FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Black Alumni Society of the University of Arkansas will host its biennial reunion on campus the week of April 24-30.

“The reunion theme, ‘Lean In, Reach Out and Move Forward,’ expresses the importance of membership, students, scholarships and the legacy of the Black Alumni Society,” said Latonya Foster, president of the organization.

To learn about sponsorship of the reunion, please contact Angela Mosley Monts at ammonts@uark.edu.

Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz will give the University of Arkansas Welcome for the BAS Awards Gala at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Springdale.

The reunion will be filled with events through the week, including  a campus-wide cookout for all students on the Arkansas Union Mall from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, April 24.

The Black Alumni Society, U of A Career Development Center and the Sam M. Walton College of Business will celebrate students with a professional development event, “Dressed How You Want to Be Addressed,” hosted by Helena Gadison, vice president, sales and merchandising, for International Intimates, and Tony Waller, senior director, constituent relations, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The event will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

The highlight of the reunion will be the BAS Awards Gala on April 29. Six awards will be presented to honor 10 people for their accomplishments:

Distinguished Alumni Award, in recognition of alumni for their personal and professional achievements:

• Eddie Lee Collins, B.S.I.E.’82, CEO of Journeyman Advancement LLC

Ed Collins was founder and president of the first state chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG), a nonprofit multi-racial professional and advocacy group on non-partisan public policy issues and received BIG "elite" chapter status for lifetime members. BIG's federal chapters seek to represent over 3 million local, state and federal government employees in all 50 states and overseas. Collins successively advocated for the changing of the national constitution in Washington, D.C., to establish BIG student chapters in colleges and universities all across the United States.

He has worked as an engineer in Fortune 500 companies and small start-up manufacturing companies; worked in the public sector in both state government with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and federal government with the Department of Commerce, overseeing $13 billion in goods and services; worked in international sales; received the U.S. Census Distinguished Community Outreach Award for minority and immigrant communities in the 2010 Census Count; was an active participant in the annual 500 Men Reading Program promoting reading and literacy in elementary schools; was selected as a workshop presenter from over 500 applicants for "Black Male Symposium" at Pennsylvania University; and was selected for inclusion in the Cambridge Who's Who among executives and professionals.

• Jerry Eckwood, B.A.’98, M.Ed.’94, NFL, retired; Arkansas Razorback Letterman

Jerry Eckwood is a former NFL running back. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979-81, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979.

Eckwood played for the Razorbacks from 1975-78, and was a three-year letterman ('75, '76, '78), playing both for Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz. Eckwood was named First Team All Southwest Conference in 1975, rushing for 792 yards on 104 carries. His 7.62 yards per carry that season remained a school record until shattered by Felix Jones in 2007. Eckwood had six 100-yard rushing games in his Razorback career, five of those games occurring in 1975.

• Angela Wilson, B.A.’99, M.A.’03, J.D.’07, trademark counsel, GlaxoSmithKline

Angela Wilson has developed a legal career that has taken her from practicing mediation while at the U of A to working as legal counsel for trademark-related issues for one of the nation’s pharmaceutical giants, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Wilson’s journey to GSK, in North Carolina’s research triangle park, has included serving as an associate attorney for one of Atlanta’s premier firms for trademark and patent law, Parks IP Law LLC. In this role, she was responsible for working with national and international clients on registering trademarks and providing litigation for and protection of trademark infringement and other matters related to branding.

Community Service Award, in recognition of alumni who have dedicated extensive amounts of time to helping in their community.

• D’Andre Jones, B.S.E. ’09, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

D'Andre Jones serves on the following boards, which reflect his commitment to community service and social justice: Arkansas AIDS Foundation Board of Directors; Main Street Fayetteville; One Community; and the Yvonne Richardson Center.

Jones also serves as political director for the Northwest Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus. He was the first African American delegate to the Democratic National Convention to be elected from Northwest Arkansas. He has been an advocate for the individuals who are in need for over 20 years. He works extensively with community organizations to help the disenfranchised, and with community leaders as an advocate for minorities who feel they do not have a voice.

• Sharon Wilson, B.S.B.A.’90, Sharon E. Wilson CPA Company

Sharon Wilson is very active in numerous committee roles including chairman of the St. Francis County Community Foundation. She is also an organizer and director of the local Alpha Angels Mentoring Group for 6-9th grade girls (Alpha in honor of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.). The members are exposed to the arts, tutoring sessions during the summer and technical skills for web page design.

Wilson believes in guiding young people along their educational journeys and is a role model and mentor to kids in Forrest City. She and her husband, Dion Wilson, try to help prepare young people for their futures, especially those whose parents need a little help guiding them in the right direction and offering the opportunities to help them realize their dreams.

