Staff Senate - News - 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock /news/tag/staff-senate/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Honors Treece, Ambrus, Petray with 2026 Staff Achievement Awards /news/2026/04/29/ua-little-rock-honors-treece-ambrus-petray-with-2026-staff-achievement-awards/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000 /news/?p=94041 The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has honored three staff members for their exceptional work in the areas of personal growth, service to the university, and community service. Nathan ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Honors Treece, Ambrus, Petray with 2026 Staff Achievement Awards

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The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has honored three staff members for their exceptional work in the areas of personal growth, service to the university, and community service. Nathan Treece received the Personal Growth Award, Sydney Ambrus received the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award, and Ronda Petray received the Community Service Award.

Established in 1989, the Staff Senate Achievement Awards recognize employees who have brought distinction to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock through personal achievement, service to the university, and service to the community. The awards are presented annually during the Staff Senate Awards Ceremony, which celebrates staff contributions and recognizes employees for their impact on the university and the broader community.

Learn more about each award and its recipient below.

Personal Growth Award

Nathan Treece, reporter and local host for Little Rock Public Radio, has received the Personal Growth Award. It recognizes an individual whose scholarship, research, or creative talent has been particularly outstanding.

鈥淚 would like to thank everyone at Little Rock Public Radio for considering me for this honor,鈥 Treece said. 鈥淚 couldn’t imagine a better group of people to work with. The team is so supportive of one another and works hard to bring critical information and educational programming to Arkansas’ airwaves every day.鈥

Treece earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications with honors from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2017. He previously worked as a public information officer for the Arkansas Division of Heritage and spent four years in television news as a producer for KARK and KLRT. In his current role, he serves as a reporter and host of NPR鈥檚 Morning Edition for Little Rock Public Radio.

Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award

Sydney Ambrus, social media coordinator and videographer in the Office of Communications and Marketing, has received the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award. It recognizes an individual who is distinctive in service through committees, special events, implementation of creative ideas, or support and encouragement of others.

鈥淚t is truly an honor to receive the Ben Fry Service Award. I love being out on campus, volunteering and collaborating with different committees and departments, and connecting with so many people across the university. I am incredibly grateful to be part of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community,鈥 Ambrus said.

Ambrus produces digital content that highlights university initiatives, student success, and campus life. She plays a key role in leading the university鈥檚 Maroon Monday campaign, a social media initiative that encourages students, faculty, and staff to wear maroon in support of the Trojans and helps build school spirit across campus.

Community Service Award

Ronda Petray, a program coordinator in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, has received the Community Service Award. It recognizes an individual who has been particularly successful in organizing community events or has had major achievements in civic, service, or specialty organizations.

鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously very exciting to win a monetary award and to be recognized for continued support and contributions to my department, to my college, and to the university as a whole 鈥 there鈥檚 no way I could have gotten anywhere near as far if I didn鈥檛 have my core support team around me,鈥 Portray said. 鈥淓veryone I work with contributes to my daily successes. I couldn鈥檛 do anything without them all!鈥

Petray supports student success initiatives and academic programs and is actively involved in student engagement efforts on campus, including her work with student organizations such as the Math Club.

For more information about the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate, visit ualr.edu/staffsenate.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Celebrate Staff Excellence at Annual Staff Senate Awards Ceremony /news/2026/01/22/ua-little-rock-to-celebrate-staff-excellence-at-annual-staff-senate-awards-ceremony/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 /news/?p=93372 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will recognize staff members for service, achievement, and academic success during the annual Staff Senate Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 28, from 2鈥4 p.m. Hosted by the ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Celebrate Staff Excellence at Annual Staff Senate Awards Ceremony

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will recognize staff members for service, achievement, and academic success during the annual Staff Senate Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 28, from 2鈥4 p.m.

Hosted by the Staff Senate, the ceremony honors retirees, employees celebrating milestone years of service, recent graduates, Staff Achievement Award recipients, and Staff Senate scholarship and book scholarship recipients.

“Recognizing staff achievements is essential to who we are as a university,” said Staff Senate President Don O’Donnell. “When we lift up the work of our colleagues, we honor the dedication that keeps our campus thriving and remind our community that every contribution鈥攕een or unseen鈥攈elps move our mission forward.”

