UA Walton College to honor outstanding alumni and students in 33^rd annual event

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The accounting department in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas will honor its outstanding alumni and students at the 33^nd annual Accounting Recognition Banquet Wednesday, April 19, at the Alltel Ballroom, Arkansas Union.

The event also represents the 55^th anniversary of the founding of the Alpha Iota chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honorary society, on the University of Arkansas campus.

The accounting department will recognize its 2006 outstanding alumni in the areas of:

• Industry and Government — Ann G. Bordelon, vice president, Real Estate Finance, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville, Ark.

• Education — Overton Faubus, professor emeritus, Ablilene Christian University.

Karen V. Pincus, holder of the S. Robson Walton Chair in Accounting and chair of the accounting department, said: “The things taught in college are not the end of learning, but the preparation for a lifetime of learning. Since 1977, the department has annually recognized the accomplishments of some of our outstanding alumni who, after completing their UA education, have continued to grow and learn. These alumni provide excellent role models and exemplify the very essence of what we are trying to teach our students.”

Accounting Alumni Awards

Bordelon graduated from the Walton College in May 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and computer information systems. She joined the audit staff of Ernst & Young after graduation. She became a certified public accountant in 1990. After three years at Ernst & Young, Bordelon joined Tyson Foods Inc. as a manager of financial analysis in Tyson’s retail sales and marketing department, later moving to the investor relations department. Bordelon returned to Ernst & Young in 1998 in its new Fort Smith office. In 2003, she joined Wal-Mart as assistant controller of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. In 2004, she was promoted to vice president and assistant controller and in 2005 was promoted to vice president for real estate finance. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Finance Executives International.

Faubus received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1939 and an Master of Business Administration in accounting in 1957 from Texas A&M University. He received the doctoral degree in accounting from the Walton College in 1967. He worked for Dallas Power & Light Co. and as manager of Aerl's Creamery in Waco, Texas. He then joined Abilene Christian University as an assistant processor. He was named head of the department of business (later the College of Business) in 1967 and retired as dean emeritus in 1980. He continued teaching and consulting with the College of Business. He was named outstanding teacher by the Abilene Christian students and faculty, and the A. Overton Faubus Endowed Chair at the college was funded in his honor. He was an active member of the American Institute of Accounting and the Texas State Society of CPA's. He was also a partner in the firm of McCurdy, Faubus & Wright Accounting.

Rivka Berman is one of three outstanding graduating accounting majors. She was previously named the outstanding junior in accounting. She served as chief financial officer of SIFE and vice president of Beta Gamma Sigma. Upon graduation, she will work as a Financial Analyst in the Finance Department at Tyson Foods Inc.  Millie Jones is the second outstanding accounting student. She is a member of Dean’s Student Advisory Board, vice president of programs for Beta Alpha Psi, and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. She will intern with Pricewaterhouse Coopers this summer and enter the MACC program this fall. Lacey La Rue, the third outstanding accounting student, was also previously named outstanding junior in accounting. She is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Gamma Beta Phi, and a Walton Honors College scholar. She plans to attend the UA School of Law this fall.  

Sarah Garton is the outstanding master of accounting student. She received the Modisette and outstanding accounting senior awards. She was president of Beta Alpha Psi and a first ranked senior scholar. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Delta Pi. She was also a member of the graduate team that came in third in the 2006 in the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup competition. She starts with Ernst & Young this summer. 

In addition, the department will honor scholarship donors and recipients for the coming year. Student leaders from Beta Alpha Psi and National Association of Black Accountants will be recognized as well.

Pincus said: “This awards ceremony also provides recent graduates and friends of the department an opportunity to visit with our faculty and students and learn of some of our accomplishments for the past year. We appreciate the chance to express our appreciation to the individuals and firms providing financial support to the department and its students.”