Athletics | Bell TowerOctober 17, 2024

Day at the K Brings Old Friends and New

The beginning of fall athletics marked the start of the inaugural season for the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The Lions officially joined the MIAA on June 26, becoming the first member from Arkansas to join the association full-time. UAFS staff quickly rubbed elbows with their new athletic opponents. UAFS joined fellow schools in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 21 for the MIAA Day at The K. Universities, their teams, and fans were invited to an afternoon Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.

For one Lion, the MIAA Day at The K was as much of a celebration of what she’s done since graduation as a reunion with those she considers family. Ana Demmer graduated from UAFS in 2020 with a degree in media communications. The volleyball standout played four seasons at UAFS before continuing her education and playing at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where she earned her master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis on sports management. After graduation, Demmer began working for the Royals’ social media team before accepting a social media strategist position at Garmin.

When she heard UAFS joined the MIAA and would attend the Day at The K, Demmer knew she had to be there.

“It was an overwhelming moment of gratitude,” she said. “I felt like it was a state of completion, like something had come full circle, and it was so good to get reconnected with people.”

That afternoon, Demmer connected with people who had influenced her as a student and athlete at UAFS. Thanks to her affiliation with the Royals, Demmer was joined on the field by UAFS Athletic Director Curtis Janz, Senior Associate Athletic Director Katie Beineke, Campus and Community Engagement Director Ashley Goodson, and others from UAFS Athletics.

Learn more about Ana Demmer here. 

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