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AV抖阴 Honors Alumni Award Winners
Written By: Dr. Judith Hansen
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith Alumni Advisory Council honored five Lions at the Alumni Brunch today as part of 2024 homecoming events.
Young Alumni Awards
Dr. Daniel Fudge, 鈥�12, and Jaime Vargas, 鈥�18 and 鈥�23, received the Young Alumni Award. Each year, the Alumni Council awards two grads under 40 who are strong leaders in their careers and have distinguished themselves through service to the university, community, state, or nation.
Fudge 鈥渞epresents the best example of the opportunities and educational foundation the AV抖阴 provides its graduates,鈥� according to his nomination. After graduation from AV抖阴, Fudge completed a master鈥檚 degree and Ph.D. in political science at the University of Mississippi.
鈥淒aniel鈥檚 passions lie in civic education, voter engagement, and personal development,鈥� his nominator said, noting that he has served as a political strategist and advisor for political campaigns in Arkansas and Missouri. He serves on the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation Board and is a member of the 2023-2024 class of Leadership Arkansas.
He is an assistant professor of political science at the University of the Ozarks at Clarksville, where he is an advisor to the Political Eagles Club and a member of the Student Enrichment Fund and Academic Affairs committees. He is a deputy faculty representative to the University of the Ozarks Board of Trustees and a faculty mentor to the U of O baseball team.
Jaime Vargas, 鈥�18 and 鈥�23, a first-generation college graduate, completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology at AV抖阴 and served six years as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army. In the fall of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vargas returned to AV抖阴 for a master鈥檚 degree in healthcare administration. He is working on a Doctor of Science in Healthcare Administration at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater.
He oversees three pediatric clinics and 20 providers in Northwest Arkansas, focusing on providing access to care to NWA children. According to his nominator, Vargas helps in the day-to-day operations, assisting in translations when needed and providing a positive work environment for all his employees.
鈥淛aime is part of the compassionate team of NWA Pediatrics, and (he) continues to want to make a difference in healthcare in NWA and surrounding communities,鈥� the nominator said, citing Vargas鈥� determination, family support, and education at AV抖阴 as the keys to his success.
Spirit of Numa Award
The Alumni Advisory Council bestowed the Spirit of Numa Award on Sara Putman. This award recognizes non-alumni friends and supporters who champion the mission of AV抖阴 through volunteer or philanthropic service.
鈥淪ara Putman is a constant and passionate supporter of AV抖阴 and embodies the spirit and values of the River Valley, the university, and the Fort Smith community,鈥� said her nominator. 鈥淎s a female small business owner and community leader, Sara champions education and connection in her actions and in her words. As the owner and operator of Bookish at the Bakery District, she is a friendly and warm neighbor to the AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development. For some time, her shop connected as a pathway from the facility's main entrance to the lobby of the AV抖阴 CED, and without fail, Sara and her staff were a welcoming and bright spot for all who entered.鈥�
Combining her love of literature, storytelling, and AV抖阴, Putman supported the 2023 author event when AV抖阴 hosted Colson Whitehead. Putman also is an adjunct professor, teaching Composition I in the English department.
鈥淪he has fully embraced the success of our institution and its students, which is evident in her engagement with university staff, students, and community members,鈥� her nomination said.
Stacey Jones Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award
This award, named for Jones, a long-serving university alumnus and staff member, is presented to a current or former AV抖阴 faculty or staff who consistently goes beyond expectations to set their students up for success, as learners, young professionals, and people.
Dr. Nicki Stancil, associate professor of English, Rhetoric and Writing, and Media Communication, 鈥渁lways goes above and beyond for her students,鈥� her nominator. 鈥淪he is one of the most innovative professors I have ever seen, and she cares so much for her students.鈥�
The nomination also cited Stancil鈥檚 willingness to spend time making sure her students understand her. She is an inspiration who 鈥渕akes efforts to stay in contact after graduation to see how we are doing,鈥� according to her nominations.
Distinguished Alumni Award
In 1928, the first graduating class of Fort Smith Junior College selected the phrase 鈥渢hrough diligence to victory鈥� as an expression of their experience and aspiration. Subsequent classes also found victory through diligent work and service. The Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor presented by the Alumni Advisory Council, recognizes alumni who have turned this motto into a personal creed and distinguished themselves through outstanding leadership in their professional lives or through service to the university, community, state, or nation.
The 2024 Distinguished Alumni recognition for 2024 is awarded to Stephanie London, Assistant Dean of Students at AV抖阴.
A nominator, who says she has known London, 鈥�08, as a fellow student, colleague, and friend, said, 鈥淪tephanie has dedicated her life to being a Lion.鈥� The nomination cites London鈥檚 role in developing AV抖阴 Camp, updating the student handbook, and shaping new student orientation.
鈥淪he has been on 鈥� campus more than 5,000 days, racked up more than 39,000 hours, and impacted THOUSANDS of students,鈥� London鈥檚 nomination said. 鈥淪he helped Lions who entered those doors through the creation of AV抖阴 Camp when she was a student, and now she helps them walk across the stage at the Stubblefield Center as a professional staff member.鈥�
During London鈥檚 time in her current position, there has been a dramatic increase in students living on campus. She 鈥渋s an intentional and meaningful leader,鈥� the nomination said. 鈥淪he is certainly the example of 鈥榯hrough diligence to victory.鈥� Stephanie has DEFINITELY shown outstanding, consistent, and persistent leadership in her professional life ... to benefit others, our fellow Lions.鈥