ARKANSAS: Fall 2024

For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. Fall 2024

Members, THANK YOU!

Because of your generosity, the Arkansas Alumni Association is able to make a lasting impact on the lives of both current students and alumni. Membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association enables us to provide life-changing opportunities for students to achieve their dreams and support key programs that keep alumni connected to the university they love.

Brandy Cox M.A.’97, Ph.D.’23 Life Member Associate Vice Chancellor & Executive Director Arkansas Alumni Association

To maximize our impact, we’re excited to announce improvements to our existing membership model. Beginning July 1, 2025, we will implement a philanthropic membership model. This transition allows every member to make a meaningful difference, not just within the association but across the entire campus. By focusing on philanthropy, we’re better aligning with the mission and goals of the University of Arkansas, ensuring that your membership creates an even greater and lasting impact. Please stay connected with us for more information on enhancements to our membership program.

As always, the continued support of members like you is vital to our success!

arkansas

For members of the Arkansas Alumni Association Inc.

4 Women's Giving Circle

FALL / Vol. 74, No. 1

The Women’s Giving Circle was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023.

10 Building a Legacy

Alumnus Stephen Lair’s Gifts Fulfill Design Education Dreams.

20 New Outdoor Geological Installation

GeoLab, a new outdoor installation in the lower tier courtyard of Gearhart Hall that features 26 geological samples from across Arkansas.

2 Chancellor’s Corner

Yesteryear

Senior Walk

Last Look

Above: 2024 New Student Pep Rally.

Photo by Han Zhang.

On the Cover: Drone shot of GeoLab located in lower tier courtyard of Gearhart Hall.

Photo by Chieko Hara.

ARKANSAS

Chancellor

Dear Alumni and Friends,

As you delve into this issue of Arkansas magazine, you’ll find stories that underscore the transformative power of philanthropy at the University of Arkansas. This focus on philanthropy is particularly timely in light of our recent institutional records in areas such as graduation rate, retention, enrollment and amount of research conducted. None of those milestones would have been possible without the generosity of our alumni and friends.

Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in helping us fulfill our land-grant mission of service to our state and nation. Student success is at the heart of both that mission and our 150 Forward strategic plan, and your contributions impact our students in profound ways. Higher education — and the lifelong benefits that come with it — would be out of reach for many of our students without scholarship funding. Donor contributions help us keep tuition costs manageable, ensuring that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can access the opportunities they deserve. Donor support also enables more students to engage in high-impact experiences, such as study abroad, where they gain skills and

perspectives that lead to success in their academic, personal and professional lives. Philanthropy is also a driving force behind our pursuit of research excellence, another pillar of the 150 Forward Strategic Plan. In the coming months, we will be opening three cutting-edge research facilities that will position the U of A at the forefront of innovation: the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R), the Multi-User Silicon Carbide Research and Fabrication Facility (MUSiC), and the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation. These centers will be home to groundbreaking research in areas that have the potential to transform industries, boost economies and improve lives. Contributions from our alumni and friends have been instrumental in bringing these facilities to life, and continued philanthropic support will be essential in maximizing their impact. This support will allow us to attract top researchers, fund critical initiatives, and foster an environment where creativity and innovation can flourish.

I hope you enjoy learning more about some of the ways philanthropy is enriching the lives of our students and driving progress at our university. Thank you for being an integral part of the Razorback family.

Sincerely,

Charles F. Robinson  Ph.D. Chancellor

B.A.’14

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Collin Brunner  B.S.H.E.S.’10

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Mission Statement

The Arkansas Alumni Association connects and serves the University of Arkansas Family.

Vision Statement

The Arkansas Alumni Association will be nationally recognized as a model alumni relations program.

Value Statement

The Arkansas Alumni Association values: • service • excellence • collaboration • relationships • diversity • learning • creativity

Arkansas Fall 2024

Cover photo by Chieko Hara. Please recycle this magazine or share it with a friend.

Charles F. Robinson

Photo by Russell Cothren.

Know My ACES award recipients Glenda Hux and Amanda Troillett with WGC President Billye Veteto, Provost Terry Martin  B.S.E.E.’77, M.S.E.E.’83, Ph.D.’89 and Vice Chancellor for Advancement Scott Varady  B.A.’85

Women’s Giving Circle The Power of Together

BY RACHEL E. MOORE  B.S.H.E.S.’07

It all started with a simple goal: to support innovative programs and research at the University of Arkansas while encouraging women to become philanthropic leaders. Since it was formed in 2002, the University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle has seen tremendous growth. Giving circles continue to thrive in a dynamic and competitive philanthropic landscape. The appeal of pooling and leveraging individual resources to make a greater impact is heightened by the inherent social and community-building experience of collective giving.

2023-2024 Women’s Giving Circle President, Billye Veteto  B.S.B.A.’99, described the feeling when the group gathers to decide how to allocate their pooled funds,

“There is nothing better than a room full of strong women supporting other strong women and working together to impact the lives of people across the state of Arkansas. I can be involved in the decision-making process, and my contribution becomes a part of something bigger. Voting Day is a life-changing experience.”

There is nothing better than a room full of strong women supporting other strong women and working together to impact the lives of people across the state of Arkansas.

Photo courtesy of University Relations.

In its first year, the circle was composed of approximately 20 members and generated $34,587 in funding for osteoporosis research and a design-to-build project at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock. Today, the circle boasts more than 140 members and awards around $100,000 in grants annually. Since its inception, members have provided nearly $2 million towards scholarships, research and initiatives that enrich the quality of life for women and children.

More than 160 grant proposals have received funding from the Women’s Giving Circle including literacy programs, breast cancer research, engineering and architecture camps, self-defense courses, salary negotiation training, and mentorship programs for elementary students in the Arkansas Delta. The Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry on the U of A Fayetteville campus received grants from the circle multiple years. The pantry is a student-led emergency food assistance program that serves the campus community by providing food and hygiene products to those in need. The Women’s Giving Circle has also provided funding for proposals that support women in agriculture, healthy cooking programs, music education, a

journalism workshop for underrepresented students, and mental health awareness training.

In many cases, that initial seed funding is the catalyst for recipients to advance their work and become eligible for additional funding sources.

Young Hye Song, assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the U of A’s College of Engineering, received a $10,000 grant in 2020 to investigate the role of pancreatic cancer-derived extracellular vesicles in perineural invasion. The outcomes of the study were designed to help curb metastatic pancreatic cancer progression. Song’s research expanded and, in 2024, she was awarded a $2.5 million National Institutes of Health R37 MERIT Award (Method to Extend Research in Time) from the National Cancer Institute to investigate the role of metabolic rewiring in breast tumor innervation. Song is the first at the university to receive this award.

Below, The Women’s Giving Circle was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023.

Photo submitted.

The long-term impact of funding from the Women’s Giving Circle is seen throughout Arkansas. The design-to-build projects at Camp Aldersgate that received funding in 2003 and 2005 are still in use at the camp today. Students in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design planned and worked through the process of building the treehouse, amphitheater and stage at the Little Rock camp. U of A students assisted with everything from the initial architectural drawings to hammering in the final nails. These structures are fully accessible, allowing campers with all ranges of abilities to become immersed in nature and have a true camp experience.

The circle also established two endowed scholarships providing valuable resources to help deserving students achieve their educational goals. The Women’s Giving Circle Endowed Scholarship in Nursing was created in 2011, and the Women’s Giving Circle Founders Endowed Advance Arkansas Scholarship was created in 2016. Together, these scholarships have provided $64,205 for 16 students.

