The inaugural Mace Award was dually awarded during the Arkansas Alumni Association’s Volunteer Summit to the Student Alumni Board and the San Francisco Chapter for exceptional events during the 2008 calendar year.
Katie Sellers, SAB president, accepted the award in recognition of outstanding planning, event execution and engagement of Homecoming. Students worked with other registered student events to coordinate 11 events over the course of the Homecoming week. These events including involving the chancellor in passing out hot dogs on the Union mall; a cook-off between student groups in The Gardens, a student talent-showcase, banner competition and parade and pep rally. A community blood drive was embedded into the week to raise awareness and support the community. In 2007, the Student Alumni Board set a state and regional record with the Red Cross for the most pints of blood received. In 2008, the Student Alumni Board broke its own record.
Another special event receiving special inaugural recognition was given to the San Francisco Alumni Chapter, represented by Maria Clayton, first vice president. Their annual Louis M. Martini Winery Picnic has long been a premier event of the chapter and well-known across the country. The goal of this event is to raise scholarship funds for the Ernest J. Wong Endowed Scholarship Fund. Wong has been instrumental in the chapter scholarship program and once served as the chapter’s treasurer. The chapter works to continually improve their event through the engagement of university officials, event sponsorship and special attend to event details. Approximately 100-150 attend the event annually.
The Mace Award was created by the Awards/Nominating Committee of the national board in 2008 to recognize exceptional event planning, execution and attendance of a group such as chapters, societies, young alumni board, student alumni board and R.E.A.L. Razorbacks. The award is named in honor of Mike Macechko, executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association.
