THE MAGAZINE OF ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY’S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SUMMER 2018, VOLUME 18, ISSUE 1 ~ $6.00
RECORD-SETTING LEGACY ALMA MATER WELCOMES NEIL GRIFFIN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
More than 2,000 degrees were conferred at A-State’s two spring 2018 commencement ceremonies, held May 12 at First National Bank Arena.
in this issue: FEATURES:
12 ‘48 ALUMNUS NEIL GRIFFIN, HUMBLE IN A LIFETIME OF
SUCCESS, GIVES BACK TO ARKANSAS STATE
HERITAGE SITE
14 NEWLY RESTORED KAYS HOUSE OPENS AS NEWEST 16 LICENSE 2 HOWL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS PROFILES:
04 STUDENT PROFILE 06 CAMPUS PROFILE 08 ALUMNI PROFILE 10 FEATURE PROFILE
ChrisTina Okolo
Dr. Jason Penry
Kyle Hamsher ‘07
Neil Griffin ‘48
DEPARTMENTS:
03 MY VOICE
Terry Mohajir Director of Athletics
Lindsay Burnett, Executive Director A-State Alumni Association
28 THE LAST WORD
voices | 01
voices The Magazine of Arkansas State University’s Alumni Association
my voice:
A-State students and staff members will team up to produce Red Wolves athletic events that will air on ESPN3 this fall. Click for a preview of this TERRY MOHAJIR, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS enhancement to A-State athletics.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR - LINDSAY BURNETT ‘05 EDITOR - VAN PROVENCE ‘07 DESIGN - MARY REED MELTON ‘04 PRINTING - A-STATE PRINTING SERVICES
A-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT - NONIE SHEFFIELD WIGGINS ’83, ’09, ’12
We together as alumni, fans, donors, former lettermen, coaches, faculty and administrators make up a collective Arkansas State University community who enhance the development of our Red Wolves’ student-athletes and help put them on a successful path to participate, educate and graduate on their way to becoming our next generation of A-State ambassadors in society.
VICE PRESIDENT - DALE MORRIS ‘70 SECRETARY - PEGGY ROBINSON WRIGHT ’93, ’96 PAST PRESIDENT - MARGO AUFDERHEIDE KAGEBEIN ‘76
It doesn’t take long to look around our campus and see all the new construction and renovations taking place and realize we are together creating and enjoying an unprecedented era of development for our university. The Athletics Department alone has built numerous new facilities and made renovations to existing areas for both our men’s and women’s sports, as well as our academic areas.
BOARD MEMBERS JOHN BAINE ‘95, ‘97
MARK KILLINGSWORTH ’09
ERIC BLACKWELL ‘01
JULIE MATTHEWS ‘94
RUSTY CHAMBERS ‘89
MICHAEL MILES ’02, ‘11
CHARISSE M. CHILDERS ’88, ’91, ‘01
RICK MILES ‘78
JENNIFER STOUT COLE ’00
BRANDON MORRIS ‘08
GEORGE COTTON ‘82
JOY MURPHY ‘92
STACY CRAWFORD ‘97
NATALIE ROGERS ‘10
JANET DAVIS EVANS ‘80
SHELLEY LUNBECK TUSTISON ’04
RICHARD HARTNESS, SR. ’68
CHANCELLOR - DR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT - DR. JASON PENRY
OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - LINDSAY HARMON BURNETT ‘05
Especially during this time of unequaled development, I continue to maintain that no athletics department ever built a facility on its own. It takes us together, and our Arkansas State University alumni are unquestionably the lifeblood of our success. We are a family, and we are a team, and it is without reservation that I say our people impact our student-athletes’ experience more than anything. It is without hesitation that I say there isn’t a stronger core fan base in the nation than what we have right here at Arkansas State, and I take great pride in the fact that our alumni are a key component of the outstanding support our Athletics Department and studentathletes receive. I am more than grateful for that – I am overwhelmed by your dedication and willingness to give that makes a huge impact on the lives of our students every day. However, we can’t rest on our achievements of today. We have to continue to progress. You and I both have the exciting challenge of getting better every day. If we only do what we can do, we’ll never be more than what we are, and that goes for all key stakeholders in our enterprise.
DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING - TARA TOWNSEND THOMASON ‘97 DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP - MARSHA MAYS CARWELL ‘05 DIRECTOR, AFFINITY RELATIONS - AMANDA MILLER MCDANIEL ‘93 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - CARISSA KIRK GRIFFIN
Our most recent project that is becoming a reality right now is our “North End Zone Project” in Centennial Bank Stadium. So many have and continue to step up with support for this project, including Centennial Bank and alumnus Johnny Allison through their leadership gift and commitment.
