76, MA’77, vice president for public affairs, Entergy Services Inc., Little Rock. As vice president for public affairs at Entergy Services Inc., Arnold manages the Entergy Foundation and political action committees, as well as low-income, grassroots, giving and community programs. Encompassing corporate social responsibility, including corporate contribu­tions and employee volunteerism, she helps to lead special assignments, such as license renewal and climate change working groups.

Before joining Entergy, Arnold worked on local, state and national politi­cal campaigns before becoming a licensed attorney in 1981. Taking her knowledge in communications and law, she went to work from 1982-85 as the director of the Arkansas Nature Conservancy. During her time there, she was awarded the President’s Public Service Award. Staying in Little Rock, she worked from 1986-88 as director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage in Little Rock, a department that manages natural areas, such as arts, mu­seums, scenic rivers, endangered species and historic preservation. Because of her extensive and successful political and environmental work, she has won numerous awards and received honorable distinctions.

Although she spends most of her time working with the Entergy Foundation and helping to create and sustain prosperous communities, Arnold continues her communi­ty involvement outside of work. Currently, she is on the board of seven organizations, includ­ing the Winrock International Advisory Board, Inter-American Foundation, Conservation Fund, National Wildlife Foundation President’s Council, Lyon College Board of Trustees and the Public Affairs Council. She was recently re-appointed to the Little Rock National Airport Commission by Mayor Stodola for an additional five-year term.

Quinn Taylor BSHE’87, senior vice president, Movies, Miniseries & Acquisitions

ABC Entertainment Group, Burbank, CA. Unaware that a degree in fashion merchandising would lead him to become a television executive, Taylor credits his love of reading, which was strengthened at the University of Arkansas, for leading him into the world of television. Taylor oversees all made-for-TV movies, miniseries and acquisitions for the ABC Entertainment Group, a unit composed of the television network and its production studio. Working for the company since 1996, Taylor has served as executive director and vice president of Movies for Television and as senior vice president for Motion Pictures for Television & Miniseries.

During his time at ABC Inc., Taylor has overseen the creation of “The Path to 9/11,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “The Ten Com­mandments” and two miniseries from the master of horror, Stephen King, including “Stephen King’s Rose Red” and the dramatic series, “Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital.” Other credits include “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man,” starring Matthew Broderick; “DreamKeeper,” the miniseries depicting Native American mythology; “Oprah Winfrey Presents: Amy and Isabelle,” and “Brian’s Song” in 2002.

In 2001, Taylor served as an executive on the miniseries “Anne Frank,” which won a Peabody Award and an Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries. He also served as the network exec­utive on the miniseries “Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows,” which won five Emmy Awards and was the highest rated miniseries of the 2000-01 season. Most recently, Taylor’s credits include “Combat Hospital,” “Rookie Blue” and the critically acclaimed movie “A Raisin in the Sun,” starring media mogul Sean Combs.

Other alumni who were honored during the awards celebration include:

Jacque Martini BS’78 MBA’09, owner, MSquared Wines, Calistoga, CA, Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award. Growing up in Arkansas, Martini set her sights on attending the University of Arkansas from a young age. Having parents who wished to raise her in the South, she attended school in Hot Springs before moving to Pine Bluff where she frequently visited Little Rock and the U of A for Razorback football games. Knowing she could receive a great education at the U of A, she didn’t apply anywhere else. Earning a degree in geology, she left the state she loved and spent two years working at Texaco as a geologist in New Orleans, three years with Cities Service in Denver and three years with Sohio Petroleum in San Francisco.

Unaware that her future profession would be vastly different from the realm of geology, Martini met her husband, Michael, while working at Napa Town Center in Napa Valley. A third-generation winemaker, Martini has helped her husband promote his family’s winery and wines, Louis M. Martini Winery, in and around the Napa Valley area.

