Arkansas Alumni Association Honors Volunteers

Great alumni organizations aren't built by staff alone. They're built by volunteers who answer the call to lead, serve and connect fellow alumni. The Arkansas Alumni Association announced their biennial awards during the Alumni Leaders Summit at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. Kevin Trainor B.A.'94, M.A.'05, chief operating officer and associate executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association, presented at this year's event. He presented the Morris Fair Heart Award to John Berry and Justin Lewis, B.A.'10, in recognition of their exceptional volunteer leadership. He also announced the MACE Excellence Awards, honoring the Tulsa Alumni Chapter and the Armed Forces Alumni Society for their outstanding contributions to alumni engagement.

Presented every two years, the Alumni Volunteer Awards recognize extraordinary service to the U of A and the Arkansas Alumni Association. The 2026 recipients were selected for their leadership and contributions from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 15, 2025, following a review by the Internal and External Relations Committees of the association's National Board of Directors.

Morris Fair Heart Award

The Arkansas Alumni Association created the Morris Fair Heart Award to honor a unique individual who exemplifies the volunteer spirit, enthusiasm and commitment that is the core of an alumni group's involvement. The first award was awarded in 2000.

This award is named for Morris Fair, a beloved volunteer from the Memphis Chapter who also served as president of the National Board of Directors from July 1997 through June 1998. He demonstrated the spirit of the award that honors individuals who give their "heart" to an alumni group and often do not stand in the spotlight for their contributions.

John Berry

Berry is the epitome of the Morris Fair Heart Award. He exemplifies the volunteer spirit, enthusiasm and commitment that is the core of alumni involvement. He truly gives his "heart" to the PRIDE Alumni Society in many ways. He has been instrumental in providing leadership to the society, serving as president and chairing their successful Drag Brunch, which raises money for scholarships. Berry leads by example and encourages others to get engaged and stay involved.

Justin Lewis

Lewis serves as the lead volunteer for our Dallas Alumni Chapter and has been instrumental in the chapter's continued growth. He has demonstrated remarkable dedication and leadership, taking on responsibilities and roles that weren't necessarily his but needed to be done.

Lewis has been instrumental in expanding the chapter's network and visibility throughout the Dallas area. His proactive attitude is evident in his contributions to event planning and execution, as well as his commitment to serving others.

MACE Excellence Award

The Mace Excellence Award recognizes the outstanding alumni groups. It is a prestigious accomplishment and fitting recognition for the hard work of our alumni volunteers. One chapter and one society can be recognized in each evaluation period. The original Mace Award was created by the National Board of Directors in 2008 and was named for Emeritus Executive Director Mike Macechko [Muh sech ko]. He was known as Mace to his college friends because his roommates had difficulty pronouncing his last name.

The purpose of this award is to recognize an alumni group that has produced excellence in programming, services, engagement and support while striving to best serve all alumni and friends of the U of A in their local communities. These groups would be considered "role model groups" for their peers and exemplify a spirit of teamwork with the association and the U of A in achieving greater, more dynamic alumni and constituent engagement.

The Mace Excellence Award will be on display at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House, and a recognition plate has been added for all to see. The awarded alumni groups will also receive a $1,000 stipend to support alumni programming in the upcoming year.

Tulsa Alumni Chapter

The Tulsa Alumni Chapter was established in 2013. They continue to grow and develop a cohesive board dedicated to promoting volunteerism and engaging current alumni and friends. They currently have five board members, with Kristine Stover B.S.B.A'81 serving as president during the nomination period.

During the period of evaluation, the chapter held many events, including:

• Basketball Preview Event with Matt Zimmerman and Kevin Trainor
• Many football, basketball and baseball watch parties
• Annual participation in the Alumni Homecoming Scholarship Auction to raise funds for the chapter's scholarship

This past academic year, the chapter awarded scholarships to four students from the Tulsa area to aid in student success and retention.

Armed Forces Alumni Society

The Armed Forces Alumni Society was established in 2018.

During the period of evaluation, the Armed Forces Alumni Society:

•          Held two Military Balls where Razorback Armed Forces Alumni were honored

•          Hosted two tailgates, partnering with other campus units

•          Collaborated on four recruiting events with Army and Air Force ROTC

•          Made 42 Challenge Coin Presentations

The Armed Forces Alumni Society also annually awards scholarships to military-affiliated students to demonstrate its commitment to student success.

About the Arkansas Alumni Association: The Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to connect alumni, friends and students to the University of Arkansas. The association's mission is to connect and serve the University of Arkansas family.