Alumni and Faculty to Be Honored at the 78th Alumni Awards Celebration

Neil Ingels, Jr., Amy Tu and Brian Wolff

Kenneth Robert Allen, Elizabeth Bogy Allen and Earnest E. Brown, Jr.

Raya Clay, Ricardo Ekmay, Jennie Popp

Carole Shook, Varun Grover, Alex Nunn

Marcia Imbeau

Photo Submitted

The Arkansas Alumni Association will host its 78th Alumni Awards Celebration at 6 p.m., Friday, October 20, at the Fayetteville Town Center. 

The ceremony recognizes those individuals who continue to bring national and regional prominence to the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Alumni Association through their research, exemplary public and community service, and valued leadership.

This year’s celebration will honor the accomplishments of 13 alumni, faculty and friends and includes recipients in seven award categories.

CITATION OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

The Citation of Distinguished Alumni recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievement and extraordinary distinction in a chosen field. The awardees are:

• Neil B. Ingels Jr. B.S.E.E.’59, retired chairman of the Cardiovascular Physiology & Biophysics Department at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute.
• Amy Tu J.D.’96, president, international and chief administrative officer at Tyson Foods Inc.
• Brian Wolff B.A.’89, chief strategy officer and executive vice president of the Edison Electric Institute.

ANDREW J. LUCAS ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

The Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award acknowledges significant contributions of time and energy on behalf of the university and the association. The honorees are:

• Kenneth Robert Allen B.A.’80, retired as chief financial officer of Texas Industries Inc.
• Elizabeth Bogy Allen B.A.’80, retired paralegal.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

The Community Service Award recognizes unselfish and extensive service by alumni to their community and to humankind. The awardee is The Honorable Earnest E. Brown Jr. B.S.P.A.’91, J.D.’94, circuit court judge for the state of Arkansas.

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

The Young Alumni Award recognizes exceptional achievements in career, public service and/or volunteer activities that bring honor to the U of A. The honorees are:

• Raya Clay F.S.’15, digital talent and storytelling for Fox Sports, is a former U of A student.
• Ricardo Ekmay M.S.’08, Ph.D.’11, senior vice president of research and development at Arbiom Inc.

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD

The Honorary Alumni Award is presented to non-alumni who have served, promoted, developed and loved the U of A in the tradition of an Arkansas graduate. This year the association pays tribute to Jennie Popp, associate dean of the Honors College and professor of agricultural economics and agricultural business.

DISTINGUISHED FACULTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award recognizes exceptional faculty members for teaching, research and service. 

Carole Shook B.S.B.A.’89, M.B.A.’94, and Ed.D.’19, associate teaching professor in the Department of Information Systems, is being recognized for distinguished professional achievement in service. 

Varun Grover, Distinguished Professor and George & Boyce Billingsley Endowed Chair the Department of Information Systems, is being honored for distinguished achievement in research. 

G. Alexander Nunn B.S.B.A.’13, associate professor of law in the University of Arkansas School of Law, is the recipient of the Faculty Distinguished Rising Teaching Achievement Award.

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 professor, University Professor or Distinguished Professor. The awardee is Marcia Imbeau, professor of gifted education and program coordinator of childhood/elementary education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

MORE ABOUT THE CELEBRATION

The 2023 Alumni Awards Celebration will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards program at 7 p.m. 

Registration is open through Oct. 6. Go to the Arkansas Alumni website for more information. Tables and sponsorships are available. 

For more information on tickets and sponsorships, contact Deb Euculano at alumniawards@arkansasalumni.org or call 479-575-2292. 

About the Arkansas Alumni Association: The Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to connect alumni, friends and students to the University of Arkansas. The association’s mission is to connect and serve the University of Arkansas family.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.