Representatives of Martini wines and their own brand, MSquared Wines, she and her husband work to continue the winemaking legacy, all while sharing the passion with those in the area, including Arkansas alumni in the area. Each year, Martini and her husband host the Louis M. Martini Winery BBQ at Monte Rosso ranch in Sonoma Valley, an event that has occurred for the past 20 years. Aiming to help students attend the University of Arkansas, all of the event proceeds go to the Earnest J. Wong Scholarship Fund, which reached a total of $100,000 with this year’s event.

Norm DeBriyn, associate director of The Razorback Foundation Inc., Fayetteville, Honorary Alumni Award. Growing up in Ashland, Wis., DeBriyn has been a part of the University of Arkansas for more than 40 years. Serving as the Univer­sity of Arkansas’ head baseball coach for 33 years, he stays involved with the university by serving as associate director of the Razorback Foundation.

Having a passion for sports, DeBriyn came to Arkansas in the fall of 1969 where he took on the role of head baseball coach until 2002. During his time at the U of A, he received mul­tiple awards, including becoming a member of the University of Washington-Oshkosh Hall of Fame, the Razorback Hall of Honor and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, as well as Coach of the Year in the Southeastern Conference (1999), Southwest Conference (six times) and the NCAAA District IV (1979).

His tenure as head baseball coach saw four NCAA College World Series appearances, 15 NCAA post-season appearances, three conference championships, six freshman All-Americans, 19 All-American selections, 58 All-Conference selections and 48 All-Confer­ence Tournament selections. When calculat­ing the number of pupils who played under DeBriyn, 17 have played in the major leagues while many others went on to play in the minor leagues or to pursue a coaching career, including former Nebraska head coach and current Arkansas Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn.

Since retiring in 2002, DeBriyn has taken on the role of associate director of the Razorback Foundation. Transitioning from coach to fund­raiser, he continues to build relationships with coaches and those in the University of Arkan­sas community. Aiming to support University of Arkansas athletics through fundraising, his involvement has led to multiple expansions of Baum Stadium.

John Forrest Ales BA’02, director of Global Brand Public Relations Hilton Hotels and Resorts, McLean, VA, Young Alumni Award. Completing his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2002 from the University of Ar­kansas, Ales pursued his passion of politics, public relations and journalism. He went to work for various political campaigns before joining a consumer public relations agency while pursuing a master’s degree in strategic public relations from the University of Southern California.

In 2005, Ales went to work for Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, brand­ing her policies and managing media interest in the state’s post-Hurricane Katrina recovery. Continuing to work in the public relations realm, Ales worked in consumer public rela­tions with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where he developed public relations strategies and managed community relations and brand reputation in Southern California. Achieving praise for his work with the governor and Wal-Mart, Ales, at 29 years old, accepted the position of director of Global Brand Public Relations for Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

As the world’s most recognizable hotel brand, Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of the largest spa providers in the world. With the re­sponsibility of managing the Hilton Worldwide brand and its reputation, Ales leads communi­cation strategies for the company and its more than 540 hotels in 78 countries across six con­tinents. He is responsible for executing media and community relations, leading the brand’s social media conversation, supporting brand marketing objectives and creating resources for hotels to excel in local markets. He has also helped launch eforea, which is the brand’s first global spa concept; Hilton Huanying, a tailored program for Chinese travelers; reposition Hilton Resorts; and create the Hilton Global Media Center, which is the travel industry’s most comprehensive media resource.

John Pijanowski, associate professor and coordinator of the Educational Leadership Program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions, Fayetteville, Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award. An associate professor and coordinator of Educational Leadership at the University of Arkansas, Pijanowski teaches students about ethical decision making theory. During his time at the U of A, he has redesigned both the master’s and doctoral programs, transi­tioned the Educational Leadership doctorate program online, guided the program through NCATE and ELCC accreditation review and helped create new admissions and advising standards and guidelines. Spending 20 years as an educator and administrator, he is estab­lished in the realm of research, publishing 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals, co-author­ing two books and currently has seven articles in the review or publishing stage.

