Arkansas
2024 Crabaugh Award Winner: Braden Jones – Arkansas Tech University
Braden Jones made a choice four years ago to move two-and-a-half hours away from the southeast Arkansas home he loves to attend Arkansas Tech University.
As he prepares to graduate from ATU, Jones now has two homes: the one he’s always known in Warren, and the one he chose at Arkansas Tech.
“I think we have one of the greatest campuses in the state,” said Jones. “It’s beautiful. It’s big enough that you don’t know everyone, but you have the opportunity to meet everyone if you want. You can create your own path at Arkansas Tech. If I need anything from my professors, I call them. They’re going to answer and help me the best they can. There are just so many ways to get involved and so many things to do off campus, as well. Arkansas Tech does a great job of putting the student first. We have everything for everyone.”
Jones is the 2024 recipient of the Alfred J. Crabaugh Award as the most outstanding senior male student at Arkansas Tech. He will be recognized during ATU spring commencement ceremonies at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday, May 11.
“To me, it’s an honor I cannot describe,” said Jones when asked about the Crabaugh Award. “It shows that Arkansas Tech is inviting to everyone and anyone. We’re all here together. It shows that Arkansas Tech loves its students and that we’re a family. If it hadn’t been for my professors pushing me, looking out for me and understanding what I could be, I wouldn’t be here. Looking back, I was just having fun. I didn’t really think about how influential it had been. I just felt like I was at home.”
Jones was a man for all seasons growing up in Warren, where he played football, basketball, baseball and golf. When he wasn’t playing a sport or going to school, chances are he was hunting or fishing with family.
“I even tried my hand at pole vault for a little bit,” said Jones.
As he prepared to graduate from Warren High School and take the next step in his educational journey, the community of Russellville helped sell him on Arkansas Tech.
“I chose to come to Tech because I loved the feel of Russellville,” said Jones. “Coming from a small town…Russellville is much larger than where I’m from, but it still has that small-town feel. Then I learned about all the opportunities outside the campus with the state parks, Lake Dardanelle and a lot of wildlife management areas to hunt at. I knew a lot of people in south Arkansas, and I felt like it was time to go and meet new people.”
Jones and his roommate, fellow Warren High School graduate Kade Weaver, did just that. They enrolled at Arkansas Tech in fall 2020 and Jones quickly found his place in the Bachelor of Arts degree program in journalism, where he focused his studies on public relations.
“I fell in love with the program,” said Jones. “I started taking classes with Dr. Hanna Norton, Mr. Tommy Mumert and Mrs. Megan Toland. Instantly, I was learning Associated Press style, the rule of thirds and multimedia practices my very first semester. I was excited to get that insight so early in my college career, and I could tell they weren’t just teaching this stuff from a book. They had lived these experiences, and I knew one day I’d be able to use those experiences for my benefit.”
Jones began to see those benefits in action when he was selected for an internship with The Communications Group, a public relations firm in Little Rock. There, he designed and executed a public relations campaign and event that earned him a Prism Award from the Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
“It cemented that what I’ve learned at Arkansas Tech is what I need to know,” said Jones. “When I entered my internship, I was a little nervous about being in the real world. But I found that everything transferred from what I was doing in school right into what I was doing in my internship. To see the hard work that I put in during my classes pay off in the real world showed me it was all worth it and that I had some great mentors. I can’t thank them enough for what I’ve learned (at ATU).”
Jones has served as president of ATU’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, as a tour guide in the ATU Office of Admissions and as a senator in ATU Student Government Association.
“I was always passionate about school,” said Jones. “My mom and grandmother understood the importance of education. They always told me academics come first, so I entered here with the same mindset. Winning is a mindset you can put to anything you do…in the classroom, athletically and in relationships with your friends and family…so I wanted to continue that. At Tech, I grew as a person and realized there’s more than just going to class and getting good grades. I continued to do that, but I got involved in other areas and feel more prepared as a whole now. I have a better understanding of how to meet people, how to talk to them, how to work as a team and how to be a leader.”
Arkansas
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Arkansas
Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.
Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.
“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”
The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.
With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.
“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”
“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”
Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.
About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.
About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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