The Latino Alumni Society of the Arkansas Alumni Association seeks nominations for the awards to be presented at Méritos Latinos on May 9. The awards program honors individuals who have significantly amplified the voices of Latina/o students at the U of A and have shown a deep dedication to equity and inclusion within the student body.

Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Community Awards

The society bestows awards in six categories. The awards committee accepts and considers nominations submitted by alumni, friends, faculty and staff. Candidates must meet the criteria provided on the society webpage to be eligible.

• Cecilia Grossberger and Angela Mosley-Monts Legacy Award: This award recognizes any person whose work has significantly elevated the voice of Latina/o students at the U of A and who has held a deep commitment for equity and inclusion of the student body.
• Maurizio Lorenzetti Latina/o Alumni Student Leader Award: This award recognizes any Latina/o alumna/us who has shown to be a great leader and advocate for the Latina/o community.
• Outstanding Diversity Engagement U of A Staff Member Award: This award recognizes a U of A staff member who demonstrated exceptional diversity and inclusion engagement skills.
• Outstanding Diversity Engagement U of A Faculty Member Award: This award recognizes a U of A faculty member who demonstrated exceptional diversity and inclusion engagement skills.
• Peer Mentor to a U of A Latina/o Student/Alumni Award: This award recognizes an individual who has served as a mentor to a Latina/o U of A student or alumna/us.
• Northwest Arkansas Latina/o Business Award: This award recognizes a Latina/o business owner who is also a U of A Latina/o alumna/us and has contributed to the development and economic growth of the Northwest Arkansas region.

Visit www.arkansasalumni.org/lasnoms to submit a nomination for any of the above awards.

Student Awards

The society seeks to recognize and highlight spring 2025  U of A graduating students in the Latina/o community who have demonstrated a strong academic record, student leadership and community engagement.

Faculty and staff are invited to nominate outstanding students by completing the student nomination form.

A graduation celebration for these outstanding students will be held during Méritos Latinos. The society will award special graduation stoles to the students as a powerful symbol of their commitment as Latina/o alumni to continue to share the society's mission to support personal development, advance the strength of the Latina/o community and acknowledge diversity in the different aspects of their lives.

Méritos Latinos

Founded in 2011, the Latino Alumni Society works to serve and recognize Latina/o students, bring together friends and the community, and engage faculty and staff at the U of A.

Each academic year, the society hosts two Méritos Latinos events. The fall event is a small invitation-only reception that honors and recognizes fall Latina/o graduates, serving as a graduation celebration and stole bestowal ceremony. The spring event is the society's signature event, with registration open to everyone. It includes a reception, dinner, the awards ceremony, the graduation celebration for the spring graduates and a post-dinner party with dancing. Visit the 2025 Méritos Latinos page for details on the event and sponsorship opportunities for the May 9 event.

Send questions about the Latino Alumni Society, Méritos Latinos or the awards nomination or student nominations processes to societies@arkansasalumni.org.