The award, announced at the OVC Basketball Championship tournament, recognizes outstanding faculty across conference institutions for their student impact, contributions to department and university curricula, professional development, community involvement and institutional service.

鈥淢y first reaction was genuine surprise, followed quickly by gratitude,鈥� Rockwell said. 鈥淟ike most faculty, I鈥檓 often focused on the next class session, the next student meeting, or the next report, and don鈥檛 stop to think about awards. My thoughts quickly turned to my students, many of whom are balancing demanding jobs or Division I athletics with rigorous academic programs. Their perseverance embodies what this award represents.鈥�

Rockwell credits 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, especially the School of Business, with shaping her approach to teaching. Working at a university rooted in access, opportunity, and real-world relevance has reinforced her focus on ensuring each course, assignment, and experience helps prepare students for long-term success. The school鈥檚 鈥淜now Your Worth鈥� motto 鈥� the idea that every student鈥檚 education should yield a measurable return in their career and life 鈥� serves as a constant reminder that what happens in the classroom must pay dividends well beyond it.

That mindset is especially evident in how Rockwell works with student-athletes, whom she recognizes as effectively managing two full-time commitments at once. She prioritizes flexibility and proactive communication, meeting with student-athletes early in the semester to align assignment deadlines and exam dates with their travel and competition schedules, all while holding them to the same academic standards as every other student.

鈥淪tudent-athletes are not only competitors 鈥� they are emerging professionals,鈥� Rockwell said, 鈥渁nd I want them to leave here understanding that their education is an investment in themselves.鈥�

For Rockwell, that belief in student potential is inseparable from what she teaches and how she teaches it. She was drawn to law, management, marketing, and technology because of where those disciplines intersect 鈥� strategy, people, and innovation 鈥� where decisions carry immediate consequences and advantages for organizations and communities. 

鈥淏usiness law allows me to show students how legal rules shape everything from contracts and branding to real estate development and technology adoption,鈥� Rockwell said. 鈥淲e can move seamlessly from doctrine to real-world examples 鈥� analyzing influencer agreements, walking neighborhoods when we study eminent domain, or unpacking the fine print of a contract a student may someday sign.鈥�

That carries particular weight for college athletes working to reach the next level. For a student-athlete hoping to sign a professional contract, understanding the legal language is not just an academic exercise, it is preparation for one of the most important moments of their career.

For Rockwell, the award represents something larger than her own work. It affirms her efforts at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the School of Business and connects her to a broader community of faculty across the OVC committed to the same mission. The students she teaches go on to work, lead and build in Little Rock and across Arkansas, and she sees the classroom as the starting point for that impact.

鈥淲hat keeps me motivated is seeing students transform over time 鈥� from tentative first-year or MBA students into confident professionals, graduate students, and, in some cases, future lawyers and community leaders,鈥� Rockwell said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 especially rewarding to watch student-athletes and working students discover that their education is not just a requirement but an investment in themselves and in the communities they will serve.鈥�

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The award, established by the provosts of OVC member institutions, recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to student success, curriculum development, professional growth, and community involvement.

Paprocki, who has been with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock since 2016, is known for his dedication to student-athletes and his flexible approach to teaching. With a background in exercise physiology and experience as a strength and conditioning coach for multiple Olympic sports teams, he brings real-world expertise to the classroom. He teaches courses such as Care and Prevention of Injuries, Exercise Wellness & Lifestyle, Exercise Principles and Methods, and Advanced First Aid.

鈥淚 am very grateful for receiving this award,鈥� Paprocki said. 鈥淥ur department offers degrees in Exercise Science, K-12 Physical Education, Sports Management, Health Promotion, and Coaching, so all of our faculty should have a strong relationship with student-athletes and the athletic department. Hopefully, awards like this one reflect that commitment.鈥�

Paprocki鈥檚 approach to student success is rooted in understanding the challenges faced by student-athletes, particularly in managing their demanding schedules. Having been a student-athlete himself, he recognizes the pressures of balancing academics with in-season, post-season, and off-season commitments. His guiding principle in the classroom is clear: students must communicate proactively about their schedules, and in return, he ensures flexibility to help them succeed.