Dr. Lonnie Williams Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of an alumna/alumnus who has made significant lifetime achievements in their personal, professional and community services.

• Merlin Augustine, Ed.D.’82, assistant vice chancellor, retired; founder of the M&N Augustine Foundation for Human Development Inc.

Merlin Augustine has committed his life and his work to serving others, as exemplified by his creation of the M&N Augustine Foundation for Human Development, Inc. This is a client-centered, non-bureaucratic, result-oriented organization which exists to elevate downtrodden humanity through educational, financial, and social means. He started the foundation on Nov. 16, 1992 to honor his parents, the late Merlin Augustine Sr. and Nora Augustine. 

Augustine has established a reputation in Northwest Arkansas for decades as a true servant of people, long before starting the foundation. Under his leadership, the foundation helps families regularly in the community in many ways.

Young Alumni Award, in recognition of young alumni who have excelled in their professions and public service.

• B.K. Simmons, B.S.B.A.’13, former chief of staff for the Georgia House of Representatives; co-founder Wyzerr, The MEANT Group

Bjorn K. Simmons is an entrepreneur, activist, and co-founder of the multimillion-dollar tech startup company, Wyzerr. He is a first generation graduate from the U of A, where he received his B.S.B.A. in marketing management and entrepreneurship at the Sam M. Walton College of Business. He began his career in marketing working for Sam’s Club before relocating to the city of Atlanta, where he became immersed into the world of politics, serving as a chief of staff for the Georgia House of Representatives. He served as a community activist, campaign manager, field director and special projects coordinator with the senior staff team, which became known as The Gladiator.

Honorary Alumna Award, in recognition of non-graduates of the U of A who have promoted and participated in ways similar to those of a university graduate.

• Barbara Lofton, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Walton College

Barbara Lofton goes above and beyond to make sure the mission and value statements are carried out for the University of Arkansas, Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Black Alumni Society.

She joined Walton College when the Office of Minority Affairs was established in 1996. She holds a bachelor of science in health and physical education from Jackson State University, a master of arts in therapeutic recreation and a doctorate in higher education administration from Grambling State University.

She serves as the director of diversity programs in Walton College, teaches ‘The Black Experience in Business.’ She manages a budget totaling $200,000  and six scholarships accounts for the college and co-manages funds to support diversity initiatives engaged by the faculty and staff. She provides leadership and directions for the new strategic initiatives for diversity and inclusion.

She collaborates and supports activities across the U of A that contribute to the increased retention and graduation rates of minority students. She also works with the University and Walton College Career Centers to promote internships and employment opportunities.

Wyatt Weems Memorial Awards, in recognition of  individuals who are not graduates of the U of A but who have contributed a significant amount of time, and/or developed positions with the Black Alumni Society to promote the purpose and mission of the group.

• Willyerd Collier, attorney, former assistant vice provost; Marta Collier, founder of Learning Interior Designs and former associate professor

Willyerd and Marta Collier are simply a part of the University of Arkansas’ Black Alumni fabric. Willyerd Collier has spent his career as an attorney and more than 25 years in higher education. He served as the U of A’s assistant vice provost for academic affairs and director of affirmative action, and was instrumental in providing support to establish and start the George Washington Carver Research Program. The program is a recruitment initiative to identify superior graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions for selected undergraduate internship positions.

Marta D. Collier founded Learning Interior Designs out of a desire to help parents learn how to have fun with their children while teaching them the value of learning in life's classroom. She was a certified classroom teacher for the K-12 system in the states of Indiana, Georgia and Iowa and served as an adjunct, tenure track and a tenured associate professor at the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions. She has served as vice president of the Northwest Arkansas Reading Council and a member of the International Reading Association, National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Arkansas Reading Association. She served on the Undergraduate Studies and Graduate Studies Committees for the College of Education and Health Professions and served as member of the Faculty Committee on Admissions and Transfer Credit.

The co-chairs for the Black Alumni Society reunion are Lindsey Leverett-Higgins and Shun Strickland. Synetra Hughes is the entertainment chair, and Linda Bedford Jackson and John L Colbert will coordinate the alumni professional development activities. Erika Holiday and Ella Lambey are in charge of the reunion registration. The Scholarship Endowed Golf Tournament at 9 a.m. Friday, April 28 at Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club, hosted by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Alumni with Gus Farver, Oliver Sims and Mike Harris as co-chairs. Student Alumni Professional Development co-chairs are Angela Seawood Williams, Keith Britton, Victor Wilson and Earnest Duckery.

Additional events information may be accessed at www.arkansasalumni.org/2017BASreunion.

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.