Three Staff Achievement Awards will be presented to employees whose work reflects exceptional dedication, leadership, and service to the university.

鈥淪tudents and administrators can see the difference our faculty make on a daily basis,” said Chrissy Jones, Staff Senate Committee Chair and president-elect. “It’s also important to highlight the achievements of our staff, to let them know that their contributions behind the scenes are just as important as those efforts made on the front lines. Without the Staff Senate Achievement Awards, it would be easy to miss or disregard the work that goes into keeping the university running efficiently.鈥

The Staff Senate Awards Ceremony provides an opportunity to formally acknowledge the contributions of staff members who support and advance 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission. Additional details about the Staff Achievement Awards, including criteria and past recipients, are available on the Staff Senate website.

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Little Rock Public Radio Staffers Sweep Staff Achievement Awards /news/2025/04/30/2025-staff-awards/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:58:00 +0000 /news/?p=91547 Three outstanding members of Little Rock Public Radio (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, ... Little Rock Public Radio Staffers Sweep Staff Achievement Awards

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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

Josie Lenora, center, receives the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award surrounded by her co-workers at Little Rock Public Radio.
Surrounded by her Little Rock Public Radio colleagues, Josie Lenora, center, receives the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award on April 29.

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

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Hold University Assembly May 2 /news/2025/04/28/uni-assembly/ Mon, 28 Apr 2025 17:46:27 +0000 /news/?p=91508 The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold its spring University Assembly meeting at 1 p.m. Friday, May 2. University Assembly will be a hybrid event with an in-person ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Hold University Assembly May 2

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The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold its spring University Assembly meeting at 1 p.m. Friday, May 2.

University Assembly will be a hybrid event with an in-person meeting taking place in the Engineering and Information Building Auditorium and a synchronous virtual meeting via Zoom. Light refreshments will be provided.

The assembly will include reports from Chancellor Christina Drale, Provost Ann Bain, Workday Project One Manager Cody Henslee on the status of Workday Student implementation, Staff Senate President Jack Higginbotham, Student Government Association President An Le, and Faculty Senate President Angela Hunter.

The University Assembly will also be voting on amendments to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Constitution that include bylaws for Faculty Senate and Staff Senate.

A link to the virtual meeting and the agenda for the University Assembly can be found on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock .

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O鈥橠onnell Named Next President of Staff Senate /news/2025/04/04/odonnell-staff-senate/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:01:34 +0000 /news/?p=88772 Don O鈥橠onnell, a member of IT Services, has been elected as the next president of Staff Senate and will represent the staff members at the University of Arkansas at Little ... O鈥橠onnell Named Next President of Staff Senate

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Don O鈥橠onnell, a member of IT Services, has been elected as the next president of Staff Senate and will represent the staff members at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

O’Donnell, a senior program and project manager, brings over 50 years of experience in information technology and a passion for service to the role.

鈥淚鈥檝e always stepped forward to take on leadership when needed,鈥 O鈥橠onnell said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to continue the successful programs Staff Senate has developed, like Helping Hands and the Blood Drive, and to represent the interests of our university staff. I also want to foster more volunteerism and strengthen collaboration with the Faculty Senate and the Chancellor鈥檚 office.”

O’Donnell joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in December 2015 after working as a consultant for the university. His extensive career spans industries ranging from finance and airlines to food and semiconductors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simpson College and an MBA from Drake University. A Conway resident since 2010, O’Donnell and his wife Linda have three daughters and nine grandchildren.

O’Donnell has been a member of the Staff Senate since 2023 and has served as chair of the Blood Drive and Helping Hands Committees. Outside of the university, he is active in the Conway Senior Softball League and has served on the Board of Directors for the Project Management Institute (PMI). A certified Project Management Professional since 2002, he also mentors aspiring project managers.