鈥淚 believe a student-athlete鈥檚 schedule is similar to many of our students who are parents, work full time, or serve in the military,鈥� Paprocki said. 鈥淚f they can be proactive and responsible, we as faculty need to work with them as well.鈥�

Paprocki鈥檚 dedication extends beyond the classroom. He regularly attends sporting events to support his students, with basketball and volleyball being his favorites. He also enjoys taking his three-year-old son to outdoor events like soccer and track meets. This past year, he attended his first baseball game and wrestling meet and looks forward to attending more in the future.

His impact on students is evident in testimonials from those he has mentored. Student-athlete Serenity Thake praised Paprocki鈥檚 ability to inspire students and provide meaningful learning experiences.

鈥淧rofessor Paprocki has been a cornerstone of my university experience, and his influence has shaped my academic and career aspirations,鈥� Thake said. 鈥淲hat truly sets Professor Paprocki apart is his ability to create a learning environment where every student feels valued. His encouragement and belief in our potential has motivated me to push myself further, both academically and professionally. He exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.鈥�

鈥淧rofessor Paprocki鈥檚 passion for exercise science transformed my interest into a career aspiration,鈥� Thake said. 鈥淗is support in balancing academics and athletics has been invaluable, and his presence at our games shows how much he genuinely cares.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Provost Ann Bain also commended Paprocki鈥檚 contributions in her nomination letter, highlighting his commitment to student learning and service.

鈥淪ince first joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, he has worked closely with the university鈥檚 student-athletes,鈥� Provost Bain said. 鈥淪tudents who have taken his classes have noted Mr. Paprocki鈥檚 dedication to their success in the classroom and his support outside of the class as well. Other groups beyond students and faculty have noted Mr. Paprocki鈥檚 dedication to student success as well. In 2022, he was chosen to be the Arkansas Teacher of the Year from the Society of Health and Physical Educations because of his dedication to student鈥檚 learning needs and service work.鈥�

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Little Rock tied Eastern Illinois with 110.5 points after capturing five regular season titles in Men’s Basketball, Baseball, Women’s Golf, and Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field. The Trojans also finished second in Women’s Basketball and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field.

The OVC Commissioner’s Cup standings do not incorporate the incredible results posted by the Little Rock Wrestling program, which competes as an affiliate member of the PAC 12. The wrestling program finished second in the Pac-12, had three individual conference champions, sent four to the NCAA Championships and eight individual placers at the conference tournament.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of everyone associated with Little Rock Athletics,” Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo said. “This type of success does not come without the outstanding support of the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Board of Visitors, and Chancellor Christina Drale. Our 275 student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and administrators put forth an incredible effort this past year to take home the OVC Commissioner’s Cup for comprehensive competitive excellence. I am excited about this achievement and look forward to even greater success next year.”

In addition to their athletic success, the Little Rock Trojans also posted a 3.31 grade point average for the 2023-24 academic year and extended its streak of consecutive terms with a 3.0 or above to 22.

The Cup uses a point system in which each school counts finishes from 13 total sports in the final standings. Points are distributed based on the number of schools participating in the sport. Winners of OVC Tournaments are also awarded one bonus point for that sport.

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The awards were created by the provosts from each OVC member institution to recognize their outstanding faculty members. Each OVC member institution had the opportunity to nominate a faculty member with the rank of associate or full-time professor who has been employed at the institution for at least five years.

鈥淟ittle Rock Athletics is happy to be able to honor Dr. Joe Felan with the OVC Faculty of the Year Award,鈥� said George Lee, director of Little Rock Athletics. 鈥淒r. Felan is committed to help all students succeed in his classes. His willingness to work with students to get the best out of each and every one makes him an excellent role model for student success.

The award recipients were chosen based on impacts of students, contributions made to the department, university and curriculum development, consistent professional development, as well as community involvement and institutional service.

鈥淚t was really exciting to receive this award,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淚 really enjoyed hearing from my students how much they appreciate my teaching. I think that the coaches and their assistants push the student-athletes to make sure they attend, participate, and do well in their classes. I can count on my athletes to be productive participants in class.鈥�

Felan has been teaching student-athletes ever since he joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a professor 23 years ago. He said that many student-athletes pursue a business-related major since they have so many skills that translate well to business.

