Taste of Little Rock celebrates 20 years of alumni support and student scholarships

April 28 - May 4, 2025

By Angelita Faller

UA Little Rock’s 20th annual Taste of Little Rock, presented by Regions Bank, Pepsi, iProv, and Scale, brought together alumni, community members, and local restaurateurs for a night of great food and fundraising, raising more than $142,140 to support student scholarships.

Held April 8 at the Jack Stephens Center, the university’s signature culinary event featured more than 35 local restaurants and vendors. The event broke previous attendance records, welcoming more than 1,000 alumni, friends, employees, students, and community members.

“This night is about celebrating our alumni and the connection they maintain with the university that helped shape their futures,” said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development at UA Little Rock. “Half of this year’s tickets were purchased by alumni, showing that we met our goal of strengthening alumni engagement. It’s inspiring to see so many alumni return not only to enjoy the evening’s food offerings, but to invest in the success of today’s and tomorrow’s students through scholarships.”

This year’s special 20th anniversary celebration honored RJ Martino, a UA Little Rock alumnus whose success in business and entrepreneurship was rooted in his time at the university—making him a true Trojan success story. Martino, founder of iProv, Scale Technology, Enterprise Accounting Partners, and the Martino Law Firm, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and the important role alumni play in giving back to the university community.

“It’s truly humbling to be recognized by UA Little Rock, a place that played such an important role in my life,” Martino said. “The mentorship, education, and opportunities I found here shaped who I am today. It was incredible to see so many alumni at the event—whether they were sponsoring, attending, or running one of the amazing restaurants featured at Taste of Little Rock.”

Alumni involvement extended beyond attendance and donations. Several of the featured restaurants were owned or operated by UA Little Rock graduates, underscoring the university’s impact on the local food economy. Some of the alumni-owned restaurants include Certified Pies, owned by Samantha Stewart, and the XPerience Kitchen and Lounge, owned by Bobby Forrest Jr. 

“I think students need the opportunities provided by the scholarships raised by events like Taste of Little Rock,” said Stewart, a 2013 graduate of UA Little Rock. “I am happy my business can help students pursue any opportunities they want to pursue.”

Longtime participant,  and UA Little Rock alumnae Stephanie Caruthers, co-chair of the Taste of Little Rock Committee the managing partner of Trio’s, highlighted the strong alumni presence among restaurateurs.

“I’m so excited to celebrate 20 years of Taste of Little Rock, a truly special event that brings our community together to support UA Little Rock,” Caruthers said. “It’s hard to believe I’ve been involved in every one, either as a participating restaurant or part of the organizing team. As an alumna, being part of this event has deepened my connection to the university and made me incredibly proud to help future students achieve their educational goals. Every dollar raised here makes a real difference.”

“I think this is the best Taste of Little Rock we’ve ever had,” added Loris Fullerton, a 1974 graduate of UA Little Rock and fellow co-chair of the event committee. “Everyone is ready to celebrate the wonderful food of Little Rock and offer lots of scholarships to our amazing students. Taste of Little Rock is an amazing event that the alumni do to stay involved with the university and serve as great ambassadors for UA Little Rock.”

For alumni like Becky Flynn, a member of the UA Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors, the event is about more than just good food. It’s also an opportunity to champion student success. 

“I think this event is so important to raise awareness and funding for student scholarships at UA Little Rock,” said Flynn, deputy director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. “As alumni, it’s important that we engage with the broader community to share all the exciting things happening on campus and for our students, things that will benefit our community and our future.”

Taste of Little Rock is a major fundraiser for the UA Little Rock Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to students pursuing their degrees. Thanks to alumni contributions and community sponsorships, the event exceeded its fundraising goal, ensuring more students will have access to scholarships in the coming year. In 2024, funds raised from Taste of Little Rock made it possible to award more than $200,000 in scholarships to nearly 40 students. 

“The generosity of our alumni and supporters is what makes this event such a success year after year,” Smith said. “Every ticket purchased and every sponsorship secured directly supports students, creating a legacy of giving that will benefit UA Little Rock for generations to come.”

The success of this year’s Taste of Little Rock resulted in a night that not only generated vital scholarship for students, but also broke attendance records for previous events.

“Taste of Little Rock celebrated a milestone 20th year with record-breaking attendance, enthusiastic alumni support, and more than 40 local restaurants showcasing their best dishes,” said Guy Choate, president of the UA Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors. “The event raised thousands of dollars for student scholarships, reinforcing its reputation as one of UA Little Rock’s signature community fundraisers.”

You can find out more information about the Alumni Association by visiting their website and find out more about giving opportunities that support student success by visiting the Centennial Campaign website, which is UA Little Rock’s milestone fundraising campaign that will celebrate the university’s 100th anniversary in 2027.  

Photo Captions:

1. Excited attendees had the chance to try food from 40 local restaurants and vendors during the 2025 Taste of Little Rock event on April 8. 

2. Alumnus RJ Martino, left, attends Taste of Little Rock with his wife Amy and their two children, Adalyn and Bryant. 

Photo Credits:

1. Photo by Benjamin Krain

2. Photo by Ben Krain.