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AV News
![Four students stand with family members on the AV campus.](/news/_images/bell-tower/2022-belltower-legacy-scholarship-students-receive-awards.jpg)
Legacy Scholarship Students Receive Awards
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship Endowment was established in 2015 to encourage the children or other immediate family members of alumni of the AV to attend the university.
October 20, 2022![The words](/news/_images/class-note.jpg)
Class Notes, Fall 2022
Class Notes from AV alumni from fall 2022.
October 03, 2022![Haunted Hustle event graphic](/news/_images/5k_2022_facebook_event_cover__6_.png)
Haunted Hustle Brings a Holiday Theme to Annual 5K
The AV Alumni Office will host its annual 5k this year with a new theme: Haunted Hustle! The race will be held October 29 on campus, but Alumni across the globe are invited to participate virtually.
October 01, 2022![Charolette Tidwell poses with members of AV student organizations Men of Excellence and IDEAL Women during a campus kickball tournament held this spring in partnership with Antioch for Youth & Family.](/news/_images/kickball-jb.jpg)
Antioch Partnership Welcomes Students with Full 'Fridges.
The college students who will live in AV’s Sebastian Commons apartments will have some help keeping the fridge full this year.
August 15, 2022![students hold signs encrouaging students](/admissions/_images/ManeEvent.jpg)
London Leads at AV
This fall, students at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith will work with a slate of rock-star student affairs professionals thanks to a series of strategic hires and promotions in the Student Life Office, beginning with Stephanie London, who...
August 09, 2022![Bill Crowder](/news/_images/bcrowder.jpg)
Famed Baseball Coach Bill Crowder Honored
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Athletics mourned the loss of Hall of Fame baseball coach Bill Crowder, who passed away earlier this week, sharing stories of his 1,000 win career, his dedication to his players, and his legacy as a man with...
July 26, 2022![tombonists play on the campus green](/news/_images/bordertownbones.jpg)
AV Bordertown Bones to Perform at Trombone Festival
The Bordertown Bones will perform Friday at the International Trombone Festival in Conway.
July 12, 2022![Karolyn Manas '20 showcases AV Numa Lion.](/news/_images/karolyn-manas-numa.jpeg)
Manas Perseveres Through Pandemic, Connects With Her Heritage
During the first wave of pandemic-induced school shutdowns in the spring of 2020, Karolyn Manas, a senior graphic design major at the AV, grappled with the fear of the unknown – what would this mean for her graduation...
July 06, 2022![Blakelynn Roberson graduation at AV in May of 2022](/news/_images/blakelynn_roberson.jpg)
Roberson '22 Landed Dream Job Following Graduation
When Blakelynn Roberson was a child, she admired her mother in uniform before heading to work as a corrections officer at a prison in Phoenix, Arizona. When Roberson was old enough, the stories her mother told her inspired her to follow in her mother’s...
June 21, 2022![A man pours shrimp, sausage and potatoes into a long table for serving](/news/_images/83_292_4893567_2378977396_6.jpg)
Popular Shrimp Boil Returns to AV
The Roarin’ on the River Low Country Shrimp Boil is roaring back to the AV this month with its first in-person appearance since 2019.
June 14, 2022![The words](/news/_images/class-note.jpg)
Class Notes, Spring 2022
Class Notes from AV alumni from the spring of 2022.
May 27, 2022![Keri Rathbun is awarded the Secondary School Principal of the Year Award](/news/_images/rachbunaward22.jpg)
Alumna Earns Principal of the Year Award
When you talk to Dr. Keri Rathbun, the words you hear most are “people” and “family.” “Pride” and “belonging” come closely after. Rathbun, Westark Community College class of 1992, is in her fifth year as principal of Northside...
May 13, 2022![Day of Giving photoshoot](/news/_images/dayofgiving.jpg)
Day of Giving 2022 Sees Record-High Donors, More Than $46,000 Raised
In 2022, the AV Day of Giving had more ambassadors; more givers, many of them first-time givers; and more crowd-funded gifts than ever before. These numbers tell us that many of our supporters are comfortable giving from their mobile devices and...
May 09, 2022![Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Fast 15 Award](/news/_images/jasmineaward.jpg)
Rising Star Makes Fast 15
If Jasmine Smith was surprised to be named to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 2022 Fast 15, her boss wasn’t. “We are proud to see Jasmine on this list,” said Blake Rickman, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and Executive...
May 09, 2022![six faces in squares](/news/_images/2022alumniawards.jpg)
2022 Alumni Award Winners Roar
As the AV celebrated Homecoming 2022 The Wild Roarin’ West last week, the Alumni Office recognized alumni and special non-alum with awards.
February 19, 2022![Caroline Speir](/news/_images/bell-tower/2022-bt-caroline-speirBell.jpg)
Alumna Makes History
Even when she was little, Caroline Speir was that girl, the one who wanted to stop to see every historical site, read every historical plaque, and understand every historical event.
February 14, 2022![Cheerleaders spell out Will You Marry Me](/news/_images/carol_ann_3.jpg)
Lions Find Love at AV
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the AV gathered together generations of our Lion Love Stories. Dedicated to the students who met in our Westark Community College days and the university as it is known today.
February 14, 2022![Three university staff members sit on a campus bench surrounded by trees during the fall.](/news/_images/bell-tower/2022-bt-alumni.jpg)
Smith Heads Alumni Engagement
When Alumni Director Rick Goins retired at the end of June 2021, he knew he was leaving the office in capable hands: Alumni Assistant Director Jasmine Smith stepped seamlessly into his role. Smith also serves as director of annual giving.
February 14, 2022![AV graduate in cap and gown smiling](/news/_images/bell-tower/2022-bt-haylie-sigmon.jpg)
Choosing Life and Happiness
Haylie Sigmon’s life could have easily gone in a different direction. As a child, she was shuttled from home to home, too often finding herself in abusive situations. A perceptive child, she realized early that she would never find stability beyond...
February 14, 2022![students toss colored powder at night on the AV campus](/news/_images/bell-tower/2022-bt-day-of-giving.jpg)
Day of Giving
April 28 is a special day for AV. Not only is it our mascot Numa’s birthday, but it’s also when we celebrate our annual Day of Giving.
February 14, 2022Popular Topics
Media Relations
The AV Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.
Send an EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu