Sponsored Student Programs Appreciation Awards Announced

From left: Curt Rom, Gloria Flores-Passmore, Sheri Lynn Tuck, Kim Needy, Patricia Koski

From left: Curt Rom, Gloria Flores-Passmore, Bryan Hill, Kim Needy, Patricia Koski

From left: Curt Rom, Gloria Flores-Passmore, Ethel Goodstein-Murphree, Kim Needy, Patricia Koski

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The University of Arkansas honored sponsored students and mentors at a recent recognition luncheon

The University of Arkansas Graduate School and International Education is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Sponsored Student Programs Appreciation Awards for fall 2015.

Since 2010, an award has been presented each year to faculty and staff members who have facilitated an aspect of the sponsored student process, encouraged or mentored sponsored students and exemplified outstanding contributions to the sponsored student program.

This year's award recipients are:

Outstanding Staff Members

• Bryan Hill, assistant dean for student recruiting, honors and international programs in the College of Engineering
• Sheri Lynn Tuck, academic counselor for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design

Outstanding Faculty Member

• Ethel Goodstein-Murphree, associate dean and professor for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design

The award recipients were recognized at an appreciation luncheon on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

In addition to recognizing outstanding faculty and staff, the event honored sponsored students who will complete their studies at the University of Arkansas in the fall 2015 semester.

"Attending the University of Arkansas has been an honor and a dream that came true through hard work, determination and some good luck," said Waleed Saad S. Alhosaini, a sponsored student from Saudi Arabia. 

Several sponsored students said they were glad to have been a member of the U of A community during the time of their scholarship. They love the time they have spent in Arkansas and will bring their experiences back to their native countries.

"My stay at the university, Arkansas and the United States at large has been more than for the academics. It has been more of a 'school for life,'" said Elie Rene Gasore, a sponsored student from Rwanda. "I have seen greatness and excellence in people, yet borne in humility and with a strong passion for service with a good level of integrity. These attitudes can help some of our home countries get drastically transformed for the better of our communities, countries and continents."

Sponsored students are those who are funded by foreign governments, the U.S. government, domestic and international agencies, private companies and corporations. These international students, upon completion of their degrees, return to their home countries and serve as important links between the United States, Arkansas and the U of A in business, government, education and industry.