ARKANSAS: Fall 2018

ARKANSAS

Fall 2018 For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.

Fall 2018 Vol. 68, No. 1

From your Home on the Hill to all around the globe ‌

arkansasalumni.org

Photo by John Baltz

arkansas

FALL 2018 / Vol 68, No. 1

For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.

4 On the Path

Honors students find inspiration during a study-abroad class conducted along the famed Camino de Santiago.

16 Internalization 24 A Lifetime of Lessons

Four case studies of students and a recent graduate who headed out to learn on the job this past summer.

Alumnus John Furner, CEO of Sam’s Club, recalls the lessons he learned and passes them on to new students.

2 12 38 46 52 54 64

Campus View Campus Alumni Events Yesteryear Senior Walk Last Look

On the cover: Jackson Williams, an honors art history and international studies major, explains the 11th-century frescoes from the Basilica of Bagüés, now located in the Diocesan Museum in Jaca, Spain.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 1

ARKANSAS Publisher Arkansas Alumni Association Executive Director Brandy Cox ✪ M.A.’07 Editor Charlie Alison ★ B.A.’82, M.A.’04 Associate Editor Catherine Baltz ★+ B.S.’92, M.Ed.’07 Creative Director Eric Pipkin Photo Editor Russell Cothren ✪ Photographers Whit Pruitt ★ Emma Schock Writers & Contributors DeLani Bartlette B.A.’06, M.A.’08 Amanda Cantu Nick DeMoss B.A.’11 Robby Edwards Scott Flanagin Jennifer Holland ★ M.Ed.’08 Beth Lewis Matt McGowan Andra Parrish Liwag Michelle Parks B.A.’94 Darinda Sharp B.A.’94, M.S.’99, M.A.’05 Camilla Shumaker B.A.’01, M.F.A.’09 David Speer B.A.’75 Kevin Trainor ★+ B.A.’94, M.A.’05 Steve Voorhies ★ M.A.’78 Heidi Wells BA’88 M.A.’13

Campus View

Advertising Coordinator Catherine Baltz ✪+ B.S.’92, M.Ed.’07

Who We Are and What Unifies Us When people understand the university’s value, they support our students and faculty, utilize our resources and expertise, and collaborate to solve the challenges we face.

This understanding increases the university’s ability to provide a positive impact to the state, nation and world. But making an impact doesn’t always equate to widespread awareness of that impact. We also have to tell our story in a consistent and unified manner.

“We make a difference, we solve problems, we build futures, we transform lives, but no one will know that if we don’t communicate our strengths in a consistent and unified way,” Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said. “A unifying theme helps communicate our identity. It is how we explain our goals, what we do and why it matters.”

Our campus recently completed a massive effort to develop unifying messaging themes to help us convey the many benefits the university provides. The themes had to be authentic and aspirational, closely connected to the university’s identity, mission and vision. To ensure that all perspectives were included, we created campus working groups, conducted in-depth interviews and received survey feedback from more than 8,000 people across Arkansas and beyond.

We received useful information about

2 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

perceived university strengths and weaknesses, familiarity with the university’s mission as a public land grant and flagship institution, and what people value most about the university.

One of the interesting takeaways is that there are disconnects for some between the university’s actual identity and its external image – what people think we do or provide.

It’s misalignment like this that we’re working to address with an authentic, consistent and unified messaging strategy.

We believe everything the university does – what unifies us – can be summed up as a part of four primary themes, defined at brand.uark.edu: • We are dedicated to Arkansas.

• We are home.

• We provide life-changing opportunities.

• We’re determined to build a better world.

You should begin to notice the influence of the unifying messaging themes on university communications this fall. But we need your help too. We are all ambassadors for the University of Arkansas. Sharing the U of A’s story is as simple as remembering who we are, what we do and why it matters.

Mark Rushing ✪ B.A.’93 Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Relations

MEMBERSHIP SYMBOLS ✩ Student Member; ★ Member; ★+ Member, A+; ✪ Life Member; ✪+ Life Member, A+ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are accepted and ­encouraged. Send letters for publication to Arkansas Magazine, Office of University ­R elations, 200 Davis Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited for length. Typewritten letters are preferred. Anonymous letters will not be published. Submission does not guarantee publication.

Arkansas, E xc l u s i ve l y fo r M e m b e r s of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. (ISSN 1064-8100) (USPS 009-515) is published quarterly by the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. at 491 North Razorback Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

Annual membership dues are now $55 per household and a portion is allocated for a subscription to Arkansas. Single copies are $6. Editing and production are provided through the UA Office of University Relations. Direct inquiries and information to P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070, phone (479) 575-2801, fax (479) 575-5177.

Periodical postage paid at Fayetteville, AR, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to P.O. Box 1070, ­Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070.

ARKANSAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Mission Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association connects and serves the University of Arkansas Family.

Vision Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association will be nationally recognized as a model alumni relations program.

Value Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association values: • service • excellence • collaboration • relationships • diversity • learning • creativity Arkansas Summer 18-180 All photos by University Relations unless otherwise noted.

Cover photo by: Russell Cothern Please recycle this magazine or share it with a friend.

Save the Date 2019 Black Alumni Society Reunion April 4-7, 2019

Are you ready to reminisce, participate in traditions and create new memories at your Home on the Hill? The Black Alumni Society Reunion Planning Committee wants you to Save the Date for our largest scholarship fundraiser.

If you would like for your event to be a part of the official reunion weekend, please send inquiries to Angela Mosley Monts at bas@arkansasalumni.org or 479-575-2812. See you in April!

BLACK

ALUMNI SOCIETY

Living Your

Retirement

Apartments

Cottages

Village Homes

Featuring premier amenities and a variety of impressive living options, come discover the Butterfield lifestyle for yourself – celebrating more than 30 years as Northwest Arkansas’ BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, as regularly recognized by area media. Call to schedule your tour today!

1923 E. Joyce Blvd. | Fayetteville, Ark. | 479.695.8012 | butterfieldtrailvillage.org FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 3

Feature

Buen Camino

Between Earth and Heaven, a Pilgrim Walks STORY BY SAMANTHA KIRBY PHOTOGRAPHY BY RUSSELL COTHREN

The path over the Pyrenees is lined with wild garlic, the air pungent with the smell.

The trail winds upward through a rich forest of fir and birch, over muddy banks and swift-flowing streams.

Feet stamp out a steady rhythm as students chat about subjects ranging from Star Wars to the reintroduction of Slovenian black bears to this region of France.

After a few kilometers of gentle climbing, we stop before the ruined 12th century foundation of an ancient “hospital,” a place of rest and recovery for medieval pilgrims. To the west, we notice the weather turning: the snow-capped mountains, glowing with a matte brilliance just minutes before, are enshrouded by gray, misty clouds. A few moments later thunder rumbles in the distance. The temperature drops and the day grows dark; soon, the rain begins. Before we know it we’re soaked, hiking through now-swampy grasslands and slipping over streams already swollen with late snowmelt.

Despite the circumstances, the students are all in high spirits, laughing and grinning through sheets of rain. Curtis Worley channels the Count of Toulouse, ostensible heretic, waving

the flag of the Languedoc region of France and leading the charge through the trees. Dani Carson and Jack Williams break into a run as the final climb over the pass comes into view.

This is the Camino de Santiago. Not the spiritual hotspots or religious reliquaries that pepper the trail, but the physical, experiential filament that connects them all: the 18-inchwide strip of earth that for centuries has guided both religious and secular pilgrims through France to Spain, each step carrying them that much closer to Santiago de Compostela, the city of Saint James.

Santiago is our ultimate destination, as we follow in the footsteps of those pilgrims who came before and walk beside modern-day pilgrims as they make their way along the medieval path. The 18 honors students participating in Honors Passport: Pilgrimage, a two-week intensive intersession study-abroad program, are no strangers to this part of the world. For many of them, this trip marks their first experience abroad, their first plane ride, their first contact with non-Anglophone cultures, yet they are already

Opposite, clockwise from top: Students Dani Carson, Amelia Holcomb, Susan Tucker, Olivia Overton, Jacob Huneycutt, Jean Morales, Michaela Boothby, Jacob Purifoy and Sam Lipson at Sainte-Chapelle in Paris; Lynda Coon and Kim Sexton lecture at Alyscamps cemetery in Arles; the pilgrimage band; students and teachers assemble before the Roman amphitheater in Arles; Michaela Boothby takes a photo of William Motazedi; a discussion on the Pont Notre-Dame; (center): Anna Ibru presents at the Cathedral of St. Denis; fine French dining; at the entrance to Alyscamps.

4 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 5

6 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

familiar with the places they visit. Each of them spent the weeks prior to the pilgrimage researching various sites and people of the trail as well as the mythologies that grew up around them along the Camino. They became experts in backstories, architectural features, religious intrigue and political exigence. During this trip, they present their research on-site while they experience the Camino both as scholars and as pilgrims themselves.

The Head and the Heart Their journey begins in Paris, where no amount of jetlag could overshadow the wonder of the city streets: the people, the noise, the shopping, the dining – and the incongruity.

Students marvel at the architectural extremism of the city, the juxtaposition of the stark, utilitarian beige-gray concrete and the ornate, the Gothic, the ostentatious, all coalescing into the utter uniqueness of the Parisian skyline. Here, the past is present in a way not seen at home, deep-cut tradition melding effortlessly into modern ritual.

Jackson Williams, a sophomore art history and international studies major, quickly picks up on this almost mystical dynamism. “Whether you’re super spiritual or not, there’s this feeling of historical precedence everywhere you go along the Camino,” he reflects. “You can just feel the energy of a thousand years of people walking and experiencing the same thing.”

Lynda Coon, a medieval historian and dean of the Honors College, and Kim Sexton, a professor of architectural history, drive home this continuity, ensuring that the students are aware that by participating in this course, they are becoming themselves a part of this history. “You’re sitting right where the medieval pilgrims probably sat,” Dean Coon says during an impromptu lecture at the Roman cemetery of Alyscamps in Arles, where the students perch on a low wall surrounded by 1,000-year-old tombs. Thanks to several local saints, Arles was an important starting point along the Camino.

“This is an experience of what real medieval cities were like,” Sexton says, referencing the hodge-podge of architectural styles in the cemetery. “We’ve seen three of the most important Gothic structures in Paris, so now we can see how Alyscamps differs. Your eyes are getting developed.”

“Dr. Sexton has taught us well about how architecture speaks,” Jacob Huneycutt says. And these students have learned its language well; they explore Alyscamps and its church like full-fledged scholars, marveling at its mélange

of styles: pointed Gothic archways juxtaposed with rounded Romanesque ones, tiny Romanesque windows beside hideous Gothic gargoyles, the odd construction of a vaulted half-rose window. They converse about the carvings on the tombs – what they symbolize, and probable dates for the inscriptions. They’ve been reading history for months on the page; now they relish reading it live.

But then something unexpected happens: echoes of song emanate from a small side chapel as music professor Nikola Radan leads the pilgrimage band in an a cappella rendition of several Cantigas de Santa Maria, canticles attributed to 13th century Castilian King Alfonso X. These songs of praise were sung along the Camino, and here in Alyscamps time stops as our own pilgrims bring them to life.

The students are drawn to Susan Tucker’s soaring voice. The intangibility of spiritual pilgrimage takes over, silencing, at least for now, all analytical processing. As the trip continues, this phenomenon becomes familiar: historical analysis is tempered by an admixture of awe and emotion, reminding the students that this is not only an academic journey, but also a spiritual one.

“Knowing that I was singing medieval worship songs in a place where they would have actually been performed changed the whole experience. … It may have been an empty stone room, but it seemed to come alive again. It was chilling to hear the music the way it was meant to be performed,” Tucker says.

Medieval Marketing and Tourism Today Nowhere is the effect of the cantigas more palpable than in Conques, a small town nestled in the sleepy hills of southern France. Home to only 90 residents, it attracts more than 1 million visitors a year, thanks in large part to the grandeur of the Romanesque Abbey Church of St. Foy. The pilgrimage band was granted the opportunity to perform within this cavernous structure, and afterward, recounts Tucker, “The priest actually asked us to come back and sing later for some real pilgrims, and that was really special because we were able to share something with them. It would have been a lot like that in the Middle Ages.”

“My French horn was a lot to lug around Europe,” Jacob Purifoy laughs, “but when we did get to play, I think we did a lot for the crowds that gathered around us. … They were really drawn to hear that message of pilgrimage, and I think that was cool, that we could provide that both for them, and for our own group.”

Clockwise from top: Students meet with Brother Cyrille, the prior at the Abbey Church of St. Foy in Conques; Elizabeth Cooper presents on the church portal; panoramic view of Conques; students hike into the village; the pilgrimage band performing in the church; (center) Tenley Getschman poses with the reliquary of St. Foy; goats; close-up of the portal, showing Lucifer and sinners in hell.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 7

“You are not tourists,” Brother Pierre Adrien gushes to the students after their late-night performance. This is a compliment, but in truth tourism is and was one of the principle perks for towns along the pilgrimage path. During the advent of the Way of Saint James, every small town advertised their local martyrs, cathedrals and cemeteries to attract pilgrims and benefit from the economy of the weary traveler, who was usually more than happy to pay at the very least for a hot meal and a warm bed.

Medieval pilgrims were especially attracted to those who sacrificed their lives for their faith, as Dean Coon explains in Alyscamps: “Martyrs would be an axis mundi, a pillar connecting this site to the heavens. They existed in both realms, so to be near the martyrs is to have a glimpse into paradise.”

For this reason, the head reliquary of 12-year-old martyr St. Foy is a huge draw for those visiting Conques.

“Head reliquaries are unique because they provide a connection between the people looking at the reliquary and the reliquary looking back, in addition to serving as an intermediary between the believer and God,” says Tenley Getschman, a sophomore economics and international studies major who presented on the saint. “She’s such a dynamic figure, I can understand how pilgrims would come and be so enamored by her.”

St. Foy was known for performing miracles – giving sight to the blind, raising animals from the dead – and for punishing sinners, most famously with paralysis. “You see all these people being tortured,” Elizabeth Cooper, a sophomore history and anthropology major, points out during her presentation on the tympanum of the church, with its vivid depictions of sinners being roasted alive, strung up by their necks and suffering even more gruesome punishments. “But the figures are blank. Amid the powerlessness to control their bodies, they transfer their pain and suffering to the soul.”

Medieval pilgrims would have been drawn to these architectural figures and the stories they told, warnings against sin and reinforcements of the pilgrims’ will to continue their weary journey to Santiago. Today, Conques continues to welcome and refresh travelers by offering daily concerts and blessings for the pilgrims, like the one at which our band performed.

Ladies, Not Gentlemen On the opposite side of the Pyrenees we discover a very modern narrative, and an unlikely one to encounter in

medieval history: women in power. In what is now the province of Castile and León in northern Spain, queens and abbesses ruled with authority; when challenged, they fought back. These figures have crafted a legacy that has inspired women through the centuries, including many of our own students.

The Abbey of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas in Burgos, Spain, was the seat of much of this inspirational activity. “I can feel the girl power here,” someone says as we file into the courtyard.

Darci Walton, a sophomore history and Spanish major, overhears. “Men did not exist in this place!” she exclaims with pride. Walton is presenting on Las Huelgas and has been studying the convent for three months prior to the pilgrimage trip. “I’ve been obsessed,” she says.

This abbey was established in the 12th century by Alfonso VIII of Castile at the behest of his wife, Eleanor Plantagenet, daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and was run by royal abbesses for hundreds of years. The structure became known for sheltering pilgrims in its famous hospital, and later became known as the “Mother” of all Cistercian houses of women in Castile and León.

Women in the north of Spain enjoyed an unprecedented amount of power in the Middle Ages. Case in point: the royal abbesses at Santa María la Real de las Huelgas controlled local tax and legal systems, educated the royal family and governed 14 major cities and 15 towns. “This was monumental at the time, especially for women,” Walton emphasizes. “You answered to the nuns. They only used the men for signatures.”

We see similar displays of power in León, where Dani Carson, a junior biology major, presents on the Basilica of San Isidoro, which Queen Urraca of Zamora embellished to propagandize for the royal family. “Now we get into some juiciness,” Carson begins, “because there was some drama in this family, some murderous drama.” Legend has it that Urraca arranged for the murder of her own half-brother Sancho, the illegitimate son of a Moorish mother, to prevent the usurpation of her power.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” Dean Coon comments.

Just as the French kings used their cathedrals and programs of stained glass to underscore their power and equate the crown with the church, Urraca embedded herself symbolically into the murals and carvings of the basilica itself, as a testament to her own authority. She even had her own name engraved into the purported Holy Grail, an artifact that was already 1,000 years old when it came into

Clockwise from top left: Students discuss the north portal of Burgos Cathedral; Darci Walton presents at the Convent of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas near Burgos; Kim Sexton and Sam Lipson in Burgos; Dani Carson presents on San Isidoro; from another angle at San Isidoro; taking pictures in the cloister at Las Huelgas; (interior photos) a plate of Spanish polpo; a lichen-covered crucifix at Las Huelgas.

