1. Home
  2.  » Graduating Student Leader Reception

ABOUT

The Division of Student Affairs created Graduating Student Leaders Reception in order to formally thank graduating seniors who have been instrumentally involved in its co-curricular programs during their academic careers. The students are recognized at a ceremony for their time and commitment to the university as a student leader. They are presented with a Graduating Student Leader medallion that is intended to be worn over the robe during the students’ commencement in order to fully signify and recognize this honor that student leaders will receive.

The spring graduation ceremony also announces the winner of the annual Jenny Runkles Watercarrier Award for Leadership.

Nominations for the Spring 2022 reception will be open on March 23rd, 2022 and can be submitted here. Students who graduated in the Fall 2021 Semester or Spring 2022 Semester are eligible to be nominated.

For more information please contact Jonas Zabriskie via email at jezabris@uark.edu

Our 2022 Graduating Student Leaders

Aaron Doss

Aashiyana Patel

Abby Fipps

Abby Windholtz

Abigail Owen

Adri Peter

Aggie Lipinski

Alan Castro

Alan Torres

Alex Coulson

Alex Siebermorgen

Alexa Moreno

Alexander Mitchell

Alexia Lo

Alexis Janatello

Alexzandria Washington

Allison Wertz

Alyssa Hobbs

Amanda McQuitty

Amanda Tomanek

Amaya Henderson

Amber Pinder

Amelia Catanzaro

Amy Keller

Amy Schexnayder

Amy Truitt

Anden Hammack

Andres Luna Orosco Amelunge

Andrew Bristow

Andrew Lauro

Andrew Turner

Anna Dooly

Anna Thompson

Annelise Koster

Anthony Kammerer

Anusha Bhattacharyya

Apoorva Bisht

Arianna Morrison

Aryn Blumenberg

Ashanti Wesley

Ashton Stephens

Aubrey Kate Merrell

Avery Hasten

Avery Smith

Avneet Sandhu

Ayanna Evans

Bailey Downing

Beatrice Lacy

Beck Williams

Belinda Watson

Bilal Momand

Bradley Smith

Bradley Watson

Braelyn Preston

Brandon Carr

Brandon Jerome

Breanna Williams

Brendan O’Donnell

Brian Tarno

Briana Roden

Bridgette Bavon

Brittany Willis

Brooke Lovan

Brooke Martin

Brooke Menke

Cade Pylant

Caitlin Paris

Caleb Brown

Caleb Fray

Caleb Swears

Cameron Morris

Cameryn Cupelli

Carly Russell

Caroline Wagner

Carolyn Elizabeth Loudermilk

Cassidy Pyles

Cayla Johnson

Charles Rieth

Chase Book

Chloe Benton

Chloe Bevenue

Chloe Cobb

Christopher Jemison

Claire Furlow

Clarissa Fuller

Cody Heiland

Cody Parrish

Coleman Warren

Collin Petigna

Connor McClanahan

Conor Moriarty

Cooper Greenwald

Courtney Blackburn

Dana Siverly

Dane Arbuckle

Daniela Alvaradi-Perez

Daniela Gomez

Delaney Marsh

Di’ Granger

Diana Jimenez

Dianne Perez

Dominique Savage

Duru Erkan

Elena Wallach

Elizabeth (Nicole) Dominguez

Elizabeth Sanchez

Emory Kincaid

Fah Sysavanh

Falyn Brothers

Fern Milmon

Fernanda Alcantara

George Williams

Gopi Lukhi

Grace McClintock

Grace Roberts

Grace Williams

Gustavo Garcia

Hanna Patel

Hannah Allred

Hector Apodaca

Henry Forteith

Hunter Jaeger

Ian Bishop

Jack Arp

Jack Berg

Jack Marshall

Jack Switzer

Jack West

Jaira Porter

Jake Reed

James Emeric

James Swaim

Janeth Jaen Jaen

Jaren Hernandez

Jarod King

Jayla Lee

Jazzmyn Williams

Jenna Ronquest

Jennifer Avila

Jennifer Beyard

Jennifer Sanchez

Jeremy Camp

Jessie Agcaoili

Jillian Brugger

John Wilson

Joseph Huett

Josephine Drydale

Joshua Church

Joshua Snyder

JT Jones

Juan Zuniga

Julie Haley

Justin Onyeug

Kamryn Good

Karina Rosario

Karleigh Ferrell

Karsyn Robsinson

Katie Loethen

Kearsten Dampman

Kelly Blome

Kendall Yarbrough

Kennedy Barnett

Kristin Ryan

Kyle Jorden

Larissa Whale

Laura Randall

Lauren Restino

Lauren Shepard

Leen Abochale

Lena Hopkins

Levi Ketchum

Liam Alderson

Lindsey Albin

Loren Hedgecock

Lyndsey Smith

Madeline Brink

Madeline Doran

Madison Ferrill

Madison Russell

Maggie Green

Maggie McLemore

Makala Smith

Makenzie McJunkins

Mallory MacDonald

Mariana Arce Vargas

Mariel Morales Ortega

Mary Haggard

Matthew Aitkens

Max Jackson

Maya Fallows

Mckenzie Hale

Megan Cullum

Megan Huth

Megan Paul

Mia Bates

Michael Connelly

Michael Fuhrman

Michael Partain

Michelle Espinoza

Michelle Kamanga

Miranda Stith

Molly Dirksen

Molly Goetz

Morgan Stratton

Natalie Martinez Fuentez

Nate Cole

Nate Mallary

Nicolas Villarreal Cardenas

Noelle Chesser

Nyasha Bgoni

Nyjha Bates

Olivia Glasgow

Olivia Pledger

Olivia Stieren

Paiton Scrivner

Patience Billingsley

Patrick Kwok

Payton Grice

Peyton Fourt

Quincy Nauert

Quinn Salverson

Rachel Siebenmorgen

Remy Wells

Rheana Davenport

Rohan Patel

Roque Viera

Ryan Harra

Sadie Estep

Sai Vanteru

Samantha Davis

Sandra Decaigny

Sanidhya Tripathi

Sara Feather

Sara Oswalt

Sarah Denny

Savannah Busch

Savas Luther

Shaadee Shojai

Shalu Jivan

Shannon Rose

Shantal Sarmienti Fuentes

Skyye Robinson

Sophia Gibson

Stephanie Nguyen

Stephanie Verdaris

Stetson Ledbetter

Sullany Ayala Rojas

Summer Johnson

Suneeta Tandon

Swetha Sirigineedi

Sydney Stewart

Symone Jones

Symone Young

Ta’Nyeah White

Talia West

Tanner King

Tatiana Shi

Taylor Austin

Teia Anderson

Terrrance Martin Jr.

Tess Carroll

Tionna Martin

Toma Tomonari

Trey Rouse

