The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s College of Science honored Peter Banko, president of St. Vincent Health System, with its fifth Fribourgh Award, which recognizes leaders for their contributions to Arkansas in the fields of health, mathematics or science.
“Yesterday was my seventh anniversary at St. Vincent. I’ve had board chairs that really have driven the message home of quality nursing care,” Banko said. “And really driven home the point about being a good community partner. My first board [chairman] was Lunsford Bridges; the second one was Gus Blass, who’s here tonight. Dave Parker was my third, and Mark Doramus who is our current board [chairman], and Dr. Judy Pierce will be the new [chairman] in July.So every day they were relentless about improving nursing care and bringing it to a world-class level.”
The evening was touched by a bit of sadness. Jim Fribourgh (pronounced FREEberg), longtime chairman of the Life Sciences department and vice chancellor for academic affairs, passed away March 6. Fribourgh’s three daughters sat in the second row immediately behind Banko.
The $75 tickets benefited the UALR College of Science Leadership Endowed Scholarship Fund for undergraduate students in health, mathematics and science. In a tenderly self-effacing moment, Banko, who earned his Master of Health Administration degree from Cornell University and bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, said his math and science teachers there might find his latest award “ironic.”
The reception took place at the Governor’s Mansion, and the orthodox spread of Grand Hall hors d’oeuvres was laid out: seasoned mushrooms, savory tarts, various cheeses, and bite-size fruit-cream tarts.
High Profile, Pages 41 on 04/06/2014