8 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 9

10 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

her hands. “She was a little power-hungry,” Carson laughs, “but she was amazing.”

At the End of the Earth Finally, after two long weeks of early mornings, late nights, hikes and bus rides, the students arrive in Santiago de Compostela. They make their way down narrow cobbled streets to the celebrated Obradoiro Square, where they are met with a cold, relentless wind and a cathedral almost hidden behind tall towers of scaffolding and plastic sheets.

The nasal sound of a bagpiping busker cuts through the crowded square. The arrival is underwhelming, but as their eyes adjust, the undercurrents of emotion become visible: bikes clattering to the ground after weeks of grueling travel, fizzy champagne skyrocketing out of bottles, shouts of elation, tight hugs, arms straining to take selfies in front of the towering church. The students gaze out at this crowd of celebratory travelers, and their imaginations run wild with this vicarious experience.

“I wanted to feel the same excitement and sense of completion that they had,” Tenley Getschman says. “Our journey had been much different from theirs.”

Jackson Williams has similar feelings upon arrival: “All around were pilgrims crying, shouting, jumping and laughing as they’d finally reached their destination. In our group, there was a cautious approach. We cheated the Camino, after all.”

But, he says, “even though we hadn’t walked the Camino, it still felt like a finish line.” And there is no denying the spiritual significance of the place, regardless of whether one arrived on foot, by bicycle, by bus or otherwise.

The students experience this spirituality first-hand inside the cathedral, where they join the queue to embrace a gilded statue of St. James on display in the apse. The gesture is a rite of passage for pilgrims completing their journey, and leaves some of the students in tears.

“I wrapped my arms around the statue and imagined the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims that had come before me, hugging this statue in this one-sided embrace,” recalls Williams. “It was an overwhelming moment. I felt a tightening in my chest that I still can’t quite explain, and I think I might have teared up.”

Millions of pilgrims flock to Santiago, but many don’t stop there: the official end of the Camino is at Finisterre, on the western coast of Spain. This is where Jacob Huneycutt presents on that compulsive power that transcends time,

pushing pilgrims to the End of the Earth. He stands before the calm, cobalt Atlantic, on a steep hill of rock and scrubby grasses. Beside him is a weather-beaten stone cross; a communications tower rises from the earth just a few feet away, underscoring his theme of pilgrimage past and present. Many aspects of pilgrimage have changed over the centuries, he says, but its meditative quality remains the same: “The act of walking turns the material into the immaterial. You feel that your body and life are the nexus between the heavens and earth, and also between the self and the environment, and that transcendent experience is very spiritual.”

Early on the trip in the small town of Najac, in France, Elizabeth Cooper and Tenley Getschman joked about the superficial changes that had overtaken them during the trip: “I bought my first V-neck! I can touch my toes now!

I’m going to start wearing hats.” But as the trip progresses, the students become more serious about the small ways the Camino has challenged and surprised them.

“In Notre Dame, there was a small room off to the side.

All they had was a very small statue of Mary,” reflects Curtis Worley, a freshman cultural anthropology major. “I’m not Catholic, not particularly religious, but I went in … and I just sat there. And for whatever reason, that was one of the most special moments. It was so surprising that something so small would mean so much.”

These small things add up until, even though the trip is over, many of the students aren’t ready to say goodbye to the Camino just yet. They may have developed an in-depth understanding of the highlights, but all this is just preparation for what is yet to come.

“My Honors Passport trip hadn’t concluded at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, it had started there.

This was a revelation for me,” reflects Getschman in a blog post about the experience. “I will become a pilgrim later in my life. Using the far-reaching knowledge I have gained from my faculty and peers, I will one day traverse the Camino de Santiago in its entirety.”

Samantha Kirby is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in the university’s creative writing program and is senior editor at the Honors College.

Come Camino with us!

Trip for alumni & friends planned for May 2019.

Visit honorspassport.uark.edu.

Clockwise from top left: Sam Lipson hugs the statue of St. James inside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela; William Motazedi answers questions during his presentation on the cathedral; group photo in Obradoiro Square; Jacob Huneycutt presents on pilgrimage past and present at Finisterre; pilgrims celebrate their arrival at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 11

Photo by Whit Pruitt.

Campus

Rickie, the new K-9 officer at the University of Arkansas Police Department.

An Interesting Tale Wagging the Gift Meet the newest member of the UAPD’s K-9 squad. He’s a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois, trained for narcotics detection and campus patrol.

He was trained and donated to the U of A Police Department — but not named — by Sgt. Jeff Shetlar, who supervises the canine and human officers in the UAPD K-9 unit.

Instead, he was named in one of the more unusual “naming” agreements at the university. You might even say, one of the nicest.

“When I heard that UAPD was looking for a new dog, I knew I had found the best opportunity to recognize my father and the wonderful things he has done for the U of A,” said Roderick Edwards, the son of a long-time donor, Rick Edwards. “I knew he would get a kick out of a police dog being named after him: Rickie.”

Rick Edwards and his wife are members of the Towers of Old Main, a giving society

12 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

of benefactors recognized for their long history of making substantial donations to the U of A. Edwards is also an Air Force veteran with a lifetime of connections to the military and law enforcement — most recently his work with the U.S. Marshal Service Museum in Fort Smith.

He and his wife founded Triple-S Alarm in Little Rock. And he loves dogs: In his spare time he used to breed Portuguese Water Dogs.

Roderick Edwards contacted the UAPD and was put in touch with Director Steve Gahagans. Edwards offered to make a small donation to the department in exchange for “naming rights.” It was an unusual offer – but it wasn’t a tough sell.

“We’re always happy to receive support from people in the community,” Gahagans said. “And Rickie’s name fits him. It’s a good name for a good dog.”

Love at First Sight Carl Hitt, B.A.’94, M.A.’97, fell in love with Old Main when he was only 7 years old.

His father, William “Dink” Hitt, was attending a short course in agriculture at the U of A. “On our first day in Fayetteville, Daddy took my mother, my sister and me to the University Museum that was on the fifth floor [of Old Main],” Hitt said. “I was not only awed by the museum, but also by the grand old building itself.”

His father had also planted another seed in young Hitt’s mind: a love of photography. “He had all this old developing equipment in the basement,” Hitt said. “I kept after him to teach me, but he never did.” Later, in the late 1960s, Hitt was in the Air Force and stationed at Naha Air Base in Okinawa. It was at the hobby shop on base where he learned how to develop film and print pictures.

Hitt returned to the U of A as a student himself in January of 1972.

The first class he attended, Western Civilization, taught by David Edwards, was in Old Main. Hitt’s major was electrical engineering, but he still had a strong interest in photography, so he took some photography courses and a film class with Norman DeMarco.

In the summer of 1975, he was taking a photojournalism course when he was offered a part-time job as photographer for the university’s Division of Information and its News Service Department. Within a year, the job turned into full time, and Hitt put his degree on hold. For the next 10 years, he was the campus

Photo by Whit Pruitt

Documenting Old Main

Carl Hitt in front of Old Main’s south tower.

photographer. “I probably developed over five miles of black and white film just in Hill Hall,” he said.

After that, for several years, Hitt had different jobs, including owning a laundromat and working at a video rental store, in addition to his photography career. In 1991, he moved to Santa Barbara to attend the motion picture school at the Brooks Institute.

However, it proved to be too much of a financial burden, so he moved back to Fayetteville and re-enrolled at the U of A, where he got his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology.

In 2001, he was hired by the Department of Anthropology, which is headquartered in Old Main. It was during that time that he decided he was going to make a documentary about the historic building, so he gathered all the information he could find. He did a great deal of research in Special Collections. “I also took daily still photos of the building, so now I literally have thousands of images of Old Main in all sorts of weather and from all angles,” he said.

Hitt’s documentary, The Old Main Story, took 10 years, from 2007 to

2017, to complete. When it was released, Larry Foley, chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, aired it several times on UATV during the month of October 2017.

Foley said he’s always happy when Hitt produces a documentary. “His research is always trusted and thorough, and he tells compelling stories,” Foley said.

The Old Main Story is not, however, Hitt’s first documentary. His first, The Hawks of Wilson Park, was released in 2008 and follows the daily lives of a pair of red-shouldered hawks that nested in Fayetteville’s Wilson Park for many years. His second release, We See Nature, chronicles the four seasons in Northwest Arkansas.

His latest release is Natural State Waterfalls, Volume One, which showcases 14 waterfalls in Northwest Arkansas. Hitt said, “I don’t know if there will ever be a Volume Two, but I left the door open just in case.”

Hitt said he enjoyed all of his jobs at the U of A, but he’s really enjoying retirement. “When I hear people say that they’re bored, I can’t figure that out,” he said. “I can’t find enough time to do all of the things I want to do.”

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 13

Campus

20th Anniversary The Newest Bodenhamer Fellows Six Arkansans were named to the new cohort of Bodenhamer Fellows. Their interests range from music to mock trials, from physics to chess and engineering.

Each will receive $70,000 awards over the course of their education at the U of A. The fellowships were established in 1998 by the Bodenhamer Foundation, created by alumnus Lee Bodenhamer, B.S.B.A.’57, M.B.A.’61.

“Now in its 20th year, the Bodenhamer program has produced more than 100 alumni who are making a difference in their communities and the nation,” said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon. “The 2018 cohort features a wide variety of both academic interests and a broad range of community involvement. We look forward to welcoming this new group of fellows to the Bodenhamer family.”

Top row, from left: Noah Ballinger of Fayetteville plays ukulele, guitar and banjo and is a nationally ranked chess player. He is majoring in engineering.

Rafael Estrella of Little Rock placed first in the senior division for mathematics, and he plays bass. He is majoring in engineering.

Bottom row: Alex Siebenmorgen of Fort Smith was the Arkansas State History Bee champion and founded his high school’s mountain bike club. He is majoring in engineering.

Mary Strickland of Little Rock was valedictorian at Mount Saint Mary’s Academy and a high point player for the Governor’s Quiz Bowl Association. She is majoring in international studies.

Christina Trexler of Springdale is an accomplished volleyball player and National AP Scholar. She is majoring in business.

14 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Photos submitted

Sabrina Jones of Hot Springs scored a 36 on the ACT and worked with the Cancer Institute while in high school.

She is majoring in physics and engineering.

Big Distance Bigger World Photo courtesy of Noussayma Njeim.

Noussayma Njeim’s thesis should include an odometer.

Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, she enrolled at Ghent University in Belgium for graduate studies in a collaborative international program that allows a student to earn two master’s degrees at the same time. One such opportunity, the Atlantis Program housed within the U of A’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, presents a unique chance for students to earn a double master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arkansas and an International Master of Rural Development from a consortium of six European partner universities.

Njeim’s research for her master’s thesis meant collecting data in Swaziland, where she interned at a research center studying the impact of the Swaziland government’s investment in infrastructure, particularly the Siphonfaneni region and a poverty-alleviation project created there to provide irrigation.

By the time she finished her thesis defense in July, she had traveled some 26,000 miles, a distance beyond the circumference of the earth. She also traveled far in thought.

N oussayma Njeim, center, at the Buganu Festival in Swaziland, where Njeim collected thesis data.

“The program gives the opportunity to travel and experience how international people think about different topics and how they approach problems,” she said. “This taught me to think in different ways and also to think outside of my traditional line of thinking. … It has helped me grow both personally and professionally. It was an amazing way to experience life in a different aspect and also to challenge oneself.”

Newborn Ideas Twice the Honor The grant gives Sullivan the opportunity to dive deeply into a subject he’s passionate about — wireless sensor networks and their reliability. Sensor devices can be prone to failure over time.

“That’s where the importance of network reliability comes in,” Sullivan said. “My thought is that the network can still serve some, albeit reduced, function, even after some number of sensor failures.”

How should a network be designed with eventual degradation in mind? Sullivan plans to find out.

Photo submitted

When a third-generation engineering graduate welcomes a fourth generation into the world, there is nothing to rival it. Yes? Kelly Sullivan, B.S.I.E.’06, M.S.I.E.’08 and his wife welcomed their second child into the world this past April. Three days later, Sullivan received word that the National Science Foundation had given him one of its most prestigious grants — a $500,000 award — for young faculty members.

“In the same week, I experienced one of my life’s most significant events and one of my career’s most significant events,” he said.

Kelly Sullivan

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 15

Feature

Internalization Discovering a Career Somewhere Out There STORIES BY AMANDA CANTU, GINA SHELTON AND NICOLE COTTON

Each summer, students push away from campus to learn more about the real-life version of the careers that they’ve imagined for themselves. They head out toward an internship that immerses them in the workplace, fills them with understanding and new appreciation for the job that lies ahead, and sets them up for success after graduation.

Here are stories of just four of the students — a doctoral student, a master’s student, an undergraduate and a newly minted graduate — each of whom worked at internships this past summer.

Combined Graphics: Created by Freepik

16 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

A Journey to the Moon

Two Internships for One

For her doctoral dissertation, Ellen Czaplinski is researching the lakes of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. This summer, though, she was selected for an internship that brought her about 790 million miles closer to Earth.

She and nine other graduate students from around the globe were selected for an internship at the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration in Houston. They spent the summer planning potential human or robotic missions to the far side of our own moon, THE moon, less than 240,000 miles away. Barely a stone’s throw on the cosmic scale.

“My favorite aspect of planetary science is how interdisciplinary the field is,” said Czaplinski, a student in the U of A space and planetary sciences program. “In just a few weeks, I can go from experimentally replicating conditions on Titan to planning future lunar missions using data from orbiting lunar spacecraft. It is truly an exciting field to be part of, and I am eager to see what the future holds in terms of solar system exploration.”

The far side of the moon is wide open for exploration.

There have been nearly 30 missions to the near side of the moon, but none to the far side. Such a mission would pursue two goals: determining the age of the oldest lunar basin and testing the “lunar cataclysm hypothesis,” which supposes that there was an increase in debris striking the moon in the early solar system, possibly because of shifts in the orbits of the giant planets. How do you get evidence, though?

Czaplinski and her colleagues are focusing on the moon’s Schrödinger basin, the second-youngest basin on the moon but also located within the very old South Pole-Aitken basin.

“Schrödinger basin is the best location on the moon for addressing and answering top questions in the lunar community,” Czaplinski said. “If a future crewed or robotic mission to Schrödinger is able to sample ancient impact material from both basins, this will address both of the highpriority lunar goals.”

The work is not strictly academic for Czaplinski. “On our first day of the internship, we visited the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility at the Johnson Space Center and got to view geologic samples of the moon returned from the Apollo missions,” she said. “I love the atmosphere in the area, which is inspiring for me, since my goal is to one day be an astronaut.”

She is advised by Vincent Chevrier, an assistant research professor at the U of A Center for Space and Planetary Sciences.

Where would you want an internship if you had a doublemajor in journalism and business?

Alex Nicoll, a senior who is editor-in-chief of The Arkansas Traveler, spent the summer in a two-for-one internship, writing financial news after receiving a nationally competitive internship through the Dow Jones News Fund.

He was assigned to TheStreet.com, reporting from New York City on a daily myriad of financial stories.

“This is one of the leading journalism internships in the country,” said Rob Wells, a U of A journalism professor who teaches a business reporting class and was an editor for Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. “Students receive excellent, immersive training from leading professionals and then are placed into newsrooms where they receive support and mentorship.”

Nicoll covered everything from the potential business impact of President Trump’s call for a “space force” to the Fed’s rate hike to Elon Musk’s Boring Company to Burger King’s apology after a promotional debacle during the World Cup. His background in sports reporting also helped when he received an assignment about the LPGA Tour and the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship back home.

He discovered special delight in writing, of all things, a biopharma story. A company called Sarepta Therapeutics developed a gene therapy treatment for a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and its company shares jumped 40 percent in price. “The actual story itself was pretty cut and dry,” Nicoll said, “but it was the first time I realized I enjoyed covering pharmaceuticals and biotech. The business behind saving lives intrigues me, and it’s something I’m looking forward to pursuing in the future.”

Internships have a way of doing that – making the academic learning come to life but also injecting surprises, new ways of looking at the whole ball of wax.

“Working at TheStreet has taught me speed,” Nicoll said.

“It’s the first time I’ve worked in a place where speed is emphasized greatly. … Working under these expectations has made me a faster writer and has helped me understand what writing for online looks like.”

It also means he brought new skills back to the staff members of The Arkansas Traveler, which is shifting its mission further into online journalism. “With the changes being made to The Traveler this year and with the industry headed to a more digital format,” he said, “TheStreet has given me the tools I need to be able to help others back on the paper and to further my skills and career.”

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 17

A Stepping Stone Eric Dreggors of Barling, who graduated in May with a Master of Music in music composition, earned an internship with Discover Management, an entertainment talent management company based in Los Angeles. While in school, Dreggors worked as a graduate assistant for the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center, where he helped with production of scores of performances.

“We’re so proud of Eric and all that he has accomplished, both at the university and in earning this internship,” said Nicole Cotton-Leachman, director for the Faulkner Center.

“His success is another shining example our students’ accomplishments here at the Faulkner Center.”