Voices is published three times a year by the Arkansas State University Alumni Association. Subscriptions are available through membership in the A-State Alumni Association. Single issues are available for $6 each. Editorial offices are located in the Cooper Alumni Center, 2600 Alumni Boulevard, Jonesboro, Arkansas. Our telephone number is (870) 972-2586 and our fax number is (870) 972-2039. MAIL CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: VOICES A-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 1990
There are still many ways to get involved in this specific project, including purchasing loge boxes in the new premium seating areas and naming opportunities existing with lockers and other areas within the operations building. Your involvement remains crucial to the project, which will impact our entire Athletics Department and multiple sports for years to come. This project will give us the opportunity to expand our program with much-needed space. Please choose to give to our Red Wolves Foundation, whether that is with our construction projects, scholarship opportunities, Red Wolves Leadership Academy or much more. I encourage you to reach out to our development staff to learn more. I can promise you that we will be excited to visit with you and give you an opportunity to have a great experience!
STATE UNIVERSITY, AR 72467 WEBSITE: AStateAlumni.org
summer 2018 | 02
EMAIL: Alumni@AState.edu
We’re “Always Rising,” and GO RED WOLVES!
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Junior ChrisTina Okolo first came to Arkansas State as a seventhgrade member of the Batesville marching band. For six consecutive years she visited campus, playing in All-Region Band performances at Fowler Center and First National Bank Arena, and knew that A-State would be her college home.
When she’s not in class or in the lab, Okolo serves as the vice president of the Student Philanthropy Council, and will be president during the 2018-19 academic year. She’s also involved in the Student Activities Board, and volunteers in the Patient Ambassador program at St. Bernards Medical Center.
These days, you can find her in one of the laboratories of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, conducting research – cytotoxicity cell tests – with compounds that could potentially fight melanoma. Okolo works under the direction of Dr. Mohammad Alam, with her sights set on medical school after she completes her degree in chemistry.
“A-State does really feel like home,” Okolo said. “I’ve realized that A-State is the perfect size; you see and meet new people every day, but you always see a familiar face. There are always professors there to lift you up, and I have made so many friends. I really enjoy working with all the students in the lab. This summer, I stayed at A-State and worked with Cameron Duke and Jed Whitt in the lab, and we are all just really close now.”
“I synthesize compounds,” Okolo explained. “The structures of the compounds are similar to the structures of compounds found in natural drugs. They start out in a certain form, I change them up a little bit, and we test them against bacteria in the microbiology lab to see if they inhibit the growth of that bacteria. That’s what you want; you want the bacteria to quit growing.”
“A-STATE DOES REALLY
FEEL LIKE HOME. I’VE REALIZED THAT A-STATE
IS THE PERFECT SIZE; YOU SEE AND MEET
NEW PEOPLE
FAMILIAR FACE.”
“ChrisTina is an excellent student in her studies,” he said. “She is working on the synthesis and anticancer studies of hybrids of thiazole and androstanedione derivatives. I truly admire her for her sincerity, perseverance, diligence to detail, and creative thinking. She always maintains rapport with other students in the class and in the lab.”
CHRISTINA OKOLO
summer 2018 | 04
Whitt, a senior biology, pre-professional major from Trumann, said that Okolo has quickly become an asset in the lab. “ChrisTina always comes to the lab with a positive attitude,” he said. “She is genuinely excited about her work, and you know you can count on her to help in any way possible.”
EVERYDAY, BUT YOU ALWAYS SEE A
Originally pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, Okolo changed her major to chemistry during her sophomore year and has been studying and working under Alam ever since. Alam is convinced that Okolo is on the pathway to success.
studentPROFILE
Okolo said that Whitt, in particular, has been helping her develop compounds to fight the melanoma cells. “He’s the expert at that,” she said. “He’s been teaching me the skills that I need in order to do that.”
“She performs very well in the group setting, exhibiting good leadership qualities, while being considerate towards her peers,” Alam added. “She is a hardworking, dedicated, and well-mannered individual, driven by her desire to succeed.”
Okolo said that working with Alam, along with students like Whitt and Duke, makes the learning fun. “Dr. Alam is really good at teaching us that if something doesn’t work, that doesn’t mean that it won’t eventually work – you just have to change something,” she said. “He’s really big on changing structures, and that’s really encouraging. He’s always wanting to teach – writing reactions out on the board to help explain. We have weekly meetings and he always asks one of us to present a paper or do a presentation. He likes for us to teach each other and that’s different in a good way. It is the collaboration that makes it the most fun.”
profile extra:
Braelen Hunt’s faculty and mentors picked her birthday to surprise her . . . with news of her selection as one of only 59 recipients nationally of the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. Click here to watch her reaction.
