Hunts give to assist children

UA Association lauds alumni

Children’s Safety Center of Washington County leaders and supporters gathered Oct. 12 at the location of its future home on Gene George Boulevard in Springdale to announce that the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family has given a lead gift of $3 million to support the Healing the Future campaign. The $12.5 million capital campaign “includes the construction of a new building to house the CSC’s critical programs including advocacy for alleged child abuse victims, forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, therapy, and prevention and education programs.” To date, the group has raised more than $9.1 million toward their goal.

Jane Hunt announced her family’s support at the celebration, saying that a tour of the center last year “took my breath away … The work this team is doing is creating hope and healing for a problem that stretches way further and deeper than any of us realize. And I knew right then I wanted to be a part of that.”

According to a news release: “The new 15,000-square-foot facility will be three times the size of the current leased space. It will include the first specialized therapeutic playground in the region; soundproof interview rooms with two-way mirrors and television feed for law enforcement; ample, confidential space for services; two medical suites; better security for staff and clients; dedicated training and technology space for community trainings; and more. The board expects to break ground in April 2022.”

Those joining the center to celebrate included Bryan Hunt, Mandy Macke, Jody Dilday, Patrick Tenney, Elizabeth Shackelford, Andy Murray,

Emily Rappe Fisher, Sarah White and Casey Atwood.

The Arkansas Alumni Association celebrated 76 years of Alumni Awards by lauding alumni, faculty and friends to recognize “those individuals who continue to bring national and local prominence to the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Alumni Association through their research, exemplary public and community service, and valued leadership.”

The 2020 and 2021 honorees are:

• Jeannie Whayne — Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award;

• Greg Thomas, B.S.Che.’80, M.S.Che.’86 — Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award;

• Ro Di Brezzo — Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award;

• Benjamin Runkle — Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award;

• Leslie F. Belden B.Arch.’79, Ph.D.’05 and Ted Belden B.Arch.’81 — Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award;

• The Honorable Tijuana C. Byrd B.A.’91 — Community Service Award;

• Olivera Jankovska B.S.A.’09 — Young Alumni Award;

• Rear Adm. Mike Johnson — Honorary Alumni Award;

• Pam McGinnis B.S.I.E.’90 — Citation of Distinguished Alumni;

• Barry Switzer B.S.B.A.’61 — Citation of Distinguished Alumni; and

• Mike Utley B.A.’69 — Citation of Distinguished Alumni.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Fred Dugay (from left), Jade Terminella, Ellora Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Jane Hunt, Elizabeth Shackelford, Emily Rappe Fisher and Bryan Hunt gather in front of a rendering of the planned J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Children’s Safety Center of Washington County on Oct. 12 at a celebration to mark the Hunt family’s $3 million gift to the safety center’s Healing the Future capital campaign for a new facility in Springdale.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Patrick Tenney (from left), Bryan Hunt and Mandy Macke attend the Children’s Safety Center announcement celebration.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Courtney Batts (from left), Becky Flynn, Michael Manning, Tijuana Byrd, Arkansas Alumni Association Community Service Award honoree, Cedric Williams and Elizabeth Gomez visit at the association’s 76th annual awards celebration Oct. 14 at the Fayetteville Town Center.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Lisa and Howard Higgins (from left), Carren and Scott Audrain, Mary and Coleman Ward, Leslie and Ted Belden, Randy and Melissa Werner, Greg House and Beverly Block and Debbie and Dwight Power enjoy the Arkansas Alumni Association awards celebration. The Beldens were presented the association’s Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) John Cook and Jeannie Whayne, Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award recipient, attend the alumni awards celebration.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Jody Dilday and Chad Oglesby visit at the Children’s Safety Center announcement celebration Oct. 12.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Andy Murray (from left), Sarah White and Casey Atwood, Children’s Safety Center board members, stand for a photo at the Oct. 12 announcement.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) UA Vice Chancellor for Advancement Mark Power and wife Corrine (from left) visit with Terry and Mike Johnson, Honorary Alumni Award recipient, on Oct. 14.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Carin Schoppmeyer) Sisters Daniela Jankovska (left) and Olivera Jankovska, Young Alumni Award honoree, are joined by Big Red for a photo at the UA Alumni Association’s awards celebration.