Dreggors said the production experience he gained at the Faulkner Center played a significant role in his ability to earn this internship.

“I first received information about the City Internship Program from Nicole back in early November when she was contacted by the CEO of the program, Lewis Talbot, regarding a soft opening for U of A students to explore,” Dreggors said.

“Even though it took many months for everything to

18 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Photo Submitted.

Photo courtesy of NASA.

llen Czaplinski in the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility at the NASA Johnson E Space Center.

Alex Nicoll.

get situated and prepared, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to work out in Los Angeles, and it all wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Nicole sending that email out to everyone in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center. I will never forget what everyone has done for me, and will do my best to make this a successful opportunity for future students who want to go and explore their talents and skills in the real world.”

The Quiet Town Space and planetary sciences doctoral student Rachel Slank has dreamed of being an astronaut since she was 4 years old. Though she’s not in space yet, she’s conducting research in a place that seems just as foreign.

Slank is completing a four-month internship at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. The observatory is home to the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. Because of the telescope’s sensitivity, many everyday electronic services are banned.

In Green Bank, which is often dubbed “The Quietest Town in America,” there are no cell phone towers, no wireless internet connections and no Bluetooth devices.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Slank.

Photo Submitted.

ric Dreggors in front of the Faulkner E Performing Arts Center.

Rachel Slank with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope.

There are no radio stations and very few televisions or microwaves. Residents who have microwaves must place them in faraday cages, to block electromagnetic fields. Even garage door openers are prohibited. Signals from any of these devices would interfere with the telescope’s work.

The lack of modern technology may seem isolating, but it makes Green Bank an ideal, distraction-free environment for conducting research. Slank, a Distinguished Doctoral Fellow, is at the observatory to help develop a computer model to measure water vapor on Mars and how the water vapor makes its way to the ice table below the surface. She is hoping to determine how much water from the atmosphere builds the ice table and ice lens below and how that causes frost heave on the surface. The internship research ties closely to her dissertation research, which is centered on understanding how liquids form on Mars and how water vapor interacts with soil on the red planet.

Findings from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest there is liquid water on Mars, and water ice was discovered by the Phoenix Rover. Slank was able to create water as it may be found on Mars in the University of Arkansas Ares Mars simulation chamber. She recently presented her findings at the Mars Workshop on Amazonian

and Present-Day Climate in Lakewood, Colorado.

“I was able to create water out of dirt and salt in Martian conditions,” Slank said. “I’m conducting more experiments to learn more about the limits to which this liquid formation is possible, because it has important implications for liquid stability and habitability at equatorial regions, future missions to Mars and the continuing search for liquid water.”

The opportunity for experimentation is one of the leading reason Slank chose to pursue her doctorate at the University of Arkansas.

“The University of Arkansas space and planetary science program is one of the top experimental programs in the country,” she said. “I want to do space research for the rest of my life, and I have a great set-up here, so I’ll be prepared to do that.”

Slank holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and earth science from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in geology from the University of Texas at El Paso. She will conclude her internship at the Green Bank Observatory in September and is on track to complete her doctoral degree in spring 2020. She is advised by Vincent Chevrier, an assistant research professor for the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 19

Campus

Borders Second Languages, New Opportunities Alumna Marisa Buller, B.A.’15, M.A.T.’17, found a teaching job soon after graduation, but it wasn’t in her hometown of Bentonville and not even in Arkansas.

“Two friends and I went to an international job fair, and we saw schools recruiting from all over the world,” Buller said. “Mexico felt right to me. When I told my family about it, they were kind of freaked out, but when you’re looking for a job you have to go with what feels right. I signed the contract never even having visited the area. Sometimes taking that leap and doing something that seems kind of out there can be the most amazing experience and you can learn so much more than you ever thought you would.”

Buller’s mother’s side of the family is originally from Mexico, but she had visited the country with her family only once. And although she learned Spanish at the U of A, she was not a native speaker. Her first year went so well, though, that Buller just signed up for a second year of teaching in the city of Torreón, along the western edge of the state of Coahuila in the northern

half of the country.

Buller teaches English to 10th-graders and French to 11th- and 12th-graders at a private, bilingual, Catholic school and is considering taking some graduate courses in English as a second language, delivered online by the U of A. Students in her intensive English classes are approximately at the sixth-grade level and have recently transferred from primarily Spanish-speaking schools.

They are becoming acclimated to a bilingual environment through the intensive English program.

“All of my kids are English language learners,” she said. “I’m able to carry over a lot of what I learned (in college), but I want to learn more and I think it would be really great to learn more about teaching English as a foreign language or a second language.”

Buller could make more money if she taught in the United States, depending on where she got a job, but the intangible aspects such as the cultural exposure make it worthwhile to work in Mexico.

“I’m learning a lot about teaching here as well,” Buller said. “When it’s

your first year, everything is a learning experience.”

At the U of A, she learned techniques for teaching a foreign language to someone who is fluent in English so she had to adapt that thinking when she started teaching students for whom Spanish is their first language.

“In the classroom, we try to stay in the target language 100 percent of the time, which means emphasizing the language that is the focus of the class,” Buller said. “However, because we’re all at least bilingual, we can compare our languages when necessary. In French class, that is really cool because all of us have some proficiency in the same three languages. I speak English, Spanish and French, and the students know English and Spanish and are leaning French. It can be hard to explain the grammar rules but when we compare languages, we have ‘ah ha’ moments and it clicks for them.”

One of her 10th-graders has a visual disability, which helped her expand her use of literacy devices and grammar concepts.

“We just finished our poetry unit,”

Data From Point A to Point U of A

20 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

1.8 million

412,000

Passengers transported each fiscal year on Razorback Transit buses

Cost in dollars for a new bus

Photo by Jason Ivester

Photo submitted

Buller said. “My high school teachers always said, ‘Imagery is when the author describes something so well that you can see it.’ That definition was too narrow for my students. Instead, I told them that imagery can appeal to many different senses. We read a poem about a beach, and my visually impaired student told me that the language used in the poem made him remember the smell of his favorite beach, and the crunching sound of someone walking on sand.

“So far, my first year teaching has been incredible. My students make me laugh, drive me crazy and amaze me every single day. I reckon I’m in the right profession!”

Breaking down the boundaries of language, however, doesn’t have to mean going to a far off land. Alumnus Christhian Saavedra, B.A.’12,

Left, Marisa Buller and right, Christhian Saavedra.

M.A.T.’13, stayed in Arkansas to teach, but he, too, faces the wondrous task of teaching a second language.

But a little back story first. Saavedra was born in California, but his mother returned to her home country of El Salvador with him a few months later.

He spent his early years there, learning Spanish as his native language. At age 13, he returned to the United States to live with his father.

“I am a reminder of what can happen when teachers invest in a kid,” Saavedra said. “I didn’t speak a word of English.”

But his teachers helped him be confident, learn English and eventually earn a scholarship to college. Today, Saavedra sees students every day who remind him of himself.

“If you just look at them on the surface, they seem like a hard person

and have an ‘I don’t care’ attitude,” he said. “I was once that kid and I use that perspective to dig deeper. I don’t take things personal when they don’t want to work, but I tell them they don’t have to be a walking billboard of their problems. They can rise above their problems. At that age, they don’t understand themselves.”

The university’s M.A.T. program emphasized to him that teachers need to be leaders and advocates for their students, Saavedra said, being sure that graduates understand how to be a voice for students.

Earlier this year, Saavedra was named the teacher of the year at Kirksey Middle School in Rogers.

“By celebrating my success,” he said, “we are celebrating the work so many teachers put into me and my career.”

8,832

1968

72

12

Passengers per average school day on Razorback Transit

Year that transit began on campus

Capacity on a Razorback Transit bus

Hourly pay in dollars for a beginning Razorback Transit driver FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 21

Campus

Dense Reading New Library Storage Facility

Photo submitted

University Libraries’ new high-density storage facility is now in use, increasing capacity for the university’s growing library collection of books and other materials. The building also helps free up needed space at the main library.

The 27,000-foot, climatecontrolled storage facility will hold approximately 1.8 million volumes when filled to capacity. The facility will also include a digitization and work space area, as well as an area for maps and microforms.

22 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Mariner Advocating for the Ocean and provides research on the rampant mislabeling of seafood. His team writes about the risks of off-shore drilling and promotes responsible commercial fishing.

To save sharks. Sea turtles. Coral reefs.

The whole marine ecosystem shebang.

The work has led to recognition.

Most recently, Dustin was the winner of a national ACE Award from Ragan Communications and PR Daily in the category of nonprofit communications professional. He was also named the 2017 communicator of the year by the greater Fort Lauderdale chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and his work at Oceana has been honored with 10 national awards by the public relations industry. But honors were not the goal.

“It’s been said that we have a responsibility to leave this planet in better shape than we found it for future generations, and what is Earth without our oceans?” Cranor asked. “The work Oceana is doing is truly making a difference, and I’m honored to be a small part of that.”

For more on Oceana, check oceana.org

Photo by Oceana/Carlos Suarez

Have you heard about the life transformed? Alumnus Dustin Cranor, B.A.’05, grew up on a small pig farm in southeast Kansas. He came to the U of A at the turn of the 21st century to major in political science and communication. He joined the debate team and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. He worked as a financial sales rep for Arvest Bank to help pay his way through school. Your basic undergrad.

But, landlocked all his life, he didn’t see the ocean until he was in college.

Dustin’s experience at the water’s edge was so moving that he dedicated his career to the sacred work of ocean conservation. The waves of golden wheat from his childhood were swept away by this new element, these briny, splashing waves and the deep blue sea. His Arkansas lessons in political science and communication became a global campaign on behalf of Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization focused on ocean conservation.

Today, Dustin is senior director of communications for Oceana. He promotes the end of the global trade in shark fins

Dustin Cranor

Tipping Point Extremity created a computer model to test how events like drought, flooding and heat waves could affect biodiversity and adaptive evolution.

“There is a threshold level where if you lower resources a tiny bit more, it causes the population to diverge and then evolve to use the other distinct resources,” Siepielski said.

Photo submitted

A U of A researcher and his colleague found a “tipping point” at which species, under pressure from dwindling food supplies due to climate change, must either evolve to take advantage of different food resources or face extinction.

Biologist Adam Siepielski and a colleague

Adam Siepielski

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 23

Feature

Lessons to Live By Keep learning and believe in yourself

BY DAVID SPEER B.A.’75

John Furner B.S.B.A. ’96 has learned his lesson. Maybe “lessons” — plural — would be better in this case.

From his time at the U of A, from his world travels for various jobs and from his father, Furner has learned lessons that inform and help guide his work every day as president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club.

And he was eager to share them in an interview and when he spoke to graduates in May 2018 at commencement ceremonies for the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

“I want to tell you about something that happened to me,” Furner said.

“It’s a small story but it made a big difference in my life,” he said. “It made me realize some of the skills I had acquired here and how much they could help me.”

As a sophomore, Furner had an internship in Monterrey, Mexico. “I found myself in Monterrey, four days in, pretty hungry,” he said.

“I was standing in line at a Hardee’s restaurant. All I wanted to do was walk up to the counter and order a number four and get it to go. So, in broken Spanish, I tried.

This kid at the counter, I’ll never forget him, looked at me and basically told me to get out of the line.”

Furner stood aside and thought, “I’m either going to have to quit, go somewhere else, or I’ve got to figure this out.”

He stood, watching customers order, listening to what they said. “Over a few minutes, I figured out how to walk up and say I wanted a number four and I’d like it to go.”

So Furner got back in line, got to the front and ordered again – in Spanish.

“And the guy looked at me and said, ‘Oh good. That’s much better.’”

“I said, ‘You speak English.’ And he said ‘Yeah, of course.

But if you’re going to live in Mexico, learn some Spanish,

24 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

bro. I got your food. That’ll be 10 pesos.’”

Furner explained that what he was taught by that was to rely on the skills he was learning in college. Those skills were learning how to learn.

“I learned about learning. I learned about being resilient.

I learned to believe in myself,” he told the graduates. “Don’t forget to believe in yourself and to keep learning.”

A Passion for Retail Furner, a 1996 graduate of the Walton College, took over in February 2017 as president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club, a retailer with $57 billion in total revenue – making it one of the largest retailers in America in its own right.

Furner is a hardworking, often funny, but fairly lowprofile CEO. He is active on Facebook, where he interviews business figures while out riding bicycles (#businessonbikes).

On his LinkedIn profile, he has been endorsed for – as you might guess – merchandising, retail, management, team building, forecasting, marketing, inventory control, and store management.

He’s mostly out of the spotlight, but Furner can talk all day about Sam’s Club, its near-term and long-range future.

He’s passionate about it, and has been since he first went to work as an hourly associate at the Walmart Supercenter in Bentonville. Furner has worked for Walmart or Sam’s Club for more than two decades, holding 16 or 17 different jobs in three countries, studying and learning high-volume, lowcost retailing every day from the ground up.

It’s his passion, but not his only one. There are his wife, Brandy, and their four children who have been on his adventures with him across America and to China and back.

He’s passionate about Northwest Arkansas – cycling, the

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 25

outdoors and anything to support education, health care and the quality of life in the area.

And the guitar.

“I’ve played the guitar since I was 14 years old,” Furner said in an interview. That his college rock band wasn’t making much money was one motivation to take his first job at Walmart. That and his dad – who worked for Walmart for decades.

Advice from Closer to Home “Probably the best advice I ever got was from my dad, who worked here in the late 70s, 80s, early 90s,” Furner said. “I don’t know if it was well articulated or just a great message.”

It’s a complicated lesson, but one well worth the twists and turns and side trips to China to learn.

“I liked to sleep late,” Furner said. “Not anymore, but when I was younger, I liked to sleep late. I like music. I was actually trying to become a guitar player. I realized somewhere in my days at the University of Arkansas that playing a show every other Friday night doesn’t pay very well, and I was going to end up what we called PBH: poor, broke and hungry.

“I remember one morning, just before I left home, dad woke me up and he said something like, ‘You know while you’re sleeping the world’s going to grab all your opportunities and there are going to be none left for you.

Have a good day.’ And he walked out.

“It was a bit of a harsh way of saying, ‘If you don’t go out and make something happen, somebody else will. And while you’re sleeping ’til 9 o’clock, 10 o’clock, the world’s going to pass you by.’”

“I didn’t really get it at the time. I just thought he was telling me to get out of bed. But as I got into my career and I started to understand more of what makes a difference, I started to figure out, a few years back, that I think I might be good at this and I think I can make a difference.”

A quick change of scene to China, where one factor stared Furner in the face from the day he began a new position there.

“It was the only job I’ve ever had where I had a start date and an end date,” he said. “Knowing you have an end date changes your perspective quite a bit. You know you are going to leave the country. You know you are going to exit. And what’s going to be left behind is a group of people who are mostly local. I had to answer for myself, ‘What do I need to do for them to position them to be successful when I’m gone?’”

“I had to decide what I wanted that team to be able to do when I was gone,” Furner said. “It changed my perspective.

Something in that experience made it really clear to me that it’s no longer about me. In fact, it has nothing to do with

26 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

me. This has to do with what I can contribute to them. I’m going to pack up and I’m going to leave here, and I can’t come back every two weeks to check on them.”

And that realization made him think about his dad and the advice to get moving because other people are already up and moving.

“I think it took me 20 years to figure out what he was saying – other than, ‘Get out of bed,’” Furner said. “There was really a great lesson in there and it all came together about five years ago. OK, this is different.”

Furner said that he realized by having a deadline – an end date – it meant there was no going back to check on things every couple of weeks. It had to be done right. It had to be done now.

“You almost have to say, ‘no do overs.’ You have to just keep moving forward.”

Three Lessons from College Other key lessons that help Furner navigate the choppy waters of retail today come from the time he spent studying business at the U of A. “I was in an economics class with Chuck Britton. Great personality,” Furner said. “I think it was the first time I realized it’s OK to have fun and do your job.”

Furner recalls Britton, who taught economics from 1969 to 2015 to an estimated 25,000 students, as a professor with a big personality and a great sense of humor. “It was the first time in school I was actually laughing, like belly laughing, the way he would explain supply and demand,” Furner said.

On the surface, supply and demand doesn’t seem to be a subject to elicit belly laughs, but laughing along with Britton on a fundamental concept in business helped Furner learn something fundamental about himself. “I realized you can actually have fun with something that on the surface may not look fun,” he said. “I learned it was OK to have fun and do your job – and be great at both.”

Furner learned a second lesson from John Cole, who still teaches marketing at the Walton College. Cole assigned the class a project to create a business model and present the findings.

“I remember the recap just like it was yesterday,” Furner said. “I had presented this business plan. And he said that’s really great, it all makes sense. Who are you trying to serve?

I think I said something like, ‘Everybody.’”

Furner realized as soon as he’d said it that there was a problem with that. “You can’t serve everybody with anything,” he said. “I had presented a food concept, and I thought, ‘Well, everybody has to eat so everybody will like it.’ After we talked about it, I realized, wow, what a big misstep.”

That lesson applies directly to his work at Sam’s Club.