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At his core, Dr. Jason Penry is a team player. As the vice chancellor for university advancement at Arkansas State University, his is a position that attracts considerable attention at any higher education institution. But Penry is the last to take credit or seek attention for what the members of his division achieve for A-State. “I’m just here to help others do great things,” he’s known for saying. With a quiet, but firm demeanor, his leadership style has fostered some extremely significant achievements for Arkansas State. “Jason is one of the most positive, energetic administrators that I have ever had the pleasure of serving alongside,” Chancellor Kelly Damphousse said. “I’ve come in with a lot of ideas and suggestions, and without exception, Jason will smile and say, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ His Texas Aggie can-do spirit is infectious to our entire leadership team.” Baseball pitcher and the student body president for LSU-Shreveport, Penry went on to earn his master’s at LSU and his doctorate from Texas A&M. Along the way, he worked with development for the Aggie’s 12th Man Foundation and became the executive director of the Oklahoma State University athletic department POSSE, the official fundraising organization for OSU.
THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS,
PARTICULARLY FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS,
IS ONE OF HIS PARTICULAR PASSIONS. HE IS KEENLY
FOCUSED ON
MAKING A DIRECT
“Throughout the process he was unwavering, dedicated and consistently optimistic,” Dr. Shane Speights, NYITCOM at A-State’s current dean said. “He was there for the first meeting, there for the ribbon cutting and there for the first White Coat ceremony. I have no doubt he will be there for the graduation of the first class in 2020. Truly was and still is an invaluable asset to Arkansas State and NYIT.”
LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS.”
Colleagues point to the area he is the most proud: scholarships.
summer 2018 | 06
“The first time I saw Jason Penry, I assumed he was an A-State graduate student driving a ‘muscle’ car. Boy was I wrong,” Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, NYIT’s founding dean of the medical school location, recalled. “After spending more than a year traveling around the state and in professional meetings in preparation for opening the osteopathic medical school, I can now say without reservation that he is one of the most effective academic administrators with whom I have had the privilege to work. Jason was our ‘go to’ person. No issue was too small or too large for Jason. He knew the detail and the big picture.”
IMPACT ON THE
His positive outlook is contagious, and growth in almost every measure of interaction with A-State’s supporters has followed. Total giving to the university increased each of the past five years, with 39 of the 100 largest gifts in school history happening in that timeframe.
DR. JASON PENRY
One of the most significant projects – and a perfect example of his teamwork-oriented style – was the establishment by New York Institute of Technology of its College of Osteopathic Medicine site at Wilson Hall on the A-State campus.
“HELPING STUDENTS
Arriving in Jonesboro after three years serving in the Texas Tech University System, Penry was named vice chancellor for university advancement at A-State, overseeing development, media and communications, and the alumni association.
campusPROFILE
“Helping students through scholarships, particularly first generation students, is one of his particular passions,” marketing professor Dr. Shane Hunt of the Griffin College of Business said. “He is keenly focused on making a direct impact on the lives of our students.”
Arkansas State has increased its number of endowed scholarships by 130 under Penry’s direction to a total of 381 by May 2018.
During their travels building partners for the project, Speights remembered one day at a restaurant near Mountain Home. Penry learned the waitress’ daughter had a connection to a school in Texas with which he was familiar. ”His recruitment hat went on and he immediately began encouraging the waitress to have her daughter attend A-State instead,” Speights said. “He left her his business card and took the Red Wolf lapel pin off his suit coat and handed it to her. That was Jason Penry, no matter where or when, always making a connection, always promoting Arkansas State.”
profile extra:
Another staff member going out of his way – literally – to support A-State students is Chancellor Kelly Damphousse. Check out this video of his campus chauffeuring.
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alumniPROFILE
Kyle Hamsher ’07, sports a World Series ring and performed before millions of fans during the 2017 Houston Astros’ championship season, but it was his time at Arkansas State that launched his journey to the top of his craft. Hamsher is the man inside and the personality behind the Astros’ wildly-popular mascot, “Orbit.” Orbit’s popularity has allowed Hamsher to experience both ends of the spectrum when performing as a spirit character. Fresh out of Jacksonville High School in the fall of 2002, Hamsher landed the role of “Red” as a freshman theatre major when the character debuted at Arkansas State.
KYLE HAMSHER ‘07
“When (Red) was introduced, there were a lot of misnomers that he was actually the new mascot,” said Hamsher. “That wasn’t the case, it was just a means to fill the costumed character void.” In the final few years before Red Wolves became the A-State mascot and Howl began appearing at games, Arkansas State was in need of a costumed spirit character, and Red was created. “Red originally did not receive the warmest of welcomes,” laughed Hamsher.
“It was really the trial by fire as Red that helped me have success as Orbit those first couple of years,” he said. “As Red, I learned a lot about how to create a program and make a program successful.” Hamsher said that during his time performing as Red and Orbit, two games stand out as memorable. The first was Arkansas State’s 98-83 victory over Arkansas in the 2005 Women’s National Invitational Tournament, and the second was Houston’s 5-1 victory over Los Angeles in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. “It was such a defining moment for the Athletics Department and something that people talked about for years,” Hamsher said of A-State’s victory over Arkansas. “It gave the community a sense of pride. There were a couple of things that happened during the game that solidified Red’s purpose as a goodwill ambassador for the school, and officially won over the student body.”
