Seniors of Significance 2019

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Photo of Kaitlin SmitheyThe Arkansas Alumni Association has selected Kaitlin Smithey as a Senior of Significance for 2019. Kaitlin Smithey is an industrial engineering student with a minor in supply chain management. She currently serves as the president for Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honors society, and the vice president for the Society of Women Engineers.

During her time at the University of Arkansas, Kaitlin has been involved with Alpha Pi Mu, Alpha Delta Pi, Society of Women Engineers, and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Kaitlin also became involved in research within the department, working as an undergraduate research assistant studying the benefits of global standards within healthcare organizations alongside Medtronic. She was able to present this research both at the CELDi (Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution) Conference and the 2018 National IISE Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

In her free time, Kaitlin enjoys giving back to the community through outreach with the Salvation Army as a meal server, for the City of Fayetteville as a youth soccer coach, and for the Ronald McDonald House as a meal server.  Throughout her college career, Kaitlin accepted three internships with Nestle Purina as an Engineering Intern (2016), John Deere as a Quality Engineering Intern (2017), and The Boeing Company as a Production Planning and Controls Intern (2018). Throughout her studies, Kaitlin has been recognized for her dedication to her schoolwork including many Chancellor’s and Dean’s list accolades, along with several scholarships from the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering.

After graduation, Kaitlin will relocate to Houston, Texas, where she has accepted a role with Halliburton in their ELMT (Engineering Leadership in Manufacturing and Technology) program. After being selected as a Senior of Significance, Kaitlin remarked, “It is an incredible honor to be selected among all of the incredible students at this university. I would not be here if it were not for my amazing family, friends, and mentors assisting me through this journey. These four years have taught me so much, and I will be forever thankful for my time at this university.”

This the fifth class of Seniors of Significance to be honored by the Arkansas Alumni Association. The reception was held at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House on January 31, 2018. Seventy-one graduating seniors, commemorating the university’s founding date of 1871, were recognized. During the reception, the Seniors of Significance received a special gold honor cord to wear during graduation as well as a Senior of Significance certificate. More than 250 people attended including the honorees, their parents, University of Arkansas faculty and staff, as well as leadership from the university and the association.

The 71 students were selected from more than 500 nominations and represent each University of Arkansas undergraduate academic college. Selection as a Senior of Significance is based on student’s academic achievements, leadership skills and extracurricular campus and/or community activities.

Seniors of Significance are now eligible to update their applications for the Senior Honor Citation program, now in its 54th year, and the Razorback Classics program.

The Seniors of Significance article in Newswire is here.


Published: February 8, 2019