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Carol Hill, center, accepts the Lucille Speakman Excellence Award with her son, Derek, and daughter, CarolAnn
Bell TowerLion Voices

Campus Becomes Family Legacy for Carol Hill and Her Children

Many people describe the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith as "a family." For Carol Hill, it really is. She has worked at UAFS for more than 20 years and is joined by her son and daughter on campus.

May 01, 2026
Audience members applaud during the second Center for Economic Development Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards at the Bakery District
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityFeaturedNews

Excellence in Family and Small Business Award Winners Recognized

The second Center for Economic Development Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards recognized ten businesses and individuals from across the region.

October 31, 2025
Portrait of of Joel Manby
Center for Economic DevelopmentEventsFeatured

Manby Tabbed as Keynote for CED Awards

Joel Manby, who has more than 25 years of experience as a CEO for SeaWorld, Herschend Enterprises, and SAAB North America, will keynote the Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards on Oct. 20.

October 09, 2025
Lucy Clements and her parents smile for a photo together
FeaturedHealth Education and Human Sciences

Clements Family Wins Annual SGA Award

Clements' family was named the UAFS Family of the Year during Family Weekend celebration.

October 06, 2025
A family poses with letters that spell out UAFS at Family Weekend
CommunityEventsFeatured

Family Weekend Returns Oct. 3-4

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith welcomes families and alumni to campus on October 3-4 for its annual Family Weekend.

September 19, 2025
Elmer Reyes, of Elmer's Chem-Dry, accepts his award for Hispanic-Owned Small Business with his family
CommunityFeatured

Sit Down with Elmer's Chem-Dry: CED Excellence in Family and Small Business Award Winner

Question-and-answer with Elmer's Chem-Dry, the inaugural Hispanic-owned business award winner from the 2024 Center for Economic Development's Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards.

September 04, 2025
Incoming students leave the Stubblefield Center during UAFS's first Mane Event of the summer
Arts and SciencesBusiness and IndustryFeaturedHealth Education and Human SciencesStudents

‘Lion Family’ Grows with Mane Event

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith hosted its first of three new student orientations, Mane Event, of the summer on Friday, June 20, 2025.

June 20, 2025
Stephany Dobbins, coordinator for new student and family programs poses in front of the UAFS Bell Tower
AlumniFirst GenerationLion Voices

Eighteen Years and Counting with Stephany Dobbins

Stephany Dobbins has called the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith home for the last 18 years. As coordinator for new student and family programs, she looks forward to welcoming students to the "Lion Family."

June 18, 2025
The audience applauds for the winner of the Family Business of the Year Award, Littlefield Companies, at the inaugural Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards
Business and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentCommunityFeaturedNews

Winners Announced at Inaugural UAFS Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Center for Economic Development celebrated the accomplishments of more than a dozen small businesses and family-owned businesses from around Fort Smith at the inaugural UAFS Excellence in Family and Small Business...

October 25, 2024
UAFS junior social work student, Anna Capps (center) is surrounded by her aunt and uncle, grandparents, dad, stepmom, and stepbrother. The Capps family was announced as the 2024 UAFS Family of the Year.
Health Education and Human SciencesNews

Capps Family Takes Home Honors

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Family of the Year award was given to the family of Anna Capps, a junior social work student and SGA president.

October 22, 2024
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityEventsFeatured

Willie Robertson to Keynote Inaugural UAFS Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards

Star of A&E's "Duck Dynasty" set to keynote the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Center for Economic Development's first Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards on October 24. The event will honor regional family-owned and small businesses...

August 08, 2024
New students tour the UAFS campus during Mane Event
Arts and SciencesBusiness and IndustryEventsFeaturedFirst GenerationHealth Education and Human SciencesStudents

New Students Join the Lion Pride with Mane Event

Mane Event - a new student orientation - returned to the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith for the second of three orientation sessions this summer. Students and families could also participate in the Spanish Track, which offered information in...

July 19, 2024
Mailbag Numa popping out of a holiday package
AdmissionsAthleticsEventsNewsStudentsUAFS Mailbag

UAFS Mailbag: Wrapped

Check out the UAFS Mailbag: Wrapped. It is the final edition of the semester and covers what you need to know for graduation, we take a look back at the semester, and share some positives heading into the extended break.

December 01, 2023
UAFS junior Kimber Campbell, center, with her grandparents Lyshelle, left, and Joe Eyerman. The Eyermans were named the 2023 UAFS Family of the Year.
News

Eyermans Recognized as UAFS Family of the Year

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith 2023 Family of the Year award was recently given to Joe and Lyshelle Eyerman, the grandparents of UAFS junior Kimber Campbell.

October 12, 2023
Maggie Heppner, 2024 Cub Camp Student Director
News

Heppner Takes Over Cub Camp

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith has named sophomore Maggie Heppner as the 2024 Cub Camp Student Director.

October 04, 2023
two girls on a carnival ride.
EventsFeaturedAlumni

Family Weekend Festivities Slated for Oct. 6-7

At the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith the importance of family in a student’s educational journey is celebrated year-round, but on the First Week of October, the celebrating ramps up. The much-anticipated 2023 Family Weekend is set to take...

September 29, 2023
The UAFS Bakery District
FeaturedNewsBusiness and Industry

UAFS Names Family Enterprise Center for Jim Walcott

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith announced today that it will rename its Family Enterprise Center to honor the late Jim Walcott, whose legacy has profoundly impacted the River Valley.

September 15, 2023
Numa dressed as a mail carrier
NewsUAFS Mailbag

UAFS Mailbag: #RunToTheRoar

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Mailbag returns featuring an edition covering UAFS Athletics. The fall athletic season highlights UAFS volleyball, cross-country, golf, and tennis. Get out and cheer for your Lions!

September 12, 2023
Haunted Hustle 5K
EventsAlumni

Annual 5K: A 'Scary' Good Time

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Alumni Office's annual 5k returns during the Family Weekend celebration. The Haunted Hustle 5k will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023, on the UAFS campus.

September 01, 2023
UAFS students gather around a yard-game of Connect Four in the Lion's Den Courtyard
EventsFeaturedNewsBusiness and IndustryArts and SciencesHealth Education and Human Sciences

Cub Camp Kick Off

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith kicked off its 20th Cub Camp with record-breaking participation on the heels of a 5% increase in first-time entering students compared to the 2022-23 academic year.

August 17, 2023

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The UAFS Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132
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