Pijanowski’s teaching, research and service are significant to the mission of the College of Education and Health Professions, which is “to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Arkansas, the nation and the world through the development of scholar-practitioners in education, health and human services.” Teach­ing a variety of courses, including leadership, ethics and policy, he also works to get his students involved in implementing education policy, teaching, and designing and evaluat­ing programs in regards to the needs of the school district.

The reputation he has among his students is one of great respect and gratitude. His dedication to the profession and his students can be heard through the voices of his pupils. “I have never had a teacher as effective as Dr. Pijanowski…I feel that he is the most inspi­rational and motivational teacher I have ever had the opportunity to learn from…I hope the university is aware of how valuable Dr. Pijanowski is to the students he teaches and the faculty he teaches with.”

Tommy L. Love, Jr. BA’70, physician with the Central Medical Group, Little Rock, Community Service Award. After receiving a model of a human body from his father while in junior high school, Love began showing an interest in medicine. Not only in school, but in his career, he has learned the value and importance of helping those who need assistance, as well as providing a personable interaction with patients. Love specializes in internal medicine with the Central Medical Group in Little Rock and has 37 years of medical experience. As an internal medicine physician, he focuses on the treatment of those who may exhibit multiple illnesses at one time; treating not only the illness and/or disease, but also the well-being of the patient.

Eighteen years ago, Love noticed an in­crease in the popularity of health fairs. Taking advice from his church’s minister, he decided to start his own free health fair through his church. Stationed in Little Rock, the goal of the annual health fair is to provide free access to health related services for those in the public who express medical need. Those who attend the health fair are able to receive free screen­ings for various illnesses and diseases, such as glaucoma, cholesterol, HIV and prostate cancer. The health fair also offers attendees the chance to bring their medicine bottles and receive free prescription and non-prescription medicines.

As coordinator for the past 18 years, Love’s passion and appreciation for helping others continues. His dedication to the health fair has not only helped people receive appropri­ate medical assistance, but it has enabled University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences pharmacy and nursing students to participate and obtain hands-on experience.

Each year the Alumni Association also presents three Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards for outstanding success. The 2011 recipients are:

Marty Matlock, professor and area director for the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences and College of Engineering, Service Award. Professor of ecological engineering in the biological and agricultural engineering department, Matlock has been named as the recipient for Service. In 10 years at the University of Arkansas, he has worked to develop an internationally recognized program in ecological engineering. Through this program, Matlock has created a foundation for the undergraduate degree. Working with The Sustainability Consortium in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, he helped achieve success for the U of A in framing and communi­cating strategies for sustainable supply chains, which led TSC to become the leading academic research-based organization in supply chain sustainability metric development in the world.

Matlock serves on the Science Advisory Committee for MARS Corporation and is a sustainability advisor to Kellogg, Kashi, Monsanto, Bayer Crop Sciences, Levi Strauss, World Wildlife Foundation, World Resources Institute and others. Taking on a unique perspec­tive of the agricultural supply chains, he brings that perspective to his research and teaching.

His expertise in the field has led him to work with organizations including the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service as a technical delegate in the Mid-East Peace Process and the Cherokee Nation, which through his work has created national recognition of the U of A as an institution dedicated to serving under­represented minorities in science, technology, engineering and math.

His service to the profession stands out. He was senior author for the Academy of Environ­mental Engineers’ Body of Knowledge Report in 2008, served as president of the American Ecological Engineering Society in 2007-08, and designed and helped implement an ecological design certification program through the American Ecological Engineering Society in 2010.

