Founded in 2011, the Latino Alumni Society works to serve and recognize students, bring together friends and the community and engage faculty and staff at the U of A.
LAS hosted its annual spring Méritos Latinos event on May 9, encapsulating society’s goals. The event included a reception and dinner with a ceremony celebrating graduating students and introducing the society’s 2025 award recipients. The evening concluded with a dance that engaged all in attendance.
During this year’s ceremony, emceed by Zuzuky Monarez and Elvis Moya, the society welcomed two student speakers, Steicy Lopez and Amelia Southern-Uribe, who shared their stories as members of the U of A family. A highlight of the ceremony was the bestowal of graduation stoles on 35 graduating students, who were nominated for the honor by faculty and staff of the U of A.
The Latino Alumni Society Board honored five alumni, faculty and staff in four awards categories.
Rubicely Monter B.A.’15, M.A.’17, research program manager at the Institute for Community Health Innovation at UAMS Northwest, was named the 2025 Maurizio Lorenzetti Latino Alumni Student Award recipient. The award recognizes an individual who is a demonstrated leader and advocate for our community. Monter is pursuing a doctorate in public policy at the U of A. Through her work, she aims to advance community-centered solutions that create lasting impact and improve health indicators for populations in need.
Two U of A staff members were selected for the 2025 Outstanding Staff Member Award: Ramon Balderas M.Ed. ’16, Ed. D.’23 and Genaro Camarillo.
Balderas is the student development specialist for financial empowerment in the Student Success Center. He has worked in higher education for more than 11 years.
Camarillo is an academic outreach specialist supporting the College Access Initiative. He is deeply involved in promoting and recruiting for summer programs, including ACT Academy and Jump Start programs.
Alejandra Campos B.A.’18, M.A.’20, professor of Latino studies at the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society, received the 2025 Outstanding U of A Faculty Award. In just two years at the U of A, Campos has chaired a master’s thesis, advised two undergraduate honors theses and served on several other committees.
The society awarded its premier alumni honor, the Cecilia Grossberger and Angela Mosley-Monts Legacy Award, to Diana Gonzalez Worthen Ph.D.’04. Worthen is serving her first term in the Arkansas House, representing District 9, which covers east Springdale. For the 95th General Assembly, she serves on the House Education Committee and the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee. She has over 35 years of experience as an educator in public schools and higher education and has made significant contributions as an educator, principal investigator and director of Project ELEVATE.
The ceremony portion of the evening concluded with a Hog Call.