“I THOUGHT ABOUT SOME
OF THE MOMENTS IN MY CAREER . . .
ALL OF THE
OBSTACLES
Although Game 7 of the World Series was played in Los Angeles, Houston held a watch party at Minute Maid Park that was a near-sellout. “As soon as we won, I ran across the field carrying this huge (world champions) flag, stayed out there a few minutes, and then ran down into a tunnel, took my Orbit head off and just sat there taking it in. It was surreal. We just won, and are now the greatest baseball team in the world. I thought about some of the moments in my career. . . all of the obstacles I had overcome, and was now getting to live in that moment.”
“After that first week, I had to do a lot of soul searching,” he continued. “Was this something that I really wanted to do, and could I power through? With the AND WAS NOW GETTING TO support of the Athletics Department, and with me using my talent, I decided to do what I do best, and perform to the best of my abilities. Within that first year, people started warming up to Red, and by the time I graduated, they honored me at center court with a game ball, and I left my last game Hamsher said that winning the World Series was an emotional to a standing ovation.” release for the city of Houston in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. Hamsher said that his experiences in helping Red develop at Arkansas State helped him land the job as Orbit. The Astros were reviving the “For me personally, having lived through Harvey, and seeing what Orbit character after an absence of several years, and asked Hamsher it did to the city. . . not only that but what it did for the city – at his audition how he would react if Orbit received a cool reception seeing the city come together and set an example for the country,” from fans. The question was tailor-made for Hamsher – he landed he remembered. “I’ve never seen so much happiness, and just a the job, the fans embraced the character, and the success culminated couple of months prior to see so much devastation. 2017 became a with last season’s championship. historical year in more than one way, and in my opinion, it was just what the city needed as the perfect pick-me-up.”
I HAD OVERCOME,
LIVE IN THAT MOMENT.”
profile extra:
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When the Houston Astros received their World Series rings, Orbit’s fingers were a bit too large. Click to watch Kyle Hamsher as Orbit when the Astros came up with a solution.
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As he walked to the podium at the Reng Student Union, Neil Griffin’s journey reached a significant milestone. He was being honored for giving back to his alma mater, a university that touched his life several times. Griffin’s voyage began in the small Needham Community east of Nettleton. As a sophomore at Nettleton High, he was encouraged by a teacher to go participate in a scholastic contest at then Arkansas State College. Earning a gold and a silver in math-related areas, he discovered he had a natural aptitude for numbers. The Craighead County native felt a calling to serve his country, and like many of his generation, lied about his age to get into the fight and join his three older brothers in World War II. After service in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater, he returned to his high school teachers at Nettleton to complete his diploma. They told this war veteran barely older than one of the NHS seniors he might be better served by enrolling at the local college instead. “One thing I learned about myself in the service was I was an achiever, and I was pretty motivated when I got to college,” Griffin said. Like other veterans, Griffin was married and eager to begin his career.
are often the most determined, and you can see that in his drive to finish in less than three years.” The skills honed in Bowdon’s class gave Griffin his first entry into the business world. As an accountant in the booming Texas oil and gas industry, he began to parlay opportunities and relationships into other businesses. Eventually entering into banking, Griffin worked his way to the CEO position of two major corporations before his first “retirement.” Markets and investing in start-up companies continued his career, and set the stage for his current “job” – philanthropist for education and health care, his two current passions. In his hometown of Kerrville, Texas, Griffin noticed there was no local college for the growing community of young families who sought education for themselves and their children. Rallying others and providing his own investment, Griffin worked to bring to life a two-year college branch of Alamo Colleges in Kerrville.
“EDUCATION CHANGES YOUR LIFE.
I’M SO PLEASED
TO BE ABLE TO
GIVE BACK TO ARKANSAS STATE
TO NOT ONLY HELP
THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A HIGH
QUALITY FACULTY.”
“There were a lot of people who made a positive change in my life, but to walk into Foster Bowdon’s accounting class, he was one of those people,” Griffin said. “Arkansas State was pretty innovative for those of us that were veterans.”
NEIL GRIFFIN ‘48
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“Here is a gentleman who is the very essence of what this university stands for,” current Arkansas State Chancellor Kelly Damphousse said. “He is a product of our region, a native of our state who sought out a college degree to better himself. He did it at a time that not everyone went to college. Neil was what we’d call today a ‘first generation’ student. They
“In all of my philanthropy, education is number one,” Griffin said. “Education changes your life. I’m so pleased to be able to give back to Arkansas State to not only help the students but also to make sure you have a high quality faculty.” “What he told our current students and faculty that day is the classic heart of our mission – we are here to changes lives,” Damphousse added. “And now, he is a critical part of that mission through his scholarships to support students, especially first generation students.”
profile extra:
During the meeting, Rockefeller turned specifically to Griffin and said, “We want to make sure people like Neil don’t leave.”