“Fast-forward to what we are doing now,” Furner said. “We’re trying to serve the needs of too many people. Narrow down what we are trying to do for all those people and focus, we’ll be a much better business.”

A third lesson learned in college is still a topic of conversation for Furner.

This one came in a class with Jon Johnson, a management professor who holds the Walton Professorship in Sustainability.

“Jon’s great. I talk to Jon every couple of months still,” Furner said.

Johnson had set the class a task: A Fayetteville restaurant was considering opening another location. “He had two questions for us,” Furner said. “Should they add an additional location and if so, where?”

Furner wrote a paper outlining why the restaurant should open a new location in Rogers adjacent to what was then Interstate 540 – in an area that has now become known as “restaurant row” but was then next to nothing except a home center.

“Needless to say, the owner didn’t like the

idea,” Furner recalled. “This place couldn’t support restaurants. It wasn’t going to work.

So, Jon gave me a B on it.”

Years later, Furner still debates the point – that he was right – with Johnson. “He’s offered to change my grade. At this point I don’t want him to,” Furner said, and he laughed.

Furner mused that being right or wrong isn’t always the point in the classroom.

“What Jon explains to me is, it’s his job to find people who might make a difference at some point in their lives and get them so angry that they actually will go do it,” Furner said. “I think he’s on to something – finding a way to motivate somebody to go fight for something.”

A final lesson, one that Furner relayed to the Walton College graduates in his commencement address, thrills the hearts of Arkansas grads.

“I know a lot of you would love to spend your entire life here in Fayetteville,” he said in his commencement speech. “But I can tell you, 22 years later, you can continue to come back and Dickson Street will be everything you remember it was when you were here.”

The Ladder Furner’s jobs at Walmart and Sam’s Club include: Hourly employee Management intern Assistant store manager Assistant buyer Operations development Co-manager Store manager District manager Buyer Divisional merchandise manager VP and divisional merchandise manager Regional general manager VP of northeast operations VP of global sourcing and seasonal merchandising Sr. VP of proprietary brands and merchandise solutions Sr. VP of home and apparel and global sourcing Sr. VP and chief merchandising officer for Walmart China President and CEO

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 27

Campus

True Detective The Devil Is in the Details

Photo submitted

Evan Eastham, right, the location manager for the HBO series True Detective, explains the equipment used and the staff expertise needed to shoot a scene for the cable series.

On the fifth floor of the university’s Global Campus Building, actors hit their marks and an HBO crew begins taping a scene for the third season of True Detective.

Standing just behind the TV crew, university students and staff connected with two university centers — Global Campus and the Tesseract Center — watch the professionals in action.

Both U of A centers use visual media to further education. Global Campus facilitates online education for the university and has used television and video since the 1960s as part of its educational strategy. The Tesseract Center uses video-gaming technology to recreate virtual, digital worlds that immerse a student in visual learning.

Evan Eastham, location manager for the HBO series, escorts the small groups of students and staff onto the impromptu set for educational purposes.

As the U of A crew follows Eastham, the students and staff pick up tips about

28 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

television production, the equipment used and the roles of various crew members.

“It was cool to see the different branches of the set: the main set where they were acting and then the control room,” says alumna Ambrosia Johnson, an intern at Global Campus. “They had the make-up artist there, and everyone was crammed into one space, getting it done.”

Whitney Winkler, another Global Campus intern, says, “They worked as a team, while simultaneously working as individuals. Each had their own roles, but they were relying on each other to fulfill their roles effectively.”

True Detective, created and written by Nic Pizzolatto, a graduate of the U of A program in creative writing and translation, was filmed at locations across Northwest Arkansas. The show’s first season was set in New Orleans and the second was in California. Now, it’s Arkansas’ turn to strut upon the stage.

Hipsters Simple as a Dimple Alumnus Joe Wilhelm conducts the Honors Jazz Ensemble at the university’s Summer Music Camp for high school students.

‘We’re a Family’ Bringing the Music for 35 years Alumnus Joe Wilhelm, B.S.E.’81, points to the trombones in the Honors Jazz Ensemble, explaining how he wants them to play the piece they’re rehearsing: softer, then building to a loud crescendo. He counts off, and all 17 high-school students – an ensemble from across Arkansas and the surrounding region – pick up their instruments and begin playing.

They sound as good as a pro band.

Wilhelm has returned to Fayetteville from his home in Grove, Oklahoma, every year for 35 years to teach at the U of A’s Summer Music Camp. “I always like to pay it forward,” he explains.

Wilhelm, who grew up in Oklahoma, was first exposed to the U of A by his highschool band director. “He brought me up here my junior year of high school for this camp,” he says.

It was the beginning of something great.

Besides meeting his future wife, Patsy Vallejo, on campus, Wilhelm marched with the Razorback Band, and played in the symphonic concert band and the jazz ensemble, among others. He reminisces that he played his senior recital right here in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, where he now teaches the summer camp’s Honors Jazz

Ensemble, along with Rob Kain, M.M.’10, the band director at Mountainburg High School; and Rick Salonen, M.M.’04, Ed.D.’10, the jazz band director for the U of A. Wilhelm also teaches a Jazz Concert Ensemble during the camp.

While he was a student, Wilhelm studied under Gerald Sloan, James Greeson, Chal Ragsdale, Robert Bright and Eldon Janzen.

“The gentlemen who taught me were the inspiration for being a music teacher and role models for me,” he says.

“I was surrounded by great people. You weren’t a number; you were an individual,” he says. “They knew your name. We’re a family.”

Wilhelm has three sons, all of whom earned degrees in music at the U of A – Joseph, B.M.’12; Jordan, B.S.E.’14; and Josh, B.A.’15. This year, the elder Joe Wilhelm is leaving Grove High School to teach at McDonald High School in Anderson, Missouri. But he has no plans to quit returning for the Summer Music Camp. “In fact,” he says, “we’ll hopefully recruit some more students from Missouri.”

When asked why he keeps coming back, he answers: “Arkansas was very good to me.”

Out of the 300,000 hip implants made in America each year, nearly one out of every eight replaces an existing artificial hip with a new one. U of A researchers wondered whether that ratio could be improved.

Inside your hip, the rounded top of your thigh bone fits snugly into a concave bowl of the pelvis.

Your body produces a lubricating film that naturally builds up between the two surfaces. Sometimes the film doesn’t do so well with an artificial hip.

At the U of A, Dipankar Choudhury, a post-doctoral fellow, and Min Zou, a professor of mechanical engineering, tackled the surfaces of the artificial prosthetics.

Tiny dimples were created on the shiny alloy surfaces of the hip components to mimic the natural surface of cartilage.

Zou and Choudhury tried square dimples. They tried triangular dimples. They tried elliptical dimples.

Tests showed significantly enhanced thickness of film for all of their dimpled surfaces and quicker growth.

“Our study reveals promising results for improving implants.”

Zou said.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 29

Campus

Sewing Seeds

Photo by Brian Pollard

Native American Teens Gain Skills in Agriculture

rom left, Zach Ilbery, F a Cherokee; Mackenize Martinez, a ChoctawApache; Lauren Thompson, a Cheyenne River Sioux; and Kiana Haskell of the Fort Belknap Indian community learn about the dog-training operation of the Quapaw Tribe. The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative is sponsored by the U of A School of Law and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Funding comes from the USDA, Farm Credit Council, Intertribal Agriculture Council, the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, and several ofther supporters.

30 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

From across the country, the next generation of America’s first peoples came to campus in June for the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the U of A School of Law. Cochiti Pueblo, Cherokees, Cheyenne River Sioux, Quapaw, Kanaka Maoli and students from another 15 tribes came to Arkansas to learn about the importance of a vibrant food system and how policies about food and agriculture affect their tribal communities.

While living on campus, the teenage students heard about the history of American Indian agriculture, business planning, ethnobotany and seed preservation, soil conservation, legal issues in Indian Country, and the importance of traditional foods. The overall program was divided into four tracks: land stewardship and conservation, nutrition and health, agricultural business and finance, and agricultural law and policy. Students were placed in tracks according to their application information and interests.

“Our goal is to expose youth to careers

in these fields,” said Erin Parker, the research director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative. “There are many barriers to overcome, and Native American youth may have more, but they have the support from us and from their peers.”

Elaini Vargas, a student leader from the Kashia band of Pomo Indians, worked with students on an agricultural resource management plan, including water conservation. “This is not a ‘mock’ thing,” Vargas said. “This is graduate-level knowledge. We’re going over the farm bill that’s before Congress now.”

Zachary Ilbery, a 19-year-old Cherokee youth, has been coming here for several years. He said he’s learned a lot: how to successfully develop a business plan, fill out a loan application, manage risk, handle budgets and cash flow, and use different conservation practices. He takes those lessons home with him to his cattle ranch near Checotah, Oklahoma. “My grandpa bought me my first show heifer, and I built up my herd from there.”

Since its inception in 2014, more than 200 students from tribes all across the nation have completed the program.

Participants receive intensive and fun instruction in agriculture while getting an early glimpse at campus life and study.

Kelsey Ducheneaux, the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Youth Programs Coordinator, is from the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe. Kelsey said the most powerful remark she heard from a student during the event was that “what we are creating with the summit is a home, a safe space for [our Native] youth to feel safe as they pursue careers in Indian agriculture.”

She said she’s inspired by this generation: “I like to be involved with them because they’re my role models,” she said. “I aspire to be like this generation.”

Off the Cuff A National Winner

Photo submitted

When Karli Moore drew a topic out of a hat for her impromptu speaking competition, she promptly “freaked out,” as she put it. Moore, a graduate student in agricultural economics, had drawn “medicinal plants” as her topic.

She’s a Native American member of the Lumbee Tribe attending the national meeting of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. “I thought, ‘What am I going to say?’ My previous topic was GMO labeling,” Moore said of her regional competition. “We talk about that all the time in class, so I was a little more comfortable.” Medicinal plants had not been at the forefront of class discussions, though, but were now front and center.

“One thing that helped was I knew how I wanted to structure my comments,” she said. “Before I drew a topic, I drew up an outline. Having the outline helped me during the research time because I could just

find information to fill the categories.”

She had 20 minutes to research, 2-4 minutes to present her speech and 3 minutes of Q&A from the judges.

Moore focused on the recent influenza epidemic and offered elderberry as a medicinal plant that has shown efficacy for treating the flu. The subject, her research and her delivery proved to be a winning combination for the national award.

“Indigenous peoples across the U.S. and around the world have always relied on medicinal plants,” Moore said. “We should pay more attention to that and invest in that.”

K arli Moore, center with award, and the U of A contingent, including Dean Deacue Fields III of Bumpers College at left, and Daniel Rainey, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, second from left.

Health Shining a Light on Cancer New research at the U of A has found a way to identify radiation-resistant cancer cells, a breakthrough for the treatment of lung cancer. A team of researchers from the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences used an innovative imaging technique to compare the metabolic response of radiation-resistant and radiation-sensitive lung cancer cells following therapy.

“Our results demonstrate that the use of autofluorescence imaging of cell metabolism can identify treatment-resistant cancer cells,” said Narasimhan Rajaram, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and lead researcher on the

project. “More importantly, we think that this technique provides a sound method to evaluate tumor response to treatment and match tumors to the right therapy.”

Autofluorescence imaging allowed the researchers to observe changes in two particular molecules, both of which naturally absorb and emit light. These molecules play a critical role in the major metabolic pathways within cells that are responsible for respiration and energy production.

By measuring their relative contributions to these processes, researchers can evaluate biochemical details related to cell metabolism.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 31

Campus

Anatomy From Within Art of the Scan As faculty and students test a new imaging system, the scanned images of animals, pottery, bones, teeth come into sharp relief – not only the visible husk of the object but also its previously indiscernible innards.

One of the color-enhanced images created by Haley O’Brien shows a preserved specimen of a fetal badger. An iodine stain delineates detail of soft tissues. Spaces inside the specimen represent portions of the gastrointestinal tract.

The new MicroCT system uses X-ray technology to generate high-resolution twodimensional and three-dimensional representations of an object. The representation then allows a researcher to examine the virtual object layer by layer, from stem to stern, at the micro- and even nanoscale level without having to dismantle or destroy the object.

The imaging system is managed by the university’s Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies and supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Educators and students can submit samples for scanning at no charge, but objects need to be smaller than a basketball and weigh less than 110 pounds.

Photos submitted

Paul Gignac and Nate Kley create an image of the head of a rat snake, prepared using an iodine-based technique that enhances visualization of soft tissues, including the brain, cranial nerves and spinal cord, muscles of the jaw and neck, plus glands, nasal tissues and skin of the head. Image by Paul Gignac and Nate Kley.

32 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Haley O’Brien created a color-enhanced image of a fetal badger specimen. The iodine stain shows detail of soft tissues, and spaces inside the specimen represent portions of the gastrointestinal tract.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 33

Campus

Photos courtesy Razorback athletics

T usk I: Arkansas’s first mascot named “Tusk” was selected in 1997 and served as the Razorback mascot for eight years.

Career Record: 57-40

T usk II: Born in 2002, served as the live mascot from 2005-2010.

Career Record: 35-27

Tusk V Newest Addition to the “Wild Band of Razorback Hogs” The University of Arkansas, home to one of the nation’s longest tenured and most recognizable live mascot programs, is celebrating the recent addition of Tusk V, the next in the line of Arkansas Razorback mascots.

Born Saturday, April 19, at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle, Tusk V is the son of the current Arkansas Razorbacks’ live mascot, Tusk IV, a Russian boar that closely resembles the type of “wild band of razorback hogs” that became the university mascot after the undefeated football season under coach Hugo Bezdek.

Soon, a razorback could be seen on baseball jerseys and the yearbook changed its name in 1915 to the Razorback as well.

Tusk V will take over official mascot duties in time for the 2019 Razorback football season, after his father, Tusk IV, is scheduled to retire.

34 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Weight:

5 lbs., 8 oz.

Length:

T usk III: Tusk III was the brother of Tusk II and both were second-generation Russian boars. Served for only one football season in 2010.

Career Record: 10-3

11 inches What are those stripes?

It’s a camouflage that baby razorbacks are born with.

The striping will go away once Tusk V is old enough to take care of himself Favorite Foods:

Mom’s milk, watermelon, corn, grapes Siblings:

Tusk was born in a litter of four other razorbacks

T usk IV: The son of Tusk II, Tusk IV has been the live mascot since the 2011 season. Currently resides at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle. 2018-19 will be his last season before entering retirement.

Career Record: 44-44

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 35

Campus

Team of Teams Baseball Players Lead Athletic Program to Record Year A national championship runner-up finish at the 2018 College World Series capped a remarkable year of success for the Razorbacks, propelling them to a record No. 16 finish in the 2017-18 Learfield Sports Director’s Cup Standings.

Arkansas once again earned a spot among the nation’s top intercollegiate athletics programs, finishing among the top 25 for the ninth time in the last 11 years. The combined scores of the Razorback teams gave Arkansas 870.5 points by the end of June.

Arkansas finished first in the nation in the rankings among schools with 19 or fewer sports. In fact, only two schools with 19 or fewer sports earned a top 25 finish (Oregon 24th). In the Directors’ Cup, schools may count points in up to 19 sport programs, four of which must be men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and baseball, allowing programs with additional sports to count only the best team performances.

A total of 14 Razorback sports scored in this year’s competition.

“Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, the University of Arkansas has reaffirmed its position among the most successful intercollegiate athletics programs in the nation,” said Hunter Yurachek, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “As the nation’s top scoring program among those with 19 or fewer sports, Arkansas has proven that it can achieve success at an elite level, while competing against other schools that feature more than 20 or 30 varsity sports. This tremendous success would not be possible without the loyal support of our Razorback Foundation members, season ticket holders and the most passionate fan base in the country. Even as we celebrate what was a phenomenal year, we have already turned our focus to the opportunities ahead and the commitment it will require to accomplish our vision – to be the best.”

Event Schedule Homecoming Online Auction October 12-26

Senior Walk Dedication

October 19 | 2 PM | Old Main Lawn

Alumni Awards

October 19 | 6 PM | Fayetteville Town Center

Homecoming Parade

October 19 | 6 PM | Dickson Street

Homecoming Pep Rally Hog Wild Tailgate

Oct. 14-20 36 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

October 20 | Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House Visit homecoming.uark.edu for more information.

Hog Wild Tailgates Photo courtesy Razorback athletics

Get ready to cheer on those Hogs!

Arkansas made a historic run at the 2018 College World Series, advancing undefeated through bracket play to the finals before finishing as the national championship runner-up. Head coach Dave Van Horn and the Razorbacks turned in a remarkable season, earning 90 Directors’ Cup points.

On the strength of the program’s firstever NCAA Super Regional appearance, the Razorback softball team contributed 64 points to the Directors’ Cup standings.

The Razorbacks picked up 65.25 points in women’s outdoor track and field after Arkansas finished 11th at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The men’s outdoor track and field team earned 63.75 points for its performance.

The 2017-18 season was a record-setting year for the Razorback women’s golf team, a 10th-place national finish and 67.5 Directors’ Cup points. The Razorback men’s golf team returned to the NCAA Championship. For its performance at the NCAA Championship, the men’s golf program netted 64.5 points.

The Razorback gymnastics team recorded a top-10 national finish and earned 68.25 points.

Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson led

the Razorbacks back to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for 25 Directors’ Cup points.

The Arkansas women’s indoor track and field team recorded a runner-up finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and earned 90 points. The men’s indoor team earned 62.25 points for a 13th-place finish.

The Razorbacks racked up 47 points for its 27th-place finish in women’s swimming and diving, thanks in large part to the freshman national champion, Brooke Schultz.

The soccer team went to the NCAA Tournament and earned 25 points for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas men’s and women’s cross country teams earned top-15 national finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 18.

Razorback Athletics is one of approximately 20 financially self-sustaining athletics programs in the nation and does not receive state funding or student fees.

Razorback Athletics contributes more than $3.5 million a year to the institution to support academic programs and other initiatives benefiting U of A students.

All are welcome to stop by the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House and enjoy Hog Wild Tailgates for Fayetteville home games.

Hungry or thirsty? Food and drink tickets are available for purchase on game day and food trucks will be located in the west alumni parking lot.

October 6

Alabama October 20 Homecoming

Tulsa October 27

Vanderbilt November 10

LSU

arkansasalumni.org/ HogWildTailgates

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 37

Alumni

Méritos Latinos Latino Alumni Society Awards The 2018 awards and honorees are: Latino Academics Excellence Award: In recognition of an outstanding Latin American or Latino of the University of Arkansas for her/his commitment to educating and assisting Latin American and Latino students by linking their research, teaching and service activities to the Latino community.

rom Left, Cecilia F Grossberger-Medina, Kathryn Sloan, Violeta Lorenzo Feliciano, the Honorable Cónsul Rodolfo Quilantán Arenas, Brandy Cox, Juan Carlos Balda, and Xavier Medina Vidal.

38 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

The Latino Alumni Society of the Arkansas Alumni Association hosted its annual Méritos Latinos awards recognition and scholarship annual event at 7 p.m. on May 11, 2018, at the Hilton Garden Inn. Kirsten Erickson, honors program director of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, was the keynote speaker.

The University of Arkansas Latino Alumni Society supports Latinos within the University of Arkansas community through scholarships, networking, mentoring and providing community support. Méritos Latinos is the society’s signature event and raises money for scholarships. Each year the society distributes four scholarships.

Cecilia Grossberger-Medina, society president, and the LAS Board recognized the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and organizations along with their commitment and dedication to the Latino community.

Violeta Lorenzo Feliciano, assistant professor of Spanish, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Science.

Lorenzo Feliciano began working at the University of Arkansas in 2014. She teaches courses on Latin American and U.S. Latinx literatures and cultures in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Her primary research focus is Hispanic Caribbean cultural and literary production. Other research and teaching interests include coming-ofage narratives, cultural essays, film, and U.S.-Caribbean politics and cultures.

Recently, Lorenzo Feliciano was one of the faculty members behind the project to grant in-state tuition during 2018 for students displaced by Hurricane María.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizes faculty and staff members with distinguished careers replete with outstanding service to the Latino community.

Juan Carlos Balda, University Professor, department head and Twenty-First Century Leadership Chair in Electrical Engineering, University of Arkansas, College of Engineering. Balda joined the University of Arkansas in July 1989.

He is currently a University Professor, department head, associate director for applications of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission and campus director for the NSF IUCRC Grid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems. His main research interests are power electronics, electric power distribution systems, motor drives and electric power quality. He is a senior member of the IEEE, member of the Power Electronics and Industry Applications Societies, and the honor society Eta Kappa Nu.

Latino Alumni Society Scholarship Reception Reed and Mary Ann Greenwood and Robert and Rocio Greenwood hosted a scholarship reception for the Latino Alumni Society on Saturday, April 14. The LAS Board and LAS Scholars were among the attendees as well as Brandy Cox, associate vice chancellor and executive director of alumni, and Angela Mosley Monts, constituent engagement director.

Excellence in Advancing Latinos – Individual: Recognizes individuals for their commitment to serving the Latino Community:

Excellence in Advancing Latinos – Organization: Recognizes organizations that are committed to advancing the Latino community and, through their missions, promote the values of the Latino Alumni Society.

Consulado de México en Little Rock. The Consulado de México en Little Rock advances the community by serving the community of Mexicans and all Latinos in Arkansas with

Photos submitted

Kathryn Sloan, associate dean of humanities, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Sloan is a Latin Americanist who specializes in the social and gender history of modern Mexico. Sloan recently completed her third book, a social and cultural study of suicide in modern Mexico entitled Death in the City: Suicide and the Social Imaginary in Modern Mexico (University of California Press, 2017). A core member of the Latin American and Latino Studies and Gender Studies programs, Sloan teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in the social and cultural history of Latin America.

educational opportunities, outreach, advocacy and community protection. From Little Rock and through their traveling consulate services, the Consulado de México reaches families throughout Arkansas, Western Tennessee and Eastern Oklahoma. Recognizing the significance of the Latino community to Northwest Arkansas, in September 2017, Cónsul Quilantán Arenas celebrated el acto cívico for Mexican Independence Day in Springdale for the first time in Arkansas history.

T he Honorable Cónsul Rodolfo Quilantán Arenas, Cecilia Grossberger-Medina, and Xavier Medina Vidal display check presented to LAS for a scholarship grant from the Instititute of Mexicans Abroad.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 39

Alumni

Arkansas Will Never Yield!

Past Presidents

President’s Letter

of the Arkansas Alumni Association ARKANSAS Board of Directors ALUMNI

I began my new role as president of the National Board of Directors on July 1, the date that many things begin for the university including the new academic and fiscal year. With new beginnings comes my excitement about building on the great successes of our past and for building future opportunities and goals. A special thanks goes to my predecessor, Don Eldred.

His outstanding leadership and steadfast dedication to the University of Arkansas are to be commended. Growing up in Texas, I came to Arkansas to study law and earned my Juris Doctor in 1992 and Master’s in Agricultural Law in 1997. I fell in love with the University and Fayetteville where I lived for eight wonderful years calling the Hogs!

Although I now live and work in Oklahoma City, Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you also to members of the Board of Directors whose unwavering commitment to the University of Arkansas alumni and friends is incomparable. This group of alumni volunteer their time and talents to develop programming which meets the association’s mission of “…connecting and serving the University of Arkansas Family.” Likewise, local alumni chapters and societies extend the reach and

1923-24 Joseph Kirby Mahone ✪ BA’07 1924-25 Robert Hill Carruth BA’11 1925-26 James E. Rutherford ✪ BA’22 1926-27 Winston Lee Winters BSCE’06 1927-28 J.L. Longino BSEE’03 1928-29 Alfred Boyde Cypert BA’12 1929-30 James William Trimble BA’17 1930-31 G. DeMatt Henderson BA’01 LLB’03 1931-32 Dr. Jasper Neighbors MD’18 1932-33 Scott D. Hamilton BA’24 1933-34 Charles A. Walls BA’07 1934-35 Arthur D. Pope BA’06 1935-36 John C. Ashley BA’11 1936-37 Beloit Taylor BA’19 1937-38 John P. Woods ✪ BA’09 1938-39 Glen Rose ★ BSE’28 MS’31 1939-40 Claude J. Byrd ★ BSA’25 1940-41 Charles Frierson Jr. ’29 1941-42 John B. Daniels BSA’33 1942-44 G. DeMatt Henderson BA’01 LLB’03 1944-45 Dr. M. L. Dalton MD’32 1945-46 Jack East ✪ BSE’24 1946-47 Steve Creekmore ★ BSBA’11 1947-48 Maupin Cummings ✪ BA’32 1948-49 Roy Milum BA’04, LLD’58 1949-50 Paul Sullins ✪ JD’37 1950-51 Francis Cherry LLB’38 1951-52 J.C. Gibson BA’24 MS’38 1952-53 George Makris ✪ BSBA’37 1953-54 Edward B. Dillon Jr. ★ LLB’50 1954-55 Beloit Taylor BA’19 1955-56 Louis L. Ramsay Jr. LLB’47 LLD’88 1956-57 Stanley Wood ✪ BA’23 1957-58 A.L. Whitten MS’40 1958-59 W.R. “Dub” Harrison BA’20 1959-60 E.M. “Mack” Anderson ✪+ BA’32 1960-61 Warren Wood ✪ LLB’32 1961-62 Owen Calhoun Pearce BSBA’41 LLB’41 1962-63 James C. Hale BA’33 1963-64 Jack East Jr. BSBA’48 1964-65 J. Fred Patton ✪+ BA’29 MA’36 1965-66 P.K. Holmes Jr. ✪ BA’37 LLB’39 1966-67 William H. Bowen ★ LLB’49 1967-68 Guy H. Lackey ✪+ BSBA’49 1968-69 Robert P. Taylor ✪+ BSBA’47 MS48 1969-70 John Ed Chambers BA’39 LLB’40 1970-71 Chester H. Lauck ’25 1971-72 Nathan Gordon ✪+ JD’39 1972-73 Charles E. Scharlau ✪+ LLB’51 1973-74 Carl L. Johnson ★ BSBA’47 1974-75 R. Cecil Powers ✪ BSBA’30 1975-76 J.C. Reeves ✪ ’25 1976-77 Elizabeth (Sissi) Riggs Brandon ✪+ BSE’55 1977-78 Roy Murphy ✪+ BSIM’49 1978-79 Fred Livingston ✪ BSBA’55 1979-80 Tracy Scott ✪ BSE’53 1980-81 Edward W. Stevenson ✪+ BSBA’60 1981-82 Fred Livingston ✪ BSBA’55 1982-83 Don Schnipper ✪+ BA’63 JD’64 1983-84 Mary Trimble Maier ✪+ BA’49 1984-85 Bart Lindsey ✪+ BSBA’67 1985-86 W. Kelvin Wyrick ✪+ BSE’59 1986-87 Larry G. Stephens ✪+ BSIE’58 1987-88 Rebecca Shreve ✪+ BSE’60 MED’63 1988-89 Robert T. Dawson ✪+ BA’60 LLB’65 1989-90 Gregory B. Graham ✪+ BSBA’70 JD’72 1990-91 Blake Schultz ✪+ BA’51 1991-92 Chuck Dudley ✪+ BSBA’76 MBA’77 1992-93 Harriet Hudson Phillips ✪+ BA’72 1993-94 Richard Hatfield ✪+ BSBA’65 LLB’67 1994-95 Jenny Mitchell Adair ✪+ BA’62 1995-96 Jack McNulty ✪+ BSBA’67 JD’70 1996-97 Sylvia Boyer ✪+ BSE’63 1997-98 Morris Fair ★ BSBA’56 1998-00 H. Lawson Hembree IV ✪+ BSA’83 2000-02 Jeffery R. Johnson ✪+ BA’70 2002-04 Edward Bradford ✪+ BSE’55 MED’56 2004-06 Brian M. Rosenthal ✪+ BSBA’84 2006-08 Kenny Gibbs ✪+ BSBA’85 2008-10 Gerald Jordan ✪+ BA’70 2010-12 Steve Nipper ✪+ BSBA’71 MBA’73 2012-14 John Reap ✪+ BSBA’70 2014-16 Stephanie S. Streett ✪ BS’91 2016-18 Don Eldred ✪ BSBA’81

40 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

impact of the association’s mission (Shout out to my friends in the Greater Oklahoma City Chapter!). Alumni and friends of the University of Arkansas are EVERYWHERE. Wooo Pig Sooie!

For those of you who are recent graduates, please know this amazing university provides a significant life foundation through experiences and opportunities for students and alumni. Whether you attended Arkansas as a graduate student, as I did, or you were here as an undergraduate student, graduation does not have to be the end of your experience with your alma mater. In reality, it is a new beginning of a different kind.

Now you are part of the vast group of alumni who provide an investment into the future through their time, talents, and patronage.

As a student, you formed lasting relationships with many on this campus. I encourage you to build on those relationships and stay in touch with your alma mater. “Hit that line!

Hit that line! Keep on going!”

For all alumni, I encourage you to be involved with the association or university.

You have already begun by becoming an alumni member. There are many other ways to be passionate about your alma mater.

Become involved by lending your time and talents with your local chapters, societies, your favorite departments, colleges and schools, or by attending and participating in events. Recruit and mentor students.

Participate in alumni scholarship or student award reviews. Travel with other alumni and friends on alumni trips. Won’t you join us?!

“Arkansas will never yield!”

Wooo Pig Sooie!

Teena Gunter ✪ J.D. ’92 M.L. ’97 President, Arkansas Alumni Association

IN TOWN FOR THE BIG GAME? PARK AT THE DICKSON

ALU M N I A L L E Y

Convenient, Secure Covered Parking In the Best Location Downtown

Alumni Alley is the premier tailgating opportunity at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

We offer full season and single game rates. Tent and event rentals provided by Intents.

Contact Julie Simpson at jds027@uark.edu or 575-2801 for more information.

We’d Like to Thank Our 2018 Alumni Alley Sponsors

SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS TODAY!

N. Gregg Ave

P

THE

N. West Ave

Dickson St

Dickson Street Entertainment District

Pow erhouse Ave

Underwoods Fine Jewelers N. University Ave

HOGTAGS.COM

Arkansas Ave

RIDE WITH RAZORBACK PRIDE

U of A Campus

Frisco Trail

Steps from Downtown Entertainment District Near the University of Arkansas Campus • Reserved Spaces • Unreserved Tags • Hourly Parking Options Available

Walton Arts Center

ECK

AT THE DICKSON

609 W. Dickson St. | the-dickson.com FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 41

Alumni

Arkansas Alumni Awards Celebration 2018 Honorees The Arkansas Alumni Association will host its 74th annual Arkansas Alumni Awards Celebration at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Fayetteville Town Center.

This year’s celebration honors the accomplishments of 13 alumni, faculty and friends and includes recipients in seven award categories. The categories are: Registration for this year’s Alumni Awards Celebration is available online at www.arkansasalumni. org/2018AwardsCelebration.

Tickets are $100 each; please register

• Citation of Distinguished Alumni • Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award • Community Service Award • Young Alumni Award • Honorary Alumni Award • Faculty Distinguished Achievement Awards • Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award.

by Oct. 5. For Alumni Awards Celebration questions, please contact Deb Euculano at alumniawards@ arkansasalumni.org or 479-575-2292.

Online Homecoming Auction will

be open from Oct. 12 to Oct. 26.

Learn more about the online auction at bit.ly/HomecomingAuction2018.

Arkansas Alumni Association Honorees Steven L. Anderson ✪ B. Arch. ’76, B.A. ’76 Las Vegas, Nevada

Sam Alley ✪ B.S.C.E. ’79 Little Rock

42 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Photo submitted

Photo submitted

Sam Alley, chairman and CEO of VCC, will receive the Citation of Distinguished Alumni which recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievement and extraordinary distinction in a chosen field.

• Co-founded VCC in March 1987.

• Has been honored with many awards including Arkansas Business Executive of the Year in 2013 and College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.

• Serves on the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee.

• Member of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering.

Steven L. Anderson, president of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, will receive the Citation of Distinguished Alumni, which recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievement and extraordinary distinction in a chosen field.

• Spent more than 20 years as an architect focusing primarily on education, health and athletics facilities.

• Has led the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation for more than 20 years.

• Is a member of the Architecture Deans Circle.

• During his service with the Donald W. Reynolds foundation has awarded grants totaling $1,829,509,000 including 184 grants in state of Arkansas totaling $462,800,000 and over $44 million in grants to the University of Arkansas.

John C. Reap ✪ B.S.B.A. ’70 Dallas, Texas

L. Lee Johns Lane ✪ B.S. ’62, MM.S.O.R. ’74, Ph.D. ’76 Paris, Arkansas

Photo submitted

L. Lee Johns Lane, vice president and co-owner (retired) of Autek Systems Corp, will receive the Citation of Distinguished Alumni, which recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievement and extraordinary distinction in a chosen field.

• The first female Research Physical Chemist at Dow Chemical.

• The first female to have completed a Ph.D. in the College of Engineering at the U of A. • Served as a member of the faculty at San Diego State and National Universities.

• Had a successful career in the aerospace industry having worked for General Dynamics and Northrop Electronics and eventually retired in 2002 as vice-president and co-owner of Autek Systems Corporation.

John C. Reap, president/ CEO (retired) of Town North Bank, will receive the Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award for significant contribution of time and energy on behalf of the university

and the association.

• Served on the Arkansas Alumni Association National Board of Directors from 2005 to 2015, including serving as President from 2012-2014.

• Served on the board of the Dallas Alumni Chapter since 2000, including having served as its president from 2009-2011.

• A member of the Sam M. Walton College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board since 2003.

• A member of the Towers of Old Main along with his spouse, Charmian.

Lee Bodenhamer ✪ B.S.B.A. ’57, M.B.A. ’61 Little Rock Lee Bodenhamer, president (retired) of Centennial Consulting Company, will receive the Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award, which acknowledges significant contribution of time and energy on behalf of the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Alumni Association.

