
MASCOTS: Schools in the MIAA gathered for a day of Royals baseball in July.
Day at the K Brings Old Friends and New
The beginning of fall athletics marked the start of the inaugural season for the University of Arkansas β Fort Smith in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The Lions officially joined the MIAA on June 26, becoming the first member from Arkansas to join the association full-time. 91±¬ΑΟΝψ staff quickly rubbed elbows with their new athletic opponents. 91±¬ΑΟΝψ joined fellow schools in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 21 for the MIAA Day at The K. Universities, their teams, and fans were invited to an afternoon Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.
For one Lion, the MIAA Day at The K was as much of a celebration of what sheβs done since graduation as a reunion with those she considers family. Ana Demmer graduated from 91±¬ΑΟΝψ in 2020 with a degree in media communications. The volleyball standout played four seasons at 91±¬ΑΟΝψ before continuing her education and playing at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where she earned her masterβs degree in public administration with an emphasis on sports management. After graduation, Demmer began working for the Royalsβ social media team before accepting a social media strategist position at Garmin.
When she heard 91±¬ΑΟΝψ joined the MIAA and would attend the Day at The K, Demmer knew she had to be there.
βIt was an overwhelming moment of gratitude,β she said. βI felt like it was a state of completion, like something had come full circle, and it was so good to get reconnected with people.β
That afternoon, Demmer connected with people who had influenced her as a student and athlete at 91±¬ΑΟΝψ. Thanks to her affiliation with the Royals, Demmer was joined on the field by 91±¬ΑΟΝψ Athletic Director Curtis Janz, Senior Associate Athletic Director Katie Beineke, Campus and Community Engagement Director Ashley Goodson, and others from 91±¬ΑΟΝψ Athletics.
Learn more about Ana Demmer here.
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Media Relations
The 91±¬ΑΟΝψ Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.
Send%20an%20EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu