Honors College Recognizes Outstanding Staff Across Campus

John Steele Cooper (left) and Russell Cothren capture Honors Passport study abroad in Peru. Photo: Anthony Blake.

Alisha Gilbride works closely with Honors College staff to facilitate housing selection for first-year honors students.

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The Honors College will recognize three staff members who have provided outstanding support to honors students, faculty and staff at a reception in Gearhart Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 11. John Cooper, Russell Cothren and Alisha Gilbride will each receive an Honors College Staff of the Year Award certificate and a check for $500.

The Honors College launched these awards and the staff reception two years ago in an effort to recognize staff members who go the extra mile to help students succeed and to document the honors experience on campus and beyond. 

"U of A staff work tirelessly behind the scenes, or in some cases behind a camera, to support our students and to publicize the opportunities that we offer," said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon. "We couldn't do it without them, and with these awards, we celebrate their dedication to the University of Arkansas."

Winners of the 2019 Honors College Staff of the Year Award include:

John Steele Cooper, managing producer of video productions, University Relations. Cooper helped to produce an award-winning video on the 2017 Honors Passport study abroad experience in Peru and contributed extensive video footage to the Honors Passport web site, recently recognized with a CASE District III Award of Excellence in the category of Recruitment Website or Microsite. This past year Cooper has put in many hours of creative work, above and beyond his extremely full production schedule, to help develop the forthcoming 30-minute video, Buen Camino, which documents an Honors Passport pilgrimage to points along the Camino de Santiago through France and Spain. "We deeply appreciate John's energy and creativity and look forward to launching this latest collaboration next fall," said Kendall Curlee, Honors College director of communications.

Russell Cothren, manager of photographic services, University Relations. Cothren has captured award-winning photos of people, places and events at the University of Arkansas since 1991. Most recently, his photographs of the Honors Passport trip to Peru won a Special Merit Award in the CASE District III National Platinum Awards for Excellence in Photography, and his photos of study abroad in Peru, France and Spain helped win CASE recognition for the Honors Passport web site. Cothren's photographs of honors students and faculty exploring Peru are currently on display in the second-floor study hall in Gearhart Hall. "Russell brings a fresh eye and adventurous spirit to every shoot, and it's always a pleasure to work with him," Curlee said. 

Alisha Gilbride, associate director of administrative services, University Housing. Each year Gilbride works closely with Honors College staff to facilitate housing selection for freshman honors students. "Considering the demand for honors spaces like Hotz Honors Hall, this can be an incredibly thankless task to oversee," said Noah Pittman, Honors College assistant dean of enrollment. Despite these challenges, Gilbride is well-known for her calm demeanor, her remarkable ability to resolve problems as they arise, and her warm welcome to incoming students and their families.