The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas will shine a spotlight on exceptional alumni, supporters and students during its 32nd Annual Student and Alumni Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24. The event brings together the college community to recognize those whose accomplishments have made meaningful contributions to their studies, fields, and the wider business world.

ALUMNI AWARDS

Each year, faculty, staff, and alumni submit nominations in categories that include service and lifetime achievement. Brent D. Williams, dean of the Walton College, selects the winners.

The Walton College is honored to recognize the following alumni and supporters:

Lifetime Achievement Award – Merritt Dyke 

Merritt Dyke chairs the board of Dyke Industries, a major millwork distributor operating across 18 states. After leadership roles at Fidelity Information Services and Alltel, he took the helm of his family's business in 2013. The Little Rock native graduated from the Walton College in 1984.

Active in his community, Dyke currently serves as president of Fifty for the Future and sits on the Pathway to Freedom board. He's active with UA Little Rock as a member of both the Board of Visitors and Trojan Athletic Council. He and his wife Anne were recently honored at the 2024 SpectacuaLR event. His previous service as president of the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees (now Arkansas Fine Arts Museum) earned him the Winthrop Rockefeller Memorial Award.

The Dykes have generously supported the U of A through multiple scholarships, including the Merritt and Anne Dyke Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship, the James T. Dyke Non-endowed Scholarship and the Dean Matt Waller Non-endowed Scholarship. They're members of the Towers of Old Main and continue to call Little Rock home.

Outstanding Service Award – Janet Ryan Stegall and Bob Stegall

Janet Ryan Stegall, a North Little Rock native and 1988 Walton College graduate with a BSBA in Accounting, has built a 28-year career in finance at Bank of America. Currently serving as managing director and private client advisor with Bank of America Private Bank in Dallas. Janet works with high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, and nonprofit institutions.

Bob Stegall served as COO of WorkRecords, an enterprise platform providing labor supply chain technology, until his retirement in 2018. His distinguished career includes leadership positions as President/COO of Pro Staff, a $300+ million staffing firm, and roles with IBM and LSI Industries. Following retirement, Bob founded Stegall Consulting, formalizing his approach to sales in "The Art of Sales - Perfecting your Craft" in 2021. He earned his degree from Southern Methodist University.

The duo are deeply committed to community service. Janet has been involved with the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas for several years, previously serving as board chair and on the foundation board. She's also a member of the Dallas alumnae chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Both Janet and Bob have been actively engaged with the Walton College, with Janet serving on the Dean's Executive Advisory Board, the Campaign Arkansas committee, and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Board. Bob previously served on the Dean's Roundtable of Entrepreneurs and Market-Makers.

The Stegalls actively support both entrepreneurship initiatives and the sales program at the Walton College, generously contributing their time and resources to each area. The two are valued members of the Towers of Old Main and have frequently returned to campus as guest speakers and panelists, generously sharing their expertise with students. Their passion for the university extends to family recruitment—they've proudly encouraged four nephews from across the country to attend the U of A. Though they primarily reside in Dallas, the Stegalls spend as much time as possible in Fayetteville, always ready to call the Hogs at Razorback sporting events.

STUDENT AWARDS

Undergraduate and graduate students will also be honored for their excellence in individual academic business disciplines, as well as for their leadership and service within the college during this ceremony.