The College of Education and Health Professions has more than 38,000 alumni in all 50 states and 62 countries making significant contributions to their professions and communities.

Last week, the college celebrated a dozen of these alumni at a banquet, all of whom Dean Kate Mamiseishvili praised for doing "extra" — a sentiment inspired by a book she recently read titled Legacy, by James Kerr.

The book's motto is "Champions do extra," and Mamiseishvili said that came to mind when she learned about the award recipients' accomplishments.

"Champions do extra: extra effort, extra sacrifice, extra desire, extra hard work, extra care, every step of the way. That's what it takes to do something extraordinary," she told the crowd gathered at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. "It's that extra that has made tonight's 12 alumni honorees extraordinary."

That "extra" led one award winner to build deeper connections with her patients and integrate their life stories into electronic medical records. Another awardee spent military leave traveling to alternative schools so he could share his personal struggles with students and show them that a better life is possible. Yet another moved into a residence hall while serving as vice president for student affairs so she could immerse herself in campus life.

Each alum was invited onstage to receive their award while a video featuring photos and excerpts from an interview about their lives and careers played.

The first six awards were presented to outstanding alumni from the college's five departments and the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. (Details about each departmental award winner can be found in a previously published story.)

The 2025 departmental alumni award winners are:

• Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy: Tracy Bair Pate, program coordinator for The Listening Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
• Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods: Reginald J. "Reggie" Miller, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at GE Vernova.
• Department of Curriculum and Instruction: Josh Vest, principal at Happy Hollow Elementary in Fayetteville.
• Department of Education Reform: James "Lynn" Woodworth, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the lead researcher for the Tectonics Project.
• Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation: Nicole A. Wilkins, director of athletic training education and Chapman clinical assistant professor at The University of Tulsa.
• Eleanor Mann School of Nursing: Kayla D. Scott-Arce, director of inpatient rehabilitation and clinical informatics at Mena Regional Health System.

Following the departmental awards, Mamiseishvili announced college-wide recipients:

• Distinguished Public Service Award: Julia D. Phelps, who has improved people's lives through civic engagement, community service and volunteer efforts.
• Distinguished Career in Education Award: Maureen A. Hartford, former president of Meredith College.
• Distinguished Career in Health Award: Heather Coats, a well-known palliative care nurse leader whose research focuses on using person-centered narrative interventions.
• Emerging Leader in Education Award: Jeremy N. Butler, a special education teacher at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale.
• Emerging Leader in Health Award: Brendan I. Cook, an occupational therapist based in Northwest Arkansas.

The last award of the evening — the Dean's Circle of Care  — was presented to Gary Stark, a military veteran whose education career has led him to schools, universities, government, and public and private philanthropy for more than 30 years.

Stark, who earned his doctorate in educational administration from the College of Education and Health Professions, is the senior adviser for K-12 education for the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group and is chairman of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching board.

This Dean's Circle of Care Award is special to Mamiseishvili. She created it last year to recognize friends and supporters "who exemplify extraordinary care for the college and display abundant generosity with their time, guidance and support."

In addition to the Circle of Care Award, the dean presented Stark with a children's book, a keepsake with double meaning.

"If you've been in my office, I am sure you've noticed the telescope on my desk, alongside a children's book, The Spyglass, by Richard Paul Evans. These were gifts from Dr. Stark," Mamiseishvili told the audience. "The book is about a kingdom where people are encouraged to look through a spyglass to envision their future. The spyglass served as my inspiration for a transformative change in our college. 

"Dr. Stark has been an encourager, supporter and friend, and today, I am excited to present him with the Dean's Circle of Care Award and a children's book by M.H. Clark, Grateful for You."

In his remarks, Stark, a member of the Dean's Executive Advisory Board, promised to "continue to support the college's WE CARE efforts, both in vision and in journey." He said the creation of this type of award "underscores the college's commitment to fostering a culture of care and service."

"I'm very happy to be connected with this work," he added.

Stark acknowledged the family, friends, colleagues and mentors who have been pillars along his journey. He also recognized Dean Emeritus Reed Greenwood, the inaugural recipient of the Dean's Circle of Care Award last year, and Jim Rollins, former longtime superintendent of the Springdale Public Schools. Stark said it's not often you get to thank mentors "who belong on Mount Rushmore for your life" from a podium.

Stark also congratulated his fellow alumni awardees and said he looks forward to seeing their ongoing contributions to health and education professions. "Especially you, Jeremy Butler. Why is that?"

Butler garnered a hearty laugh and applause from the crowd when he called out from his seat in the audience, "You were my principal in middle school!"

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions' six departments prepare students for a wide range of careers in education and health, including teaching, nursing, counseling, educational leadership and policy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, public health, exercise science, and many more. The college has approximately 360 faculty and staff members, serves more than 6,000 students and supports over 20 research and service units. Guided by the WE CARE strategic plan, the college strives to advance impactful research that improves people's lives, increase transformative learning opportunities for its students, engage in meaningful partnerships across Arkansas and beyond, and embrace a culture of caring that empowers people to thrive in all aspects of life.