• Along with his wife, Beverly, established the Bodenhamer Fellowship at the U of A in 1998.

• Serves on the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and previously served on the Campaign for the TwentyFirst Century Steering Committee.

• Inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2008.

• Charter member of the Towers of Old Main and the Chancellor’s Society.

CALL FOR

NOMINATIONS Do you know outstanding alumni who deserve special recognition for their distinguished achievements or community service?

Nominate them by December 1, 2018 to be considered for recognition at the fall 2019 Alumni Awards Celebration.

To review criteria and secure a nomination form, visit arkansasalumni.org/awards.

Arkansas Alumni Association For more information contact Debbie Blume at 479-575-6476 or dblume@uark.edu.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 43

Alumni

Dr. Morriss M. Henry ✪+ J.D. ’71 and Ann Rainwater Henry ✪+ B.A. ’61, M.A. ’64, J.D. ’71 Fayetteville Dr. Morriss M. Henry, owner (retired) of Henry Eye Clinic, and Ann Henry, associate professor emeritus of the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, will receive the Community Service Award. The Community Service Award recognizes unselfish and extensive service by alumni to their community and to humankind.

• Both are inductees into the Towers of Old Main • Dr. Henry spent 18 years in service in the state legislature.

• Dr. Henry has served as president of Washington County Medical Society and of the Arkansas Medical Society.

• Both received the Golden Deeds Award from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce in 2017.

• Rainwater Henry has served as on the Arkansas Alumni Association Board of Directors.

• She has been a member of Fayetteville’s City Board of Directors.

• Rainwater Henry spent four years on the Campaign Arkansas University Libraries - Fundraising Council (AD).

Anna Reed Phillips ✪ B.S.E. ’04 Nashville, Tennessee

Photo submitted

Anna Reed Phillips, co-founder and director of development of Bridge2Rwanda Scholars Program, will receive the Young Alumni Award, which recognizes exceptional achievements in career, public service and/or volunteer activities that bring honor to the University of Arkansas.

• Co-founded and served on the leadership team of the Bridge2Rwanda (B2R) Scholars Program in 2011.

• Established a speech pathology clinic at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali and coordinated the fitting of 4,000 custom hearing aids with the Starkey Hearing

44 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Foundation.

•N amed the College of Education and Health Professions 2014 Outstanding Young Alumni.

• S erves as B2R’s Director of Development coordinating fundraising, development and communication efforts for Bridge2Rwanda.

The Honorable Howard W. Brill ★ Fayetteville Howard W. Brill, LawFoster Professorship at the University of Arkansas’ School of Law, has been selected for the Honorary Alumni Award, which honors non-alumni who have served, promoted, developed and loved the University of Arkansas in the tradition of an Arkansas graduate.

• Has taught at the University of Arkansas Law School since 1975.

• He is the first Vincent Foster Professor of Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility.

• Served as the university’s faculty athletics representative to the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference from 1995 to 2010.

• Apointed as Chief Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court for September 2015-December 2016.

Sean P. Connors Fayetteville Sean P. Connors, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions, has been chosen for the Faculty Distinguished Rising Teaching Achievement Award. This award recognizes, rewards and encourages faculty members whose early career has brought distinguished results.

• S erved in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction since 2010.

• Awarded the College of Education and Health Profession’s Innovative Teaching Award in 2011 and has received three department teaching awards in 2011, 2015 and 2016.

• Serves as the editor of SIGNAL Journal and a reviewer for many other publications.

• Creates authentic experiences for his students and brings imagination and creativity to his teaching.

Kevin D. Hall ★+ Fayetteville

Photo submitted

Kevin Hall, professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and the Hicks Endowed Professor of Infrastructure Engineering in the College of Engineering, has been selected to receive the Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Service. This award recognizes, rewards and encourages faculty members whose service activities are particularly successful and outstanding.

• Served two consecutive five-year terms as the department head of the Department of Civil Engineering, 2005-2016.

• Serves as the chair of the Faculty Senate, 2017-18, and previously served as the chair of the Campus Faculty/ vice-chair of the Faculty Senate, 2016-2017.

• Serves on the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Core Team, 2018.

• Has received numerous teaching and professional honors and awards including being named ASCE Volunteer of the Year in 2017.

Min Zou Fayetteville Min Zou, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, will be honored with the Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Research. This award recognizes, rewards and encourages faculty

members whose research or creative efforts are particularly significant nationally and internationally.

• An expert in tribology, with specific application at nanoscale.

• Dr. Zou has been issued three patents and filed four others.

• She has written three book chapters and 92 peer-reviewed publications and given 100 conference presentations.

• Dr. Zou has been awarded more than $3 million in research funding plus $24 million for the Center for Surface Engineering (CASE), a multi-university and multi-institution research center.

Suresh Kumar Thallapuranam Fayetteville Suresh Kumar Thallapuranam, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, will be recognized with the Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award. The Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award recognizes outstanding teaching and is designated for a faculty member whose status is full, University or Distinguished Professor.

• Mentored more than 80 honors theses of undergraduate students and currently directs 33.

• Currently, has seven graduate students for whom he is the major advisor and serves on an additional 49 dissertation committees across campus for graduate students other than his own.

• He has been recognized with numerous awards for teaching and research, including Fulbright College Master Teaching Award in 2014 and induction into the University of Arkansas’ Teaching academy in 2015.

• Earned a Golden Tusk Award in 2012 from the Division of Student Affairs for “going the extra mile to do the right thing for students.”

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 45

Events

College World Series Alumni, friends and fans across the country supported the Arkansas Razorback baseball team during its run in the NCAA Baseball College World Series.

Hog Wild Tailgates The Arkansas Alumni Association and the Razorback Foundation hosted a series of Hog Wild Tailgates in Omaha, Nebraska, during the 2018 College World Series.

Watch Parties Many of our chapters and one alumni society hosted watch parties to cheer on the OmaHogs in the 2018 College World Series.

1 Austin Chapter ■ 2 Black Alumni Society ■

1

1

3 Houston Chapter ■ 4 Dallas Chapter ■ 5 Nashville Chapter ■ 6 Kansas City Chapter ■ 7 Wichita Chapter ■ 2

46 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

2

Photos submitted

members in Addison, Texas

3

3

Photos submitted

4

4

5

5

6

7

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 47

Events

University of Arkansas Sponsored Students Program

Photos submitted

The University of Arkansas Sponsored Students Program recently held their SSP Spring and Summer Graduation Recognition Dinner at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

Chancellor Joe Steinmetz was the keynote speaker.

Tom Paradise and Shelly Gahagans were recognized at the SSP Spring and Summer Graduation Recognition Dinner for their contributions to Sponsored Student Programs’ mission. Doctoral student Mahmut Tutam was also recognized for his work in helping to coordinate an agreement of cooperation between the U of A and Erzurum University in Turkey.Â

48 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

1

1

2

Photos submitted

3

PIGnics Fifteen chapters planned PIGnics, student send-offs, this summer. Here are some selected photos from those that were held in June.

Photos from July PIGnics will be published in the coming winter Issue.

3

4 1 June 2 – Chancellor ■ Joe Steinmetz teaching incoming freshman to call the Hogs is just one of the highlights of the MidSouth | Memphis Chapter PIGnic.

4 2 June 9 – Chancellor ■ Steinmetz with incoming freshmen from the Central Oklahoma area at the Oklahoma City Chapter PIGnic.

3 June 10 – The Atlanta ■ Chapter gathered at Eon at Lindbergh Pool for its PIGnic

4 June 30 – Curt ■ Rom, associate dean for international education, was the special guest speaker at the Conway Chapter PIGnic.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 49

Events

Razorback Band Alumni Society

Photos submitted

The Razorback Band Alumni Society continues to provide support to the Razorback Band by participating as an alumni band during Homecoming and Razorback Basketball games or giving advice to undergraduate band members. If you are interested in participating in the Razorback Alumni Band, please contact Robert G. Hopper, associate director of band finance, marketing and operations at rghoppe@uark.edu.

50 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Photo submitted

2018 CVEG Luncheon The Civil Engineering Alumni Society celebrated the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Alumni Society Week. The focus was for CVEG alumni to connect and engage with high school students, giving them insight into

career opportunities in the engineering field.

The CVEG Alumni Society board also hosted a luncheon for all engineering graduates in central Arkansas at Garver Engineering in North Little Rock. For information about upcoming events please, contact Tymli Frierson at cveg@ arkansasalumni.org

Paul and Susan Henderson Razorback Rally and Golf Tournament

Photos submitted

The Dallas Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Greater Dallas Razorback Club co-hosted this annual event on May 16 at the Cowboys Club. This year’s special guest was Razorback head football coach Chad Morris.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 51

Yesteryear

Yesteryear

1878 • Professor W.D.C. Botefuhr takes university students on a tour of the state to present musical programs.

1888 • A building designed for the Agricultural Experiment Station is built northwest of Old Main. It continued in a variety of uses until the 1970s.

1898 • The superintendent of public instruction in Arkansas, Junius Jordan, is unanimously elected to the chair of pedagogy and philosophy at the university.

1908 • The famed temperance crusader, Carry A. Nation, spoke on campus and warned students about the danger of alcohol and the evil tendencies of fraternal lodges.

1918 • Three buildings — the second Physics Building, a Plumbing Shop and a YMCA Hut — are constructed.

52 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Razorback Yearbook

Ann DuBard, secretary of the senior class and a member of Pi Beta Phi, arrives at the Fayetteville Depot with suitcase in hand to board a train for Texas.

• A porte-cochere and circle drive are built on the south side of Old Main to allow automobiles to let passengers disembark under a dry entrance.

• New courses related to war-time needs include stenography, typewriting, accounting, journalism and domestic science.

1928 • An amateur radio operator in Red Falls, Alberta, Canada, sends a note to the campus radio station, KUOA, to thank the staff for a program he heard. Listeners in California and Cuba also picked up the signal. Coincidentally, the staff filed an application to get a boost in power to 1,000 watts.

• For the first time, female students are allowed to use the library after dark.

1938 • A new football stadium with track is built and dedicated

by Harry Hopkins, national director of the Works

Progress Administration.

Initially known as Bailey Stadium, it is now known as the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

• Three students are injured when the open roadster in which they are traveleing overturns on Dickson Street.

1948 • George F. Branigan becomes the third dean of the College of Engineering.

• Architect Edward Durell Stone, who went to the university in the 1920s, is hired to design a new fine arts center.

• Three Razorback athletes earn medals at the 1948 Olympics in London. Clyde Scott wins the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles, and Gordon Carpenter and R.C. Pitts win gold as part of the United States men’s basketball team.

1958 • Stokely Hays, a student

photographer on campus, travels to Fort Smith to get a picture of Elvis Presley getting his haircut as part of his induction to the U.S. Army at Fort Chaffee.

• The United Press International news agency reports unsubstantiated allegations that the University of Arkansas and the College of the Ozarks have been infiltrated by Communists.

• Students start a parachuting club on campus.

• A heavy snowfall doesn’t prevent the Flunky Fling, a break from study for finals, from taking place in the student union with John Tolleson and his combo providing music.

1968 • The Ku Ku, a popular student hangout on College Avenue, stays open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

• Students organize a vigil for peace in Vietnam.

UPGRADE to LIFE

and Never Pay Dues Again! www.ArkansasAlumni.org/join

Life Members ✪ By becoming Life Members, the University’s friends and alumni help form a strong foundation on which to build the future of the Arkansas Alumni Association. We welcome the newest Life Members, listed in order of membership number: 8820 Reginald W. Campbell ’79 8821 Sharmaine M. Campbell 8822 Casey Baldwin ’18 8823 Drew K. Chism ’14 8824 Ferral A. Roark ’18 8825 Davis E. Thompson ’76 8826 Laura L. Thompson ’77 8827 Dr. Delbert William Chumley Jr. ’75 8828 Shelia Herring Chumley 8829 Morgan Lee Vaughn ’16, ’18 8830 Howard T. Ly ’18 8831 Diana Marie Dilday ’18 8832 Grant Toller Augustini ’18 8833 Gwyndolyn Sumner Sparks ’18 8834 Boyce Bethel ’18 8836 Casey Ann Gibson ’18 8837 McKayla Lee Prince ’18 8838 Daniel Law Duffy ’18 8839 John G. Hankes ’18 8840 Hayley Summer Hunt ’18 8841 Allix Nicole Ice ’18 8842 William Thomas Sanders ’18 8843 Adia S. Threatt 8844 Charles Wilson Murray ’18 8845 Sarah E. Spears ’18 8846 Mary Y. Udouj ’59 8847 Richard J. Udouj 8848 Bruce Strom 8849 Mary S. Arnold 8850 Jerold K. Fetzer ’72 8851 Karen A. Fetzer 8852 William G. Rockefeller ’18

1978 • The Business Administration Building, the Billingsley Music Building and the Plant Science Bulding are erected on campus. Erection of the Business Building marks the 50th anniversary of creation of the College of Business Administration.

• An increase in the minimum wage from $2.30 per hour to $2.65 means that work-study students will not be allowed to work as many hours.

8853 Makenzie Merrit Jones ’18 8854 Dr. Elois Pelton ’61 8855 Andrew Martin Butt ’97 8856 Kimberly Martin Butt ’00 8857 Dr. Garland M. Thorn Jr. ’83, ’86 8858 Julia Thorn ’83 8859 Bob McKinney ’66 8860 Tyler Steven Crook ’15 8861 Emily Linstrom ’17 8862 Art Salazar ’86 8863 Jo A. Salazar 8864 Bob S. Cosgrove Sr. ’57 8865 Linda G. Cosgrove 8866 Robert Ragland ’88, ’93 8867 Karolyn Kaye Farrell ’83, ’91 8868 Richard Lawson Vassar ’17, ’18 8869 Caroline E. Dominick ’17, ’18 8870 David M. Schrantz ’69 8871 Chad Michael Hendrix ’04 8872 Anna Everett-Hendrix ’06 8873 Kevin James Waldrum ’94 8874 Kim Waldrum 8875 Ashley R. Corbin ’03 8876 Gary Goodson ’77 8877 Mary Lou Goodson 8878 Meredith Rebecca PipkinBaker ’02 8879 Kristian A. Baker 8880 Jennifer Eichenberg ’01 8881 Dr. Rachel R. Fiori ’04 8882 Virgil S. Fiori 8883 Jennifer M. Sommer ’03, ’06

8884 Edward J. Valek ’99 8885 Richard Michael Sims ’92 8886 Jennifer Sims 8887 Thomas J. Havenstrite ’83 8888 Marc Gilbert ’76, ’77 8889 DeLene Gilbert 8890 Doug Hurley ’88 8891 Melodie Gail Hurley ’92, ’94 8892 Robert F. Smith ’77 8893 Woody White ’68 8894 Samuel Laine Jenkins ’16 8895 Walt Connell ’88 8896 Steven Kizzar ’90, ’93 8897 Lee Ann Kizzar ’90 8898 Dr. Mark A. Brown ’77 8899 Dr. Randall Oates ’77 8900 Julie S. Kegley ’88 8901 W. Warren Rosenaur ’78, ’83 8902 William P. Jackson ’76 8903 Dr. Janice Kathryn ChurchJackson 8904 Gerald L. Smith ’88 8905 Dr. Kathryn M. Rinehart ’08 8906 Linda Diane Fricke 8907 Jon Fricke 8908 Judith A. Jarstad Meals ’70 8909 Dr. Lawrence R. Oliver ’64, ’66 8910 Trina Oliver ’65 8911 Kevin Warren ’94 8912 Elizabeth Salisbury Warren ’94 8913 Reynelda Elaine AugustineRobinson ’07 8914 James Eric Jones

8915 Kristen Allbritton ’04 8916 Timothy Lloyd Brooks ’86, ’89 8917 Mary Beth Brooks ’86 8918 Drew Davis ’18 8919 Garland Frank Bond Jr. ’87 8920 Dr. David Songer Tucker ’87 8921 Chris Hinton-Lee ’75 8922 Sydney A. Dooley ’13 8923 Nicholas Dwayne Sanders ’95 8924 Erin C. Sanders 8925 Robin Dunn 8926 Stephen C. Dunn ’86 8927 David M. Jenkins ’78 8928 Jan Brockmole Jenkins ’79 8929 Sam W. Cupps ’61 8930 Sharon Marie Gunter ’89 8931 Dr. Marc Eugene Gunter ’89 8932 Dr. Ed Eaton 8933 Dr. Leslie Eaton ’68 8934 Cyndie M. Fredrick ’92 8935 Jason McClure 8936 James E. Tranum ’64 8937 Jan Leigh Dodgen ’82 8938 Stephanie Wilcox ’89 8939 Kevin Wilcox ’88 8940 Dr. James T. Russell ’70 8941 Nancy Ann Perkins Russell ’71 8942 Stephen Winston Edwards Jr. ’18 8943 Virginia W. Mann ’64 8944 Liz Mayes Avery ’92 8945 Ronald Tyrone Johnson ’92

• Sidney Moncrief, a standout Razorback basketball player, is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

president, speaks on campus to the Young Democrats.

