ALUMNI News & Notes
cepted into the master’s degree
McCollum, ’18, Pope got married
vice president of the Downtown
Tony Phanouvong, ’17, started
program in American Studies at
April 24, 2021.
Fort Smith Arts Walk.
a new position as senior tax ac-
Northeastern State University.
Dylan Karber, ’15, accepted a new
Kristen and Remington Pate,
countant at Tyson Foods.
Tony Jones, ’16, passed the Ar-
position as senior analyst, sales
’16, welcomed Brooks Reming-
Bailee Crenshaw, ’19, continued
kansas Bar Exam in April 2021.
financial planning at Tracfone
ton Pate, their first child, on May
her career as a tax accountant at
Steven Stone, ’19, graduated in
Wireless.
8. Brooks arrived at 8 pounds 9
Hanna Oil & Gas on Aug.16.
May from UA Fayetteville with
Mason, ’18, and Erin, ’20,
ounces, and 20 ½ inches.
Brittany Brazil, ’14, has been
a master of education degree
Rhodes welcomed their son,
Tia Teague, ’17, has accepted a
married since 2015 and had her
in Higher Education and has ac-
Barrett Hunter Rhodes, into the
position as a contract speech
first son in August of 2020.
cepted a position as a financial
world on April 29, 2021.
therapist at HOPE Therapy and at
Brook Fruits, ’10, got married in
aid student success specialist at
Erin Rhodes was promoted to
Hackett Schools.
2011 and welcomed her first son
Northwest Arkansas CC.
Logistics manager at Tankersley
Zack Gramlich, ’15, graduated in
in 2019.
Angela Havro, ’15, started new
Foodservice.
May with his master of science
Cara Boyd, ’16, was hired by Fort
job as a software support analyst
Laura Millican, ’17, graduated
degree in educational leadership
Smith Public Schools in June of
for Fort Smith Public Schools on
with an MBA with a specializa-
from Arkansas State University.
2016 at Sutton Elementary. She
April 16.
tion in marketing and social
Chasse Daniels, ’18, graduated in
got married in March of 2017. She
Spencer Hart, ’15, was promoted
media marketing from Saint Leo
May with an MBA and a graduate
has had two babies in 2018 and
to senior pricing analyst at ABF
University.
certificate in project management
2020. She is starting her sixth
Freight.
Tyler Armstrong, ’17, is the vol-
from Missouri State University.
year at Sutton Elementary.
JD Clayton, ’18, released his new
unteer coordinator with the Fort
Daysi Rosales, ’17, graduated
Chandler Papasan, ’15, has been
single “Dance Another Dance.”
Smith International Film Festival
with her master’s degree from
married for 5 years.
Joseph, ’17, and AnnMarie
as well as the founder and the
Harding University.
Cheyenne Boots, ’15, got mar-
EVERYDAY HERO
UAFS Criminal Justice Grad Shines as Community Protector
A
ndy would say it was no big deal, but his sister Darcy sees it differently. “He is a lifesaver,” she said recently.
Andrew Gibson and sister Darcy Parker are alumni of the Univer-
sity of Arkansas - Fort Smith, classes of 2011 and 2016, respectively. They are talking about one of those potentially life-changing events. On May 4, Prairie Grove police officer Tyler Franks and his partner
Gibson believes his Criminal Justice degree prepared him for his career in two ways. “It laid the foundation for understanding common practices in corrections, the justice system, and law enforcement in general,” Gibson said. But he also learned skills that are harder to measure. “I also established friendships through networking with classmates
Andrew Gibson responded to a domestic call, something police know
and professors who helped fast track me into law enforcement,” Gib-
is always unpredictable. On this occasion, violence broke out.
son said. “I greatly value my education from UAFS and wouldn’t be
Franks entered the scene first. The suspect fired three rounds from a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol, according to the Prairie Grove Facebook page. Franks was struck in both legs. Gibson pulled his partner to safety and placed two tourniquets on Franks’ left leg, which authorities have said saved his life. Franks’ left leg ultimately was amputated, and he continues his rehabilitation. Gibson is a graduate of the Criminal Justice program at UAFS. He said it was always his plan to pursue a career affiliated with law en-
where I am today without it.” The law enforcement community greatly values Gibson and his partner Franks. In September, the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police named Franks and Gibson the 2021 Motorola Solutions Officer of the Year. Darcy Parker, who works in the UAFS Testing Center, is not surprised about the award or the events that led to it. “I was not surprised at all by the way he reacted,” she said. “Andy’s
forcement. His father started as an auxiliary deputy and then became
always been quick on his feet. No matter what he does, I’m always
a police officer, retiring from that position.
proud of him! He’s a lifesaver, vital to the safety of the area, and pro-
“I was introduced to law enforcement at a young age and always looked up to them as the go-to protectors of the community,” he said.
30 THE BELL TOWER SPRING 2022
tecting the community comes easily to him. “He’s a wonderful little brother!”