The Women’s Giving Circle was recognized as the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2007 and was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023. This fall, members gathered during the annual Voting Day and celebrated the 22nd year of funding innovative projects, programs and research.

President-elect Charlotte Downs + B.A.’88 is proud of the accomplishments made by the Women’s Giving Circle since becoming a member ten years ago.

“My belief in the Women’s Giving Circle mission is steadfast,” Downs said. “Joining was a long-term commitment for me. The Women’s Giving Circle is compiled of women with diverse backgrounds and on our annual Voting Day, we have a common goal. It is incredible to experience the power of collaboration generated by this group of women.”

The Women’s Giving Circle also helped create a network of philanthropic leaders — one that the group is eager to expand. Membership in the Women’s Giving Circle deepens the connection of members to the university community and provides firsthand access to opportunities that make a difference across campus.

“The Women’s Giving Circle is centered on funding grants, in addition, the opportunity to build relationships is rewarding. I am grateful to the women who have served as my mentors,” Downs said. “I’m excited for the future and developing the next generation of philanthropic women!”

The Women’s Giving Circle was created by the founding members of the Women and Philanthropy Committee and the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee. Members are alumnae and friends who recognize that women as donors have the capability of making a tremendous impact on the University of Arkansas, its students, faculty and staff. This impact grows exponentially when the contributions from women are united in support of the university through a collective voice. Founding Circle members include Sylvia Boyer + B.S.E.’63, Pat Cooper, Johnelle Hunt, Debbie King, Mary Trimble Maier B.A.’49, Julia Peck Mobley  B.S.E.’65, Harriett Phillips + B.A.’72, Lynne Walton  B.A.’70, Margaret Whillock + B.S.E.’57, Mary Lib White + and Donna Axum Whitworth B.A.’66, M.A.’69

The Women’s Giving Circle is open to alumnae and friends of the University of Arkansas and is determined to enlarge the circle of influence and impact by welcoming new members.

Scan QR Code to read about the important projects funded during the 2024 Voting Day and learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle at womens-givingcircle.uark.edu.

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Profoundly Influencing Generations of Students Donaldson Scholarship Supports Future Teachers

BY SHANNON MAGSAM

The more than 265 U of A teacher education students who received a John H. and Jane W. Donaldson Endowed Memorial Scholarship have gone on to impact hundreds of thousands of students in their classrooms across Arkansas and beyond.

“[This] scholarship is a blessing to not only the college student but to every student they will have in their classes for decades to come,” said Tamera Boles Shreve B.S.E.’02, M.A.T.’03, a longtime Arkansas teacher.

Shreve was among the first three students to ever receive a Donaldson scholarship from the College of Education and Health Professions in the 2002-03 academic year. She estimates that she’s impacted at least 3,000 students in her teaching career, and that’s not counting the middle schoolers she’s interacted with through tutoring or intervention groups, for example.

Shreve, who teaches seventh-grade math at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale, began her 22nd year of teaching this fall. The students who were in her first classroom are turning 35 this year, and she’s still in touch with many of them.

“As I’ve gotten older, I love the lifelong relationships with my students,” she said. “I also love helping students build confidence in themselves and truly understanding what they are learning, not just a way to get answers. I love it when they make their own connections and ask questions. My favorite way to teach is to ask questions to help them get there for themselves. They make me

laugh as middle school students are so unpredictable!”

Donaldson scholarship recipients are selected each spring before they start the intensive Master of Arts in Teaching program, their final step to becoming teachers. The M.A.T. program requires full-time internships with a teacher-mentor for an entire school year in addition to graduate coursework, so the $10,000 scholarships help with tuition and living expenses.

Each spring, the College of Education and Health Professions hosts a luncheon to celebrate the scholarship recipients’ academic achievements and their decision to enter the teaching profession. It’s also a time to honor the scholarship’s generous benefactors, Col. John H. Donaldson Jr. B.S.E.’38, an alumnus of the college and decorated veteran, and his wife, Jane. The two wanted to give back to the institution that played such a pivotal role in Col. Donaldson’s life.

When the trust was established, he said, “The degree I earned from the university opened up a lot of doors for me, so I felt like I should do something for them.”

While at the U of A on an athletic scholarship, the Little Rock native lettered in football and basketball and participated in track. Donaldson intended to become a teacher and coach, but a knee injury prevented him from being as active in sports as he had hoped. Following graduation from the U of A, Donaldson worked in the lumber business. He met and married

John and Eileen Donaldson (left) and College of Education and Health Professions Dean Kate Mamiseishvili (right) pose with John H. and Jane W. Donaldson Endowed Memorial Scholarship recipients following an annual luncheon.

Photo

Jane Weathersby in 1940 and, a year later, entered the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant. After infantry training in Georgia and Texas, he was assigned to the 79th Infantry Division in Yuma, Arizona. On June 14, 1944, his division crossed the English Channel as part of the D-Day invasion forces that landed on Utah Beach. His 31 years of active military service led Donaldson to many countries, and he ultimately earned the rank of colonel.

Col. Donaldson’s nephew and namesake, John Donaldson of Bentonville, who serves on the college’s Dean’s Executive Advisory Board, speaks at the spring luncheon every year. He shares about his uncle’s remarkable life with student scholarship recipients, their parents, Donaldson family members, and college guests. The event always features a table with Col. Donaldson’s memorabilia. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart with three clusters and numerous other medals and awards while in the military.

“John and Jane were lifelong supporters of the university and John’s beloved Razorbacks,” John Donaldson said. “Although the Razorbacks and athletics were important, it was academics and the overall image and mission of the university that they were most concerned with. I am honored and proud to be able to share their life story with others while acknowledging the awesome gift that John and Jane shared with this university.”

John and Eileen Donaldson dutifully and lovingly continue their family legacy of support.

“John and Eileen are among our college’s strongest supporters and advocates,” said Kate Mamiseishvili, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “The Donaldson Scholarships have allowed us to prepare generations of the highest-quality teachers who have inspired hundreds of thousands of children in Arkansas and beyond, fostered their love for learning, and opened doors for them to the endless world of opportunities.”

“There is no greater gift than the gift that supports students who choose careers in teaching. The impact is transformational for generations to come. We are so very appreciative of the Donaldson family for their support,” Mamiseishvili added.

Above, Scholarship recipients look at memorabilia table.

Top Left, Col. John H. Donaldson Jr., a 1938 alumnus of the College of Education and Health Professions and decorated veteran, and his wife, Jane, on their wedding day in 1940.

Top Middle, John Donaldson (left), Col. Donaldson's nephew and namesake, along with College of Education and Health Professions Dean Kate Mamiseishvili (right) present scholarship recipient Margaret Martin with a congratulatory certificate.

Top Right, John Donaldson greets scholarship recipient Mary Partridge B.S.E.’24 at the 2024 John H. and Jane W.Donaldson Endowed Memorial Scholarship luncheon.

Photos submitted.

Dean Peter MacKeith, Josi Chavez and Stephen Lair pose for a photo during the 2016 Honors Recognition Reception and Ceremony for the Fay Jones School.

Photo by Ironside Photography.

Building A Legacy Alumnus Stephen Lair’s Gifts Fulfill Design Education Dreams

BY MICHELLE PARKS  B.A.’94

A lifelong interest in architecture and design spurred University of Arkansas alumnus Stephen Lair B.S.B.A.’72 to support the education of Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design students. Over the last several years, he’s established four scholarships that provide funds for students in the school’s undergraduate and graduate programs, totaling more than $1.25 million.

