The UACCH Foundation and the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that our very own Sweet Home Alabama star, Shaun Smith, has agreed to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the August 11 Easton Corbin concert at the 36th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival.
Smith, of Emmet, Arkansas, is a part-time student at UACCH this summer and plans to graduate in December from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. He was catapulted into the spotlight last spring through making the final 4 on the CMT reality television show, Sweet Home Alabama. The outstanding character and personality of Shaun Smith was further spotlighted across the Ark-La-Tex as the story unfolded of his champion calf-roping horse being one of four stolen from the college rodeo team stables at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Unfortunately, Smith’s horse was one of the horses not recovered alive.
Smith put his rural values to work to overcome this tragic loss. Each day he pulled his boots on and went to work, well representing southwest Arkansas, his upbringing, and his faith. The public spotlight, mixed with a tragic loss, would shake many off their foundations; but Smith coped, buckled down and is now helping others through his experience. He has established a scholarship fund at Southern Arkansas University and has assisted with many events across southwest Arkansas.
UACCH Foundation and the Hope –Hempstead County Chamber are pleased to have this superstar serving as our MC for the concert. Smith’s charm and wit will be great additions to a night of Easton Corbin, who has a number one single entitled, “I’m a Little More Country than That.”
