AlumniFebruary 28, 2026

Alumni Award Winners Announced

Written By: Rachel Putman

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith recognized alumni, faculty, staff, and community leaders during its annual Homecoming brunch Feb. 28, presenting the 2026 Alumni-Owned Business of the Year, Outstanding Young Alumni, Stacey Jones Outstanding Faculty/Staff, Spirit of Numa, and Distinguished Alumni awards, according to award materials provided by the university.

This year’s honorees are:

Alumni-Owned Business of the Year: Moka Joe’s, owned by Kyle Speegle ‘02

Outstanding Young Alumni: Joshua Sykes ‘13; Alysha Bowen Thomas ‘16; Amanda Harris Kennedy ‘13; Brianne Barron Smith ‘22.

Stacey Jones Outstanding Faculty and Staff: Chelsea Cowan ‘17; Derek Hill ‘16; Don Bailey; Dr. Randall Stone.

Spirit of Numa: Kirk Duboise, ‘22.

Distinguished Alumni: Ray Malouf ‘05; Sharon Winn ‘60.

The Alumni-Owned Business of the Year Award celebrates entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and community impact demonstrated by an alumnus-owned business.

Kyle Speegle, owner of Moka Joe’s, was recognized for his continued promotion of UAFS and commitment to the Fort Smith community. A proud alumnus, he is often among the first to display university signage and participate in campus discount opportunities. His wife, Alicia, and sister, Jennifer, are also alumni, and his nephew, Dakota, is a current student.

Moka Joe’s recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. In addition to supplying the region’s coffee, Kyle hosts annual Halloween and Christmas light shows as a labor of love for the community. Nominations describe him as friendly, community-minded, and consistently supportive of UAFS programs.

The Outstanding Young Alumni Awards recognize graduates younger than 40 who have distinguished themselves through leadership and service to the university, community, state, or nation.

Joshua Sykes ‘13 serves as vice president and assistant controller at First National Bank. He is a certified public accountant and certified management accountant, and a member of the NWA Business Journal’s 2024 Forty under 40 class. Since June 2023, he served on the Fort Kids Children’s Museum board and has helped raise $3.7 million in contributions for the initiative. Professionally, he has helped lead his team through a merger and numerous process improvements, while mentoring students and young professionals, including through UAFS Alumni Mentor Connections.

Josh’s nominators said, “Joshua works alongside and for people from all walks of life in our community in his work to see Fort Kids become a reality for Fort Smith children. His leadership has contributed to helping a start-up nonprofit make strides in organization and capital campaigns, and he is hands-on in working with kids in our area, too. Josh is encouraging and always working to push forward and see a better and brighter Fort Smith.”

Alysha Bowen Thomas ‘16 is a dental hygienist at Ozark Modern Dentistry and a former instructor in the UAFS Dental Hygiene Program. She served as president of the Arkansas State Dental Hygienists’ Association in 2023-24 and continues to serve on its Board. She was also the Arkansas American Dental Hygienists’ Association liaison for the Dental Hygiene Compact, supporting Arkansas’ activation into the compact process to increase licensure portability.

Her nominators said, “She is an exemplary model of the role of the dental hygienist in practice and in promoting oral health. Leadership is evident through her involvement in the American Dental Hygienists' Association, as president and current active board member, and her role in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. The interstate compact aims to create reciprocity among participant states and reduce the barriers to license portability. She has visited UAFS students on numerous occasions to share with them all the activities and initiatives going on in the profession of dental hygiene.”

Amanda Harris Kennedy ‘13 is an attorney and partner at Robertson, Oswalt, Nony & Kennedy and has practiced family law since passing the bar in 2019. She represents children in divorce, guardianship, and custody cases and holds a contract with the Public Defenders Commission to represent parents whose children have been removed by the Department of Human Services.

She received the 2025 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation and has been named a “best of the best” attorney by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2022, 2023, and 2025. She has also served on the boards of the Arkansas Association for Women Lawyers and the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and completed the organization’s 2025 Leadership Academy.

