The University of the Ozarks Alumni Association will present its 2025 alumni awards to four distinguished alumni (pictured, from left) — Kelly Robins ’03 of Reno, Nev.; Chie Ishii-Losinger ’86 of Berlin, Germany; Geoshan Lee ’20 of Penang, Malaysia; and Jake Holland ’20 of Sugar Land, Texas.
The awards will be presented as part of the Ozarks Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, during the University’s 2025 Homecoming Week.
Here is a look at the Alumni Association’s 2025 award recipients:
Alumni Merit Award
Kelly Robins is the recipient of the 2025 Alumni Merit Award for meritorious work on behalf of his alma mater. Earlier this year, the former Eagles soccer player made a $127,500 gift for the soccer press box in the University’s new Wilson Athletic Complex. The University named the press box Robins Nest in honor of the gift. Originally from Arkadelphia, Ark., Robins earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Ozarks in 2003 before going on to earn an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is the general manager for New Millennium, a Steel Dynamics company, in Reno. After graduating from Ozarks, Robins began his career as an international steel trader for Commercial Metals Company in Dallas, Texas, before working for a renewable energy company. He has worked for New Millennium since 2010, serving as district sales manager and sales manager before being promoted to general manager in 2020. Founded in 1999 in Butler, Indiana, Steel Dynamics is now one of the largest providers of high-performance structural steel joists, joist girders, and deck solutions for commercial steel construction projects.
Alumni Achievement Award
Chie Ishii-Losinger ’86 will receive the 2025 Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding recognition in her chosen professional field. Ishii-Losinger is an acclaimed pianist, composer, author, and producer. Born in Japan, she moved to the U.S. at 19 to study piano performance at the then College of the Ozarks and Berklee College of Music. During her freshman year, she won first prize in the Arkansas College Student Piano Competition. While at Ozarks, Ishii-Losinger performed extensively at banquets, conventions, and board of trustees meetings, played the national anthem and cheer music at basketball games, served as organist/pianist at the First Presbyterian Church, and played alto saxophone in the Clarksville community jazz band. In addition to her musical talents, she also held exhibitions showcasing her paintings. After graduating, she directed the YAMAHA Music School in Arkansas before advancing her career in Japan, England, and Germany. Her versatility spans from performing Chopin’s works to producing rock music as the bassist and manager of her band, Breathless. In 1997, she became the first artist in Europe to record an audio DVD with her album Berlin Affair. Her profound connection to her alma mater was highlighted in 2017 when she was invited to perform a solo concert at the University of the Ozarks as part of the Walton Arts and Ideas Series, playing on the same stage where she held her senior recital 31 years earlier. Throughout her career, she has released four solo albums, published seven music books, and launched the ALWRITE project, arranging instrumental piano compositions that brought solace to listeners worldwide during the pandemic. She is also the author of Meine Selbstheilung (My Self-Healing) in German and co-author of Psycho-Musicology in English. Even with her busy schedule, Ishii-Losinger’s dedication to music education is evident in her willingness to mentor aspiring talents. She has consistently provided piano lessons—both in person and online— to international students of all ages and skill levels, including adult beginners, in English, German, and Japanese.
Young Alumni Achievement Award
Geoshan Lee ’20 is the recipient of the 2025 Young Alumni Achievement Award, given to an alumnus under the age of 35 who has gained recognition in his or her chosen profession. After graduating with high academic honors from U of O with a degree in communications and media studies, Lee went on to earn a degree in photography from John Brown University. In 2024, he was appointed festival director of the Ozark Media Arts Festival (OMAF) in Springdale, Ark., following a media internship with Springdale Public Schools. Under his leadership, the festival grew in scope and visibility, engaging over 500 students across the Midwest and strengthening ties between creative education and industry. He oversaw operations, content strategy, and team coordination—ensuring student voices in media were seen and celebrated. Currently, Lee serves as a media specialist at FaveKad in Penang, Malaysia—Asia’s leading platform for culturally themed digital e-cards. His photography, featured in more than 400 published designs, plays a key role in preserving and promoting Asian heritage through visual storytelling that reaches diverse audiences. His signature project, The Touch of Tradition: Stories Woven Through Time, is a global series documenting endangered trades and crafts, with a focus on Malaysia’s rich artisanal heritage. Through intimate imagery and cultural insight, he spotlights traditional makers working with wood, clay, fiber, food, stone, and metal, capturing age-old practices on the brink of extinction and renewing appreciation for heritage crafts in the digital age.
Young Alumni Service Award
Jake Holland ’20 is the recipient of the 2025 Young Alumni Service Award, which recognizes an alumnus who is at least five years out from graduation and under 35 years of age and has been active in alumni activities and has demonstrated loyalty to the University. Holland earned a degree in communications and was also a member of the baseball team at Ozarks. Shortly after graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jake moved to Fayetteville, Ark., where he worked in logistics before returning to Ozarks as the associate director of alumni engagement. In that role, he spent two and a half years strengthening alumni relations through events, philanthropy, and digital outreach, while also working closely with the Alumni Board. Through his work with the board, Holland saw firsthand the impact it has on growing alumni engagement and fostering a strong connection between graduates and the university. Even after leaving Ozarks, he knew he wanted to stay involved and continue making a difference for his alma mater by giving back in a meaningful way. He is currently a member of the Alumni Board of Directors. In June 2024, Holland moved back to his hometown of Sugar Land, Texas, and was engaged to his fiancée, Kristina, later that September. He now serves as the communications and community engagement specialist for the City of Sugar Land, managing the city’s volunteer program and fostering civic engagement and community connection.
Topics: Alumni