Little Rock Public Radio Staffers Sweep Staff Achievement Awards
Three outstanding members of (LRPR) have been honored with the 2025 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Achievement Awards for their exceptional contributions in service to the university, community service, and personal growth.
Little Rock Public Radio, home to K糖心Vlog传媒R FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, is housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education and serves as a public service unit of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.
The Staff Senate Awards Committee praised this year鈥檚 winners for their outstanding impact on 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the broader community. Each winner will receive a $3,000 award distributed through payroll.
鈥淭hese award winners embody the best of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Staff Senate President-elect Don O鈥橠onnell. 鈥淭hrough their dedication, innovation, and leadership, Josie, Grace, and Sarah have each made a lasting difference in their fields and for the university as a whole. We are proud to recognize their achievements.”
Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award: Josie Lenora
Josie Lenora, the award-winning politics and government reporter at Little Rock Public Radio, received the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional service through committee work, event organization, innovative ideas, and support for others.
鈥淛osie is perhaps the most dedicated, hard-working person I have ever had the pleasure of working with,鈥� said Daniel Breen, news director. 鈥淎s her supervisor at Little Rock Public Radio, I am constantly in awe of her drive and willingness to help out wherever she is most needed. Josie routinely goes above and beyond to ensure we are providing as comprehensive coverage as possible of both local and national news.鈥�
Lenora is also committed to professional development and mentoring, often sharing resources with new hires and interns. She serves as a liaison between LRPR and NPR and sits on the board of the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2024, she was selected for the National Press Foundation鈥檚 Elections Journalism Fellowship.
“Josie鈥檚 unwavering dedication to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission, her passion for journalism, and her commitment to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment make her an outstanding candidate for this award,” said Breen.
In accepting the award, Lenora was overcome with positive emotion.
鈥淭o know that my amazing colleagues recommended me for this award brings tears to my eyes,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very morning, I try to ask myself how I can improve my work performance, how I can be a better reporter? This ambition is fuelled by the joy and kindness of the people on my team. I am so grateful to my wonderful bosses Daniel and Jonathan, along with my colleagues Nathan and Maggie. Congratulations also to Sarah and Grace for their unparalleled work ethic.鈥�
Lenora is also proud to receive an award named after the former general manager of LRPR.
鈥淚t puts a fire in my heart to know the award is named after Ben Fry,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 did not know him personally, but having listened to the station since I was a child, I know he was a well respected employee who cared deeply about the station.鈥�
Community Service Award: Grace Zafasi
Grace Zafasi, director of development at LRPR, received the Staff Achievement Award in Community Service. Zafasi oversees fundraising, underwriting, and membership services and is credited with significantly increasing financial support for the station.
鈥淲hen I hear the word excellence, I picture Grace,鈥� Lenora said. 鈥淪he is the Mary Poppins of fundraising, a polymath, a social chameleon, a problem solver. I have never seen someone with so much hustle and versatility. If she was a contestant on 鈥楽hark Tank,鈥� she would get all five offers. She鈥檚 just that good, hard working, and smart.鈥�
Zafasi shared that she is deeply honored to receive this award, but believes the honor truly belongs to LRPR鈥檚 listeners and supporters in central Arkansas.
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud to work here and to help grow a public radio service that is built by and for our community,鈥� Zafasi said. 鈥淚n a time where much is uncertain, our staff maintains unwavering confidence, and these awards showcase the hard work and dedication our team is committed to in serving our community. Thank you all for your support.鈥�
Zafasi has played a leading role in organizing key community events, including biannual fund drives, the station鈥檚 50th anniversary celebration, and Arkansas鈥檚 Tiny Desk Competition. She also serves on the Soup Sunday committee for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, helping raise funds to support child advocacy in Arkansas.
鈥淗er dedication and success have given Little Rock Public Radio the financial security and loyal connections it needs to continue serving the central Arkansas community valuable independent journalism and arts and culture for years to come,鈥� said Sarah Buford, operations coordinator. 鈥淲ithout the securing of local funding, which makes up approximately 85-90% of our funding, we wouldn鈥檛 have Little Rock Public Radio. And we know how valuable it is to keep Arkansans in-touch-on-the-ground, and aware of what鈥檚 happening in our state and nationally for free.鈥�
Personal Growth Award: Sarah Buford
Sarah Buford, operations coordinator at LRPR, was honored with the Staff Achievement Award in Personal Growth. Buford, who joined the station in 2023, has consistently sought to improve both herself and the station鈥檚 operations.
“Sarah is intimately involved with the nuts and bolts that make Little Rock Public Radio run,” said Breen. “Without her, we wouldn’t be able to broadcast to all of central Arkansas for free every single day.” Sarah makes sure all programming is effectively communicated from technology inside the studio onto the airwaves.
Buford has earned two key radio operation certifications this past year through the Society of Broadcast Engineers and National Public Radio (NPR) Distribution – strengthening the station’s compliance with federal regulations, ensuring on-the-ground skills to navigate technical issues in the studio or at the transmitter site, and saving the university potential costs and liabilities. She is currently working towards a new certification, broadcast networking technologist.
In addition, Buford produces 鈥�,鈥� a twice-weekly classical music program for KLRE 90.5, collaborating with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette arts and entertainment reporter Eric Harrison.
Each season, Buford schedules recording sessions, edits scripts, records hosted segments, edits audio, and packages all show parts together for airing. She also writes and uploads show notes to increase accessibility for audiences. She will begin recording for “Major and Minor Masterpieces” season four this summer.聽
鈥淭his show is not only a testament to her creativity and leadership, but also a significant enhancement to our station鈥檚 programming, deepening our engagement with the community,鈥� Zafasi said. 鈥淪he researched best practices for structuring classical music programs, ensuring the content would be both educational and engaging for a broad audience.鈥�
Upon receipt of her award, Buford thanked 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and Little Rock Public Radio 鈥渇or the opportunity to not only work for a cause I believe in, but to work on skills and projects that would enhance that mission of free and reliable access to the arts, news, and information.鈥�
鈥淭his office is a powerhouse of talent, passion, and support,鈥� Buford said. 鈥淎nd Josie and Grace are the backbone of that powerhouse. At the end of the day, their work gives me hope. Thank y鈥檃ll and congratulations for all you do.鈥