The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Applied Communications honored its top students during the department’s annual awards ceremony on April 19. 

The award winners include Desiree Doyle and Sayra Crandall as winners of the Distinguished Student Scholar Award. This annual award honors a graduating senior and a graduating master’s student in the department who have reached the level of distinguished student scholar in applied communication by participating in applied scholarship or creative work, which fosters the co-creation of better social worlds through positive communication.  

Lauren Sanders and Krista Woods Calvin received the Student Making a Difference Award, which recognizes undergraduate and graduate students who have made a difference in their community in the area of applied communication.

Derrick Newby received a $1,000 scholarship from the Angela Laird Brenton Endowed Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was started in 2015 in memory of Dr. Angie Laird Brenton, who was a faculty member in the Department of Applied Communications as well as a former dean of the College of Professional Studies.

Additionally, Bruce Trimble, director of business development at BridgeWay Hospital in North Little Rock, was honored with the Alumni Making a Difference Award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of an alumnus who has been instrumental in their community to foster the co-creation of better social worlds through positive communication.

The department also recognized the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Center for Health Literacy and the UAMS Patient and Family-Centered Care department with the Community Partner Awards. The award recognizes organizations who have partnered with the department to provide high-impact experiences for students, including internships, research projects, and job training.

In the upper right photo, Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter (left) presents Lauren Sanders (right) with the Student Making a Difference Award.