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September 28, 2006

Alumni association awards its finest

The ULM Alumni Association awarded its outstanding alumni during a brunch on Sept. 30 in the 麻豆果冻传媒 Conference Center. The 2006 Homecoming Court, former homecoming kings and queens, former Miss 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚, past alumni association presidents and former Golden Arrow Award winners were also recognized during the brunch.

The Golden Arrow Award, established by the alumni association in 1981, recognizes alumni who have served the alumni association well, and it is the most prestigious award. This year鈥檚 recipient is Joe Farr, a Monroe native and 1975 College of Business graduate. Since 1998, Farr has served as a member, the vice president and president of the Board of Trustees for the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation.

Farr, a Lifetime Member of the alumni association, epitomizes the Golden Arrow Award, said Keith Brown, executive director of alumni and community relations at 麻豆果冻传媒.

鈥淗is dedication to all aspects of university life, regardless of the endeavor, is truly outstanding. From his role as president of the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation, to his membership on the mascot committee, to being a Lifetime Member of the alumni association, he鈥檚 been involved in every aspect of the university,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 exactly what you want your alumni to be. He鈥檚 dedicated, creative, and he has an extremely positive outlook on what鈥檚 possible at 麻豆果冻传媒.鈥�

Each year the alumni association also recognizes a 麻豆果冻传媒 staff member who contributes significantly to the community and to the progress of the university. This year鈥檚 recipient is Camile Currier, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in health and physical education in 1973 and a master鈥檚 of education in administration and supervision of education in 1974. Currier, who has worked at 麻豆果冻传媒 for over 30 years, is associate dean for Student Services and Judicial Affairs.

Some of Currier鈥檚 accomplishments at 麻豆果冻传媒 include:

Currier also serves as the university liaison to Residential Life and supervises the Career Services, 麻豆果冻传媒 Counseling Center, Recreational Services, Student Services and the 麻豆果冻传媒 Natatorium.

He has served on numerous committees, boards and task forces and is affiliated with many organizations within the university, the state of Louisiana, and on a national level, including L Club, the Louisiana Collegiate Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and the United Way of Northeast Louisiana.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, established last year, honors alumni and friends who have served 麻豆果冻传媒 and the alumni association well. This year鈥檚 winner is Johnny Huntsman, who in 1967 established what he called the 鈥渙nly link in the world鈥檚 smallest pizza chain,鈥� a tiny store across the street from 麻豆果冻传媒. The owner of the largest locally owned pizza chain in north Louisiana today, Huntsman has come a long way. During the first two years of running his business, he managed to also earn his master鈥檚 degree in health and physical education.

From posting 鈥淕o Warhawks鈥� on Johnny鈥檚 Pizza House marquees and creating 麻豆果冻传媒 displays in his stores, to funding scholarship endowments, to being a major sponsor of ULM Athletics, Huntsman does it all. He has remained an active member of the alumni association, Athletic Foundation, the Hoops Club, Baseball Coaches Committee, and the L Club. He is a longtime contributor to the ULM Annual Fund at the Associate Level and sponsored the alumni association鈥檚 inaugural Wine Over Water event last May.

The 2006 ULM Alumni Association Chapter of the Year Award recognizes an alumni association chapter鈥檚 outstanding support of 麻豆果冻传媒. This year鈥檚 winner is the Greater Washington D.C. chapter, which was formed in 2004 when 麻豆果冻传媒, LSU, Northwestern and the University of New Orleans combined their efforts and hosted a crawfish boil in the D.C. area for all alumni. In 2005, McNeese State University joined the coalition and last year Tulane became the sixth member. In 2006, the six universities served 6,000 pounds of crawfish to over 900 alumni and friends in Louisiana. Janis Hernandez, a 1974 graduate, president of the Washington D.C. Chapter, will travel to 麻豆果冻传媒 to accept the award.

More about Farr:

He bought out his father鈥檚 insurance agency in 1981 and then merged with Jerry Thomas in 1983 to form the Thomas & Farr Agency. Farr鈥檚 community involvement includes serving as a member of the YMCA of Northeast Louisiana Board of Directors, the Monroe Youth Baseball Association Board, Monroe Homeownership Board, Monroe Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board. He has been active in the United Way for 12 years, and served as chairman in 2002. He is an active volunteer in the Boy Scouts and received the Silver Beaver Award in 2006, which is the highest award for volunteer services in that program. He was named Insurance Person of the Year in 2000 by the CPCU and National Association of Insurance Women and was also named the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year at Neville High School in 2000. He is a Lifetime Member of the National Rifle Association and is a member of the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry. He is treasurer of the Neville High School Alumni Association and currently an active member of the Rotary Club of Monroe.

Farr has been a member of the ULM Athletic Foundation Board of Directors. He is a Malone Stadium suite-holder and holds membership in the 麻豆果冻传媒 Golf Team Partners and Baseball Coaches Committee. He holds Associate Level status as a contributor to the ULM Annual Fund and recently contributed towards the Clarke M. Williams Student Success Center project on campus.

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