鈥淪taff Senate is an opportunity to give back beyond the 8-to-5 workday,鈥 O’Donnell said. 鈥淚 believe my management and leadership skills can make a difference in advocating for the staff and enhancing our campus community.鈥

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Blood Drive Sept. 24 /news/2024/09/17/blood-drive-sept-24/ Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:55:57 +0000 https://ualrprd.wpengine.com/news/?p=88238 The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, inside the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Blood Drive Sept. 24

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The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, inside the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate is partnering with the , a nonprofit blood center whose volunteer donors provide blood to patients in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

All students, employees, and members of the public are welcome to donate. Those who would like to donate can make an appointment by or calling 877-340-8777. Walk-in appointments are also welcome.

In order to reduce waiting time by up to 15 minutes, donors can answer the pre-appointment questions online by visiting the on the day of their appointment.

All donors will receive a free ticket to the Little Rock Zoo and a glow-in-the-dark Peoplejuice T-shirt.

For more information, contact Donald O鈥橠onnell, chair of the Blood Drive Committee, at dxodonnell@ualr.edu.

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Higginbotham Named Next President of Staff Senate /news/2024/06/20/higginbotham-staff-senate/ Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:00:39 +0000 https://ualrprd.wpengine.com/news/?p=87673 Jack Higginbotham, a buyer for Procurement Services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will be taking on a new leadership role. In July, Higginbotham will begin his tenure as the new president ... Higginbotham Named Next President of Staff Senate

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Jack Higginbotham, a buyer for Procurement Services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will be taking on a new leadership role. In July, Higginbotham will begin his tenure as the new president of Staff Senate.

鈥淚 am very excited to be named the next president of Staff Senate, and I am glad that I get to serve in this capacity,鈥 Higginbotham said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 expecting to serve as president, so it鈥檚 a nice surprise.鈥

Since joining Staff Senate in 2023, Higginbotham has served as parliamentarian and chair of the Issues and Concerns Committee. He鈥檚 enjoyed the camaraderie that comes from being on Staff Senate and hopes to encourage more people to join the organization.

鈥淪taff Senate functions as a voice for the staff of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥 he said. 鈥淧eople are interested in having their voices heard and participating in Staff Senate is a great way to do that. It鈥檚 also a great way to get involved in campus life and to get to know people who work in other areas that you wouldn鈥檛 meet otherwise.鈥

Higginbotham graduated from Henderson State University with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history in 2017 and worked at Henderson until he joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2022. He previously worked as an administrative specialist III as well as the higher education institutional program coordinator in the School of Nursing before joining Procurement Services in 2023.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, he is also a member of the Safe Zone Committee and the Trail of Tears Park Renewal Project Committee. In the community, Higginbotham is also a member of the Faulkner County Historical Society and the Arkansas Historical Society.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Announces Winners of Staff Senate Scholarships /news/2024/05/31/senate-scholarships/ Fri, 31 May 2024 12:48:05 +0000 https://ualrprd.wpengine.com/news/?p=87388 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has named Tanice Blackman and Laurie Nyangweso as the recipients of the 2024 Staff Senate Scholarships. The Staff Senate Scholarships are worth $1,000 and are awarded by ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Announces Winners of Staff Senate Scholarships

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has named Tanice Blackman and Laurie Nyangweso as the recipients of the 2024 Staff Senate Scholarships.

The Staff Senate Scholarships are worth $1,000 and are awarded by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate to recognize the service and dedication of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff and to assist in furthering staff members鈥 education at the university.

鈥淩eceiving the Staff Senate Scholarship was confirmation to me that I am on the right path to continued success, and I want to personally thank the committee for selecting me as a candidate,鈥 said Blackman.

Blackman works as customer relations manager at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She holds a master鈥檚 degree in education and bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science, and has a background in information technology. After receiving encouragement from her daughter, she decided to take her education to the next level at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and pursue her doctorates.

鈥淢y daughter, who recently began college, encouraged me to return to school to pursue my doctorate degree,鈥 Blackman remarked. 鈥淚 don’t know what I want to pursue my next degree in (maybe a combination of both technology and higher education), but I do know that you are never too old to attend college.鈥

Nyangweso has worked in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of Admissions for the past four years as a data technician, and is pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business analytics. Her ultimate goal is to become a data analyst.