Barbara Bush, wife of Vice President George H.W. Bush, speaks to the College Republicans.

As a result the college was renamed in honor of Sam M. Walton.

1988 • The Campaign to Restore Old Main raises $5 million by the late stages of the campaign to restore the oldest building on campus.

• The national presidential campaigns send speakers to campus. U.S Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, the Democratic nominee for vice

1998 • The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation donates $50 million to the College of Business Administration at the University of Arkansas, the largest single gift ever made to an American business school.

2008 • The men’s and women’s athletics programs are merged into a single department of intercollegiate athletics.

• Sandra Day O’Connor, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, dedicates the expansion of the School of Law.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 53

Senior Walk

Class Notes Let us know about your milestones and anything else you would like to share with your classmates — births, marriages, new jobs, retirements, moves and more. Please include your degree, class year, and when applicable, your maiden name. To provide the most thorough coverage of alumni news, we publish notes about members and non-members

1950 Bob H. Crafton ★ BSCE’57 was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Fame on April 29, 2017.

Larry G. Stephens ✪+ BSIE’58 has been inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Fame on April 29, 2017.

Carl Yates ✪+ BSCE’58 received the College of

54 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

of the Arkansas Alumni Association and will indicate membership status for reference. You may send us news or simply update your information.

Since the next issues of Arkansas are already in production, it may be a few issues before your item appears.

Submit Class Notes online at www. arkansasalumni.org/classnotes; by mail: From Senior Walk, Arkansas

Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville AR 72702; or by email: records@arkansasalumni.org.

These symbols indicate Alumni Association membership: ✩ Student Member ★ Member ★+ Member, A+ ✪ Life Member ✪+ Life Member, A+

Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 29, 2017.

IFMBE World Congress in Prague, Czech Republic in June 2018.

Bill Keltner ✪ BSIE’59 was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Fame on April 21.

1960

James O. Wear ✪ BS’59 MS’60 PHD’62, North Little Rock, was selected for the 2017 IFMBE/CED award in Clinical Engineering and was presented the award at the

Pat Bourne ✪ BSEE’68 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 29, 2017.

David K. Yancey ★+ BSBA’69 retired from the office of Green County Public

Administrator in Springfield, Missouri. Before that, he spent more than 30 years managing professional offices in the fields of medicine and law.

1970 Gregory A. Dalke ✪+ BSME’72 was recognized with over 30 years of service in the government of the United States. He is a contracting

IRA Rollovers Make Giving Easy In 2015, Congress enacted a permanent IRA charitable rollover.

Make your IRA rollover gift this year and support your favorite initiative at the University of Arkansas.

“Everyone in our family graduated from the U of A, and we really believe in the university. Giving back through an IRA rollover is a prudent method for us to donate. Every year, we use it for our endowed scholarships, the Chancellor’s Society, the University Libraries and any other areas we feel drawn to support.

It’s the best way to give.”

–L arry + B.S.A. ’54 and Nikki Lawson + B.A. ’59 Little Rock

“We appreciate having the option to use an IRA rollover to make our charitable contributions.

This year, we used ours to support the Brewer Entrepreneurship Hub and our Advance Arkansas scholarship. Using this option is a win-win for us because we can satisfy our required minimum distribution while also funding the pledge we made to the university. It’s an easy way to make a difference.”

– Greg + B.S.B.A. ’70 and Hannah Lee + Fayetteville

If you are 70½ or older, you may be interested in a way to lower the income and taxes from your IRA withdrawals.

An IRA charitable rollover is a great way to support the university and reap the benefits immediately.

Benefits of an IRA rollover: • Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to the University of Arkansas Foundation, Inc. • Satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year • Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions • Make a gift that is not subject to the 50% deduction limits on charitable gifts • Help further the work and mission of the University of Arkansas

For more information, contact: George Lensing Office of Planned Giving (800) 317-7526 * (479) 575-7271 glensing@uark.edu plannedgiving.uark.edu

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 55

Senior Walk

officer for the Naval Air Systems Command, located at the Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Maryland.

Gregory A. Dalke ✪+ BSME’72 and Julie Anne Dalke ✪+ BA’72, Hollywood, Maryland, celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Stephen R. Giles ✪ BA’69 JD’73, Little Rock, joined the Dover Dixon Horne’s real estate practice in June.

Bob Harrison ✪+ BSME’74 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 29, 2017.

Martha Cornwell Haguewood ✪ BSE’75, executive broker with Lindsey & Associates Inc., was ranked No. 8 in closed volume transactions in 2016. She ranked No. 12 in the state of Arkansas for that same period. She has been a realtor since 1991.

John R. Marshall ✪ BSEE’76 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

David A. Lupo ✪+ BA’77, Little Rock, is the chief of urology at the John L. McClellan Veterans Hospital.

Cheryl Flowers Sparkes BSBA’78, Greenwich, Connecticut, retired from Ernst & Young.

Adam K. Motherwell ★ BSBA’79, Fayetteville, was appointed a member of the Audit Committee of the American Water Work Association. He will serve through 2020.

Vince Terril ✪ BSBA’79 retired in March 2017 from a 20plus year career with Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia. At the time of his retirement he was serving as the assistant to the Saudi Aramco controller.

1980 Gregory L. Baltz Sr. BSAGE’80 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Kevin W. Brown BSCHE’81 was inducted in to 2018 class of the College of Engineering Hall of Fame on April 21.

Eugene C. Davis BSCHE’80 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Daniel Williams ★ BSCE’81 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Law Alumni Society

Photos submitted

The University of Arkansas School of Law recently hosted a luncheon to “Say Goodbye and Hello,” to the outgoing Dean Stacy Leeds and the incoming Dean Margaret Sova McCabe.

The luncheon was held during the annual Arkansas Bar Association meeting in Hot Springs. The luncheon was co-sponsored by the Law Alumni Society, Arkansas Alumni Association.

56 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

OPENING DOORS FOR Arkansas B U S I N E S S .

First Security offers solutions and local expertise to turn your passion into profit.

What’s your better? Get there with us.

Member FDIC

Michael D. Shook BSAGE’82 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 29, 2017.

Gregory A. Mills ★ BSME’82 is the president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers’ Triangle Chapter. He has more than 35 years of experience and serves as a senior associate manager of the Dewberry Raleigh office’s building systems department.

Rita G. Willcoxon ★ BSIE’82 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Steve McClain ★ BSE’83 MED’96, Bentonville, retired from the University of Arkansas Facilities Management Department on June 15, 2017.

Jean M. Curtis ★ BSHE’84, Arlington, Texas, retired in June 2017 from Arlington

Independent School District after 26 years of teaching.

Regina D. Hopper ✪ BA’81 JD’85 is the senior vice president of Gridsmart Technologies based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Steven R. Hinds ✪+ BSPA’89 MED’92, Fayetteville, is the director of philanthropy and development for Ozark Guidance.

1990 Pamela J. McGinnis BSIE’90 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 29, 2017.

Roger D. Cordes ✪ BSME’91 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Leonard Whiteman III ★ BSBA’91 MS’02, Fayetteville, is vice president of managed care for Washington Regional Medical System.

John C. Easley ✪ BSA’92 has accepted the position of branch chief, Joint Operational Intelligence, National Guard Bureau at Arlington Hall Station, Arlington, Virginia. In this position Col. Easley will lead a team of intelligence professionals in incident awareness and assessment assisting the 54 states and territories during times of disaster as a member of the National Guard Coordination Center.

Argelia Hernandez Garrett ✪+ and James L. Garrett ✪+ MS’98 BSE’13 announce the birth of their daughter, Stephanie Mayte’ Garrett, May 6, 2015, Dallas, Texas.

Dahlia Evans Vertreese ✪ BA’99 MA’06 is the mayor of Hillside, New Jersey.

2000 Jeremy Wade Stobaugh BSCSE’00 MBA’10 received

the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Tyson Joseph Hall BSCHE’01 MBA’02 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 21.

A. Matthew Francis ★ BSEE’03 BS’04 MSEE’07 PHD’09 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 29, 2017.

Amanda L. Furr BSIE’03 MSOM’17 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 29, 2017.

Jessie Xu Jones ✪ MSCE’03 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 21.

Matt Lee Zwicker BSME’03 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 29, 2017.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 57

Senior Walk

Gregory M. Sisti ✪ BSME’04 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 21.

Erin R. Rongers MED’04, Fayetteville, is the associate director of development for the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Adam K. Ekenseair BSCHE’05 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 29, 2017.

of Engineering on April 21.

Drake M. McGruder ✪ BSBE’06 MSE’12 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 21.

Jenni Kimpel ★ BSIE’06 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 21.

Sarah E. Pospisil BA’06 welcomed daughter Dupree Elizabeth Peterson on Feb. 27 at Memphis, Tennessee.

Andy Davis ✪ BSCE’99 MSCE’01 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 29, 2017.

Toni M. McCrory ✪ BSBE’07 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering.

Eric Anthony DeCuir Jr. MS’05 PHD’08 received an Early Career Award from the College of Engineering on April 21.

Michael Shane Upchurch BSE’07 MAT’08 and Christina Lynelle Upchurch BS’09 announce the birth of their daughter Bailey Elizabeth, Aug. 1, 2017, at Lewisville, Texas.

Zhichun Xiao MSCSE’01 PHD’05 received an Early Career Award from the College

Brandon and Robin Yancey Foster BA’07 welcomed her

first child, Franklin Remington, on April 17, 2017, Springfield, Missouri.

Meredith Laine Green BSN’07 MSN’14 of Prairie Grove is the senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Washington Regional Medical Center.

Matt R. Perkins ✪+ BA’08 and Meredith B. Perkins ✪+ BA’09 announce the arrival of their son, Benjamin, Jan. 16, at Houston, Texas.

Alex D. Clark BSBA’08, Little Rock, is an associate attorney at Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus P.C. His areas of practice with the firm will include civil litigation, employment (management, wage and hourly law).

Ben T. Barr II ✪ BSBA’09 and Ashley Barr ✪ BA’09 announce the birth of their son Charles David, July 18, 2017, at Dallas, Texas.

Kristopher and LeJoi Nicole Williamson Esq. JD’09 announce the birth of their daughter, Karis Aleah.

2010 Stephanie R. Grise BS’11 and Billy Fleming III ✪ BLA’11 were married June 10 and will reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kristin Rachel Alonso and Ruben Andrew Johnson, BSEE’11 were married on Jan. 17, 2017. They currently reside in Prairieville, Louisiana.

Robert W. Arvin ★ MSOM’12 received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award on April 21.

Stephine Lynne Davis BSN’14 is the director of cardiovascular service line at Washington Regional Medical Center.

SEC Basketball Razorback Social

Photos submitted

The Arkansas Alumni Association and the Razorback Foundation working with the St. Louis Alumni Chapter hosted the SEC Basketball Razorback Social on March 8 at the Budweiser Brew House in St. Louis Ballpark Village.

58 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Benefits and Beyond:

The Veterans Resource and Information Center The Veterans Resource and Information Center, or VRIC, at the University of Arkansas provides meaningful resources to veterans, active military personnel and their dependents.

Established in 2009 by the Division of Student Affairs, the center is host to a lounge, computer lab, conference table, presentation space and even a mini food pantry. Staff members assist students with military educational benefits, scholarships and financial aid, as well as introduce them to other great resources on campus.

“We go beyond benefits,” says Director Erika Gamboa.

“We work with students all over the world, and our biggest challenge is letting students and parents know we are here for them.”

Jesse McCrary, a senior from Flippin, is well aware of the center and has found it to be beneficial during his college experience.

“It’s been an enormous help,” says McCrary, who is a firstgeneration student and veteran of the Marines. “I had no idea how to begin college or become a college student.”

In addition to the services offered by the Veterans Resource and Information Center is the newly established Guy Eastman Brown II and Ellen Tarshis Brown Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship for veterans and active military personnel.

McCrary is the inaugural recipient of the scholarship, which was created thanks to a $50,000 gift from Guy and Ellen Brown, who have a combined 34 years of military service between them.

“I have always been indebted to the University of Arkansas,” Guy Brown said. “Endowing this scholarship is the finest way we can say thanks.”

If you would like to support the Veterans Resource and Information Center, please contact Sue Harris, director of development, at (479) 575-7408 or sgharris@uark.edu. For more information about Advance Arkansas scholarships, contact Ben Carter, senior director of development, at (479) 575-4663 or bcarter@uark.edu.

VRIC Quick Facts ★ 1,507 service members and dependents assisted* ★ 5,362 services provided* ★ More than 200 reservists on campus* ★ 2017 Military Times Best for Vets College *Facts for 2017-2018 academic year

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 59

Senior Walk

2018 BAS Board Meeting

Photos submitted

The Black Alumni Society recently hosted its annual board and 2019 Reunion Planning meeting at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. The special guest speaker was Yvette Murphy-Irby, vice provost for diversity and inclusion.

Andrew Christopher Peterson BA’18, a remotely piloted-aircraft pilot, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Austin R. Cowart BA’18, a combat systems officer, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Benjamin Thomas Fiser BA’18, a security forces officer, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Gabriella Elisha Marrufo BA’18, an intelligence officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

60 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Hunter Bryan Lee BSBA’18, pilot, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Jared N. Emberson BS’18, pilot, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Nicholas Ryan Hauch BSME’18, logistics readiness officer, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

John G. Hankes ✪ BSIB’18, pilot, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Sondraclaire Lorraine Sellers BA’18, intelligence officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

John W. Taylor BA’18, a combat system officer, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Valentin Lopez III BA’18, intelligence officer, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Monica Necole Cooper MPA’18, contracting officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

Yia Thao BA’18, intelligence officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 11.

In Memoriam 1940

Walter Shackelford ✪ FS’41, Smartsville, California, June 15, 2014.

Albert H. Rusher FS’42, Jonesboro, July 12, 2017.

Served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve for more than 20 years before retiring as a commander in 1969. He had a long career in banking, serving for many years in the Arkansas Bankers Association in many capacities and on several committees. Survivors: his wife, Betty Rusher; a son; a daughter; 10 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Lynnette V. Collums ★+ FS’42, Bee Branch, June 23, 2017. She taught home economics at South Side School in Bee Branch.

Lost Alumni We are preparing for the Black Alumni Society (BAS) Reunion in 2019. If you have any information on the whereabouts of these BAS alumni and former students, please contact us at records@arkansasalumni.org so that we may update our records.

Survivors: two daughters, one son, one sister, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Virginia Pasley Nolen FS’44, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, June 7, 2017. She was a middle school librarian.

Survivors: three daughters, four grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Jean Wood Fleming LLB’47, Springdale, June 22, 2017.

She taught American history at North Little Rock, then provided vocational guidance at Little Rock Vocational Technology Institute.

Survivors: two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Thad B. Spence BSBA’48, North Little Rock, July 17, 2017. He was a Razorback baseball player. He served

in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He was a manufacturer’s representative for Spence Sales Associates until 1994 when he retired at the age of 70. Survivors: wife, Virginia; a daughter; a son; two brothers; three grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Sammie Jo Andrews BSE’49, Marianna and Batesville, June 11, 2017. She taught home economics and science in the Marianna School District. Survivors: three daughters, one brother, five grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

1950

Anne M. Crofoot Queen ✪+ BSE’50, Morrilton, July 3, 2017. She taught English and journalism at Morrilton High School for 22 years. Survivors: husband, Ben Queen; a son;

Mr. Channing Alexander Berry Mr. Jimmy Lee Boss Ms. Veronica Z. Cunningham Ms. Claude Benedicte Djeubou Mr. Winston E. Duncan Mr. Jerry L. Eckwood Mr. Obinna Anthony Emeasoba Mr. Jerome Fenzi Aba Mr. Jerry W. Flemons Ms. Patrice Foster Ms. Emily Elaine Gaddie Ms. Elaine Gooseberry Mr. JP Green Ms. Valerie Y. Hall Dr. Clinton R. Hampton Mr. Harvey Hampton Jr. Dr. Norman W. Handy Jr. Mr. Lawrence E. Hannah Ms. Gabrielle LaRose Hansberry Mr. William A. Hanson Ms. Dornice Yvonne Hart Mr. Eric W. Holden Mrs. Cathy R. Hull Ms. Althea L. Jackson Ms. Yolonda C. Joe-Hale Ms. Barbara Ann Johnson Mr. Cordale Ray Johnson Ms. Helen M. Johnson Mr. Myron N. Johnson Mr. Lonnie Lee Jones Ms. Jerry Beth Malone Ms. Cassandra S. Martin

a daughter; three stepsons; a sister; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Harry Scott BSBA’50, Jonesboro, May 8, 2017. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, worked at the Royal Crown Cola Bottling Co., and completed his working career selling coffee and supplies to businesses all over Northeast Arkansas.