What the late governor didn’t know was in his heart, Griffin was still an Arkansan, and committed to fulfilling decades later what Rockefeller said.
Among those innovations were extra summer classes and between-quarter courses that allowed Griffin to complete his undergraduate degree in two and a half years, then using the balance of his G.I. Bill to complete a master’s at the University of Texas.
feature PROFILE
While he may have made a career in Texas, Griffin never forgot his home. He was among a group of ex-patriot Arkansans summoned by former Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller in the mid-1970s to discuss what could be done to improve the business climate in the state and to keep the best and brightest home.
Click to watch an interview with Dr. Neil Griffin as he tells about his time at Arkansas State, his life and his philanthropic efforts.
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Beck PRIDE CenterHumble Enters Decade Service Veterans ‘48 Alumnus Neil Griffin, in aSecond Lifetime of Success, of Gives Back tofor Arkansas State April 3, 2018, will be remembered as a landmark day in the history of Arkansas State University. That day, in recognition of a $10 million gift from A-State alumnus Neil Griffin – the largest individual gift to an academic program in the history of the university – the ASU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rename the business college as the Neil Griffin College of Business. Seventy years after Griffin’s 1948 graduation from Arkansas State, the $10 million gift will endow a range of scholarships, professorships and enhancement funds for the operations of the college. In addition, Griffin has made provisions for a follow-on estate gift that will provide significant future enhancements. “Growing up in the Jonesboro area and attending Nettleton High School, I am well aware of the importance of Arkansas State to this region,” Griffin said. “I have been blessed beyond any dream I could have had as a young man attending ASU, and
I firmly believe in the need to give back to those who helped you along the way.” A Naval veteran of the Pacific theater, Griffin was a native of Needham Community near Jonesboro, and enrolled at then Arkansas State College after his discharge. Graduating with his degree in business administration in 1948, he began his career in professional accounting, moving on into banking, investment banking and CEO of two publicly held corporations. “The scale of our gratitude to Neil Griffin is as enormous as the impact his legacy will have on the future students at Arkansas State University. They will benefit directly from the new scholarships that are being created, and indirectly through the leadership of the professors whose work will be supported by this wonderful gift,” Chancellor Kelly Damphousse said. “It is incredible to think about the long-term impact that Mr. Griffin’s gift will have on our university, our city and our region.” summer 2018 | 12
Now semi-retired and residing in Kerrville, Griffin is engaged primarily in philanthropy and angel investing with emerging industries. He and his family have been major contributors in the past to Arkansas State, initiating a scholarship endowment of $5 million in 2012, as well as to cancer treatment and research, fine arts and numerous other causes across the U.S.
Fund for use by students in the university’s wealth management programs, and the Gena Griffin International Travel Fund, in recognition of Griffin’s wife. Finally, to ensure the ability to maintain a high level of excellence within the college, a Griffin Excellence Fund will provide discretionary funds for the new Griffin Dean of Business.
“Neil describes his life as an adventure,” Vice Chancellor for Advancement Jason Penry said. “His adventure includes being a leading advocate and investor in education. We are so proud that one of our graduates is known as one of the top philanthropists in our region.”
The H.B. Foster Bowdon Chair exemplifies what Arkansas State meant to the World War II veteran Griffin when he returned home from service to his country. Bowdon was the accounting instructor who worked with dozens of A-State veterans like Griffin who were eager to move on with their post-war lives.
Among the individual areas established through the Griffin gift are three chairs or professorships: the H.B. Foster Bowdon Chair of Accounting, the Neil Griffin Dean of Business and the Neil Griffin Professor of Entrepreneurship. The endowment creates new Griffin Scholarships for students in the college, the Griffin Student Investment
“My father told stories of how these men were focused and serious,” Dudley Bowdon, H.B.’s son, recalled. “That Mr. Griffin remembers my dad and that more than 50 years later he wanted to remember him with this endowed chair is one of the most touching things our family can imagine.”
“The relationship between Mr. Griffin and his former professor is the heart of our university,” Damphousse said. “Since arriving at A-State, I have heard many stories from our alumni about the professor or the staff member who reached out to mentor, to assist or to guide them through their time in Jonesboro. For Mr. Griffin, it was Foster Bowdon, who gave up time on weekends and during summer breaks to work independently with Neil on his accounting classes, which allowed him to graduate in just two and a half years.” The naming of the Griffin College of Business solidifies Arkansas State’s AASCBaccredited program as one of the up-andcoming business colleges in the region. “It is only fitting that the first named college in the ASU System recognize the career and generosity of one of our own,” ASU System President Charles L. Welch said.
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“I have been blessed beyond any dream I could have had as a young man attending ASU, and I firmly believe in the need to give back to those who helped you along the way.”
- Neil Griffin
Click to watch the presentation of Griffin’s $10 million gift to Arkansas State and the Neil Griffin College of Business.