The William Stephen Lair Design Scholarship provides $40,000 over five years, to benefit a student in the interior architecture and design program, with preference given to students from a 13-county region of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. The scholarship is automatically renewable if minimum requirements are met.

“We are very thankful to Stephen Lair for supporting our efforts to expand educational access and provide lifechanging opportunities to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds,” Chancellor Charles Robinson  said. “His generosity will enable many students to immerse themselves in their studies, experience the full range of campus life and develop the knowledge and skills needed for both personal and professional success.”

Lair has also committed to three testamentary gifts to the Fay Jones School. The William Stephen Lair Endowed Scholarships in Retail and Hospitality Design, to be funded with a $500,000 gift, will be awarded to students in the Master of Design Studies graduate program, specifically those pursuing the Retail and Hospitality Design Concentration.

The William Stephen Lair Endowment in Interior Design, to be funded with a $250,000 gift, will be awarded to students in the undergraduate interior architecture and design program.

The William Stephen Lair Endowed Scholarship for Design Excellence, to be funded with a $500,000 gift, will provide financial assistance for two undergraduate students studying architecture or interior architecture and design. This assistance, available to Arkansas high school graduates, would pay most tuition and related academic fees for the duration of the chosen degree program.

“Steve Lair, through his selfless generosity to the Fay Jones School over the last nine years, has changed lives,” said Peter MacKeith, dean of the school. “The Lair scholarships are transformative, as their student recipients attest, and the Lair legacy gifts will enhance the school’s scholarship funds and

academic programs for years to come. Steve’s vision, open heart and goodwill are manifested by these gifts, and on behalf of the school, I am deeply grateful.”

“We are so thankful for Stephen Lair and his unwavering commitment to student success,” said Scott Varady  B.A.’85, vice chancellor for university advancement. “His generosity will remove financial barriers and profoundly improve access to lifechanging opportunities for our students.”

An Early Interest in Design

Lair had many interests in his youth in Harrison — working on model cars, experimenting with his chemistry set, and playing piano and guitar — and he always felt drawn to architecture and design. He drew designs, completed elaborate building sets, and eventually built things in his backyard. As he watched a residential development go up in his neighborhood, he wondered why the houses all had to look alike.

The only child of older parents, Lair enrolled in business school because he knew one day he’d take over the wholesale petroleum marketing company his dad, ML Lair, had started.

“It was kind of set in stone that that’s what I was going to do,” Lair said. “As it all turns out, that was probably the best thing. I might not be doing what I’m doing today and have the scholarships available if I hadn’t done that.”

Lair completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1972 from the Walton College of Business. With his marketing degree in hand, Lair took on accounting and marketing duties as well as general management at his dad’s company. It had been a single proprietorship company, and Lair incorporated it that year, as Lair Oil.

Lair soon added a business partner, Steve Turner, who’d been a fraternity brother. After selling Lair Oil in 1986, they established Petromark, a wholesale fuel business, in 1988. The partners expanded the company by establishing convenience stores across the Ozarks region. The first White Oak Station store was in Harrison, the second in Siloam Springs.

Petromark grew to be the seventh-largest private company in Northwest Arkansas. It supplied more than 240 convenience stores and trucking companies in three states before the company sold in 2021.

With the White Oak Stations, Lair had an opportunity to use his architectural interest to influence the design of stores, which he wanted to look unique. Working with an architect with whom he had a great relationship, Lair often brought in his own sketches and design ideas.

“We always tried to stay ahead of what competition was doing, and we certainly did that for a long time,” he said.

They wanted their stores to look and be more than gas stations, offering a “wow factor.” They were one of the first to forgo a drop ceiling to leave the HVAC system exposed and painted black. They used unique colors and

surface materials and added Wi-Fi and overhead music.

“We wanted you to enjoy your experience once you got in there. We didn’t want to just get you in and out of the door,” he said. “We wanted to exceed your expectations.”

Their station designs peaked at the store at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers. The concept for the store was a gourmet cafe and grocery store, in the style of a Dean & DeLuca in New York City. Nicknamed “Gucci Gas,” it had a stylish curved canopy over the gas pumps, and inside, customers could find fresh seafood flown in three times a week, along with a meat department.

Committing to Student Success

When he was looking to give an initial gift to the Fay Jones School, Lair wanted his contribution to have an immediate impact — one he’d be around to see. He found out what it takes to send a student through the program — about $8,000 a year — and he made a five-year commitment in 2015. Rather than a testamentary gift or endowed fund, he wanted all the money to be spent now, and he wanted to meet the recipient.

“I want to see this person grow. And I want it to be given to someone who doesn’t have the means to do it on their own,” he said.

Lair didn’t have to work while going to college; finances weren’t an issue. “I didn’t know how grateful I should be for that at the time,” he said.

With his gift to design students, Lair is helping others live the dream of a career in design that he once had.

“I’ve had a tremendous, fortunate life, but it’s kind of letting someone else live my old dream,” he said. “It’s kind of neat. Especially someone who originally wouldn’t have gotten to do it.”

Josi Chavez, originally from Monett, Missouri, received her Bachelor of Interior Design from the U of A in 2017. Ever since graduating, she has worked in interior design at River+Lime in Denver, Colorado.

Chavez was the first recipient of the William Stephen Lair Design Scholarship and received it for both her junior and senior years. “It allowed me to finish school strong, which was crucial for those more intensive studios,” she said.

Left, Josi Chavez gives remarks during the 2016 Honors Recognition Reception and Ceremony for the Fay Jones School.

Opposite page, Stephen Lair visits with Josi Chavez in 2016 during the Honors Recognition Reception and Ceremony for the Fay Jones School.

The Lair scholarship provided the opportunity for Chavez to travel and study abroad in her junior year, “which allowed me to have an eye-opening experience that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said. “It also allowed me to focus more on studio and alleviated some of the stress that came from having a part-time job.”

“I’m forever grateful for Mr. Lair’s support,” Chavez said, “and I’m excited for all the future students that will benefit from his generosity.”

Lair said his collective giving to the Fay Jones School is largely inspired by the school’s growth and success in the last 10 years. Faculty and students are regularly recognized with awards and grants; a new applied research center — the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation — is under construction; and the school’s faculty has had two recipients of the prestigious American Institute of Architects Gold Medal: Fay Jones B.Arch.’50 and Marlon Blackwell.

Lair said he is proud to join the many others who’ve contributed gifts to support the success of the school, and in particular, to invest in the lives of its students and their future careers.

“It makes you feel good that all that’s happening. You may be a very small part of it, but it’s still a part of it,” he said.

Lair is a member of the Towers of Old Main giving society and a member of Thoroughreds at the U of A. He previously served on the Student Affairs Executive Advisory Board.

Photos by Ironside Photography.

Two Exhibits Help Celebrate 150 Years of Band History

BY LAUREL LAMB AND ANDRA LIWAG

One on-campus exhibit plus one virtual exhibit equals two opportunities for University of Arkansas Band lovers to both experience and participate in 150 years of “the best in sight and sound.”

That’s because to help mark the University of Arkansas Band program’s 150th anniversary, the program partnered with the U of A Museum and the Razorback Band Alumni Society to create two unique opportunities for the public to enjoy.

The first is a campus exhibit on view on the second floor of Silas Hunt Hall. It features two band uniforms from the museum's collections, including a gray wool uniform worn by W.F. Reichart while attending the Arkansas State Capitol Building's cornerstone laying on Nov. 27, 1900.