H. Alan Mantooth BSEE’85, MSEE’86, distinguished professor and 21^st Century Chair in Mixed-Signal IC Design and CAD Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Research Award. Mantooth, distinguished professor of electrical engineering in the College of Engineering, has been named for the Research Award. His ability to bridge the academic and business/industrial communities through entrepreneurial activities, his international research leadership, and his research pro­ductivity and mentorship of students has led him to be recognized by internationally known researchers who praise his work and developments. Mantooth is also the executive director of the NSF Center for Grid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems and NSF Vertically-Integrated Center for Transformative Energy Research.

Through his extensive research in electron­ics, he has authored more than 150 refereed articles on circuit design and CAD, authored the first book on modeling with analog hardware description languages and he holds three patents on software design. He has received under $38 million in external funding from various public and private sources and his colleagues refer to him as one of the most prolific researchers at the U of A.

Mantooth’s dedication to students is shown through the recognition he has received from colleagues and students. His involvement includes chief advisor of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society; chief advisor of Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical engineering society and co-advisor to the Solar Splash team. Facilitating a partnership between the City of Fayetteville and the U of A, he and stu­dents from the College of Engineering helped to install a solar electric energy system at the Fayetteville Public Library which will provide 15 percent of the energy needs of the library.

Robert Stapp, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Economics in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Teaching Award. Clinical associate professor of economics, Stapp has been named the recipient for teaching. Although ranking high among his colleagues in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Stapp’s students tend to rank him as one of the best professors they have had while at the University of Arkansas. His ability to teach what some believe to be difficult subject material is viewed as extraordinary because of his in-depth knowledge of various techni­cal skills, including math, finance, accounting, psychology, sociology and politics.

Each summer, Stapp takes a group of students to Japan for a study abroad program. During their time overseas, students visit with the government officials and CEOs of various Japanese firms, as well as attend cultural events and home stays. Considering this to be a valuable experience, one of Stapp’s students recalls how the trip influenced and shaped who they are today, saying, “The incredible ex­perience of the Japan Study Abroad program that Dr. Stapp has been perfecting for many years plays a huge part in who I’ve become today. I still tell people what a wonderful expe­rience it was for me.”

During Stapp’s time at the University of Arkansas, he has mentored a number of students who have gone on to pursue gradu­ate degrees at MIT, Oxford, Harvard, George­town, Chicago and Stanford. Considering his students to be as knowledgeable and capable as students from other universities, 19 of his pupils competed with other universities in the Nation Model United Nations – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference and won top awards, while many have gone to work for notable corporations in not only America but the world.

Have you ever been a member of the U.S. military? If so, please identify yourself as a veteran on  your Alumni profile.  We have many current U of A students who are or have been service members and we want to make sure that all U of A alumni military veterans are accounted for. We want to keep you informed but we need to know who you are! There are many veteran-related services available on campus and many activities alumni military veterans can participant in. Count yourself in today!

From left to right: Megan Frohardt, August Kerwin, Parash Rajbhansi, David Kerwin, Debbie Blume, Bob Blume and Meredith Hawkins.

Ask a Joplin tornado victim if one day really does make a difference and they will most definitely answer ‘yes.’  On Saturday, Oct. 22, 51 “Helpin’ Like a Hog” volunteers consisting of staff from the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Division of Advancement, Association scholarship recipients, and alumni, family and friends, traveled to Joplin in an effort to help those affected by the EF5 tornado that touched down in May 2011. “The main reason I chose to participate in ‘Helpin’ Like a Hog’ was a desire to help others…a desire to show what a positive contribution our University can make in the Joplin community,” said Richard Hebar, an ’82 alumnus.

Once arriving on site, the volunteers separated into three groups. Aiming to help the people of Joplin, the Association reached out to alumni in the area who needed assistance. Five volunteers visited the property of David Kerwin, a ’91 alumnus whose home was destroyed as a result of the tornado. Meredith Hawkins, communications specialist for the Association, spoke with Kerwin about his experience. “Upon surveying the sky, he rushed into his home thinking, ‘get in the bathtub with a blanket over my head,’” she said. However, circumstances led him to run towards his shed and take shelter under his work bench. Waking up the next morning, he was found by two high school students who rushed him to a nearby hospital where he learned he had suffered six cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.

