Dr. Sheridan (Barajas) Pounding, a 2016 University of the Ozarks graduate who is practicing small animal veterinarian medicine in the Washington D.C. area, will be the recipient of the University’s 2026 Emerging Philanthropist Award during Homecoming, scheduled for Oct. 15-18.
The award recognizes individuals age 40 or under “who have demonstrated a record of exceptional generosity in support of Ozarks’ mission and who have inspired others to give similarly.” It will be presented during the Alumni Awards Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 16.
A native of Alvin, Texas, Pounding majored in biology at Ozarks and graduated with academic honors. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in Alabama.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this award and the opportunity to give back to an institution that played such an important role in shaping the person and professional I am today,” Pounding said. “Ozarks gave me far more than an education—it gave me a foundation, lifelong lessons, meaningful relationships, and the confidence to pursue my goals.”
Pounding has supported the University through the 1834 Club since 2022. She has also given to the Ozarks Annual Fund and to the Theodore “Taz” Beard IV Scholarship Endowment.
“My time at Ozarks is truly indescribable, and I hope every student who walks through its doors takes the opportunity to fully embrace the experience,” Pounding said. “Your time in college is about so much more than earning a degree; it’s about discovering who you are, building lasting connections, serving others, and creating memories that stay with you long after graduation. I’m honored to be able to give back to a place that gave me so much, and I hope I can help ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunity to make the most of their Ozarks experience.”
She and her husband, Manny, welcomed a daughter, Sidney, to the family earlier this year.
Topics: Giving