At Our Best

Association applauds alumni, friends

Wigs go big for Komen

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Big Wigs Jennifer Marie Miller (from left), Kerry Bailey, Tracy Mitchell, Biggest Wig Marybeth Hays, Chris Lamson and Nick Nabholz help support Komen Ozark at the Pink Ribbon Luncheon on Oct. 27 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Big Wigs Jennifer Marie Miller (from left), Kerry Bailey, Tracy Mitchell, Biggest Wig Marybeth Hays, Chris Lamson and Nick Nabholz help support Komen Ozark at the Pink Ribbon Luncheon on Oct. 27 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.

The annual Pink Ribbon Luncheon on Oct. 27 drew Susan G. Komen Ozark pink-clad supporters to the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale and brought in more than $100,000.

Proceeds from the luncheon, Race for the Cure and other Komen Ozark fundraisers stay in Northwest Arkansas and help support local breast cancer charities. Komen Ozark awarded $731,630 to nine such groups for the 2017-18 grant year.

At a Glance

Pink Ribbon Luncheon

Who: Susan G. Komen Ozark

What: The benefit luncheon featured Big Wigs and a fashion show.

When: Oct. 27

Where: Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale

Next: 20th annual Komen Ozark Race for the Cure, April 28

Information: (479) 750-7465 or komenozark.org

Friends Reception

Who: Walton Arts Center

What: The annual gathering is a thank-you to patrons for their support of the nonprofit organization.

When: Nov. 2

Where: The arts center in Fayetteville

Next: Old Crow Medicine Show Performing Blonde on Blonde, Thursday Nov. 16

Information: (479) 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org

Arkansas Alumni Awards

Who: University of Arkansas Alumni Association

What: The association held its 73rd annual Alumni Awards Celebration to laud outstanding alumni, friends of the university and faculty members.

When: Nov. 3

Where: Fayetteville Town Center

Next: Hog Wild Tailgates, Nov. 18, 24

Information: (479) 575-2801 or arkansasalumni.org

A dozen area "Big Wigs" have donned outrageous pink wigs in the past several weeks to compete against each other to raise more than $90,000 for Komen Ozark. Of the 12, Marybeth Hays raised the most, earning her the title Top Big Wig. Others vying for the title were Kerry Bailey, Jim Cartwright, Kathleen Elizabeth Dalton, Chris Lamson, Jennifer Marie Miller, Tracy Mithchell, Nick Nabholz, Lauren Stokes, Shauna Taylor, Julian Terry and Zach Wright.

The ladies' luncheon featured a fall fashion show highlighting breast cancer survivors as the models. Models were Nicole Bagley, Manda Hamilton, Desi Keel, Jennifer Lee, Cindy Paladino, Mary Purvis, Sandra Sims, Jennifer Steiner, Kim West and Valerie Wright.

Walton Arts Center officials played host to the Friends Reception on Nov. 2 at the center in Fayetteville. The annual gathering is a thank-you to patrons for their support of the nonprofit organization.

The evening included a chance to hear insights from Nancy Gabriel and Randy Skinner, producer and director, respectively, of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, which opened Tuesday.

Friends gathering at the center included Keith Ekenseair, Marti and Kelly Sudduth, Brenda and Bob Gullett, Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood, Brenda and Hugh Kincaid, Susan and Mike Daniels, LeAnn and Bill Underwood, CeCe Box and Ric Cooper, David Gay and Gary Thornton, Deborah Thomas and David Malone, Karolyn and Don Farrell, Shannon and Randy Dixon, Barbara and Doug Prichard and Mary and Hoyt Purvis.

The Arkansas Alumni Association held its 73rd annual Alumni Awards Celebration on Nov. 3 to laud outstanding alumni, friends of the university and faculty members.

Joe Steinmetz, University of Arkansas chancellor; Jim Coleman, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Don Eldred, president of the Arkansas Alumni Association board of directors; and Brandy Cox, association executive director and associate vice chancellor, presented the awards at the event held at the Fayetteville Town Center.

Those being applauded by the alumni association were John A. White, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Tiffany Murphy, Kate Shoulders, John L Colbert, Jawanda Mast, Theresa Fette, Denise and Hershey Garner, Sharon E. Bernard, Gen. (Ret.) Terrence R. Dake, U.S. Marine Corps and Mark Waldrip.

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

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

NAN Profiles on 11/12/2017

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