Annual Awards

UCA’s Living Learning Communities recognize student, faculty, campus, and community engagement through annual awards. Past award recipients are listed below.

Campus Partner of the Year

2024-2025 Millie Goins, UCA Community Care Clinic

Community Business Partner of the Year

2024-2025 Matthew Carpenter, Edward Jones

Nonprofit Community Partner of the Year

2024-2025 Cynthia Perez, Rise House

Community Mentor of the Year

2024-2025 Renee Blankenship

Former Title: Student Associate of the Year

2023-2024 Michael Isaac
2022-2023 Marcus Needels
2021-2022 Saylor Travis
2020-2021 Alyxandra Harp and Charles Johnson
2019-2020 Sheri Shafiq and Cindy Nguyen
2018-2019 Ivy Hooker
2017-2018 Joseph Schneider
2016-2017 Andie Weaver
2015-2016 Jake Famer
2014-2015 Geneva Prather

Student of the Year

2024-2025 Sophia Blackstrom (BEARS), Nick Self (BUILD), Cam Robinson (EDGE), Emilia Chapman (HPAW), Xander Kennedy (MCC), Kalinda Loomis (Muse), Aden Elmore (RISE), Emanuel Iroabuchi (STEM), Olivia George (WISH)
2023-2024 Emma Browning (HPAW), Chandler Thornack (MCC), Amelia Upton (Muse), Hailey Zornes (STEM)
2022-2023 Justin Hall (HPAW), Lindzie Lunsford (MCC), Will Polk (Muse), Ian Blair (STEM), Weston Konkler (STEM)
2021-2022 Jordan Miller (HPAW), Hogan Marsh (HPAW), Amy Tran (MCC), Lilly “Izzy” Saetelle (Muse), Anna Claire Smith (STEM)
2020-2021 Marcus Needles (HPAW), Austin Hollingsworth (MCC), Brynn Oleson (STEM)
2019-2020 Danielle Marshall (EDGE), Makaya McMillion-Purifoy (HPAW), Sherry Shafiq (MCC), Allie Parsons (STEM)
2018-2019 Marc Perez (EDGE), Jalisa Nealy-McCray (HPAW), Andrew Conover (MCC), Makenzie Spurling (STEM)
2017-2018 Matthew Steakley (EDGE), Sage Wilson (HPAW), Amber Getter (MCC), Jamal Lockings (STEM), Temple White (STEM)
2016-2017 Joyce Nim (EDGE), Claudy Sarpong (EDGE), Bianca Bautista (HPAW), Gregory Eichelberger (MCC), Joseph Schneider (STEM), Randy Rainwater (STEM)
2015-2016 Joshua Eddinger-Lucero (EDGE), Nicole Black (MCC), Rachel Senn (STEM)
2014-2015 Rebecca Alexander (EDGE), John Blevins (MCC), Andrea Weaver (STEM), Christopher Emmerling (STEM)
2013-2014 James Kelly (EDGE), William “Billy” Buck (STEM)
2012-2013 Kirsten Young (EDGE), Alexandra Hufford (STEM)
2011-2012 Nadia Akins (EDGE), Kellon Jones (STEM)
2010-2011 Angelo Paladino (STEM)

Faculty Associate of the Year

2024-2025 Louisa Moseley
2023-2024 Jacob Christie (HPAW), Taine Duncan (Muse), Adriian Gardner (STEM)
2022-2023 Laura Meek (HPAW), Jaime Jenson-Loving (Muse), Smokey Emerson (STEM)
2021-2022 Parisha Patel (HPAW), Glenn Jellenik (Muse), Adriian Gardner (STEM)
2020-2021 Taine Duncan (HPAW), Jenny Davis (STARS), Jeff Beyerl (STEM)
2019-2020 Laura Meek (HPAW), Glenn Jellenik (EDGE), Jaimee Jenson-McDaniel (STARS), Jayme Millsap Stone (STEM)
2018-2019 Laura Meek (HPAW), Dwayne Coleman (EDGE), Andrea Lively (STARS), Sharon Mason (STEM)
2017-2018 Joey Trimble (HPAW), Jayme Millsap Stone (EDGE), Staci Fritzges (STARS), Steve Karafit (STEM)
2016-2017 Jennifer Atkins-Gordeeva (HPAW), Mark Elrod (EDGE), Staci Fritzges (STARS), Taine Duncan (STEM)
2015-2016 Cokey Allen (EDGE), Staci Fritzges (STARS), Steve Karafit (STEM)
2014-2015 Mary Kubit (EDGE), Ron Tangye (Hughes), Kevin Browne (STARS), Steve Karafit (STEM)
2013-2014 Glenn Jellenik (EDGE), Tracie Rushing (Hughes), Staci Fritzges (STARS), James Deitrick (STEM)
2012-2013 Bill Russell (EDGE), Ron Tangye (Hughes), Staci Fritzges (STARS), Danny Arrigo (STEM)
2011-2012 Chris Craun (EDGE), Staci Fritzges (Hughes), Tammy Scaife (STARS), Faith Yarberry (STEM)
2010-2011 Bill Russell (State), Adriian Gardner (State), Jennifer Deering (Hughes), Sophie Bradford (STARS), Danny Arrigo (STEM)
2009-2010 Catherine Swift (State), Adriian Gardner (State), Lorien Foote (Hughes), Monda Fason (STARS)
2008-2009 Adriian Gardner (State), Wayne Stengel (Hughes), Monda Fason (STARS)
2007-2008 Jennifer Deering (State), Staci Fritzges (Hughes), Monda Fason (STARS)
2006-2007 Adriian Gardner (State), Cokey Allen (Hughes), Monda Fason (STARS)
2005-2006 Monda Fason (State), Lorien Foote (Hughes)
2004-2005 Lorien Foote (State), Lanette Grate (Hughes)
2003-2004 JoAnn Royster (State), Don Jones (Hughes)
2002-2003 Melissa B. Crawford (State), John Gallaher (Hughes)
2001-2002 Julia Winden Fey (State), Lorien Foote (Hughes)
2000-2001 Michael Shaefer (State), Cokey Scott (Hughes)
1999-2000 Julia Winden Fey (State), Mary Landreth (Hughes)
1998-1999 Steve Lance (Hughes)
1997-1998 Mary Landreth (Hughes)

