University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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STUDENT SKY BOXES 29

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The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics worked assiduously to ensure that they improved the Razorback home game experience. In an effort to make home games more enjoyable, the UA athletics department changed the layout and format of the Razorback Rooftop in the upper south end zone area at the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium to create student sky boxes. As a result, four sky boxes debuted during the 2016 season. Elvis John Moya, the director for marketing and fan development at the UofA said the reason for the establishment of the sky boxes was to ensure students continue to enjoy Razorback games while hanging out with each other. “The sky boxes came about because the south end upper level became available and before the sky box, there used to be portable stands,” Moya said. “My department wanted to bring students together and we wanted to allow students to enjoy a better view of our stadium.” The sky boxes were created specifically for Registered Student Organizations and other student groups. Each box could accommodate up to 150 guests. The cost for each sky box was $1,000. However, different RSOs worked together to pay for the sky boxes, Moya said. Most students enjoyed the fact that there were sky boxes available. However, senior Justin Bowleg said he thought that the sky boxes should be more affordable for students so that more organizations could have the sky box experience. When different RSOs came together to watch the Razorback home games in the sky boxes, they were not only enjoying the view, but they had a lot of other perks to enjoy as well. “The sky boxes are really nice. They have couches, tables, televisions, catering and a concession stand,” said Moya. Each sky box also included a reserved area with a tent, carpeted flooring, two big screen televisions and a full sports-oriented cable package, and a section of bench seating that was reserved exclusively for sky box ticket holders. Moya said that he received positive feedback regarding the sky boxes. “Every home game I walk through the sky boxes and I ensure that everyone’s needs are met and that there are no issues. Through my interactions with people in the sky boxes, everyone has told me that they have enjoyed the sky box experience and they enjoy seeing the game at a different level,” Moya said. STORY | TROY ANN MOTT PHOTO I RAZORBACK ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT DESIGN | CHRISTINA WILKERSON 28 FALL

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INNOVATION PROFILES FAY JONES SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Two interior design students in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas were awarded $30,000 from the Angelo Donghia Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes design education in September. Jessica Baker and Christine Wass both were recognized with Foundation 2016 Senior Student Scholarship Awards based on projects they submitted to the foundation. They were among 15 students selected from a pool of 68 student projects from accredited universities in this year’s competition. This was the second year for Fay Jones School students to receive this honor. In 2015, Kelly Walsh was the first University of Arkansas student to receive this scholarship. Baker and Wass, both in their fourth year of studies, were among winners from top design schools in North America. Twelve of the 15 scholarship winners were from private art schools or universities, and located on the east and west coasts. The remaining three students were from the University of Arkansas and the University of Nevada, the only public schools in the group. “It is terrific to see our students competing and winning against students from the top-ranked interior design schools in North America in the biggest scholarship for our discipline,” said Carl Matthews, professor and head of the Department of Interior Design. “This is equivalent to the basketball team playing in the Final Four or the football team in the playoffs for the national championship. I am amazingly proud of the hard work, discipline and talent of students and faculty for attaining this honor two years in a row.” Baker and Wass said the recognition with this prestigious scholarship brought attention to the quality of their work and the Fay Jones School. “It was just kind of like an affirmation that I can do this,” Wass said. “I can design. It’s possible.” “I would really like to shine some light on the Fay Jones School because I think it is really underrated,” Baker said. The students submitted their projects to the Donghia Foundation as part of their third-year interior design studio with Jennifer Webb last spring. Webb had all of the students create projects for boutique hotels, working with alumni at Looney and Associates in Dallas. Webb narrowed the class’ designs to those produced by Baker and Wass, who then submitted them to the Donghia Foundation. “Both Christine and Jessica began with strong creative ideas and implemented the conceptual framework to every detail,” said Webb, associate professor of interior design. “Even more importantly, they both tackled technical construction details to illustrate that interior design is much more than surface decoration. They demonstrated creative and technical skills that lead to professional success. I just couldn’t be more pleased for them and for our program.” 30 INNOVATION PROFILES