Newly Restored Kays House Opens as Newest Heritage Site In 1936, Victor Cicero (V.C.) Kays, the first president of Arkansas State University, and his wife Bertie built a new residence on campus and lived there the remainder of their lives. In May 2014, the Kays House was added to the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the first structure on the Arkansas State campus to be listed in the register. After a three-year restoration period, former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and former Arkansas first lady Ginger Beebe joined a crowd of donors and guests in February for a preview reception at the newly restored Historic V.C. Kays House. The house is located at 2506 Aggie Road. “This is exciting because it’s a chance for us to come back to the heart of campus,” said Chancellor Kelly Damphousse. “This is the place where our first president lived, even after he retired from being president here. It is also symbolic because it’s the
heart of our campus. I think a lot about what he would think if he walked out and saw how different the campus has become since he left.” The Tudor-style house includes the Arkansas State University Heritage Sites Office and will eventually host exhibits related to President Kays, U.S. Senator Hattie Caraway of Jonesboro and the early years of the university. Additionally, a recreation of the gubernatorial office when Beebe was the 45th governor of Arkansas from 2007-15 is on the first floor. “It’s a landmark for the university,” Beebe said. “It was the first president’s house and we’re using it in the fashion that’s real nostalgic as far as I’m concerned. And I’m very grateful to ASU for it and hopefully, students and others visiting the campus will have the ability to come in and look at it and see what it looked like when their alum was governor.” summer 2018 | | 14 14 spring 2017
Restoration work has been completed utilizing three Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) grants totaling $400,000, along with private donations from alumni, faculty and friends that total almost $200,000. The Rotary Club of Jonesboro also contributed a $5,000 gift. An additional grant of $88,000 by ANCRC was awarded in May 2017 to complete the project.
One of the three oldest structures on the A-State campus, the Historic V.C. Kays House is one of A-State’s Heritage Sites along with the Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center, Lakeport Plantation, Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center and Arkansas State University Museum.
Renovations funded through the grant include electrical and HVAC work, wiring for data, telecommunications and security, the construction of an ADA-compliant restroom, and finally, refinishing the floor of the residence.
The Heritage Sites Office, established in 1999, develops and operates historic properties of regional and national significance in the Arkansas Delta. These sites provide educational resources for formal and informal learning, including serving as living laboratories for students in the university’s Heritage Studies Ph.D. program. In addition, they serve as economic catalysts in communities where they are located by attracting heritage tourists from around the country.
“They took countless pictures of where everything was set the day I walked out of office,” continued Beebe. “It’s here. It’s all here — recreated just like the day I walked out. It’s virtually identical.”
It actually began in 1997 as a university project to work with community leaders and volunteers in an eight-county region (Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Lee, Phillips, Poinsett and St. Francis counties) to establish and develop a route along Crowley’s Ridge as a National Scenic Byway. The goal was to promote the natural and cultural heritage in the region, thus serving as an economic catalyst for communities and providing an educational laboratory for students at Arkansas State and throughout the region. Recognition of the Crowley’s Ridge Parkway as a National Scenic Byway in 1998 led to developing other projects along Crowley’s Ridge.
“They took countless pictures of where everything was set the day I walked out of office . . . It’s here. It’s all here – recreated just like the day I walked out. It’s virtually identical.”
- Governor Mike Beebe
For more details about the Kays House, click here to see the video. voices voices || 15 15
Leah Coffield, Junior
Tori Winn, Senior
One of the most significant reasons why I’m glad I chose A-State is the incredible faculty and staff. I came into college with an undecided major. Over the last three years, I have switched majors three times. Every time I enter a new department I am treated with kindness and respect. Every adviser I have had has kept me in line for graduation and answered all my questions. They are supportive and truly care. I would recommend A-State because of its fantastic faculty and staff.
I would not be here without the amazing scholarships that I earned, and I strive to make the Alumni Association proud as well. Thank you all again for this wonderful scholarship. I would not have been able to come to college and succeed without it.
Jon Mark Horton, Senior
Sierra Hedden, Junior
Joseph DaVault, Sophomore
Cassidee McGee, Sophomore
I’m happy to be a Red Wolf because A-State is my home. My friends (who are basically family at this point) are here. At any point in the day, I’m able to reach out to someone no matter what the circumstances. I could be struggling in a class, going through a hard time, or just bored and there will be someone on campus who can help me. The people at Arkansas State have helped me become a better person and are constantly helping me live my best life, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
I moved three hours away from my home to a town where I knew no one. Being a shy person, it makes it more difficult for me to reach out to people and befriend them. Nevertheless, I conquered my fears and talked to people. I even started a study group with strangers. I have made several great friendships and I plan to make more. I am thriving in college and I would like to thank the A-State Alumni Association.