鈥淲e get a fair number of business majors that are student-athletes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can see that our student-athletes are highly motivated, and I think some of those skills are required in business, particularly if you want to start your own business one day. Many of these attributes also translate to the area of entrepreneurship.鈥�

Since joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty in 2002, Felan has received two service awards and been named Who鈥檚 Who Among American Teachers. He received the Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service from the former 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock College of Business in 2020.

When working with student-athletes, Felan said he always keeps in mind that student-athletes have unusual schedules due to their athletic careers and that it鈥檚 important to be flexible.

鈥淚 am willing to work with their schedules, especially if they need to meet outside of their regular class,鈥� Felan said. 鈥淚 am very flexible with office hours and virtual meetings. If they need to meet with me in the early morning or evenings, I am happy to do that.鈥�

Felan only lives about 10 minutes away from campus, so he is able to attend many sporting events. While Felan enjoys watching basketball and baseball games, he鈥檚 also grown particularly fond of the university鈥檚 wrestling program.

鈥淚 do enjoy all sports, but I鈥檝e been particularly interested in watching the wrestling program grow over the last few years,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had many wrestlers in class over the years. This year, the coach invited me to sit on the sidelines next to the mat during the last home meet of the year.鈥�

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Cuervo brings a 26-year career in intercollegiate athletics, marked by leadership roles across all Division I institutions – FBS, FCS, and I-AAA. He has served in senior level administrative, fundraising and comprehensive revenue generating roles at 糖心Vlog传媒B, Missouri State, Indiana and Missouri.

“Frank Cuervo is uniquely qualified to lead Little Rock Trojans Athletics into the future,” said Chancellor Drale. “His extensive experience, coupled with a proven track record of success in enhancing athletic programs and developing strong community and university relationships, makes him the ideal choice for this critical role.”

Before joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Cuervo served as the Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Revenue Officer at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where he played a pivotal role in community engagement, driving revenue, fundraising, and building championship-caliber programs. His efforts contributed to significant growth in ticket sales, donor engagement, and overall athletic success.

鈥淥n behalf of my wife, Michelle, and my son, Nathan, I want to thank Chancellor Drale and the search committee for the incredible opportunity to come to Little Rock to lead the Trojan Athletics program,鈥� incoming Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo said. 鈥淲e are thrilled to be here and look forward to becoming ingrained in the Central Arkansas community.鈥�

Some of his notable career successes include securing invitations to join prestigious conferences, spearheading facility upgrades, and boosting academic achievement among student-athletes.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is an institution, and an athletics program, that is on the rise, and I welcome the opportunity to work with our supporters to shape its future. We want to build a program the people of Arkansas can be proud of, striving for comprehensive excellence in the classroom, in the community, and in competition, as we compete for championships and place the Trojans on a national stage,鈥� Cuervo said. 鈥淚 am eager to partner with our 275 talented student-athletes, our elite group of head coaches, and the entire athletics and campus administration, as we utilize athletics as a vehicle to highlight all the incredible things happening at this world-class institution. The future for Little Rock has never been brighter. Go Trojans!鈥�

Cuervo holds a Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Sport Management from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Public Relations from the University of Florida, where he was also a walk-on member of the baseball program. He will be joined in Little Rock by his spouse Michelle, a Missouri native, and a son Nathan.

鈥淚 would also like to thank George Lee for his diligent and dedicated service as our Athletic Director these last four years,鈥� said Chancellor Drale. 鈥淒uring his tenure, he has helped lead the athletic department through the rapidly changing landscape of NCAA college athletics including conference realignment, the development of the transfer portal, and growth in name image and likeness. We look forward to his continued contributions to our community.鈥�

Cuervo will be on campus for a formal introduction to the university and local community on Wednesday, March 27 at 11 a.m. in Engel Hall at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center.

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That鈥檚 why she sends out a survey to all the students in her upcoming classes to ensure that she knows how to pronounce their names, their interests, and if they have any special circumstances that might impact their ability to succeed in the classroom.

鈥淚 think it helps to let the students know that I see them as a whole person, and that I am willing to work with them,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about having the students come in, learn the material, and then test their comprehension. I want to meet them where they are and have them understand that they don鈥檛 have to hide any problems they may be having.鈥�

It鈥檚 her commitment to student success that led to Hunter being recognized by the Ohio Valley Conference as a recipient of the league鈥檚 Inaugural Outstanding Faculty-Commitment to Student Success Awards.