The 1946 jacket and beret of trumpet player James Edward Taylor B.S.M.E.’50 are also on display, along with a variety of historical images from the University Libraries Special Collections Division.

150th Anniversary of University of Arkansas Bands. Photos courtesy of University of Arkansas Bands.

Campus exhibit in Silas Hunt Hall.

Photo by U of A Museums.

“As an active member of the Razorback Band Alumni Society, and former member and uniform manager of the Razorback Marching Band from 74-78, it was very enjoyable working with the museum staff to showcase this marvelous collection of old band uniforms and a good way to put my history degree to practical use,” said Val Price  B.A.’78, J.D.’81, a collaborator on the exhibit.

The exhibit will be on view through December 2024.

Can't make it in person? Uniforms from the museum's collections are also being photographed and made available online. Visit uamuseum.uark.edu to explore.

Likewise, individuals who want to contribute to the second exhibit — a virtual one called Bring Your Own Artifact: University of Arkansas Bands — can visit bands.uark.edu/museum-collections to check it out and participate.

The U of A Museum preserves three-dimensional artifacts representing the university's history, such as the very first computer on campus, commencement gowns, Razorback memorabilia and architectural features from campus buildings.

For the Bring Your Own Artifact: University of Arkansas Bands exhibit, all U of A alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to submit entries and objects.

“Contributions can include images of physical objects or stories, with or without accompanying photographs,” said Laurel Lamb, curator of education and engagement at the museum. “They also don't need to be old or an ‘antique’ item — just something fun or meaningful to you!”

Lamb said submissions can include, but aren't limited to, items like band uniforms, tie clips, patches and T-shirts. Entries will be featured on the museum website alongside the museum's own band collections.

“The goal of Bring Your Own Artifact is to provide an outlet for the campus community to share personal objects, hear each other's Band stories and explore the U of A Museum collections,” Lamb said, adding that the online submissions are being accepted now through Nov. 30.

The U of A Bands grew from a “brass band of 14 pieces organized for special use” in the Military Department in 1874 to five concert bands, a 350-member Razorback Marching Band and a 140-member Hogwild Pep Band today.

To learn more about how the program has grown and thrived over the years, visit it online at bands.uark.edu.

A glimpse of uniforms and artifacts from the two exhibitions.

Photo courtesy of U of A Museums.

All Gifts Make An Impact Meet A Few Bumpers

College Donors

BY ROBBY EDWARDS

Gifts made to the Bumpers College provide direct support to students, faculty, staff and programs. There are multiple opportunities for alumni and friends to engage in philanthropy. Get to know a few donors who have all found meaningful ways to impact the college.

Support Study Abroad — Amy Bates

“Our children are out of school now and we wanted to find a way to give back,” Amy Bates said. Bates, who earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing, general sales, merchandising and related marketing operations from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, recently provided support for study abroad. She assisted in funding a student’s international experience this summer with a one-time $2,500 gift.

“Our daughter attended Oklahoma State in hospitality and did a study abroad in Italy,” Bates said. “She came back an entirely different person. Study abroad is quite expensive, but the experience you gain, simple things like navigating airports, living quarters and shopping, that’s where she came back ahead in maturity, and my husband (David) and I wanted to be part of the solution.”

Bates, who moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2002 and created Bates Events, has worked with the hospitality management program in the School of Human Environmental Sciences.

She and associate professor Kelly Way created an ambassador program, allowing students a hands-on opportunity to immerse themselves in the planning and execution of a high-level, non-profit fundraiser. These vetted students apply their course knowledge to this experience. More than 200 have graduated from the Bates Ambassador program.

“As first-time donors, we wanted to discover what we would be comfortable with — making an endowed or one-time

gift,” Bates said. “We wanted to see what kind of impact this makes and create a threshold to see what we are comfortable with, how the process goes, what is the impact, and if this is something we want to continue and leave a legacy.”

“This individual (selected for funding) came to me and said, ‘You have no idea what you’ve done for my family and me,’” Bates said. “She shared the experience with me, and that fuels our desire to ask ‘How can we do this again? Is there a possibility for an endowment?’ It’s about giving back. Every little bit helps. To that student, $2,500 was everything, and that makes me feel amazing to be part of something much bigger than just our gift.”

Planned Giving — Nancy Hendricks Ed.D.’88

“It is an honor to be associated with a college bearing the name of a man of great integrity like Senator Bumpers,” said Nancy Hendricks. “A scholarship for pre-veterinary students will help people who help our animal friends, and let’s face it, animals are great, and so are the people who care for them.”

Those are a few reasons Hendricks, with no connection to Bumpers College or animal science, chose to create an endowed scholarship. Her planned giving gift of $50,000 established the Bellmore Trust Endowed Scholarship in Animal Science, which is named for her family and provides two $2,000 scholarships each year for students pursuing veterinary medicine.

“Education is the gift that keeps on giving,” Hendricks, who earned her doctorate in education from the U of A, said. “It can be the ticket to a better life. However, some find the financial burden of higher education to be almost insurmountable. Perhaps a scholarship will help not only monetarily, but also serve as a reminder that someone they don’t know and will never meet is interested in helping them. It’s a connection to simple humanity — past, present and future.

Photo submitted.

Photo submitted.

“My family and I have tried to do good in the world during our lifetimes,” she said. “When I pass, it will be a comfort to know a planned giving endowment will continue my ability to do good in the world even after I am gone.”

Her family always included animals, but her gift is about more than that.

“Our food supply is dependent on the health and wellbeing of animals, as well as the economic elements involved,” she said. “Arkansas is well known for its poultry industry. Veterinarians who focus on caring for those animals are on the front lines of protecting America’s food supply by preserving the standard of animal health we rely on.”

Hendricks is an award-winning author and playwright. She writes for the Smithsonian and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, is a founding member of the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, D.C., and received the Pryor Award for Arkansas Women’s History, the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award, and the White House Millennium Award, among others.

“I basically won the lottery to have been born to the parents I had,” she said. “Only later did I understand not every young person has the kind of advantages and support I did. Perhaps financial assistance through a scholarship will, in a sense, invite them to be part of my family, who are the people responsible for any success I may have had in life.”

Endowed Scholarship — Arkansas Crop Protection Association

The Arkansas Crop Protection Association, a non-profit focused on agricultural education, is a partner and supporter of multiple universities, conferences and outreach efforts across the state.

ACPA assists the UA System Division of Agriculture with its soybean and rice colleges and funds the Henry DeSalvo and Clan Hanson scholarships at the U of A but recently made an additional commitment to the U of A and Bumpers College.

It recently created the ACPA Endowed Scholarship with a $10,000 gift to be followed by $5,000 gifts annually through 2025 for a total of $25,000. The scholarship is for juniors or seniors majoring in crop, soil and environmental sciences; agricultural business; or horticulture.

“ACPA has provided scholarships to the U of A for over 50 years,” Executive Director Otis Howe  B.S.A.’79, M.S.’85 said. “We also sponsor the ACPA Research

Conference in Fayetteville. It’s held after Thanksgiving and gives undergraduates, master’s and Ph.D. students in the college the opportunity to present research to our industry and their peers. The top three papers in each category win monetary prizes. I guess you could say supporting students is in our organization's DNA. Making the decision to endow a scholarship in addition to our annual scholarships just made good sense to our board and membership.”

Howe earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the U of A in agronomy, now crop science. He retired from DuPont after 37 years in 2019 and worked as an independent crop consultant until 2022.

Howe, Craig Shelton, chair of ACPA’s Scholarship Committee, and committee members led efforts to create the endowment.

