FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — “Diversity” is more than a word in the University of Arkansas Division of Student Affairs.

It’s a Friday Night Live “Latin Soul” entertainment program focusing on Hispanic culture.

It’s a Multicultural Center administrator who lives his job 24/7.

It’s a handbook of words and phrases associated with stress, adjustment and mental health issues, translated into seven languages, to help faculty and staff who work with international students.

It’s a department with so many members involved in diversity efforts that they formed a team so they can have greater impact on the community.

It’s an international student “Culture Team” that presents programs on and off campus to educate people about the diverse cultures they will encounter in Northwest Arkansas.

It’s a program to give low-income eighth graders from the Kansas City area a taste of the  academic experience at the University of Arkansas.

It’s a staff member who helped create “Safe Zones,” where gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students and staff know they can safely discuss problems and concerns in a nonjudgmental atmosphere.

These are a few examples of the work done by the 26 nominees for the Division of Student Affairs’ first Diversity Recognition Awards.  The partial list gives a good indication of how difficult it was to select only three winners.

“Several of the judges commented on the quality of the people and programs that were nominated this year and the variety of things being done to promote diversity,” said Michael Freeman, a member of the Student Affairs Diversity Committee that created the awards. “The judges had a hard time choosing.”   

The awards were created to draw attention to work being done within the Division of Student Affairs that is making a difference in the university community.

“We wanted to show that people here are doing more than talk about diversity,” said Sylvia Scott, a member of the Diversity Committee. “There are people who are doing things every day to make the university a more inclusive community, to make diversity a reality. We hope that recognizing what they are doing, and talking about the things they are doing, will inspire more people to get involved.”

The winners of the Diversity Recognition Awards were announced Wednesday, Dec. 13, during the annual Student Affairs holiday party.

Vice Chancellor Johnetta Cross Brazzell (left) and Dean Daniel Pugh (right) present the New Inititative Award to Cynthia Smith, program coordinator for International Students and Scholars. Vice Chancellor Johnetta Cross Brazzell (left) and Dean Daniel Pugh (right) present the Departmental Award to Felisha Perrodin of University Housing. Andy Mauk, associate director of the Multicultural Center

The International Cultural Team won the New Initiative Award. The team, developed by the department of international students and scholars, had more than 100 members, representing 41 countries, and has put on programs for campus, local public schools and local civic groups, reaching nearly 8,000 people. In the past year members started working with the Human Resources diversity certificate program by making six presentations dealing with aspects of different cultures.

The winner of the Individual Award was Andy Mauk, associate director of the multicultural center. He was recognized for his work with staff and students to promote greater cultural understanding, and a spirit of inclusiveness on campus.

The Departmental Award went to University Housing. The department has so many members who have completed the Diversity Certificate program, and so many more working to get their certificate, that they got together and formed the REACH team so they could take on larger group projects. While many members have engaged in individual diversity projects, the group has chosen to focus on working with the elderly population at Fayetteville’s City Hospital. The REACH team members have helped with landscaping at the hospital, as well as visiting with the patients.

The Departmental Award is a mosaic plaque, created by Mountain Home artist R. Scott.  The plaque shows a branch of sassafras, a tree that has become a symbol of diversity because it has three different types of leaves. The New Initiative Award is a smaller plaque, based on Scott’s design. The Individual Award winner received a gift certificate for dinner for two at a local restaurant.

Each award nominee received a certificate of recognition.  The three winners were also given framed certificates.