鈥淩eceiving this award was such a nice honor,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚 thought it was wonderful that the OVC honor faculty that have shown a commitment to the academic success of student-athletes. It helps to highlight all the people who help student-athletes become successful in both sports and academics.鈥�

A professor from each OVC member institution was honored. The criteria included impacts of students, contributions made to the department, university and curriculum development, consistent professional development as well as community involvement and institutional service.

Since joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2004, Hunter has served in a variety of roles from coordinator of the master鈥檚 degree program in interdisciplinary studies to interim chair of both the Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies department and English department. She鈥檚 also worked in the Office of the Provost as the interim associate vice chancellor of academic affairs.

Hunter has been working with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 student-athletes since she first arrived. She commonly sees them while teaching core undergraduate classes. Her Intro to Mythology course has proven especially popular with excellent feedback from students. In addition to successfully managing multiple course preparations, she actively cultivates a sense of belonging and participation for diverse perspectives and experiences in her classes.

She has also successfully adapted to new instructional technologies in the wake of the recent pandemic to better engage her in-person and virtual students. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-led a series of “Teaching in the Time of Covid” talks for faculty and participated in a faculty Blackboard resource page for faculty working to adapt to the technological and social-emotional aspects of pandemic pedagogy.

To promote student success, Hunter says she likes to remain accessible to students by holding virtual, in-person, and evening office hours. She also stays in close contact with academic advisors in case a student needs assistance as well as lets students know about campus resources like the CARE Team.

Learn more about the OVC Outstanding Faculty Commitment to Student Success Awards .

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Francis has been open about the issues she has faced, helping create a dialogue about the challenges shared by many other athletes. She will be honored at the upcoming Women鈥檚 Final Four in Dallas.

The senior forward has said 鈥淏asketball saved my life,鈥� but by bravely sharing her story of fortitude, self-belief and vulnerability, she is touching many others鈥� lives in a positive way. As a child in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, she endured years of childhood mental and physical abuse and struggled through the process of emotionally healing from those wounds. Through sports and supportive mentors and coaches, she found an outlet.

The announcement, coming just two days after Little Rock was named the USBWA鈥檚 National Team of the Week, is the first time an Ohio Valley Conference player 鈥� men鈥檚 or women鈥檚 鈥� has ever won such a national award.

As a 15-year-old, Angelique began a foundation called ALF 鈥� which stands for Angelique Lizette Francis 鈥� to help youth dealing with abuse. She delivers motivational speeches to local schools and appeared at the Save AR Students Rally Focused on Preventing Substance Misuse, speaking on the steps of the state capitol alongside Governor Asa Hutchinson.

鈥淚t is truly an honor and blessing to receive this award, one that is named after an icon,鈥� Francis said upon learning of the honor to be bestowed. 鈥淚 hope that my journey helps to inspire others to never give up and to keep pushing because you have a purpose in life. I want to thank my family for all the love and support, as well as my coaching staff, teammates and everyone who has believed in my vision. Thank you to the USBWA for this amazing opportunity. And for anyone out there that ever has doubts, know that you are valued and loved.鈥�

On the basketball court, she averages eight points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting a team-best 53 percent. Her leadership has not only guided Little Rock to first place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, but the Trojans have already clinched at least a share of the OVC regular season title in the OVC Tournament with two games still to play. Thanks to Francis鈥� tenacious post play, Little Rock ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense by holding opponents to just 52 points per game and has held four different teams to less than 40 points in a game this season.

The USBWA has presented a Most Courageous Award since the 1977-78 season. Since 2012, the association has also recognized winners from women’s basketball with the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award. Last season, the men’s Most Courageous Award was named in honor of Perry Wallace, the SEC’s first Black athlete to play a full four-year career in any sport. This year鈥檚 winners, Terrence Hargrove of Saint Louis and Connor Odom of Utah State, have also spoken out about their experience overcoming mental-health issues.

The USBWA chose Francis, Hargrove and Odom not only to honor their courage in coming forward to discuss their mental health and helping remove any stigma still associated with that, but to acknowledge the many issues college basketball players 鈥� and athletes in all sports 鈥� have faced before, during and after the pandemic.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

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