“ACPA membership consists of agricultural retailers, distributors, basic crop protection manufacturers, crop consultants, seed companies, U of A ag researchers, U of A Cooperative Extension and farmers,” Howe said. “We need good students well trained in crop science, soil science, entomology, plant pathology, horticulture and ag business to work in our industry. Providing scholarships is one way to encourage good students to enroll in Bumpers College and graduate with a degree in crop science, ag business or horticulture.”

Photo submitted.

Maxine Miller Legacy Fund

Honoring a Local Legend While Supporting Students

BY LISA CORRIGAN AND ANDRA LIWAG

After it became the most successful FundRazor campaign in University of Arkansas history last year and reached endowment, the Maxine Miller Legacy Fund in the Gender Studies Program continues to raise funds to support student research, conference travel, and scholarships — all while honoring its trailblazing local business legend and namesake.

The fund was established in memory of Maxine Miller, long recognized as a groundbreaking business leader and pillar in both the Fayetteville and university communities.

Miller opened Maxine’s Tap Room on March 18, 1950, the day after St. Patrick’s Day, when she was just 25 years old. She borrowed money to open the business from her parents, and it was so successful early on that she was able to pay back that loan within a year.

The location quickly became popular with college students and locals alike, and soon became known as an inclusive place open to all.

Maxine’s Tap Room was most recently remodeled in 2013, though many of the original fixtures remain, as do photographs of Maxine throughout her life. Now, the Fayetteville landmark is set to celebrate its 75th year in business in 2025.

“And since its founding, Maxine’s continues to be an example in the hospitality industry of inclusiveness and care for patrons, staff, and the larger University of Arkansas community,” said Lisa Corrigan, director of the Gender Studies Program.

Corrigan helped found the Maxine Miller Legacy Fund through a partnership with Andrea Foren B.S.B.A.’04, Miller's great-niece and current owner, who took over the bar when Maxine passed away, along with Hannah Withers and Ben Gitchel, the current Maxine's Tap Room caretakers.

“We're incredibly proud of the work we've done in Maxine's honor in the last 11 years but are humbled by the amount of support her community has shared for her legacy fund. We feel lucky to be in a position to pay tribute to a woman whose life revolved around her small business. Leaders like Maxine Miller are the reason our Fayetteville community is so special,” Withers said.

Photos of Maxine’s Tap Room founder and Maxine Miller Legacy Fund namesake, Maxine Miller.

Photos courtesy of Maxine's Tap Room.

The fund first formed in late 2022, then in the spring of 2023, the fund hosted its first dedicated month-long campaign, raising nearly $35,000 that May. From there, its success continued to grow, soon reaching the crucial $50,000 mark which meant it could become endowed. This, in turn, meant the fund would be able to raise funds in perpetuity, meaning it will now forever be able to support hundreds of U of A gender studies students yet to come.

An anonymous patron of the bar helped the fund reach that special milestone, through a grant that was matched by three sources: Ozark Beer Co. at $1,000; Riffraff Fayetteville, at just over $1,300; and the proceeds of the 10th Annual Egg Nog Competition, which raised $2,880 and was donated by current Maxine’s caretakers Withers and Gitchel.

As if that weren’t amazing enough, this past spring, with a special virtual pop-up event and another month-long campaign in May to honor what would have been namesake Maxine’s 100th birthday, more than $15,000 was generated to contribute to the fund.

“We are extremely grateful for the tremendous groundswell of public support for the Maxine Miller Legacy Fund and for the individual and corporate donors who have prioritized this avenue for students at the University of Arkansas,” Corrigan said. “This support helps us honor a groundbreaking local business owner, Maxine Miller, and attract and retain outstanding students through new scholarships, research funding and conference travel. Now, more than ever, students

need this kind of community support for research projects and professionalization opportunities.”

A shrewd businesswoman and beloved character, Maxine was present at the tap room every day from open to close and expected proper behavior in her establishment. Patrons still fondly remember Miller's famous last call, “May I have your attention, please? You have 10 minutes to drink and get the hell outta here!”

“Maxine would be ecstatic over this fund reaching endowment so quickly. Throughout her life, she had loyal ties to the university, its students and the community. This fund is her everlasting way of giving back. I am honored and so thankful for Lisa and Hannah working so hard to help make this happen and am excited for it to grow as we continue to fundraise,” Foren said.

“It warms my heart to witness the profound impact Maxine's love for the university has on students today, with the assurance that her spirit will continue to inspire future generations,” she added.

Withers agreed and said that “it's an honor for us to preserve the memory of a woman in small business, who was a cornerstone in our community for decades. I think she'd have been thrilled to be remembered at an institution that she supported for so long.”

For more information about the Maxine Miller Legacy Fund, or to contribute please visit maxinestaproom.com.

Below, Maxine’s Tap Room.

Right, Maxine Miller.

Photos courtesy of Maxine's Tap Room.

Cross-Campus Collaboration Culminates in New Outdoor Geological Installation

BY SHELBY GILL B.A.’14 AND MICHELLE PARKS  B.A.’94

Those desiring to embark on a journey through time and Earth's geological wonders need go no further than the University of Arkansas campus — because that’s where they’ll find the GeoLab, a new outdoor installation in the lower tier courtyard of Gearhart Hall that features 26 geological samples from across Arkansas.

Arranged and displayed to celebrate the geological history and richness of the state, the rock samples are organized by geologic time, with the oldest samples on the west end, which become progressively younger moving toward the east end.

The project, which had its grand opening in May, is the direct result of collaboration across campus and in partnership with statewide entities. The Fulbright College of Arts and

Sciences and its Department of Geosciences, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, and the Honors College each played a large part in bringing the installation to fruition.

Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College, has been dedicated to the development of the courtyard for many years — particularly focusing on how the space might demonstrate the creativity and curiosity inherent in an academic setting, as exemplified by the Honors College, which is housed in Gearhart Hall.

“My office window overlooks the green space of the Gearhart Courtyard. I can already gauge the effect of housing a GeoLab on this side of campus,” Coon said. “The space has become an intellectual curiosity for visitors to campus,

The GeoLab sits in the lower tier courtyard of Gearhart Hall, just steps away from the Curvahedra.

Drone photo by Chieko Hara.

a research site for students working in geosciences, and a singular playground for the children’s groups set free to roam its rugged forms.

What I love about this academic hub on campus is how the courtyard puts sculpture — in this instance, the Gearhart Curvahedra — into conversation with fossilized artifacts of the natural world,” she added. “Which is an appropriate dialogue for the quad framing the Graduate School, Geosciences, and the Honors College.”

An Origin Story

The GeoLab’s origin story began about six years ago, with the seeds of an idea to create a display of geological samples on campus in a way that was celebratory as well as educational, planted by Christopher Liner B.S.’79, then chair of the Department of Geosciences, and Mac McGilvery  B.S.’78, M.S.’82, adjunct professor in geosciences.

Almost concurrently, an idea for a potential Gearhart installation had also cropped up during an Honors College signature seminar called “Place in Mind” that Edmund Harriss, assistant professor of mathematical sciences, and Carl Smith, professor of landscape architecture, taught.

The dots of the project that would become GeoLab started further connecting through talks with Facilities Management, and then, in spring 2021, Dean Coon and the Curvahedra sculpture design team joined the talks, with landscape architecture’s Smith now serving as the project’s faculty design advisor.