Past Awards

Biz@Bear Residential College Student of the Year

2023-2024 MaHayla Edwards
2022-2023 Mason Smith
2021-2022 Michael Isaac
2020-2021 Caitlynn Bellamy
2019-2020 Daisy Martinez Carranza
2018-2019 Julianna Womack
2017-2018 Andrew Edwards

EPIC Residential College Student of the Year

2016-2017 Zachary Hull
2015-2016 Armani Famous
2014-2015 Tyler Mc Williams
2013-2014 Dallas Forbes
2012-2013 Keenan Abner

Hughes Residential College Student of the Year

2014-2015 Ember Russel
2013-2014 Jessica Hemund
2012-2013 Victoria Mays
2011-2012 Kameron Lovelace
2010-2011 Klayla Guilliams, Ozell Pace
2009-2010 Paige Sanderson
2008-2009 Giles Harness
2007-2008 Hannah Beth Dixon
2006-2007 Samuel Ellis
2005-2006 Amanda Ballentine
2004-2005 Tina Chung
2003-2004 Sara Mason
2002-2003 Gretchen Hays
2001-2002 Kelly Cunningham
2000-2001 Alicia Farrar
1999-2000 Donna Konghengta
1998-1999 Byron Wilkes
1997-1998 Mindy Freyandenhoven

Spirit of Minton

2023-2024 Joshua Grygus
2022-2023 Joshua Grygus
2021-2022 Victoria McFail
2020-2021 Kaedon Young
2019-2020 Ikina Kanu
2018-2019 Isaac Sims
2017-2018 Jennifer Long
2016-2017 Jennifer Long
2015-2016 Abbey Fletcher
2014-2015 Tori Dixon

Spirit of STEM

2023-2024 Braden Lee
2022-2023 Ridge Julian, Dasha Young
2021-2022 Diavion (Dee) Murphy
2020-2021 Eric Nguyen
2019-2020 Saylor Travis
2018-2019 Sarah Thiele
2017-2018 Ivy Hooker
2016-2017 Anna Allcorn, Christian Dodge
2015-2016 Emily Chambers, R.J. Felicitas
2014-2015 Aliyah Ellis, Kyle Baquiel
2013-2014 Melinda Martin
2012-2013 Jacob Plunk
2011-2012 Danielle Jaco

State Residential College Student of the Year

2010-2011 Hannah Posey
2009-2010 Reeca Gibson
2008-2009 Jamy Finley
2007-2008 Nicole Barnes
2006-2007 Mitchell Corbett
2005-2006 Erin Kay
2004-2005 Candace Stacener
2003-2004 Ben Frizzell
2002-2003 Rikki Brown
2001-2002 Robert Kuhn
2000-2001 Hailey Nash
1999-2000 Jeremy Barbre

STARS Student of the Year

2020-2021 Mattie Neighbors
2019-2020 Tri Jones
2018-2019 Thomas Douglas
2016-2017 Dustin Yoder
2015-2016 Katie Warford
2014-2015 Brooklyn Alezander
2013-2014 Emilia Barrick
2012-2013 Hannah Brown
2011-2012 Christie Embarger
2010-2011 Jacob Partlow
2009-2010 Breckenn Burns
2008-2009 Courtney Dunn
2007-2008 Dana Bledsoe
2006-2007 Keoni Sauer