Eight University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff students were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship and six people were recognized for outstanding community service by the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County UAPB/AM&N Alumni Chapter.
The presentations took place during the UAPB/AM&N Alumni Scholarship Gala at the Pine Bluff Convention Center recently.
Tanya S. Walker, interim dean of University College and director of academic advancement programs, shared the purpose of the scholarships.
“The Pine Bluff Jefferson County UAPB/AM&N Scholarship is awarded through the local alumni chapter to support deserving students attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,” Walker said. “Funded through community efforts such as the annual scholarship gala held on Sept. 12, 2025, the award helps ease financial barriers for local students — particularly students who graduated from a Jefferson County high school. This year, each recipient received a $1,000 scholarship, reinforcing the strong bond between UAPB, its alumni, and the community,” said Walker, who also serves as second vice president of the alumni chapter.
The scholarship recipients, their classification, major and grade point average were:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Taylor Blackmon — senior, majoring in biology, GPA 3.532.
Kennedy Crumpton — senior, majoring in rehabilitation services, GPA 3.437.
Joell Finley — sophomore, majoring in media communication, GPA 3.100.
Cherish Hampton — junior, majoring in pre-nursing, GPA 3.823.
Mon’Tavion Haywood — sophomore, majoring in social work, GPA 3.456.
Jayla Johnson — junior, majoring in criminal justice, GPA 3.807.
Jaylon Reynolds — senior, majoring in industrial technology, GPA 3.505.
Paris Smith-Lampkin — sophomore, majoring in biology, GPA 3.361.
COMMUNITY HONOREES
Six individuals were also honored for their outstanding service and remarkable commitment to making a difference in the community and UAPB.
The 2025 honorees were:
Dr. Stephen A. Broughton — Medicine
Broughton is the medical director at the Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System Inc. and serves as a department psychiatrist and a certified deputy sheriff with the Jefferson County sheriff’s office. Broughton has been an active community leader and advocate. He has been a member of the Pine Bluff Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. for more than 30 years. His passion for mental health awareness within the fraternity culminated in his appointment as National Chairman of Military and Veterans Affairs chairman on a widely attended webinar addressing post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention during the covid-19 pandemic.
Dorothy Chapman-Brown — Education
Chapman-Brown began her 39-year teaching career immediately after graduating from Arkansas Mechanical and Normal College, now known as UAPB, in 1965. She began teaching at Arkansas schools in Humphrey, Marianna and Pastoria-Sherrill before arriving at Southeast Junior High School in Pine Bluff in 1970. She taught at Southeast until her retirement in 2004.
Janice L. Roberts — Government
Roberts, who serves as the city clerk for Pine Bluff, was elected in 2020 and sworn in on Jan. 1, 2021. As the 11th city clerk in Pine Bluff’s history since 1892, she is the second African American to hold this position. She also has six years of experience as a former city alderwoman and is the only city elected official to have served in both the executive and legislative branches of government.
K & C Media (Tyquan and Angelica Walton) — Business
The Waltons are using the lens of film and media to reimagine what’s possible for Pine Bluff and beyond. Tyquan “Ty” Walton is a motivational speaker on YouTube under the alias “Big Bro Ty” and a conscious hip hop artist and poet going by the moniker “Ty Chi.” Angelica Walton had the honor of serving as the 89th Miss UAPB. Throughout her experience as campus queen, she became more acclimated with the community of Pine Bluff and grew a deep passion for sharing the stories that the media often overlook, while highlighting the abundance of talent in Pine Bluff.
Mary A. Liddell — Community Service
Liddell is a former mortgage and farm loan processor at Farmers Home Administration and Worthen Bank/National Bank of Commerce, and a mortgage loan officer with Norwest Mortgage. She taught school in the Warren, Pine Bluff and Watson Chapel school districts as well as in various schools in Connecticut, San Antonio, West Memphis and Denver. She retired from the Little Rock School District 12 years ago. She chaired the Juneteenth Celebration and Christmas Parade from 2016-2024 for the city of Pine Bluff. For the past seven years, she has coordinated the Christmas Potluck event that feeds the hungry on Christmas day, which is sponsored by its founder, Ryan Watley.
Liddell is the chapter president. Robert Carr is the chair of the 2025 scholarship gala. This year’s theme for the event was “Journey of Knowledge: Empowering Minds, Igniting Futures.”