That summer, Liner then also undertook a 1,000mile solo quest to meet quarry and mine operators across Arkansas, develop rock sample donation agreements, and even secure a legal contract with the Arkansas Geological Survey to

place three samples on permanent loan to the GeoLab.

By summer 2022, Liner, McGilvery and Robert Liner  B.S.’78, M.S.’80, a geology alumnus, were then ready to select individual rock samples with documented reasons for their selection. Across the state, enthusiasm for the GeoLab project and the U of A was extraordinary, Liner said, and all samples were transported from their original locations to a U of A farm staging area.

Finally, by late fall 2022, the GeoLab project was ready for on-campus construction to begin. This phase of the project was funded solely by the Maurice F. Storm Endowed Chair, which Liner has held since 2012.

“GeoLab is many things to many people,” said Liner, who recently completed a tenure as associate dean of Fulbright College. “The geologist will likely see a microcosm of the surface rocks of Arkansas, and the geographer will link it to the state’s economic and political zones, while the artist may ponder its connection to Curvahedra and interrelation of color, shape and form. Those attuned to human culture may also recognize its relationships to Indigenous habitats and resources, as well as modern society’s growing need for minerals, groundwater, agriculture and energy.”

Likewise, Peter MacKeith, dean of the Fay Jones School, said that GeoLab “exemplifies the value and vitality of a university education.”

“The project synthesizes and demonstrates knowledge drawn from many disciplines that is then creatively and tangibly expressed in phenomenal geological formations, through interdisciplinary and collaborative work engaging faculty and alumni,” he added. “What more could a student or visitor or faculty or staff member want or hope for from such a magical place?”

An Installation for the Community

From the beginning, GeoLab’s location was a natural fit in its courtyard location with both the Honors College and the Department of Geosciences also located in Gearhart Hall.

And with an anticipated 1,000-plus lab students annually able to now experience the installation, Liner said, the project acts as an interactive geology and geography lesson for the entire community.

Carl Smith, the professor of landscape architecture and project’s faculty design advisor, agreed, adding that, “the rocks of Arkansas underlie all we do both literally and figuratively; it is the land that begets our culture and our identity.”

“We are lucky to have some true visionaries on our campus, and GeoLab is the result of that vision, as well as the inexhaustive energy and tenacity required to build such a project,” he said.

Christopher Liner (left) and Carl Smith.

Photo by Austin Brown.

Arranged and displayed to celebrate the geological history and richness of the state, the rock samples are organized by geologic time, with the oldest samples on the west end, becoming progressively younger moving toward the east end of the courtyard.

Photo by Austin Brown.

Additionally, the landscape architect of record on the project was alumna Jenny Burbidge B.L.A.’10, owner of Prism Design and a former student of Smith’s. She said she views the project as truly exemplary of landscape architecture, in that it intersects and balances between function and art.

“These rocks are phenomenal; they are sculptural, historical and all chosen to demonstrate a specific time and space in Arkansas’ geologic history,” Burbidge said. “Consider it a curated art collection that you have special permission to touch, sit on and study within.”

The project’s design and implementation were also a collaborative effort between DCI Inc., Flintco Construction LLC, Prism Design LLC, and members of the university community, including the Facilities Management team, which provided vital campus planning and construction coordination.

“It was important to work together in this way to tie the project to both the specific pedagogical needs of geosciences and our students, as well as to the atmosphere of the broader campus community,” said Kathryn Sloan, former dean of Fulbright College, which is home to the Department of Geosciences. “The result is something quite special that will be both incredibly aesthetically pleasing and educational for generations to come.”

Alumna Burbidge agreed, adding that, “It was an incredible project from the start.”

“Having a mark on the university campus is the pinnacle of my career thus far. At its essence, this project is the physical culmination of earth and art, a true manifestation of landscape architecture,” she said.

While geosciences students and faculty will benefit from this new teaching resource, the project’s interdisciplinary team hopes GeoLab will ultimately serve and speak to the whole campus and surrounding community.

“GeoLab really needs to be experienced in person,” Smith said. “The colors, the textures, and the whole ambiance is dynamic and constantly changing. And there really is something magical about being able to interact with something so tangible yet so unfathomably old.”

Top left, the GeoLab features 26 geological samples from across Arkansas.

Photo by Austin Brown.

Top right, aerial view of the GeoLab. Drone photo by Chieko Hara.

Students Immersed in Law School Life SPPARK Program

BY TAMMY TUCKER + B.A.’97, M.A.’03

Rising junior and senior college students and recent graduates interested in law school got a glimpse of law school life during the School of Law’s Summer Pre-Law Program, known as SPPARK.

For two and a half weeks, students were immersed in law school culture by living on campus, taking classes with law school faculty, and completing reading, writing and oral advocacy assignments similar to those given to first-year law students.

“It was an incredible opportunity to be part of the SPPARK program,” said participant Katie Butefish. “I had originally applied because I was considering law school but not fully sure it was achievable for me. Not only did this program build my confidence immensely but it also solidified that a legal career is my dream, and I am more than capable of pursuing my J.D. and becoming a licensed attorney.”

The program focuses on the inclusion of students:

• From colleges or universities with historical significance to or significant populations of African American, Asian American, Latino and/or American Indian students.

• Who are the first generation in their family to attend college.

• Who experience significant financial challenges.

• From populations historically underrepresented in law school.

In addition, the program included a student panel and information about the LSAT and the admissions process. The students were hosted by local law firms, networked with law school alumni and faculty, and explored Northwest Arkansas with trips to the Crystal Bridges Museum of Modern Art and First Tee of Northwest Arkansas. The program wrapped up with a graduation brunch, where the students received completion certificates.

“The law school admissions process has definitely caused me to internalize a lot of self doubt I have within myself,” participant Skyelar Montgomery said. “Despite growing up in close proximity to lawyers and judges, I felt I could not do what they did to be the success stories they are today.

“The SPPARK Program offered me the resources and knowledge needed to increase my confidence in the law school admissions process and understand that law school is a place where I can thrive, despite the inevitable ups and downs. Each mock course I took and J.D. candidate, legal professional and University of Arkansas faculty member I met while in Fayetteville, granted me the ability to see myself far beyond law school and advance in the career I aspire to attain. I know, even more now, that law school is for me, and for that I am forever grateful!”

Thanks to a grant from AccessLex Institute, this year’s program was expanded to add a second session. Learn more about SPPARK and the application process at https://law. uark.edu/outreach/sppark.php

Opposite page L-R,

Participants in the School of Law’s Summer Pre-Law Program, known as SPPARK, experience life as law students during the intensive two-and-a-half-week program. Pictured are the first group of students who attended the 2024 program.

Pictured is the second group of students who attended the 2024 SPPARK program, which is offered to rising junior and college students and recent graduates interested in law school.

Mitchell Williams Law Firm hosted the students at their office.

Blake Pennington J.D. ’08, senior assistant city attorney, spoke to SPPARK students when they visited the Fayetteville city attorney’s office.

SPPARK students enjoyed an afternoon at First Tee of Northwest Arkansas.

Cynthia Nance , dean of the School of Law, welcomes SPPARK students with HonRed, the school’s centennial mascot.

Current law students served on a panel to answer questions from SPPARK students about attending law school.

Photos submitted.

U of A and NWA Jazz Society Launch New Artist-in-Residence Program

Jazz Program Leads the Way in Music Teaching, Performance, Research and Community Service at the University

BY ALAN GOSMAN AND ANDRA LIWAG

Thanks to the generosity of Jerry and Cherie Moye and in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society, the University of Arkansas Department of Music has launched a one-of-a-kind new artist-in-residency program focused on jazz.

