A hard-working academic advisor in the College of Social Sciences and Communication with a passion for helping his students succeed has been named the winner of the inaugural Trojan Outstanding Academic Advisor Award. 

Louis Scivally, transfer and Bachelor of Applied Science advisor, will also receive a $1,000 prize for winning the new award, which recognizes excellent academic advising. It also emphasizes the importance and expanding role academic advisors have in serving UA Little Rock’s students and helping them be successful in a changing college environment.

“I have enjoyed helping students investigate their passions, plan their pathways, and experience the joys of education,” Scivally said. “I am most proud of the observations I have made from the floor of Jack Stephens Center when I have helped students walk at their commencement ceremony. I have been able to watch many students put their lives in high gear when working on a degree.”

Scivally earned a Bachelor of Science in printing management and a Master of Science in college student personnel services from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He began his UA Little Rock career in 2012 and has worked as a recruitment coordinator in the Office of Admissions and an advisor for the College of Business before joining the College of Social Sciences and Communication.

One of Scivally’s former advisees, Robert Aikman, who now works for a Fortune 500 company, said he wouldn’t be where he is today without Scivally’s guidance.

“Louis is a rare breed,” said Aikman, business development analyst at Insight Enterprises. “Louis was instrumental in my academic strategy during my time at UALR. Initially, I was a biology major, but after taking just one week of an economics course, I realized I had a passion for the subject. I was reluctant to change my major, as I was unsure if economics was a viable route, but Louis walked me through the choice.”

Scivally advised Aikman to look at the earning potential and need for economics majors, helped him apply for scholarships, designed a class schedule that fit in with his job, and told him that his happiness is the most important factor when choosing a career.

“Regardless of his schedule, he was always ready to throw some time on the calendar and sync up to discuss academic strategy,” Aikman said. “Without Louis and his guidance, I might have never pursued analytics and economics. Now, I am the business development analyst for an entire inside sales organization of a Fortune 500, and I am very excited about my prospective career trajectory.”

Scivally’s coworkers describe him as someone who can always be found getting to know students around campus and helping them reach their goals at UA Little Rock.

“Louis walks with students every step of the way through their college career, from recruiting to graduation,” said Shannon Gwinn, director of the Center for Students and Career Services in the College of Business. “He takes the time to get to know the students as more than just a major and T-number. When Louis walks across campus or into an event, students immediately recognize him and reach out to visit with him. It is obvious that Louis is passionate about assisting students reach their goals at UA Little Rock.”

On campus, Scivally has been an early adopter and trainer for new advising technologies, including College Schedule and Ellucian Degree Works.

“Another tribute to the dedication and expertise of Mr. Scivally is that he was chosen to be the foundational advisor for the new Bachelor of Applied Science degree program, which is a growing educational pathway for transfer students with military and/or technical credits to leverage and apply toward a bachelor’s degree,” Registrar Malissa Mathis said. “From its inception in 2015, Mr. Scivally’s efforts have grown that program to serve hundreds of transferring students.”

In the upper right photo, Jennifer Owens (right) presents Louis Scivally (left) with the Trojan Outstanding Academic Advisor Award during the Staff Awards Ceremony. Photo by Ben Krain.