Student-athletes lauded

The Razorback Foundation Salute to Excellence Red Tie Dinner and Auction and fifth annual Tapas and Tinis to benefit St. Vincent de Paul School comprised a fundraiser double-header on Feb. 21 in Rogers.

The Red Tie Dinner at the John Q. Hammons Center drew a record crowd of some 720 Razorback faithful to help raise more than $150,000 as the Razorback Foundation recognized stellar student-athletes.

The annual event lauds Razorback student-athletes for their contributions in the classroom, community and their sports.

The 2015 honorees were selected from the university's 460 student-athletes for many achievements -- I've only included a few of those:

Scholar-Athlete Awards:

• Devon Wallace, softball -- Majored in nursing, graduated in fall 2014 with a 3.863 grade point average, named to 2014 SEC spring academic honor roll, 2014 NFCA All-South Region team, 2014 All-SEC second team, led team and SEC with 58 walks, 12th in SEC with 53 runs scored, led team and 15th in SEC with 12 home runs, SEC all-time leader with 190 career walks and tied for eight in the SEC, second ever Razorback with 40 career home runs

• Andrew Pisechko, track and field -- Majoring in accounting, 4.0 grade point average, 2014 U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) First Team All-America, received Elite 89 Award at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships for academics -- the first in UA history to receive the award that is presented to the student-athlete with the highest GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships

Razorback Athlete of the Year

• Jarrion Lawson, track and field -- Three-time 2014 USTFCCCA first team All-America, two-time 2014 All-SEC second team, national long jump champion at 2014 National Championships, fourth in all-time NCAA history and seventh in all-time U.S. history, championship jump just missed the meet record set by Carl Lewis in 1981

• Katherine Grable, gymnastics -- Two-time 2014 NCAA National Champion (vault, 9.975 and floor exercise, 9.962) -- the UA program's first NCAA National Champion, 2014 SEC Gymnast of the Year, set SEC Championship record with score of 39.55

Razorback Spirit Award

• Trey Flowers, football -- Leads all SEC players in career tackles and is second in UA history, third in active SEC players and seventh in UA history with 18 sacks, will participate in the 2015 Reese's Senior Bowl

• Flavia Dechandt Araujo, tennis -- Awarded the Lee Spencer Cup individual champion, Student Leader of the Month November 2013, nominated for Nike Sports Marketing Internship, 2014 SEC Academic Honor Roll, singles championship at the 2014 Oklahoma Sooner Invitational, holds career 18-16 doubles record.

Those rooting for Razorback student-athletes included Marilyn Bogle, Becky and Bob Alexander, Susan and UA System President Don Bobbitt, Jane and UA Chancellor Dave Gearhart, Angela and UA Trustee Mark Waldrip, Nana and Julian Steward, Bev and Harley Lewis and Monika and Cameron Smith.

Tapas and Tinis: A Night for the Knights benefit for St. Vincent de Paul School at the Embassy Suites saw some 450 guests who helped raise about $190,000.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward the purchase of a set of new Lenovo Series 11 Chromebook computers for grades 3 to 8 and to create a financial assistance scholarship program.

Among those out in support of the Knights were Elda and Eric Scott, Shannon and Jake Frederick, Gisel and Mike Ruiz, Celia Swanson, Luisa and Chris Lamson, Edie and Frank Squillace, Gwen and Terry Matthews and Peggy and Pete Louree.

For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].

NAN Profiles on 03/08/2015