鈥淚 am incredibly honored and grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the Staff Senate Scholarship this year,鈥 stated Nyangweso. 鈥淲inning this scholarship relieves a significant financial burden for the fall semester. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the generous donors and the selection committee for investing in my future. This scholarship will undoubtedly have a profound impact on my journey, and I am committed to making the most of it. Thank you for believing in me and for making my dreams a little more attainable.鈥

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Honors Schrepfer, Breen, Cane with 2024 Staff Achievement Awards /news/2024/04/18/staff-achievement/ Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:55:39 +0000 https://ualrprd.wpengine.com/news/?p=87268 The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has honored three of the university鈥檚 outstanding staff members for their exceptional work in the areas of service to the university, community service, ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Honors Schrepfer, Breen, Cane with 2024 Staff Achievement Awards

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The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has honored three of the university鈥檚 outstanding staff members for their exceptional work in the areas of service to the university, community service, and personal growth.

Muriel Schrepfer, graphic designer in the Office of Communications and Marketing, has received the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award. The award recipient is an individual who is distinctive in service through committees, special events, implementation of creative ideas or support, and encouragement of others.

鈥淚’m honored to receive this award for my service and contributions to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥 Schrepfer said. 鈥淚 thoroughly enjoy serving on committees and volunteering at our campus events. The collaboration and partnerships across campus and this recognition fuel my enthusiasm to strive for excellence, continue making a positive impact, and support our campus community.鈥

Daniel Breen, news director for Little Rock Public Radio, has received the Community Service Award. This award recipient has been particularly successful in organizing community events or had major achievements in civic, service, or specialty organizations/events.

鈥淚 am beyond grateful to receive this year鈥檚 Staff Senate Community Service Award,鈥 Breen said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so lucky to get to work every day with such a dedicated staff whose first goal is looking out for the public, and each other. I鈥檓 honored to be considered among so many other dedicated, talented people who work every day to make 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and their community, a better place. I look forward to continuing our work to be a better neighbor and to reach people where they鈥檙e at to better inform them of the decisions and policies that most affect their day-to-day life.鈥

Additionally, Tamela Cane, resource family coordinator for MidSOUTH, has received the Personal Growth Award. The award winner is described as an individual whose scholarship, research, or creative talent has been particularly outstanding.

鈥淭his is such an honor!鈥 Cane said. 鈥淚 am humbled to be recognized amongst a campus full of so many professionals. This is definitely a manifestation of an answered prayer!”

The three winners will receive a $3,000 award distributed via payroll distributions. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association Board of Director members Becky Flynn and Grady McCorkle served as judges.

“Congratulations to all of our winners this year,鈥 said Laterika Tooks, Staff Senate president-elect and director of annual giving. 鈥淭hank you for making a difference both on and off campus.”

More information about the Staff Achievement Award winners:

Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award

Schrepfer has been selected for the Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award for her exceptional contributions to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community through her outstanding work as a graphic designer.

鈥淢uriel’s creative work is exceptional in helping to tell the university’s stories,鈥 said Angie Faller, news director, who nominated Schrepfer. 鈥淵ou will see her work in everything from newspaper ads to event flyers to slides on the digital marquee to billboards. Everywhere you look at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, you are likely to find an inspiring graphic that was created by Muriel. Her dedication to supporting and enhancing our university community through her graphic design expertise is truly commendable.鈥

In the past year, Schrepfer has taken on some transformative projects, including the implementation of Marq as a campus design solution and the redesign of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Brand Guide, an essential guide that contains important information about how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock should communicate with and present its story to the community.

She also serves on a number of committees and is actively involved in campus life. Schrepfer serves in the positions of staff liaison and co-chair of the Wesley Foundation Board. She is also a member of Safe Zone, SpectacuaLR, and the Eclipse celebration planning committees as well as collaborative committees with Admissions, Athletics, and the Graduate School.

鈥淢uriel has made significant contributions to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock through her hard work and commitment to building collaboration with our campus partners,鈥 said Dr. Carrie Phillips, chief communications and marketing officer. 鈥淗er service has positively impacted both staff and students, making her a deserving recipient of this award.鈥

Staff Achievement Award in Community Service

Breen, a 2018 mass communication graduate of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, has received the Staff Achievement Award in Community Service for his hard work and dedication in keeping the public informed through his community reporting. He is a familiar voice on Little Rock Public Radio, serving as a reporter, anchor, former Morning Edition host, news director, and co-host and producer of The Arkansas NewsWrap.