Survivors: wife, Anna Jean; two sons; three daughters; two brothers and 10 grandchildren; Alan H. Hirsch BSBA’51, Marvell, June 4, 2017. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force as the supply officer of Headquarters Squadron Far East Air Forces in Tokyo, Japan, during the Korean War. He was also a volunteer firefighter for

Ms. Glendean T. McGill Mr. Victor M. Moore II Ms. Yolanda Newsome Mr. Kendall Presscott Nixon Mr. Sidney O. Okolo Mr. Ben N. Onukwube Mrs. Brenda Allen Patton Ms. Carolyn F. Rhodes Ms. Frederica R. Rhodes Ms. Deniece Ridley Mr. Brendan T. Rock Ms. Sharon L. Ross Ms. Natasha R. Sargeon Mrs. Barbara Scidmore Mr. Tharcisse Sebushahu Ms. Carmelita Smith Ms. Penny M. Smith Ms. Sharon D. Thomas Ms. Tracy Danielle Thomas Mr. Semon F. Thompson Mr. Ricky Threat Mr. JaCarri Lamar Tollette Mr. Carroll Edward Washington III Ms. Alycya Lynn Wetherspoon Mr. Torrance P. Wilkins Ms. Anthodenise Maria Williams Mr. Landis Jerome Williams Ms. Marlitha L. Williams-Ragland Mr. Robert W. Woods Mr. Marion A. Wright

45 years with the Marvell Fire Department. Survivors: wife, Mary; a daughter; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Jesse Irma Keith Moore ★ MS’51, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 24. She was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Waves during World War II and was also involved with the Red Stick Waves. She worked for more than 20 years as a supervisor of the Jefferson Davis Parish Child Welfare Office in Jennings, Louisiana.

Survivors: two daughters, two sons, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Carl C. Heringer Sr. BA’52, Jonesboro, July 13, 2017. He served in the U.S. Air Force for six years, spent 25 years as the owner/operator of the appliance retail portion

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 61

Senior Walk

of Lone Star Inc. After retirement, he moved into the mortgage lending industry where he worked for various companies assisting Northeast Arkansas families with home loans for 28 years. Survivors: wife, Brenda Stuck Heringer BA’50; one daughter; two sons; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Charles L. Kimberling BSCE’52, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, June 15, 2017.

He worked as a civil engineer for the city of Tulsa. After retirement from the city, he worked as a consulting engineering for Craig and Keithline for approximately 20 years. Survivors: wife, Joyce Kimberling, and one daughter.

Beverly Campbell BSE’53, Mount Ida, July 15, 2017.

She was a longtime public educator and librarian.

Survivors: two sons.

Udo H. Jansen MS’53, Rogers, June 17, 2017. He taught senior English and was coordinator of the curriculum.

Survivors: wife, Martha, and two daughters.

Art W. McCloy BSCHE’53, Texas City, Texas, July 7, 2017.

He served in the Army during the Korean War and was employed by Union Carbide as a chemical engineer and retired after 38 years of service. Survivors: two daughters, a brother, a sister and two grandsons.

Ed Harvey ✪ BSME’54, Little Rock, June 5, 2017. He served in the United States Army and was inducted into the Mechanical Engineering Hall of Fame at the U of A for his excellent work in the industry. Survivors: wife, Bonnie Harvey BSBA’58; four children and five grandchildren.

James H. Poe BSBA’56, Port Angeles, Washington, July 16.

He served as the director of the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s Tax Division.

John C. Foreman BA’57,

62 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Rehoboth Beach, June 1, 2017. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean Conflict. He taught speech and theater at several universities, including the U of A, and later owned several businesses. Survivors: two sisters.

John Leigh Thompson MED’57, Bossier City, Louisiana, June 1, 2017.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He had a rewarding career as a coach and math teacher.

Survivors: wife, Josie; three daughters; a son; four siblings; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

W.Q. Hall LLB’58, Huntsville, July 24, 2017. He was an attorney for 60 years and a Korean era veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Survivors: two sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.

Andy S. Hendricks BSBA’59, Fort Smith, July 18, 2017.

He worked for the Small Business Administration.

Survivors: wife, Dorothy; a son; a daughter and numerous grandchildren.

1960

Survivors: wife, Phyllis; a daughter and a son.

Victoria F. Ku MS’64 PHD’76, Allen, Texas, July 4, 2017. She was an associate professor emeritus in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she served for 33 years before her retirement in 1997.

Survivors: two sons, a sister and two brothers.

Lyn Falk Drake ★ BSE’66, Pine Bluff, June 18, 2017. She is survived by her husband, Ted N. Drake ★ BSBA’62, LLB’65.

Edna G. Finch MED’66, North Little Rock, June 27, 2017.

She taught first grade for nine years. Survivors: husband, James J. Finch; a son; a daughter; a brother and three grandchildren.

Jerry T. McDonald BSA’66 MED’68, Charleston, June 15, 2017. He was a retired agriculture teacher and a full-time cattle rancher and poultry farmer. Survivors: wife, Judy Campbell McDonald; two sons; a sister; a brother and five grandchildren.

Eunice Ann Feaster BS’61, Siloam Springs, June 12, 2017.

She worked as a substitute teacher and library aide in the Siloam Springs School System.

Survivors: a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.

Jack W. Vaughn ✪ BSME’66, Fort Smith, June 4, 2017.

He was employed as chief engineer at Cloyes Gear Co. before going on to become vice president and general manager before retiring.

Survivors: three brothers.

Stanley E. Lea MFA’62, Tyler, Texas, June 7, 2017. He was a professor of art at Sam Houston State University for 33 years and a well-known and respected, award-winning artist. Survivors: wife, Ruth; a daughter; a son and four granddaughters.

Harold Bemis BA’67 LLB’68, Fayetteville, May 10, 2017.

He was an attorney and later traveled the globe in search of burgeoning entrepreneurial endeavors.

Survivors: a daughter, a son, two brothers, two sisters, and six grandchildren.

Edward W. Gass BSEE’64, Phoenix, Arizona, June 26, 2017. He served in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant during the Vietnam War. He worked for numerous corporations including Halliburton, British Petroleum and Motorola.

Louis E. Boone ✪ PHD’69, Mobile, Alabama, Jan. 7, 2005. He was an author and professor emeritus of the University of South Alabama.

Survivors: his wife, Patsy Gayle Boone; his father; two sons; two brothers and three

grandchildren.

Albert R. Hanna JD’69, El Dorado, July 22, 2017. He was an attorney and the former deputy prosecuting attorney for Union County. Survivors: a daughter, a son, one sister and two grandchildren.

Michael B. Wright MBA’69, Little Rock, June 23, 2017.

He was employed for almost 34 years by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, retiring as assistant director in 1998.

Survivors: wife, Louise W. Wright; a step-daughter; a step-son; a brother and five step-grandchildren.

1970

Michael E. Archibald BA’77, Little Rock, July 4, 2017. He worked at Arkansas DHS for 38 years. Survivors: his mother.

Doug Barwegen FS’77, Flower Mound, Texas, April 15, 2017. He managed his own business, Millennium Pest Control, for 17 years.

Survivors: two children, a brother and a sister.

1980

Gillis B. Ward MED’81, Little Rock, July 6, 2017. She devoted her life’s work to the education of deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Survivors: a daughter, two sisters, and two brothers.

Mike Brewer MBA’82, Ward, June 16, 2017. He was an employee of Arkansas Industrial Development Commission in Little Rock, Small Business Development Center in Pine Bluff and Arkansas Teacher Retirement System in Little Rock.

Survivors: a son, a daughter, his mother, one brother and one grandson.

Marian Glover Lacey EDS’85, Little Rock, June 5, 2017. She had a 45plus year career as an educator. Survivors: husband, Jesse J. Lacey, a daughter, four adopted daughters, two sons, a brother, four sisters,

two adopted sisters and two grandchildren.

President Teena Gunter ✪ ’92, ’97, Oklahoma City, OK Past President Don Eldred ✪+ ’81, Houston, TX Treasurer Kenneth Biesterveld ✪ ’05, ’10, Centerton, AR Assistant Treasurer Don Walker ’74, Fayetteville, AR Secretary Deborah Blume ✪+ ’08, Fayetteville, AR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Class of 2019 John Forrest Ales ✪ ’02, San Francisco, CA Linda Bedford-Jackson ★ ’80, Austin, TX Susan Kemp ✪ ’73, ’75, Little Rock, AR Robert Kolf ✪+ ’78, Wildwood, MO Greg Lee ✪+ ’70, Fayetteville, AR Paul Parette ✪+ ’89, Dallas, TX Ron Rainey ✪ ’91, ’93, Little Rock Lott Rolfe IV ★ ’94, Maumelle, AR Roger Sublett ✪ ’64, ’65, Mason, OH Amy Tu ★ ’96, Fayetteville, AR Brian Wolff ✪ ’89, Washington, DC Class of 2020 John Berrey ✪ ’91, Sperry, OK Tori Bogner ★ ’13, ’16, Fayetteville, AR LaTonya Foster ★ ’96, Springdale, AR Cecilia Grossberger-Medina ★ ’08, Fayetteville, AR Steven Hinds ✪ ’89, ’92, Fayetteville, AR Regina Hopper ★ ’81, ’85, Alexandria, VA Jordan Patterson Johnson ✪ ’00, Little Rock, AR Don Walker ✪ ’74, Fayetteville, AR Victor Wilson ✪ ’85, Arlington, TX Class of 2021 Kristen Allbritton ’04, McKinney, TX Ashley Harris ’95, Fayetteville, AR Kristin Kaufman ’83, Dallas, TX Chris Johnson ’93, North Little Rock, AR Bobby Jones ’84, Savannah, GA Connie Lewis Lensing ’74, JD’77, Memphis, TN Drake McGruder ’06, ’12, Fort Smith, AR Dustin McDaniel ’94, Little Rock, AR Courtney Backus Norton ’07, Fayetteville, AR STAFF Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Executive Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association Brandy Cox ✪ MA’07 Director of Membership and Marketing Terri Dover ✪+ Director of Constituent Engagement Angela Mosley Monts ✪ BA’80 Director of Outreach and Programs Thomas Ellis ★ BA’96, MBA’98 Director of Finance Hal Prescott ✪ Lisa Ault ★ BSBA’94, Accounting Specialist; Catherine Baltz ✪+ BS’92, MED’07, Assistant Director of Communications; Tim Barker ★, Fiscal Support Analyst; Debbie Blume ✪+ BSBA’08, Board and Campaign Coordinator; Carol Cooper ★, Chapters and Student Programs Assistant; Deb Euculano ✪, Senior Associate Director of Alumni Special Events; Florence Galbraith ★, Fiscal Support Analyst; Mercedes Gazaway ★, Assistant Director of Student Programs; Brock Haegele ★ BA’17, Chapters and Student Programs Assistant; Katie Harrison ★ BA’12, Marketing Specialist; Mary Kate Harrison ★ BA’15, MA’17, Special Projects Coordinator; Ryan Jones, Membership and Marketing Assistant; Lisy McKinnon ★ BA’97, Associate Director of Chapter Programs; Rachel Moore ★ BSHES ’07, Assistant Director of Membership & Marketing; Emily Piper ★, Administrative Specialist; Patti Sanders ✪+ BSA’08, Associate Director of Alumni Scholarships; Julie Simpson ★, Associate Director of Facilities and Special Events; Elizabeth Lee Shoultz ★ B.A. ’16, MPA ’18, Manager of Affinity Programs and Analysis

1990

Robert Kennedy BSBA’95, Fayetteville, June 17, 2017.

Survivors: his mother and two sisters.

Melody B. Ernst ★ BSE’96, Maumelle, June 17, 2017.

She was an elementary school teacher. Survivors: husband, Brent Ernst ★ BSBA’85; her mother; her stepfather; her father, her stepmother; a daughter, three sisters, and a brother.

William Garland Hyde BSE’97 MAT’98 EDS’01, Springdale, June 4, 2017.

He established Bella Vista’s paramedic program as its first paramedic/firefighter, founded a very prosperous family business and eventually went on to become an English professor at numerous institutions. Survivors: three sons, a brother, two sisters and two grandchildren.

2000

Ana Lorena Torrez BA’05, Bolivia, July 13. She was employed by EuroChronos jewelry.

Ginny Lewis ★ PHD’09, Lincoln, June 28, 2017.

She was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Arkansas and conducted research in the pursuit of curing cancer. Survivors: husband, Tommy Lewis Jr. ★ BSB8’78, a daughter, four siblings and a grandson.

1950 Razorback

OFFICERS

Gregory Scott Murtha BSBA’88, Brentwood, Tennessee, June 22, 2017. He served as the chief relationship officer at iDonate, a provider of digital fundraising solutions.

Survivors: wife, Tracey Caperton Murtha; his father; his stepmother; a son; a sister and a brother.

John W. Troutt Jr. John W. Troutt Jr., B.A.’50, grew up in the family newspaper business at Jonesboro, delivering newspapers at the age of 10 and writing sports stories and obituaries by eighth grade. He worked in journalism the rest of his life.

He died June 14, 2018, at age 88.

Troutt came to the University of Arkansas in 1947 and, near the end of his junior year, he became the first student editor of The Arkansas Traveler to be elected by a publications board rather than by popular student vote.

He graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree and returned to work on the family paper for a short period.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and returned to The Jonesboro Sun again, working his way up through the roles of reporter, editor and eventually publisher. The Sun was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize three times while Troutt was editor and publisher and was runnerup for its coverage of the Westside school shooting in 1998.

He was a recipient of the Ernie Deane Award and was inducted by the School of Journalism and Strategic Media into the Lemke Hall of Honor. The Arkansas Press Association honored him with its Freedom of Information Award and its Distinguished Service Award.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Greta Troutt; a son; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, John Edward Troutt.

FALL 2018 / ARKANSAS / 63

Last Look

Photo by Whit Pruitt.

Two Pigs in a Pod A Rambling Tour Across Arkansas The Razorbug tagged along for the ride when Chancellor Joe Steinmetz and faculty from the University of Arkansas headed out on their third tour of Arkansas. They all zipped down the Arkansas River Valley, stopping by Clarksville, and then meandering down to Hot Springs. The bus turned southeast for visits with students, alumni and supporters in Monticello, McGehee, Pine Bluff, Little Rock and Dumas, where this photo was taken when the Razorbug paused briefly at the local Piggly Wiggly.

64 / ARKANSAS / FALL 2018

Travel the World in 2019

with Razorbacks on Tour

Members, alumni, friends and family – anyone can travel with R azorbacks on Tour.

Great Journey Through Europe June 6-16, 2019 This extraordinary 11-day “Grand Tour” of Europe features an incredible combination of river, rail, lake and mountain travel including five nights aboard the deluxe AMADEUS SILVER II. Journey through the western heart of the Continent through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, cruising the most scenic sections of the fabled Rhine River. Specially arranged guided excursions feature five great UNESCO World Heritage sites—explore Amsterdam’s storybook canals; visit Cologne’s magnificent Gothic cathedral, cruise through the heart of the Rhine River Valley, tour the lovely Alsatian city of Strasbourg and walk through Berne’s Old Town. Also visit Germany’s medieval Rüdesheim and 13th-century Heidelberg Castle. Spend two nights each in Zermatt and Lucerne,

Switzerland; ride aboard three legendary railways—the Gornergrat Bahn for breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Andermatt and the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway— and enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne. This is the trip of a lifetime at an exceptional value!

Complement your journey with the two-night Amsterdam Pre-Program Option Prices begin at $4,695.

NOTE: Prices are per person based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Airfare is not included. PRICES AND ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

MEET YOUR HOST Debbie Blume B.A. '08 Life Member Debbie Blume is the Alumni Board and Campaign Coordinator at the Arkansas Alumni Association. She is a 34-year veteran of the University of Arkansas, twenty of which she has served at the Arkansas Alumni Association. Prior to working at the U of A, Debbie worked as a travel consultant for thirteen years.

Debbie and her husband, Bob (BA’75), invite you to join them on The Great Journey through Europe as they explore spectacular scenic destinations! They look forward to sharing this memorable travel experience with our University of Arkansas Family.

For details on the 2019 r azorbacks on tour trips

Visit: arkansasalumni.org/tours or Contact: Lee Shoultz at travel@arkansasalumni.org or 800-775-3465.

Show Your Pride®

Arkansas Alumni Association Cash Rewards credit card from Bank of America.

1% 2% 3%

cash back on all purchases cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs cash back on gas

$150

cash back bonus after qualifying purchase(s).*

Earn 2% and 3% cash back on up to $2,500 in combined purchases in those categories each quarter.♦

To apply for a credit card, please call 800.932.2775 and mention Priority Code YAAAQB For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this Rewards card, or to apply, call the phone number listed above or write to P.O. Box 15020, Wilmington, DE 19850. ♦

The 2% cash back on grocery store and wholesale club purchases and 3% cash back on gas purchases apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter. After that the base 1% earn rate applies to those purchases.

*

You will qualify for $150 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of Purchase transactions totaling at least $500 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit one (1) bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to new customers opening an account in response to this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8-12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance.

By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to Arkansas Alumni Association.

This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Show your pride, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. ©2018 Bank of America Corporation