TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN SUNS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR WINNING THE GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP.

2026 Fiscal Session Introduced by Breanne Davis

The Arkansas Senate formally recognizes and commends the Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns women's cross country team for winning the GAC Championship, highlighting top finishes

Sine Die adjournment

1) Purpose and Intent

SR 34 is a Senate Resolution recognizing and applauding the Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns women's cross country team for winning the Great American Conference (GAC) Championship.

The resolution highlights the team’s historic victory, achievement milestones, and honors awarded to individual team members and coaches.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Formal recognition by the Arkansas Senate of the Golden Suns’ championship win at the GAC Championship held in Monticello, Arkansas on October 25, 2025.

Public record of team performance details, including:

The team finished first in a twelve-team field.
All five scoring runners placed in the top 25.
This was the Golden Suns’ first GAC championship; previously they had finished no lower than third in the past five years and had been runner-up for four consecutive years.

Specific team members acknowledged by name (including runners and the coaching staff) as part of the recognition. Notable selections include:

Top finishers: Audrey Hill, Amaya Grant, Avery Stanley, Peyton Carson, Libby Booth (top-25 finishes) and other team members listed in the resolution.
Individual honors: Audrey Hill, Amaya Grant, and Avery Stanley earned First Team All-GAC honors (top 10 finishes); Peyton Carson earned Second Team All-GAC honors.
Academic honors: Mackenzie Epperson and Alyson Greathouse named GAC Elite Scholar-Athletes (4.0 GPA and at least 70 hours of college credit).
Academic Honor Roll: Ellie Akins, Rachel Caldwell, Peyton Carson, Aidan Fisher, Annsley Rawlins, and Avery Stanley recognized for Academic Honor Roll.
Coaching recognition: Head Coach Gabe Sams named GAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Support staff: Assistant Coach Jackson Schwartz and Volunteer Assistant Coach Mike Waller acknowledged.

The resolution instructs the presentation of an appropriate copy of the resolution to Head Coach Gabe Sams by the Secretary of the Senate upon adoption.

3) Who/What Would Be Affected

The primary effect is ceremonial and symbolic recognition by the Arkansas Senate.

The targeted entities are:

Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns women's cross country team members (athletes and coaches named in the resolution).
Arkansas Tech University athletic department (through acknowledgement of coaching staff and support personnel).

There are no fiscal appropriations, budgetary changes, or regulatory mandates accompanying SR 34.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Filed and introduced on April 23, 2026.

The resolution was read for the first time and rules were suspended for the second reading, then placed on the calendar for consideration.

The document is a Senate Resolution (SR), which, if adopted, serves as an official formal expression of the Arkansas Senate recognizing the team’s achievement.

Sponsor: Senator Breanne Davis (co-sponsor).

Additional Context

The Great American Conference is the collegiate athletic conference in which Arkansas Tech University competes.

The resolution functions as a public commendation that can be cited in university materials and press releases to commemorate athletic success and academic excellence demonstrated by team members and coaching staff.

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