Department of Communication Celebrates Alumni at Awards Ceremony

At their 2022 awards ceremony on April 21, the Department of Communication announced the winners of two new awards designed to honor alumni. Rachel Mauchline (B.A. ’19) won the Early Career Alumni Award, and Stacy Hurst (B.A. ’85) won the Outstanding Alumni Award.

In addition to certificates, Mauchline and Hurst were honored with framed rubbings of their names from the U of A Senior Walk.

Upon graduating, Mauchline was hired as the director of debate at Cabot Public schools, where she works with seventh to 12th graders on their persuasive communication skills. Since 2019, she has served on the Executive Council for the Arkansas Communication Theatre Arts Association. She also contributes to debate education on a national level through her work with the National Speech and Debate Association and by coaching at various debate camps in multiple states.

In 2020, her work with the National Speech and Debate Association was recognized when they awarded her a National Commendation. In 2021, she founded debateARkansas, a non-profit organization dedicated to making debate more accessible to students in Arkansas.

As Joe Kieklak described in his recommendation letter, Mauchline is a “river for her people,” who “leads by example.”

Graduating with a B.A. in communication in 1985, Hurst has over 35 years of experience in nonprofit, government and small business management, as well as an extensive record of community service. Most recently, in 2019 she was appointed secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. In this role, she is responsible for a $200 million budget and 1,200 employees across Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Tourism, the Capitol Zoning Commission, Main Street Arkansas and the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission.

Her prior positions include director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, city director for Little Rock, marketing director for Tipton & Hurst Inc. and vice president of Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation.

In his recommendation letter, Gov. Asa Hutchinson wrote, “Ms. Hurst’s communication and leadership capabilities have been a cornerstone to her success within the Arkansas community.”

Stephanie Schulte, chair of the Department of Communication, noted, “We are so proud of all of our alumni and are excited to give out these two alumni awards annually as a formal recognition of this pride. Particularly in their service to the state, Rachel Mauchline and Stacy Hurst are excellent examples of where a degree in communication from the University of Arkansas can take you.”

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.

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