The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Human Resource Society has earned a Superior Merit Award designation highlighting the student chapter for providing superior growth and development opportunities for its members during the 2017-18 academic year. 

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter merit award program, which began in 1972, was created to encourage student chapters to require ongoing excellence in the following areas: student chapter requirements, chapter operations, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and SHRM engagement.

“As we move ‘Together Forward,’ young professionals like these being honored at distinguished student chapters play a vital role in SHRM’s success,” said Johnny Taylor Jr., president and chief executive officer of SHRM. “I’m especially honored to thank this year’s award winners because they offer excellent evidence that SHRM’s future is indeed in good hands.”

SHRM student chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle, the most recent one of which lasted from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018.

UA Little Rock Human Resource Society officers include Te’Airra Blanchard, president; Allen Huddleston, vice president; Vasiliki Falaina, treasurer; and Brittany Scott, secretary and public relations officer. Members include Torri Alexander, Erica Armstrong, Angela Donaldson, Mitchell Fenton, Amber Glenn, Carissa Groves, Kimya Herd, Neka Hunter, Jessica Johnson, Rochell Johnson, Krystal Jones, Victoria McCartney, Barbara Montgomery, Jacqueline Pope, Victoria Porter, Debra Rhoton, Monika Sandlin, Samantha Skinner, Rick Tharp, Belinda White, Kelly Wilkerson, and Brittany Wright.

Dr. Susie Cox, faculty advisor for the Human Resource Society, said the students participate in a variety of activities to earn the award. They volunteer for the organization’s annual conference, participate in the student case competition, collect canned goods for the Trojan Food Pantry, and host guest speakers and attend monthly Central Arkansas Human Resources Association meetings to encourage professional development opportunities.

“Human Resource Society members work all year to earn points for the SHRM Merit award,” Cox said. “Earning the Superior Merit Award demonstrates the members’ dedication to supporting the field of human resources.”