Still recovering mentally, physically and emotionally from his injuries, he bought a home in Carthage, MO, which was the site where volunteers helped to sort, organize and unpack his belongings. Upon learning of the Association’s willingness to help, Hawkins recalled Kerwin growing emotional, saying, “Our presence there gave him a big boost and helped him get his energy up to tackle what, at first, seemed insurmountable.”

In Joplin, 14 “Helpin’ Like a Hog” volunteers assisted at the Joplin Family Worship Center; a distribution center for men, women and children’s clothing, and household items, including blankets, sheets, dishes and paper items. According to Heath Bowman, assistant director of the out-of-state territories, “everything in the distribution center is provided free of charge to families who were impacted by the storms.” The Association’s volunteers worked to “sort and fold clothes, sheets and blankets so that the shelves could be re-stocked for families needing assistance,” Bowman said. Seven thousand volunteers have donated their time to helping and distributing donated goods valued at $5 million since May 2011.

Raising the spirits of many of the families in the area, especially the children, 32 volunteers arrived at Landreth Park to work carnival stations at the “Trunk or Treat” event. Sponsored by Friends Helping Friends and Schrieber Foods, children arrived dressed in Halloween costumes and collected candy and prizes at the various carnival games. In an effort to provide families with basic necessities, “Home Kits” filled with paper goods and food was provided, as well as stuffed animals for the children.

University students and Association scholarship recipients, Megan Frohardt and Megan Handley, shared their reasons for volunteering, as well as the impact of helping in Joplin. “The most satisfying part of the ‘Helpin’ Like a Hog’ experience was personally experiencing the effect we had in helping out,” Frohardt said. Handley stated that she had not had the opportunity to help in the relief effort, but “The Arkansas Alumni Association gave me that opportunity, and I thank them for that.”

Other volunteers expressed their feelings in being involved with “Helpin’ Like a Hog.” Joplin resident, Heather Arnold stated, “Being able to see the difference that is being made in Joplin, while also meeting fellow alumni from across the region, was the best part of my ‘Helpin’ Like a Hog’ experience.” Carl Fallen, a ’63 alumnus, told Bowman he chose to volunteer “out of loyalty to the University of Arkansas. I like helping people who benefit from worthy civic projects.”

ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will devote its 200th episode to “Seven Homes in Seven Days,” which will feature the Extreme cast and crew in Joplin, building seven new homes for families who were affected by the tornado. To find out more about the events of that day, watch the online slideshow and view uploaded photos provided by Association staff.

It has been almost five months since the storm and residents continue to clean up what the storm left behind. In need of volunteers, the people of Joplin require help in rebuilding homes, schools and businesses. In an effort to help our neighbors to the north, three University of Arkansas groups are traveling to Joplin on Oct. 22 to aid in the relief effort – the Arkansas Alumni Association, Associated Student Government and the Division of Advancement.

This will be the second “Helpin’ Like a Hog” event for the Association. “We sent out a survey about a month ago and received feedback from our alumni, saying that they could use our help,” said Heath Bowman, assistant director of the out-of-state territories. Not only will the Association help the city’s residents, but the “Helpin’ Like a Hog” program will aid university alumni who live in Joplin.

Volunteers consisting of alumni, friends and family are encouraged to take part in “Helpin’ Like a Hog.” Those who are 18 years of age or older will help assist with debris removal while volunteers under the age of 13, or who are not capable of removing debris, will help sort and organize materials at disaster relief warehouses.

In coordination with AmeriCorps Disaster Relief, members of ASG are sponsoring a Joplin Relief Volunteer Trip. Viewing this as an opportunity for students to give back and help those in need, ASG is inviting interested students who would like to participate to volunteer in helping the people of Joplin rebuild their community.