“This special program will allow us to bring world-class jazz musicians to campus to share their talent, not only with our students but with the entire Northwest Arkansas community,” said Jake Hertzog Ph.D.’21, assistant professor of guitar and coordinator of the Jazz Studies Program.

“Partnering with the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society on this project is an incredible opportunity to collaborate on building the jazz scene in our regional music ecosystem,” he added.

At the U of A, students interested in studying jazz can earn a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Jazz Studies. The program is known for its hands-on, performance-based learning style and courses specifically designed for jazz-focused instrumentalists and vocalists in

improvisation, history, analysis and pedagogy.

A cornerstone of the program has always been its topnotch faculty — all of whom have extensive experience in both teaching as well as in the music industry as active jazz musicians.

Now, because of the establishment of the Moye Family Jazz Residency, the program will reach even greater heights by being able to bring more active jazz musicians to campus to teach, perform and benefit the university’s students and its surrounding community alike.

Alan Gosman, chair of the Department of Music, expressed his excitement about how establishing the new jazz artist-in-residency program will further energize the department’s jazz studies.

“One of the special aspects of the gift and the residency it establishes is how multidimensional its impact will be. It supports our core missions of pedagogy, artistic achievement and community engagement,” Gosman said.

The program marks a unique “on and off campus” approach, Gosman said, wherein through the course of the residency, artists-in-residence will collaborate and perform with U of A students and faculty, perform with community jazz ensembles, teach public jazz masterclasses, visit university music courses, and present biographical interviews on their jazz careers.

Robert Ginsburg, founder and artistic director of the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society, said the group is looking forward to partnering with the U of A and its Department of Music on this project.

“Once again we will unite to enhance the jazz educational programs as well as provide world-class concert offerings to our community,” Ginsburg said. “The combination of formal jazz studies with seasoned jazz artists is the best way to ensure the future of the music. A healthy dose of community outreach to include the jazz-loving audience is the finishing touch to this program that brings another level of purpose.”

Artists in residence will be selected by a committee composed of U of A faculty, students and representatives from the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society. Residencies will occur during the next two academic years.

Jerry Moye said this is something he and his wife, Cherie, are greatly anticipating.

“Cherie and I have really enjoyed watching the Northwest Arkansas music scene grow since we moved here in ’93,” Moye said. “We feel very fortunate to be able to help jazz keep — and hopefully grow — its footprint through this gift. We wish the university jazz staff the best and hope that the community at large enjoys the entertainment that they will provide.”

Additional accolades for the U of A’s Jazz Studies Program this past year include Hertzog being named one of the 2023

Opposite page, The U of A offers students a variety of jazz-related ensembles, like this one pictured. From the UA Jazz Orchestra to the World MusicEnsemble, the jazz area incorporates numerous styles and teaching to deliver a unique approach to jazz performance.

Left, A musician playing jazz guitar.

Below, Jake Hertzog, coordinator of the Jazz Studies Program.

Jazz Roads Creatives by the South Arts Organization and awarded more than $38,000 towards creation of a new composition, “Anthropoesia: A Concerto for Jazz Guitar and Jazz Philharmonic,” being released later in 2024.

Hertzog and instructor Justin Hunter B.A.’07, M.M.’09 were also awarded a $45,000 research grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to examine the importance of collegiate jazz programs to the jazz ecosystems in three U.S. cities, and Hertzog was awarded the $8,000 Practicing Artist Grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance’s Artists360 program.

On the student front, the program’s UARK Latin American Ensemble, directed by instructor Fernando Valencia, won DownBeat magazine’s Best Ensemble in Latin Jazz Award at the graduate level — considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in jazz education.

Additionally, the jazz vocal ensemble, Voices, an acapella group led by instructor Lauren Clare, was awarded the Best Group Sound award in the VoiceJam competition.

“Amazing things are happening across the Department of Music, with our Jazz Studies Program leading the way in some of our best teaching, performance, research and community service work,” Gosman said. “We hope you’ll keep tuning in and also join in the fun.”

More details about the Moye Family Jazz Residency and its first selected artist will be announced later in the year. Visit the U of A Department of Music online at music.uark.edu to learn more soon.

Photos courtesy of Jake Hertzog.

Honoring A Lifetime of Philanthropy

Endowed Scholarship Established to Honor Alumni’s Commitment to Education and Community

BY DOMINIC ROSSETTI  B.A.’23

University of Arkansas alumni Merlin Augustine Jr. Ed.D.’82 and his wife, Beverly M.Ed.’86, have committed their lives to education and serving the community. Merlin is the retired vice chancellor for finance and administration at the U of A and dedicated 40 years to higher education at the U of A and the University of Central Arkansas. Beverly is a retired educator and spent over 35 years in the Conway and Fayetteville school districts.

As educators, Dr. and Mrs. Augustine dedicated themselves to improving access to education for underrepresented students, particularly throughout rural areas like where they grew up. Their passion for helping others, though, would not be limited to the classroom.

In 1992, Merlin Augustine and his sisters established the M&N Augustine Foundation in Marksville, Louisiana. The foundation was created to honor the lives of their parents, Merlin Sr. and Nora, the foundation’s namesakes. The purpose of the foundation was to support community members experiencing difficult circumstances by providing education and financial and social assistance.

Honors College Path Program Graduates.

Photo by of Whit Pruitt B.A.’16

Despite limited resources, the Augustine family was always willing to help others in need. Merlin Sr. and Nora Augustine were kind and compassionate to everyone who came to them for assistance. At the time, there were no social programs like we see today. It was not uncommon for Merlin Jr. to be asked to give up his bed or share a meal. As a child, he did not fully understand why and often wanted to resist his parents’ request. Nonetheless, Merlin’s parents had planted a seed of compassion that he is still cultivating today.

In recognition of the Augustine family’s commitment to education and passion for their community, The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation established the Merlin and Beverly Augustine Endowed Scholarship Fund. The $200,000 gift expands on the Walker Foundation’s longstanding commitment to students and educational access.

“Dr. and Mrs. Augustine have made it their life’s work to help those in need and touch thousands of lives through the M&N Augustine Foundation,” said Mandy Macke  B.A.’00, J.D.’03, executive director of The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation. “This endowment pays tribute to their unrelenting service and demonstrates our shared commitment and belief in supporting students.”

The scholarship, which is designated for students from select counties in Louisiana and southeast Arkansas, embodies the Augustine family’s generational legacy of service to the community.

corners of Arkansas and neighboring states.

“Mandy Macke has been a continuous supporter of the M&N Augustine Foundation, and the Walker family has been extraordinarily kind,” said Dr. Augustine. “We are honored by this because we deal with a lot of people who just need a little help to get through college. Fayetteville is a very generous place with a lot of warm-hearted people.”

The Merlin and Beverly Augustine Endowed Scholarship Fund provides financial support for students entering the university as part of the Honors College Path Program. The Path Program is perfectly aligned with the Augustine family’s roots in southeast Arkansas and Louisiana and their commitment to education and the community.

The Honors College Path Program was established in 2014 to prepare exceptional high school students from underrepresented populations for success at the U of A. As part of the program, students are assigned peers and professional mentors who promote academic success, inspire leadership, and encourage students to join the Honors College. There, students have access to resources for study abroad, undergraduate research and internships.

“Bridging the gap between financial aid and tuition costs is crucial for ensuring that financial concerns do not prevent deserving students from pursuing their dreams,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson . “We are deeply grateful to the Walker Foundation for supporting our efforts to break down financial barriers and increase educational access.”