Breen can often be found hard at work in the community, talking to the public about subjects that matter.

鈥淢y neighborhood was hit by the tornado (in 2023), and I remember driving down the street and seeing Daniel out talking to people and bringing their stories to the wider community,鈥 said Merrill Wells of Little Rock Public Radio, who nominated Breen. 鈥淒aniel Breen has been a fixture in the community at town halls, voting polls, bringing 鈥業ssues that Matter鈥 program to the community and even helped orchestrate an 鈥楢rkansas NewsWrap鈥 program collaborating with other radio news directors across Arkansas.鈥

Jonathan Seaborn, general manager of Little Rock Public Radio, said that Breen has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and a profound dedication to the community through his outstanding work in journalism.

鈥淒aniel鈥檚 passion for storytelling and his relentless pursuit of truth have been evident in the quality and depth of his reporting,鈥 Seaborn said. 鈥淗e has tackled a wide range of issues, from local politics to social justice, with sensitivity and insight, shedding light on important issues and giving voice to those who often go unheard.鈥

Additionally, Breen is actively involved in community outreach initiatives, participating in panel discussions, hosting public forums, and engaging with listeners to ensure that Little Rock Public Radio鈥檚 coverage reflects the diverse perspectives and concerns of the community.

鈥淗is impact on the community is massive as hundreds and thousands of Arkansans would wake up hearing his voice as the morning edition host and bringing the local news,鈥 Wells said. 鈥淭here are a devout group of fans who call themselves 鈥楤reenies鈥 that donate to support public radio and community engagement.鈥

Breen鈥檚 impressive community reporting skills have earned him awards from the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Arkansas Press Women, National Federation of Press Women, and the Arkansas-Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters.

Staff Achievement Award in Personal Growth

Cane has worked at MidSOUTH since 2012, starting out as a resource family trainer before becoming a technical writer, where she developed and maintained written and online training material. As the resource family coordinator for MidSOUTH鈥檚 Resource Family Program, she provides meaningful learning and training experiences for newly hired resource family trainers and prospective foster and adoptive families.

鈥淭ami has consistently demonstrated good initiative in fulfilling the task of providing meaningful learning experiences for prospective resource family trainers, foster families, and adoptive families,鈥 said Leisa Myles, director of MidSOUTH鈥檚 Resource Family Program, who nominated Cane. 鈥淪he approaches her job in a manner that allows individuals to enhance their skill level and knowledge. Her dedication to child welfare, MidSOUTH鈥檚 mission statement, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are unparalleled.鈥

According to Myles, Cane鈥檚 most outstanding achievement took place last year when she created a new training curriculum for MidSOUTH. Cane was selected as a member of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders鈥 Executive Order to Protect Children, Support Families, and Improve the Foster Care System in Arkansas sub-committees, where she worked on a plan to revise the Resource Family Training Program at MidSOUTH.

The Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services selected the National Training Development Curriculum for Traditional Resource Families to replace the current training curriculum for the Resource Family Training Program. Cane participated in a Training the Trainer session with the National Training and Development Curriculum to help prepare the transition to the new training curriculum, Connecting AR Families. Cane organized a facilitator鈥檚 guide specific to the state.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Cane has served on Staff Senate, the Arkansas Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect Registration and Planning Committee, MidSOUTH Annual Summer Conference Registration Committee, and the MidSOUTH Prevention Summit Registration Committee.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Blood Drive April 12 /news/2024/04/05/drive-april/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:07:55 +0000 https://ualrprd.wpengine.com/news/?p=87163 The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 12, inside the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Blood Drive April 12

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The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 12, inside the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Staff Senate is partnering with the , a nonprofit blood center whose volunteer donors provide blood to patients in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

All students, employees, and members of the public are welcome to donate. Those who would like to donate can make an appointment by or calling 877-340-8777. Walk-in appointments are also welcome.

In order to reduce waiting time by up to 15 minutes, donors can answer the pre-appointment questions online by visiting the on the day of their appointment.

All donors will receive a Stand Tall T-shirt. For more information, contact Donald O鈥橠onnell, chair of the Blood Drive Committee, at dxodonnell@ualr.edu.

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