Trinity Walker

Tucker Onishi

Vanessa Corvera

Vanessa Davis

Victoria Porter

Will Franke

Will Robinson

William Hadley

William Reid

Xinyi Lian

Yanna Evans

Zachary Andrews

Zaniya Smith

Zoe Dean

Zoe Eudy-Hill

Zoe Johnson

Zoe Patrick

Jenny Runkles Watercarrier Award for Leadership

The Watercarrier Award for Leadership, renamed in memory of Jenny Runkles in 2002, honors a University of Arkansas student who embodies the spirit of the “Watercarrier.” Jenny Runkles, an alumna of the University of Arkansas, exemplified that spirit in all activities in which she was involved. Tragically killed in a car accident in June of 2001, Jenny’s memory continues to live in our hearts and through this award. This award is given annually, and recipients are recognized at the Graduating Student Leaders breakfast held each May.

To receive this special honor, the candidate will be nominated by a mentor and should embody the spirit of leadership as described by the philosopher and corporate leader, Max DePree. The selection committee uses the following criteria when selecting the recipient:

  • Commitment to problem-solving and organizational development;
  • Dedication to the goals, mission, and beliefs of the organization;
  • Advocating organizational responsibility from leaders and respect from followers;
  • Fostering change.

For more information please contact the New Student & Family Programs office by phone (479) 575-5002 or email nsfp@uark.edu

2022 Jenny Runkles Watercarrier Award for Leadership Winner

Hanna Patel

Hanna Patel

2022 Award Recipient

Leadership Defined

“The most successful people see adversity not as a stumbling block, but as a stepping-stone to greatness” – Shawn Anchor. This mantra is illustrative of how I view the challenges that I have faced as motivation to get to where I am today and where I hope to be in the future. The intersections of my identities and the challenges that have come along with them has fueled my desire to serve as a resource and role model for all students who see a reflection of themselves in me. As an Indian American, as a daughter of two immigrants, a first generation American, and most importantly, a woman, my experience as a student leader at the University of Arkansas has been rooted in seizing all opportunities and paving the way for other students to come after me. I came to the University of Arkansas from West Memphis Arkansas as a first-generation college student. I was nervous and skeptical about beginning my college journey because I felt the burden of having to learn how to navigate my own path to graduation. I did not have anyone to guide me through college as a first generation American. However, my freshman year was a life-changing experience because it was the first time I have been surrounded by a community of people who understood where I came from and the challenges that resulted from my background. I came across individuals who genuinely saw me and accepted me for who I am. I give credit to this positive experience to the Accelerated Student Achievement Program (ASAP). This program helps first generation students from the underserved and underrepresented communities of the Arkansas Delta get acclimated to college by taking summer courses and participating in mentorship. I believe this program provided me with the resources and mentorship to succeed as a student and student leader at the UofA. That summer, I was able to take an in-depth tour of the campus before classes began, attend tutoring sessions, receive mentorship from Kevin Smith Jr., who was in the same college as myself, and had exposure to leadership opportunities such as ASG. With these resources, I was more prepared to begin freshman year with a head start, something many first-generation students don’t have access to. The following year, my sophomore year, I was so grateful for the mentorship I received, I wanted to ensure that this contribution was reciprocated by me. I was able to be a mentor to eight freshmen whose shoes I once walked in as well. It was so fulfilling to be able to assist those individuals. Sometimes all they needed was a listening ear, someone they can trust to ask questions, or as little as someone to go study with. I was adamant to be there for my mentees in any way they needed. For a system that wasn’t originally designed for students like us to succeed, I can proudly say each one of us is on a successful path to graduation. All these life experiences that I have faced play a huge part in my passion for serving the community around me. The ASAP program pushed me to ensure I continue to advocate for the underserved communities within our campus in every leadership role that I have the ability to hold. I can proudly say at the end of my UofA career, I was able to advocate for the entire student body on the highest platform available as Student Body Treasurer. This role gives me the platform to advocate for the underserved, marginalized communities around our campus in every decision that is being made about student needs. I couldn’t be more thankful for the experiences and opportunities the UofA has given me. It has been an honor to serve this community.