Sponsored Student Program Appreciation Award Winners Announced

From left: Curt Rom, Gloria Flores Passmore, Lynn Mosesso, Kim Needy, Patricia Koski

From left: Curt Rom, Gloria Flores Passmore, Andrew Dowdle, Kim Needy Patricia Koski

Sponsored students gather at the 2016 Sponsored Student Programs Appreciation Awards ceremony

Sponsored students celebrate together at the 2016 Sponsored Student Programs Appreciation Awards ceremony

Sponsored students and support staff pose together at the 2016 Sponsored Student Programs Appreciation Awards ceremony

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Sponsored students and faculty and staff members who support them were honored at a recent ceremony

The University of Arkansas Graduate School and International Education has named the recipients of the annual Sponsored Student Programs Appreciation Awards for spring 2016.

This year's award recipients are:

Outstanding Staff Member

• Lynn Mosesso, director of graduate and international admissions and international recruitment

Outstanding Faculty Member

• Andrew Dowdle, professor and department vice chair of political science

"Lynn Mosesso is deserving of this award for her many years of service by leading graduate and international admissions, sponsored student programs and her tireless efforts to recruit and support various groups of students from around the world," said Gloria Flores Passmore, director of sponsored student programs. 

Passmore praised Dowdle as well and said his support for sponsored students is unparalleled.

"Dr. Dowdle has been very supportive and committed to understanding the parameers of the sponsored student's scholarship," she said. "This is invaluable to the sucess of our students."

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.

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.

The award recipients were recognized at an appreciation dinner on Tuesday, April 5.

In addition to honoring outstanding faculty and staff, the sponsored students set to complete their studies at the U of A in the spring 2016 semester were recognized.

"The university has provided me and other sponsored students with many opportunities, not only academically, but also personally and professionally," said Leticia Candida Vaz, a sponsored student from Brazil. "I know our parents didn't have the same opportunities that we have had, so we are all very grateful for this chance."

Several students echoed Vaz, and said they were glad to study at the U of A during the time of their scholarship. They said their experiences on campus and in the Northwest Arkansas community have given them new cultural perspectives.

"Since coming to the University of Arkansas, I have become more open-minded and flexible, because I was exposed to the differences of several cultures," said Abderrahmande Mayouche, a Fulbright scholar from Algeria.

The appreciation luncheon was part of a two-day Sponsor Visit program hosted by the Office of Sponsored Student Programs. The event provided an opportunity for representatives from sponsoring organizations and embassies to become more familiar with the U of A campus and students. Sponsoring organizations and governments that were represented during the two-day event were AMIDEAST, LASPAU, World Learning, the Institute of International Education, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and the Iraqi Cultural Office.