Group Honors Outstanding Graduates

FACULTY ALSO RECOGNIZED AT ANNUAL ALUMNI EVENT

By Carin Schoppmeyer

Posted: November 8, 2009 at 4:17 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — University of Arkansas alumni and friends from all over the country, including Gov. Mike Beebe, returned to campus for homecoming festivities that preceded the Oct. 31 football game.

The 65th annual Alumni Awards Celebration lauded outstanding alumni, faculty and honorary alumni and drew nearly 200 to the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House on Oct. 30.

Those recognized wove threads of humility and gratitude throughout the evening.

Larry Bittle of Fayetteville, Community Service Award recipient, said it was the most humbling award he had ever received.

Bittle learned the importance of community service from his parents, who are now in their 80s and continue to perform community service. He has handed thatlegacy to his children, who are also active volunteers.

Bittle’s community contributions include starting the Holiday Hoops Basketball Tournament, chairing a $2.3-million capital campaign for his church and serving on the board at Northwest Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute. He also served the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce as board president and is chairmanelect for 2010.

Lewis Epley Jr. of Fayetteville, Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award recipient, encouraged everyone to remember who helpedthem get where they are.

Epley has served the university in a variety of leadership positions including UA Board of Trustees member and chairman, chairmanof the Executive Committee of the University of Arkansas Foundation, the UA Board of Advisorsand the Arkansas Alumni Association Board.

Epley’s service also includes a long-time dedication to the UA Razorback Band, whose building bears his name and where he was a founding board member of the Razorback Band Alumni Society.

Beebe credited his law degree obtained from the university for providing him the foundation for his ability to serve the state as attorney general, senator and now governor.

Other honorees were:

Young Alumni Awards - Elizabeth Barnes and Brandon Keener, Los Angeles

Honorary Alumni Award - Donald O. Pederson

Distinguished FacultyAchievement Award for Research - Laurent Bellaiche, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching - Amy Farmer, Sam M. Walton College of Business

Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching - Dub Ashton Citations for Distinguished Alumni - Gov. Mike Huckabee, Cordia Harrinton and Art Meripol.

The dinner menu included an orchard salad with candied walnuts and bleu cheese crumbles, New York strip, lobster ravioli, asparagus and squash julienne and finished with a choice of key lime torta or peanut butter fudge.

Entertainment, Pages 13 on 11/08/2009

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