University of Arkansas

Walton College

The Sam M. Walton College of Business

Walton Keeps Academic, Alumni Achievement Awards Tradition Alive by Moving Online

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April 24, 2020

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The Walton College has kept one of its spring traditions alive by moving its 27th annual awards online.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic made an in-person banquet impossible in 2020, student award winners and alumni honorees were recognized on a webpage that premiered April 23, the original date for the college’s 2020 awards banquet.

The webpage recognizes outstanding achievement by Walton College students for the 2019-20 school year and honors three alumni for success in business and service to the college and the community. It features a four-minute video highlighting the honorees, animated GIFs of many of the student award winners acknowledging the recognition and brief biographies of the students and alumni.

The three alumni honorees for 2020 are:



  • Lifetime Achievement Award — Gerald Alley, B.S.B.A.’73, president and chief executive officer of Con-Real LP in Arlington, Texasalley_gerald-headshot-crop-214x300-2152051

  • Entrepreneur of the Year Award — Jane Henry, B.S.B.A.’99, founder and chief executive officer of SeeHerWork in Houston, Texas

    henry_jane-headshot-214x300-6628016
    This is the 2019 Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Summit & Salute. ©2019 Kathy Anderson Photography


  • Outstanding Service Award — Laura Phillips, M.B.A.’01, senior vice president-global sourcing, Walmart Inc. in Bentonvillephillips_laura-headshot-8939893


The Walton College recognizes up to three alumni annually in the categories of service, entrepreneurship and lifetime achievement. Nominations for each category are gathered from faculty, staff and alumni. Final approval of the awards rests with Dean Matthew A. Waller, with input from faculty and staff.

Walton College’s lifetime achievement award is presented only to those who make significant achievements in their careers and are recognized as industry and community leaders. To be considered for this award, a Walton College graduate must exemplify the core values of the college, inspire students and be a source of pride for the school.

The entrepreneur of the year award recognizes a Walton College graduate who has proven innovative and successful in a business venture of his or her own creation or reinvention. Preference is given to entrepreneurs who have been in business for at least five years. Consideration is also given to emerging entrepreneurs who exhibit the business acumen, drive and dedication essential to long-term success.

The college’s outstanding service award recognizes service by a Walton College graduate who helps build and sustain the alumni and student network through active engagement, such as helping students find jobs and internships, participating in and promoting alumni activities and volunteering for one of the many Walton College department, center or advisory boards.

Students recognized for their outstanding achievements were:

Outstanding Graduating Senior

Student who best exemplifies scholarship and leadership at the Walton College



  • Allison Vincent


Sam M. Walton College of Business Student Leadership Award

Walton College senior who has demonstrated exemplary student leadership thought their academic career



  • Alyson Schutte


Beta Gamma Sigma Award

Outstanding member of national academic honor society in business



  • Zac Smith


Presidential Scholar

Chosen by the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for outstanding academic achievement



  • Catherine Kelley


First-Ranked Senior Scholars

Students who have maintained a 4.0 while completing all their undergraduate coursework at University of Arkansas



  • Garrett Bronn

  • Indy Hudec

  • Kate Pyles

  • Zac Smith


Senior Scholars

Students who have achieved a 4.0 at University of Arkansas for the past two years



  • Lydia Adair

  • Cade Carlisle

  • Meredith Chapman

  • Adrianna Chukwuma

  • Matthew Crenshaw

  • Mason English

  • Nick Foster

  • Grant Hylton

  • Katrina Kinzel

  • Adelle LaGraize

  • Trey Langston

  • Paulina Ledezma

  • George Lim

  • Megan McCoy

  • Lacey Moore

  • Katie Pace

  • Emma Sauser

  • Matthew Schoenfelder

  • Monica Sewell

  • Sam Silva-Nash

  • Shelby Smith

  • James Tadrzak

  • Allison Vincent

  • Jeremy Warren


Outstanding Students in Accounting



  • Julie Bryson

  • Matthew Crenshaw

  • Ryan Hargrove

  • Shanon Kubat

  • Emma Sauser


Outstanding Students in Economics



  • Mason English (B.S.B.A.)

  • Tenley Getschman (B.A.)


Outstanding Students in Finance



  • Lydia Adair

  • Garrett Bronn

  • Sadie Bryant

  • Michael Crumpacker

  • Adelle LaGraize

  • Paulina Ledezma

  • Kate Pyles

  • Ethan Tribble

  • Jeremy Warren

  • John Whitaker


Outstanding Student in General Business



  • Amy Pipkin


Outstanding Students in Information Systems



  • Parker Bacon

  • Abby Klingensmith


Outstanding Student in International Business



  • Allison Vincent


Outstanding Students in Management



  • Alice Chan

  • Chloe Estes

  • Kate Pendergast

  • Jared Pinkerton

  • Alexis Ungerank


Outstanding Students in Marketing



  • Brielle Faris

  • Alexis Linstrom

  • Megan McCoy

  • Brent McQuitty

  • Monica Sewell

  • James Tadrzak

  • Lindsey Wagaman

  • Noah West

  • Emily Wiencek

  • Suzanne Wright


Outstanding Student in Retail



  • Christina Nguyen


Outstanding Students in Supply Chain Management



  • Nick Foster

  • Derek Gray

  • Lauren Horne

  • Zach Keating

  • Madalyn Lamoreaux

  • McKenzie Meehan

  • Sam Silva-Nash


Ralph Treat Outstanding Cooperative Education Student



  • Elizabeth Henry


Outstanding Executive MBA Students



  • Jeff Cady

  • Ben Davis


Outstanding Master of Accountancy Students



  • Taylor Atwell

  • Lupe Sanchez-Garduno


Outstanding Master of Information Systems Students



  • Himani Chauhan (Full-time Program)

  • Michael Dereszynski (Professional Program)

Walton College

Walton College of Business

Since its founding at the University of Arkansas in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business has grown to become the state's premier college of business – as well as a nationally competitive business school. Learn more...

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