Brianne Barron Smith ‘22 is a captain in the Air National Guard’s 188th Wing, where she serves full-time as director of inspections and chief innovation officer, in addition to being an MQ-9 pilot. An honors graduate of the UAFS School of Education, she also earned a Master of Education from UAFS and is pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership. She has served as an adjunct instructor in the Early Childhood Education Program, as director of the CDA Summer Academy, and as a visiting instructor for the ECE Pre-Apprenticeship Program. In addition to her military role, she is active in the Junior League and is beginning the process to become a CASA volunteer.

The Stacey Jones Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award honors a current or former employee who consistently goes above and beyond to set students up for success.

Chelsea Cowan serves as executive assistant and program coordinator for the UAFS Center for Economic Development. Her responsibilities include overseeing grant writing and updates; coordinating training for local companies, instructional staff and students; and managing planning, meals and vendor arrangements to ensure programs run smoothly. Her nominator shared that she has been instrumental since the center’s inception, helping it operate at a high level and adapt to changing community needs.

Derek Hill is an academic coach in the Gordon Kelley Academic Success Center. He was recognized for his holistic, student-centered coaching approach, applying science-based strategies such as growth mindset and scaffolded goal setting tailored to individual students. In addition to academic support, he encourages leadership and involvement and attends extracurricular events to support students beyond the classroom.

Don Bailey, a jazz professor, was honored for innovative teaching and mentorship. He has hosted Sunday study groups, encouraged peer support among students, and adapted his teaching style to meet the needs of each class. His nominators note his longstanding service in the music department and community, mentoring countless students and inspiring many to pursue teaching careers themselves.

Dr. Randall Stone is an assistant professor of accounting and has been described as the driving force behind the accounting program within the Business Institute. He connects students with professional opportunities, serving as education liaison for the Western Chapter of the Arkansas Society of CPAs and bringing students to chapter meetings to network with accounting professionals. He also coordinates volunteer activities, including a recent partnership with Landmark CPAs to assemble care packages for the Ronald McDonald House, providing students with community engagement and professional connections.

The Spirit of Numa Award, bestowed by the Alumni Advisory Council, recognizes friends and supporters who champion the university’s mission through volunteer or philanthropic service.

Kirk Duboise, director of Harbor Recovery Center, was recognized for more than 15 years of leadership in substance use treatment and recovery. His work reflects a commitment to service, advocacy, and client well-being. He has served as a long-standing field instructor for UAFS Bachelor of Social Work students, mentoring them as ethical practitioners and inspiring some to pursue careers in substance use treatment. He also has served for three years on the Social Work program’s advisory council, providing insight to support student and program success.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the university’s highest alumni honor, recognizing outstanding professional leadership or service.

Ray Malouf ‘25 is vice president of talent at Lowe’s. After graduating from UAFS, he continued his education at John Brown University and the Yale School of Management. He has held numerous executive-level leadership roles and worked with major global brands, including Walmart, Whole Foods, and Lowe’s. As a student, he was highly engaged in campus activities and the College of Business and formerly served on the Young Alumni Council.

His nominator stated, “Ray's career trajectory is a testament to his dedication and work ethic. He was in the executive level of leadership before reaching 40 years old. He has shown interest in mentor programs and giving back to his community through time and service.”

Sharon Winn ‘60 is retired following a career that spanned every iteration of our institution, from Fort Smith Junior College to Westark Junior College and ultimately UAFS. She began as a student cheerleader in the 1950s and launched her teaching career in the 1960s as a business instructor. She later served as both a business instructor and office administrator for Financial Aid, retiring in 2004.

Throughout her career, she received numerous awards for instructional excellence and mentorship. She and her husband have established multiple scholarships and continue to support university and community funds, reflecting decades of leadership and philanthropy.

Her nominator said, “Sharon's combination of professional excellence, community service, and lifelong leadership demonstrates a legacy of impact that continues to inspire students, colleagues, and the broader community.”