Allicen Morris, Sophomore
Ellie Stafford, Junior
A-State’s campus alone offers a very stimulating, yet peaceful learning environment with plenty of opportunities to get connected to the people and organizations around you. I have witnessed how the broad range of courses and organizations offered helps people figure out who they are and who they want to become. The support and encouragement this University offers is like none other that I’ve seen out of all of my friend’s other college choices.
This campus has the best chancellor, staff and people I have ever met and I feel like I am at a home away at home when I’m at school. The friendships I’ve made here are some that I will cherish forever, and you will never walk around campus without seeing someone you know, which is an advantage that A-State has over other bigger colleges. It is the perfect size, in my opinion, and I would highly recommend this school to any senior no matter who they are and where they come from.
Julia Hudspeth, Sophomore
Brienne Jackson, Junior
Tyler Hottman, Sophomore
Noah Ford, Junior
If I were advising a high school senior to come to A-State, I would tell them about the great things this school has to offer. I would tell them that by coming to A-State, they can take advantage of things like the Leadership Center, the Honors College, and events that interest them. The support I have been given from my professors is truly remarkable, and will impact the type of student I am. I would tell them to pick A-State, because, honestly, it just feels like home the second you walk onto campus.
If a student is thinking of coming to A-State, I would tell them how wonderful a university it is. A-State cares for its students, as evidenced by professors/staff, and our fearless leader, Dr. Damphousse. There are so many ways to get involved, and I highly recommend doing so! It will be the best/most challenging years of your life, and you will make so many memories. A-State has given me an unforgettable college experience so far, and I hope you join the pack.
Being a Red Wolf in my eyes is not only being there for your college, but also when your college is there for you. At A-State, countless professors have helped me stay on track. To them, it’s more than just a job, it’s a mission. And that’s why I choose to be a Red Wolf.
It was nearly time for me to make a decision regarding where I was going to attend college when I received the information letting me know that I was one of the recipients of the License2HOWL scholarship. In this moment, I knew exactly where I was going to go. The hospitality of everyone involved in delivering me the scholarship, and the financial blessing it provided, engendered such a feeling of gratitude in my heart that I was no longer divided. It was at that moment that I became a Red Wolf through and through.
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License2Howl is the only reason I was able to attend A-State. This scholarship has opened many doors for me to experience an array of opportunities, such as SGA. Although I love getting involved with extracurricular activities, it comes second to my academics. These past two years I’ve maintained a GPA to qualify for the Chancellor’s List and I’ve also been inducted into three honor societies. This is an amazing community of Red Wolves. I am especially appreciative to those who have purchased a license plate. Wolves Up!
I am so grateful for your investment. Being a recipient of this scholarship has provided me with the peace of mind to pursue my educational dreams without financial stress. As a result, I will be beginning my Junior year this spring with a 4.0 GPA and no debt. I am confident that this scholarship has played a major role in my success so far at Arkansas State. Thank you again for your investment in my education and into my life.
Codi Boyd, Senior
Taylor Wilson, Senior
Within these two and half years, I have been able to experience and be a part of so much that I would not have been able to at any other school or without this scholarship. I intend to carry on the tradition of buying a Howl license plate so that students, like myself, can have the same amazing experience that A-State has to offer!
I love Arkansas State because it allows me to pursue my goal of being a physician by giving me a quality undergraduate education and surrounding me with many professors who genuinely care about my success. I have many resources that are readily available to me through the Honors College and through the College of Sciences & Mathematics for any needs I may have.
Lucas Brantley, Senior
The further into pursuing my degree, the more intense the classes become and the more time and effort they take. So balancing all of these things is always a challenge for me, but has also transformed me into a planning person. I never thought I would see myself planning out my week before it began, but now I find myself doing it every week. In a way I am thankful for challenges such as these because they sort of mold you into who you are and who you will become.
Congrats to our incoming 2018-2019 License 2 Howl scholarship recipients!
Sydney Lane Keiser, Ark.
Reed Middleton Marianna, Ark.
Kelsey Moody Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Joshua Pruett Blytheville, Ark.
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Alexis Robles DeQueen, Ark.
Clay Rogers White Hall, Ark.
Keianna Trujillo Cabot, Ark.
bubbles and bingo
convention center groundbreaking
MAY 17, 2018
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Click to view the groundbreaking ceremony for the Red Wolf Convention Center and Embassy Suites hotel.
pack fact walk
JANUARY 27, 2018
Click to watch the Pack Fact walk and learn more about A-State’s efforts to raise awareness about sexual assault.
MARCH 13, 2018
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shelby rhodes memorial scholarship
MAY 11, 2018
black alumni reunion
APRIL 20-21, 2018
Join today! AStateAlumni.org/Join Become a 1924 Sustaining Life member of the A-State Alumni Association and ensure your membership for life. Payable over five years, Sustaining Life members are recognized on a permanent plaque in the Cooper Alumni Center, honoring your legacy forever. summer 2018 | 20
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agribusiness conference
day at the races
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
red wolves on the rooftop
APRIL 7, 2018
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Click for more highlights from Red Wolves on the Rooftop.
