News Stories
AV¶¶Òõ News
Why I Give: The Story of AV¶¶Òõ Alum Jon Walker
Jonathon Walker, '17, had a lot of help when he attended the AV¶¶Òõ. Now, he gives back to current and future students in hopes of fostering their growth in education and careers.
August 31, 2024
AV¶¶Òõ Grads, Baptist Health Nurses Named 100 Greatest
Six graduates from the AV¶¶Òõ were recognized as part of the 16 nurses from Baptist Health for this year's Great 100 Nurses.
August 12, 2024
Cashing in Education for Career Success
When Tracie Walden, '96, left the AV¶¶Òõ, then Westark College, she never intended to return to banking. Little did she know that her education at AV¶¶Òõ would play a pivotal role in her career back in banking.
August 07, 2024
Former Nurse Followed Winding Road to Current Happiness
Angela Perkins describes the route from Westark Community College in the 1970s to her current life as a rollercoaster. It’s that and more.
July 30, 2024
Longtime Classroom Veteran Moves Easily into Administrative Role
LaDena Nsabimana is pretty sure her years in classrooms in western Arkansas prepared her for the job she has today as associate director of special education at KVC Academy.
July 30, 2024
AV¶¶Òõ Alumna Brings Urban Flair to Community
Jami Davis, a 2010 graduate of the AV¶¶Òõ, brings what she learned in the classroom and from her travels to the city through her boutique, Grunge House. As owner and operator, Davis has carefully curated a shop to meet...
May 31, 2024
A Feather in His Cap: The Life and Career of Dr. Charles Preston
Dr. Charles "Chuck" Preston traces his roots in biology to growing up in Fort Smith and attending the AV¶¶Òõ when the university was still known as Westark Community College. Today, he is one of the world's foremost researchers...
May 31, 2024
Double Dose of Graduation
Joshua Merritt, a recent University of Arkansas—Fort Smith graduate, celebrated the completion of not one but two degrees during his time at AV¶¶Òõ. After starting at the university at just 13 years old, Merritt graduated with a bachelor's degree...
May 31, 2024
Class Notes, May 2024
AV¶¶Òõ alumni shared life events and happenings.
May 30, 2024
AV¶¶Òõ Mailbag: Happy Birthday, Numa!
In this back-to-back edition of the AV¶¶Òõ Mailbag, we celebrate our favorite mascot's birthday. Numa takes another trip around the sun and invites everyone to enjoy his big day with him.
April 19, 2024
What's the 4-1-1 on Graduation?
Spring commencement at the AV¶¶Òõ is one month away. Graduating students should know what they need to do before the ceremony and what they can access as AV¶¶Òõ alums.
April 11, 2024
First-Generation Staff Spotlight: Patricia Hurtado Perez
As a Hispanic first-generation student, Patricia Hurtado Perez, coordinator for the Upward Bound Math and Science program at the AV¶¶Òõ, struggled with unique challenges. However, she was undeterred along her path to...
April 02, 2024
AV¶¶Òõ Cheer Builds Up Champions
With college nationals just a few weeks away, the all-star AV¶¶Òõ Cheer team is ready to take Daytona by storm. The AV¶¶Òõ cheer team has won 4 NCA Nationals Championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, and has reached the collegiate tournament 14 seasons...
March 29, 2024
Building Foundations with Dr. April Evans
AV¶¶Òõ School of Education Interim Executive Director Dr. April Evans leaned on her love of education and literacy, her passion for making a difference, and the relationships she built along the way in her return to AV¶¶Òõ...
March 25, 2024 AV¶¶Òõ Mailbag: Where Memories Roar
The AV¶¶Òõ Mailbag returns with a recap of Homecoming 2024: Where Memories Roar. From competitions, reunions, awards, and games, homecoming week was full of excitement, and the campus was buzzing.
February 23, 2024
AV¶¶Òõ Honors Alumni Award Winners
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Alumni Advisory Council honored five Lions at the Alumni Brunch today as part of 2024 homecoming events. Dr. Daniel Fudge, ‘12, and Jaime Vargas, ’18 and ‘23, received the Young Alumni Award, Sara Putman...
February 17, 2024
Readying Player One and the Gamer, Cody Holt
Follow the evolution of AV¶¶Òõ senior instructor Cody Holt. From gamer to AV¶¶Òõ educator and eSports coach, uncover his gaming passion and commitment to student achievement along the way.
February 16, 2024
Coming Full Circle with Yosey Cardenas
At the AV¶¶Òõ, education and social work academic advisor for the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences, Yosey Cardenas, shares her story as a first-generation student and how she now uses that experience to...
February 09, 2024
Some Things Are Worth Waiting For
AV¶¶Òõ College of Arts and Sciences 2023 alum Logan Aguilera encourages students to practice patience. AV¶¶Òõ helped prepare him to be a middle school teacher in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, and become a coach of six different teams....
February 08, 2024Popular Topics
Media Relations
The AV¶¶Òõ Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.
Send an EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu