Alumni | Athletics | Bell TowerMay 01, 2026

Fredriksen Family Leaves Lasting Mark

Written By: Ian Silvester

Legacy is defined as something handed down, cultural traditions or lasting impact.  

Brenda Fredriksen hopes hers is one of service.  

“I hope that when people look back at our family, they say, ‘Gosh, they’ve been good stewards of their time and helping this campus,’” she said. 

For nearly four decades, Brenda’s life has revolved around the university she dreamed of attending. The former Greenwood High School basketball star envisioned suiting up for the Westark Lions under the late head coach, Louis Whorton, but fate had other plans. 

“I went to their rival, which was Eastern,” she said with a laugh.  

Brenda spent a year in Oklahoma, where her education was covered as a student-athlete. 

Until it wasn’t. 

Budget cuts struck, and the first thing to go was out-of-state tuition for athletes.  

“So, I came back (to Arkansas) and was just going to go to school here and get my degree,” she said, detailing how she had every intention to leave basketball behind.  

Brenda was standing in line for registration when she was spotted by one of Whorton’s assistant coaches, Doc Sadler, who knew her from Greenwood. He convinced her to meet with Whorton. One thing led to another, and Brenda was offered a walk-on position. By Christmas, she had started every game and was put on scholarship.  

“That solidified for me that my place was here, and I kept working from that point,” she said. 

Brenda’s season would come to an end, and along with it, her time at Westark (‘89) and playing basketball. She continued on to Arkansas State University to complete her bachelor’s degree. But even with the “big old framed diploma tucked away in the closet saying Arkansas State, I always say I graduated from Westark,” she said.  

As the years passed, Brenda would marry another Westark grad, and together, they found themselves back on campus, cheering on the Lions in the newly built Stubblefield Center. Soon, her legacy would span a new generation. 

“We were coming before JD was even born,” Brenda said. “After he was born, it was just natural that we kept doing the same thing.” 

The Fredriksen clan became a staple of the now UAFS basketball and the campus. JD, enthralled by the band playing at games, would bring his own drum to play along. Eventually, he was invited to play with them, earning his own band t-shirt and having his face painted to match the other members. 

As JD was attending events and games with his mom, his legacy was just beginning. Behind the scenes, his mom’s legacy evolved into a tradition that continues today. Brenda is the reason for the UAFS Toy Toss. 

The family was part of the Sixth Man Club, a group who worked with former men’s basketball head coach, Josh Newman. 

“Josh was always trying to get the community involved. That’s when John Brown University did their toilet paper throw. Josh said he wanted to do something similar, but not copy them. I said, ‘Well, instead of being destructive, why don’t we be productive and throw stuffed animals that we’ll donate?’ That is literally how the Toy Toss started,” she said. 

As years past, the bond between the family and the university grew stronger and stronger. JD followed in his mom’s footstep as a student athlete. Golf is his sport. 

JD visited several universities when he was being recruited, but that was only as a courtesy, Brenda said, noting he always knew where his path would lead. 

“UAFS always felt like home,” JD said. 

JD, now a sophomore honors student studying business administration at UAFS, is attempting to leave his own legacy in the classroom and on the golf course. 

“Athletics-wise, I can put it in two buckets. Being a competitor, I want to be the best golfer that’s ever played here. As a teammate, I want to be a leader,” JD said. “Academically, I want to succeed as much as I do athletically.” 

He joked he already has hopes that his love—his family’s love—of UAFS will continue with his future children. 

Until then, he said his legacy is putting in the time and effort. 

“If you’re not grounded in your history, then you never grow. History is part of who we are, and that’s how the next generation learns to give their time, give their talents, give their money, and be a good steward of the gifts that they're given,” Brenda said. 

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