MAY 3, 2018
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mlk celebration
Click for highlights of the MLK Day celebration hosted by the A-State campus.
JANUARY 15, 2018
Do you know a high school student who would make a great addition to the
ambassador james pardew lecture and book signing
rock of sages women’ business leadership conference DATE?
Red Wolves pack?
Refer a Red Wolf Ad
If so, our “Refer a Future Red Wolf” program is a great way to connect that student to A-State’s Office of Recruitment. Alumni who share their personal experiences with future Red Wolves and their parents help Arkansas State stand out among the never-ending choices facing future students. Sharing your A-State experiences not only brings back the nostalgia from your college days, but also helps attract the best and brightest students to A-State. If you know a student who has expressed interest in Arkansas State or would be a great fit for our campus, please refer that student by logging on to Check out the latest Jonesboro recruiting event.
AStateAlumni.org/ReferARedWolf summer 2018 | 24
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MARCH 28, 2018
FEBRUARY 5, 2018
A-State alumna Rose Stuckey gave the keynote address at WBLC.
wilson award
Click to watch an interview with Robert Morris, recipient of the 2018 R.E. Lee Wilson Award.
APRIL 26, 2018
japan visit
One of A-State’s recent agribusiness graduates is Japanese native Yuka Gotani. Click to watch her A-State story. (English)
MAY 23, 2018
Chancellor Kelly Damphousse isn’t the only person promoting A-State in Japan. Yuka also gave us a special message to potential students from Japan. (Japanese)
miss a-state
Click for highlights from the 2018 Miss A-State pageant.
FEBRUARY 6, 2018
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Alumni Advocacy
my voice:
Loyalty to A-State doesn’t end at graduation. There are several ways in which you can keep up-to-date on A-State.
LINDSAY HARMON BURNETT ‘05
race for the cure
APRIL 28, 2018
Click to watch highlights from the 2018 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, held on the A-State campus.
1 follow
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Follow us on social media to learn the latest from campus.
Dear Friends, As the Spring semester closes and we look back on another wonderful school year at Arkansas State University, we hope that the past few months have been just as good for you and your family. When A-State wrapped up the academic year with our May 12 Commencement, Chancellor Kelly Damphousse presented a record number of over 2,200 diplomas to our new graduates. Included in that number was Nathaniel Charles Todd of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, who was the recipient of the 90,000th degree awarded by Arkansas State. Also in that number was Robert Morris of Jacksonville, the 2018 R.E.
2 attend University events reach across a broad platform of interests and are a great way to take advantage of what A-State has to offer.
Lee Wilson Award winner, and Dr. Neil Griffin, who became the 18th recipient of an honorary doctorate at A-State when he received his Doctor of Humane Letters. Griffin also provided arguably the Spring’s biggest highlight at Arkansas State when he presented a $10 million gift to what is now known as the Neil Griffin College of Business. Be sure to read the full story in this issue of Voices.
3 join Become a member of the A-State Alumni Association. If you’re already a member, consider 1924 Sustaining Life membership.
Big things will continue across the A-State campus this Fall when the Cooper Alumni Center celebrates the 10th anniversary of its opening, the new campus Welcome Center is completed and the north end zone facility opens at Centennial Bank Stadium in time for the 2018 football season. Speaking of football season, Homecoming is set for Nov. 3 and features a Sun Belt Conference matchup against South Alabama. In the meantime, we hope you’ll join us in Memphis, Thursday, July 19, for our Alumni Day at the Memphis Redbirds. Tickets for the event, which will be held on the third base party deck and features a hot buffet, are $45 and may be purchased at AStateAlumni.org/Redbirds18. The event follows our successful Day at the Races, held April 7 at Oaklawn Park, and promises to be just as fun! We hope to see you there with your “Wolves Up!”
Lindsay Burnett Executive Director Alumni Relations
Click to watch Nate Todd receive the 90,000th degree awarded by Arkansas State.
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4 recruit Be an A-State advocate with friends and family. Bring students to campus for sporting or arts events and show them A-State is a great place.
5 give Your charitable investment, whether through annual gifts or a planned estate gift, will ensure the success of other A-State students.
mom’s day tea
APRIL 21, 2018
Click to view highlights from the Mom’s Day Tea, held at the Chancellor’s Residence.
P.O. BOX 1990 STATE UNIVERSITY, AR 72467 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Caleb Broussard of Holland, Mich., is just one of many Arkansas State University students to carry on his family legacy by earning his degree at A-State using the Alumni and Dependent Waiver. The Alumni and Dependent Waiver allows outof-state dependents of A-State graduates to register as students on the Jonesboro campus and pay in-state tuition. Caleb received his B.S. in Creative Media Production at the Spring 2018 Commencement, following in the footsteps of his mother, Margie ’94 BME, and father, Trent ’91 BME, ’92 MME.
Click to hear Caleb’s legacy story.