College of the Arts to Host Annual SPARK Awards on March 12th

College of the Arts to Host Annual SPARK Awards Ceremony

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of the Arts is proud to announce its Annual SPARK Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the LITE Center, located at 537 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA. The evening will begin with the ceremony at 6:00 PM, followed by a reception honoring this year’s award recipients.

This year, the SPARK Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Lee Allen Zeno, a Grammy Award-winning bassist and music educator from Rayne, Louisiana. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates alumni and community members who have significantly advanced the arts in Louisiana and beyond. Zeno joins a distinguished group of previous SPARK honorees, including A. Hays Town, Elmore Morgan Jr., Joe Stewart, George Rodrigue, Keith Sonnier, Dicky Landry, Eddie Cazayoux, Herman Mhire, and others.

Lee Allen Zeno is renowned for his deep grooves and soulful contributions to music. As the longtime bassist for Buckwheat Zydeco and the Ils Sont Partis Band, he played a pivotal role in one of the most successful groups in Zydeco history over his 40+ year career. Beyond performance, Zeno is a passionate mentor and educator. He serves as music director for the Blue Monday All-Stars, a project of the non-profit organization Love of People, which supports local musicians and preserves cultural traditions. At the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he leads the Ragin’ and Blues Band, inspiring students to carry forward Louisiana’s vibrant musical heritage.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, two additional SPARK awards will be presented:

Professor Emeritus John Hathorn will receive the SPARK Lifetime Faculty and Staff Award.  A celebrated artist and educator, Hathorn joined the University in 1982 as a professor of painting, directing the BFA Senior Seminar and participating in the University’s Study Abroad Programs on seven occasions between 1990 and 2017 in France, England, and Italy. In his thirty-seven-year career in the Department of Visual Arts he taught painting and drawing as well as contemporary art history, design, and art education and is a two-time recipient of the University’s Eminent Faculty Awards: Distinguished Professor in 2008 and the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2013.

Alina Robinson ’18 will be honored with the SPARK Rising Alumni Award. Robinson, a 2018 graduate with a Bachelor of Interior Design, is an accomplished interior designer specializing in workplace design. Since graduating, she has worked as a registered Interior Designer at Gensler in Houston, TX, where she is known for creating functional and innovative workspaces that reflect her clients’ unique needs.

To attend this special celebration of artistic excellence, please RSVP below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-spark-awards-ceremony-tickets-1109651430299?aff=oddtdtcreator

Contact:
Michael Eble
Assistant Dean, Communications, Events, & Exhibitions
University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of the Arts
Phone: (320) 288-8389
Email: michael.eble@louisiana.edu