Sponsored Students and Special Programs Staff Bid Farewell to Students, Honor Faculty and Staff

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Students, faculty and staff gather at the Verizon Ballroom in the Arkansas Union for the awards ceremonies.

Sponsored Students and Special Programs held the annual Spring/Summer recognition program Thursday, April 22, at the Verizon Ballroom in the Arkansas Student Union. The event was the first in-person activity for SSSP in more than a year.

Chancellor Joe Steinmetz kicked off the event by acknowledging the sponsored students who are graduating in the spring or summer of 2021. He also congratulated exchange students and visiting scholars who will be departing after the successful completion of their short-term programs. 

SSSP also presented annual awards for staff and faculty. The Outstanding Staff Member is Dr. Carlos Acosta, staff physician at the Pat Walker Health Center. The Outstanding Faculty Member is Adnan Alrubaye, Ph.D., research assistant professor of poultry science and biological sciences and the associate director of the cell and molecular biology graduate program.

Since 2010, the annual awards are presented to a staff and faculty member who facilitated an aspect of the sponsored student process, encouraged or mentored sponsored and exchange students and exemplified outstanding contributions to the sponsored student and scholar program.

“Dr. Alrubaye is deserving of this award for his longstanding support and dedication of our sponsored students,” said Gloria Flores Passmore, director of sponsored students and special programs. “And Dr. Acosta has always had such a caring, concerned and wholistic approach to his service as a physician, and for that we are grateful.”

Alrubaye added that his work with international sponsored students “has been the most enjoyable experience of my life. I am happy to be part of our students' successes and help them achieve their academic goals.”

Several student participants at the event credited the university and SSSP with their success. Laura Nuevo Martin, an exchange participant from Spain, said the event made students feel appreciated and valued.

Obed Lamy, a Fulbright graduate student from Haiti who recently completed his master’s degree in journalism, shared his thanks at the event. Lamy described his experience with SSSP, calling it “an incredible journey” to be a student at the U of A.

Sponsored students and scholars 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.

Exchange students are received at the university from another country, often in exchange for one sent to an institution in the home country of the first as part of a reciprocal agreement.