Outstanding Students, Alumni Honored at Walton College Awards Banquet

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Mary Harmon, Michael Paladino and Michael A. Brown

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Three outstanding alumni of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas were recognized at the college's annual awards banquet for their accomplishments and service to Walton College.

In addition more than 60 students were honored for outstanding academic achievement at the April 19 banquet.

• Mary Harmon, managing director/tax counsel at Goldman Sachs in New York City, who graduated from Walton College in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting, received the college's lifetime achievement award.
• Michael Paladino, co-founder and chief technology officer of RevUnit in Bentonville, who graduated with a B.S.B.A. in information systems in 2001, was recognized as the college's 2018 entrepreneur of the year.
• Michael A. Brown, vice president and economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, who graduated with a B.S.B.A. in 2006 and a master's degree in 2007, both in economics, was honored with the Walton College outstanding service award.

Each year, Walton College recognizes up to three alumni in the categories of service, entrepreneurship and lifetime achievement. Nominations for each category are welcomed from faculty, staff and the alumni community at-large. Final approval of the awards rests with Dean Matthew A. Waller, with input from faculty and staff.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

• Outstanding Graduating Senior – Landri McGregor
• First-ranked Senior Scholars – David Black, Natalie Counce, Maggie Fancher, Denise Ingabire, Abby Rice, Quinn Simkins, Keiryn Swenson and Anna Tovar
• Senior Scholars – Carly Cassidy, Lane Criss, Catherine Hagemeier, William Martens, Landri McGregor, Katherine Papa, Hunter Rhea, Caroline Sage, Scott Sims, William Watkins and Qinyi Zhang
• Presidential Scholar Award – Shane Canaday
• Sam M. Walton College of Business Student Leadership Award – Adia Threatt
• Ralph Treat Outstanding Cooperative Student Award – Regina Villines
• Beta Gamma Sigma Award – Natalie Counce

Walton College recognized outstanding students in these departments:

• Accounting – Brittany Butler, Jon Fly, Samantha Stout, Keiryn Swenson and McKenzie Wages
• Economics – Macarena Arce
• Economics, Arts and Sciences – Stephen Komar
• Finance – Taylor Hasley, Tristan Locke, Ayesha Patel, McKenzi Puzin, Hunter Rhea, Trent Scaccia, Quinn Simkins, Scott Sims and Matthew Stewart
• Information Systems – Julianna Holtzman and Hannah Ward
• International Business – Jessica Garross
• Management – Rachel Amos, Corey Thorpe, Rebecca Trippe and Hoang Vo
• General Business – Kimberly Armstrong
• Marketing – Kalyn Carroll, Maggie Fancher, Hannah Hungate, Vincent Iannazzo, Denise Ingabire, Jessica Loechler, Caroline Sage and Brittany Stettmeier
• Retail – Morgan Long
• Supply Chain Management – Rachel Braun, Qiuhao Chengyong, Emma Fields, Maggie Mackey, Landri McGregor, Cristina Perez-Espinoza and Qinyi Zhang

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Walton College presented awards to outstanding graduate students in these programs:

• Master of Business Administration – Nathan Steckel, Executive M.B.A.; Tsanko Stoev, Executive M.B.A.; and Larry Vearrier, M.B.A.
• Master of Accountancy – Kimber Changose and Caroline Dominick
• Master of Information Systems – Anna Grace Franklin and Rose Paz

Walton College's lifetime achievement award is presented to alumni who make significant achievements in their careers and are recognized as industry and community leaders. To be considered for this award, a Walton College graduate must exemplify the core values of the college, inspire students and be a source of pride for the school.

The entrepreneur of the year award recognizes a Walton College graduate who has proven innovative and successful in a business venture of his or her own creation or reinvention. Preference is given to entrepreneurs who have been in business for at least five years. Consideration is also given to emerging entrepreneurs who exhibit the business acumen, drive and dedication essential to long-term success.

The college's outstanding service award recognizes service by a Walton College graduate who helps build and sustain the alumni and student network through active engagement, such as helping students find jobs and internships, participating in and promoting alumni activities and volunteering for one of the many Walton College departments, centers or advisory boards.

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.