Top 10 ˿Ƶ Alumni of 2021 Announced
The University of ˿Ƶ – Fort Smith Alumni Association announced the Top 10 Alumni of 2021, part of the Feb. 26 Homecoming 2021 “Lucky to Be a Lion” event slate. The honor acknowledges alumni for their contributions in their field of study, service to their community, professional accomplishments, and/or philanthropy work in support of worthy causes.
Due to the virtual format of this year’s homecoming celebrations, the ˿Ƶ Alumni Association modified its typical awards structure with the Top 10 taking the place of the traditional Diligence to Victory, Young Alumni, and Honorary Alumni awards.
- Kaci Collins has been involved with ˿Ƶ directly and indirectly since graduating
in 2012. She is the co-owner of Card + Cloth and opened a second location in late
2020, making it one of the top small shops in Fort Smith. Through serving as a recruitment
advisor for Delta Gamma Fraternity to supporting other alumni-owned businesses, Collins
continues to advocate for ˿Ƶ in both her words and actions.
- Kacie Carroll is a school-based mental health therapist who has worked with local
school kids to deal with the stress and anxiety that this pandemic has brought into
our world. Children have been expected to deal and cope with this pandemic just like
the adults in their lives, and shift rapidly to changes in their norms. Kacie has
made herself available to zoom at any time her students need her.
- Kaity and Gabriel Gould, founders of Fort Smith Coffee Co., continue to be faithful
˿Ƶ supporters. Kaity is also serving this year as a young alumni mentor. In 2020
the couple opened a second location and adapted their first location to add a drive-through
in order to better serve their community.
- Stephanie Long was involved on campus as a student and then utilized those skills
to launch not one but two businesses all while continuing her job as director of operations
at Shake's Frozen Custard. Long now owns and operates The Cake Occasion and The Kinship
Collective (started with her sister) and has donated her treats to different departments
and functions hosted by ˿Ƶ.
- Cody Newton has served his community by providing outstanding care as a nurse at Baptist
Health as well as working as a travel nurse in areas that were hit hard by the COVID-19
pandemic. Working for a FEMA crisis staffing agency, Newton tended to patients in
tent hospitals and emergency rooms throughout Texas, including Longview Regional Medical
Center, Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, University Medical Center in El Paso,
and Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.
- Nycole Oliver is a local DNP who has worked numerous hours providing COVID testing
and vaccinations. She recently presented as a guest speaker for WATC class events
as an example of what a powerful woman can do.
- Logan Parks graduated ˿Ƶ with a theatre degree and has recently begun working at
the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Parks also does remote social media work
for the Sebastian County Conservation District in an effort to serve others and make
the world a better place.
- Sarah Thompson was recognized as an invaluable asset to both the Fort Smith community
and ˿Ƶ for her work as a nurse in long-term acute care at Select Specialty Hospital
while also teaching in the Western ˿Ƶ Technical Center at ˿Ƶ. She has adapted
to changes quickly in order to better care for her patients as well as teach her students
and is considered a great example for upcoming alumni and students.
- Charolette Tidwell, a community leader and founder of Antioch for Youth and Family,
was recognized for her work providing thousands of area residents with food and commodities.
She was previously recognized for her efforts with a cover story in a 2016 issue of
“The Bell Tower,” the ˿Ƶ alumni magazine. She also received international acclaim
when she was named recipient of the 2020 Karen T. Fondu Impact Award for L'Oreal Paris
Women of Worth.
- Jessica Walton teaches third grade and specializing in literacy in an integrated (general and special education) classroom. She has shown tremendous effort within her Zoom classes and in-person students, adapting to teach English and pronunciation to the best of her ability while wearing a mask.
- Tags:
- Homecoming
- Alumni