FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Donna L. Graham and Kristina Bautista from the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology in the University of Arkansas' Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, have earned awards from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Graham has been named an Outstanding Educator by NACTA while Bautista has been named Outstanding Graduate Student.

Graham has been an AECT professor of agricultural and extension education since 2010, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses as well as in the Bumpers College Honors Program. She has also served the college as associate dean.

"This is wonderful recognition and I am honored to be selected for this award," said Graham.

Bautista, who is from Lawton, Oklahoma, is working on her master's degree in agricultural and extension education.

"Getting to interact and work with students within the Bumpers College really excites me about entering the education field and continuing to grow as a professional educator," said Bautista, who plans to become a high school agricultural education instructor.

NACTA is a professional society that focuses on promoting, recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching agriculture and related areas at the post-secondary level in North America. Members are from two- and four-year colleges, and teach agriculture and related subjects.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.