Arkansas Tech University has selected its 19 of the Last 9 award winners for 2026.
The honorees will be recognized during an ATU Homecoming 2026 weekend reception on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Visit www.atualumni.com/homecoming for more information about Homecoming events.
The 19 of the Last 9 award is named in recognition of ATU’s founding year, 1909. It is presented each year to 19 ATU alumni who have graduated within the last nine years.
According to the ATU Alumni Association, criteria for the 19 of the Last 9 award include:
*alumnus of the university and graduated with in the last 9 years of the award year;
*an emerging leader through profession and/or community achievements;
*attained increasingly responsible positions within their organization, business or field of work;
*received recognition for significant professional contributions, discoveries or creative work through honors, awards and/or media attention;
*and served as an outstanding young role model for current and future ATU students.
These are the 2026 recipients of the ATU 19 of the Last 9 award:
Carley Allen
Class of 2019 (Agriculture Business-Pre-Veterinary Medicine)
Associate Veterinarian
Fayetteville
Jonathon Arrieta
Class of 2021 (Criminal Justice)
Anti-Smuggling Unit Agent
Horizon City, Texas
Megan Bell
Class of 2022 (Communication and Broadcast Journalism)
Director of Student Engagement and First-Generation Success
Russellville
Diamond Brockett
Class of 2023 (Psychology)
Forensic Interviewer
Clarksville
Lauren Bryan
Class of 2019 (Master’s College Student Personnel)
Development Officer
Russellville
Madison Chiolino
Class of 2020 (Nursing)
Director of Behavioral Health
Russellville
Jasmine Cree
Class of 2021 (Master’s Multimedia Journalism)
Public Relations Specialist
Texarkana, Texas
Evan Hanna
Class of 2018 (Broadcast Journalism)
Director of Chapter Operations
Lexington, Va.
Rebekah Herring
Class of 2017 (Master’s College Student Personnel)
Senior Career Advisor
Jonesboro
Dora Howe
Class of 2020 (Psychology)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Ozark
Patrick Karp
Class of 2023 (Criminal Justice)
Airport Manager
Russellville
Kaylee Lawrence
Class of 2018 (Management and Marketing)
Partner Marketing Manager
Hermitage, Tenn.
Jacob Marek
Class of 2018 (Agricultural Education)
Pathway Advisor
Enola
Kyle Pierce
Class of 2018 (Economics and Finance)
Financial Advisor
Van Buren
Graycen Russell
Class of 2019 (Rehabilitation Science)
Program Director Occupational Therapy Assistant program and Workforce Education Instructor
Russellville
Christine Sain
Class of 2018 (Sociology)
Supervisor for Member Services
London
Noah Strout
Class of 2022 (Hospitality Administration-Lodging Management)
General Manager
Mountain Home
Ross Townsend
Class of 2020 (Accounting)
Manager
Benton
Derek Wright
Class of 2019 (Master’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security)
Chief of Police
Springdale