Along with the Arkansas Alumni Association and ASG, the Division of Advancement and the United Way are asking the question, “What better purpose could you serve?” Asking people to commit one day to this project, the staff in the Division of Advancement is looking to help Joplin residents rebuild their homes, stock food banks, organize warehouses and aid in cleaning up public spaces.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring necessary tools and are asked to drive to and from Joplin in personal vehicles. Based on skill sets and project needs, work teams will receive direction from the United Way’s project managers before going to the work sites.

The University of Arkansas understands the needs of those not only in the Northwest Arkansas community, but in other communities as well. This is an opportunity for students, staff, friends and family to come together and make a difference in the lives of others.

Those who are interested in volunteering with the Arkansas Alumni Association must register online by midnight on Sunday, Oct. 16.

Students who would like to participate in the Joplin Relief Volunteer Trip with Associated Student Government should complete an ASG application and Joplin volunteer waiver and return it to the Office of Student Activities by noon on Friday, Oct. 14. Students may also contact ASG director of service outreach, Laura Weiderhaft via e-mail at lweiderh@uark.edu for more information.

Staff members who wish to volunteer with the Division of Advancement may contact Ashlie Hilbun via e-mail at ahilbun@uark.edu or by phone at 479-301-4346 for more information.

It wasn’t until five years ago that Dime moved to San Francisco as a result of a job offer with Walmart.com. A long-standing employee of the company, she began working for Sam’s Club while as a student at the university.

“I started out majoring in marketing, but a lot of my electives were science classes and I did well in them so I switched to industrial engineering,” she said. Devoting her time to studying and working, Dime was unable to participate in many campus activities beyond her first year. As a freshman, she found herself cheering for the Razorbacks as a Lady Razorback cheerleader; however, because of the volume of coursework and the responsibility of having a job, she opted to focus on her studies so she could enter graduate school.

Upon speaking with Dr. Eric Malstrom, the late professor and head of the industrial engineering department, she decided to pursue a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering. “When he asked me to go to graduate school, it was an offer I just couldn’t turn down,” she stated. “He had such enthusiasm for his students. We were a very close group of people.”

Graduating with a master’s degree in 1995, Dime’s transition from college to the professional world was a pleasant one. Discovering that a fellow industrial engineer worked in the same Sam’s Club, she was approached about job while in graduate school. Immediately after graduating, she began working as an industrial engineer for Wal-Mart.

Quickly, she found herself advancing in the company, moving from industrial engineer to operations project manager to business analyst and finally, a software engineer with Walmart.com. In 2006, Dime made the move to San Francisco to begin her new job, and although far away from her hometown of Springdale, she soon realized that she worked among fellow Arkansans. “There were some people at work who were from Arkansas and they attended the activities that the alumni group put together,” she said.

Deciding to become a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Dime eventually joined the membership committee. “Those of us, we worked to reach out to people whose memberships had expired to see if they wanted to renew,” she said. Although she is no longer on the committee, she is still an active board member who works to help with chapter fundraising and events.

One event in particular, the Louis M. Martini Winery BBQ, is one of the largest events of the year for the chapter. With all of the proceeds going to the Ernest J. Wong Scholarship Fund, not only do guests get the chance to partake in an afternoon of food, raffle prizes and wine tasting, but money is raised to help send students to the University of Arkansas. This year’s event brought the endowed scholarship total to $100,000.

Socializing with the chosen scholarship recipients is one of the most exciting aspects of the event for Dime, saying, “It’s just amazing being able to listen to these scholars, and those who are former recipients, to hear about what they are now doing in their careers…it’s great.”

Looking forward to what lies ahead for the chapter, Dime hopes to see an increase in membership and chapter recognition. Believing that it is necessary to get the word out about the alumni chapter, she finds it to be especially important for students who are recent graduates moving into the area. “It’s always fun seeing new people at our events who have found out about us and are anxious to participate.”