The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation was created in 1986 by Willard and Pat Walker. Since its inception, the foundation has partnered with hundreds of organizations, including the University of Arkansas. The Walkers’ legacy of generosity has impacted thousands of lives, and their support across the U of A campus has been tremendous.

Merlin Jr. earned a Doctor of Education from the U of A in 1982. Dr. Augustine was awarded the Black Alumni Society’s Lonnie R. Williams Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Mrs. Augustine earned a Master of Education from the U of A in 1986.

The Walker Foundation is a key partner in increasing access to programs and resources that are critical to student success. The Merlin and Beverly Augustine Endowed Scholarship Fund will dramatically improve access to life-changing opportunities, creating a pathway to higher education for more students from all

Through their foundation, the Augustine family continues to support the community in many ways. Caring Kitchen provides home-cooked meals for veterans, elderly, homeless and the lonely every Tuesday. The annual Easter Feed serves thousands of meals to the community on the Saturday before Easter.

The Augustine family are true servants to the community. Their commitment to service began long before the creation of their foundation and continues today. The Merlin and Beverly Augustine Endowed Scholarship Fund ensures that their family’s legacy will continue to impact countless more people in the future.

Honors College Path Scholars in the courtyard of Gearhart Hall.

Photo by Jaylan Brown, Path Scholar.

Merlin and Beverly Augustine.

Photo submitted.

Teaching Generosity Learning About Strategic Philanthropy at the U of A

BY PAYTON WILLHITE B.A.’24

While many students take a final or submit one last paper to successfully mark the end of a course, the students in University of Arkansas’ Strategic Philanthropy course instead got to hand out a total of $39,000 to several local non-profit organizations to complete the class.

The gifts are the result of a semester of study, as students taking the course were asked to research local non-profits and divide funds to give out based on data metrics, impact assessment mechanisms, and personal values.

The unique class, which is a collaboration between U of A’s Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and Sam M. Walton College of Business, teaches students how to share wealth effectively and strategically, and how to steward and grant money to charities that are making a difference.

“The course also gives students a historical perspective on philanthropy as they learn how donors decide what makes for good giving and how nonprofits attract donors,” said Daniel Levine, one of the U of A course instructors.

The U of A's Strategic Philanthropy giving ceremony took place in Dec. 2023 and was attended by Chancellor Charles Robinson , as well as the grant recipients and class members.

Photos submitted.

“College is full of opportunities to learn about making money, but there are few classes that will teach these transformational skills and help students gain such practical knowledge and experience in philanthropy,” he added.

Levine said the course was made possible through a partnership with the Philanthropy Lab, which is an organization that allows students to participate in giving back to their local communities through programs, course offerings and monetary donations. Additional support is also welcome from those who’d like to participate by donating funds for the class to give.

Last year, U of A’s Strategic Philanthropy course’s major award of $30,000 was given to Seeds That Feed, an organization that works with local farmers to provide fresh produce to the Northwest Arkansas community. The organization will continue to work with course instructors to track the impact of these funds as they are invested back into the community.

Additionally, Hub of Hope, the NWA Children's Shelter and the NWA Single Parent Scholarship Fund received awards of $2,000, while Apple Seeds, NWA Center for Sexual Assault, the SOAR After School Program and the NWA Women's Shelter received $750.

Students made their giving decisions based on discussions with representatives from each organization, followed by visits to the groups' headquarters. Factors like mission fulfillment, financial stability, organizational strength, impact and the presence of community partners were also considered.

At the December presentation ceremony that concluded the course, students shared their methods and experiences and discussed how the course changed their understanding of philanthropic giving. Additionally, later during a March ceremony, the course itself was also presented with an award — the U of A’s Service Learning Initiative named Strategic Philanthropy its Outstanding

Service Learning Class of 2023-2024.

For students taking the course, like recent graduate Greyson Daniels, this was an unexpected added benefit to an experience that already felt particularly meaningful.

“As I move forward, I carry not just knowledge, but practical skills that empower me to make a positive impact in the world of philanthropy,” Daniels said about his experience in the class.

Aspiring philanthropists like Daniels join a growing number of college-aged individuals taking similar courses at educational institutions across the United States, like the University of Texas — Austin, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Harvard, Stanford, University of Washington, Washington University, University of Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Baylor, Abilene Christian University, Texas Christian University, Duke and many other schools.

“Students who take these philanthropy-focused courses appreciate the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experiences in the non-profit space and the ability to effect visible changes in their local communities,” Levine said.

U of A is offering the Strategic Philanthropy course again this fall, but Levine said this time the amount available for students to give has climbed to a possible $50,000.

For more information about the U of A’s Strategic Philanthropy course, contact professors Daniel Levine at dlevine@uark.edu and Rogelio Garcia Contreras at rogeliog@uark.edu.

To contribute funds or participate in the philanthropic aspect of the course, contact Becca Bradley B.A.’08, M.Ed.’22 at beccas@uark.edu or Mark Power at mepower@uark.edu.

A Gift of Opportunity

Lee Bodenhamer’s Long-term Investment in Arkansas’ Students Still Shines Today

BY SHELBY GILL B.A.’14, KENDALL CURLEE AND CD ESKILSON M.F.A.’24

The word “opportunity” is a common refrain in reflections from Bodenhamer Fellowship alumni — opportunities to pursue academic interests, travel the globe, research novel ideas and explore everything the University of Arkansas has to offer. From building companies and studying ancient languages to practicing rural medicine and educating the next generation, Bodenhamer Fellows make a tremendous impact thanks to the opportunities they received to flourish in their studies at the University of Arkansas.

“The fellowship allowed me to say yes to a lot of opportunities that might have been out of reach due to resources,” said Ben Hood B.S.Cmp.E’02, B.S.’02 summa cum laude, chief product officer at WattBuy. When he first interviewed for a fellowship, he realized, “Arkansas was providing a really special opportunity to do a tremendous amount and go in a lot of different directions.”

Ben Hood’s support for U of A students extends beyond mentoring and internships. Recently, he made a generous gift to the Honors College to support current students. “I’ve always thought when I get to a place where I can contribute, I want to give back to the university that gave me so much,” Hood said. He encourages other alumni thinking about giving “to try to say yes, even if the numbers are small, because it pays back so much more. It keeps you connected to the alma mater.”

Photo by Russell Cothern 

Lee Bodenhamer visits with Bodenhamer Fellows at the annual fall reception.

Photo by NWA Media.

In 1998, Lee Bodenhamer + B.S.B.A.’57, M.B.A.’61 (D.B.A.’68, Harvard) launched the Bodenhamer Fellowship, which awards generous support — currently, up to $80,000 over four years’ time — to top students, the majority from Arkansas. Now, 26 years later, that investment in more than 168 students has matured: alumni Bodenhamer Fellows include doctors, lawyers and teachers; an architect and a photojournalist; software developers and a cybersecurity specialist; physicists and policy analysts; and a biomedical researcher who is shedding light on how cancers spread throughout the body.

“The Bodenhamer Fellows' successes and accomplishments are not only an honor for our family but a deeply personal connection,” said John Bodenhamer, Lee’s son. “Each of these brilliant young adults, with their passion for the University of Arkansas, is a genuine source of pride.”

The Bodenhamer Fellowship is one of the most prestigious offered at the university. Students must have at least a 3.9 high school GPA and a 32 ACT score just to apply, and those who make the cut have shown promise as leaders — whether it’s organizing a new club at school, leading a service project in their community, pursuing original research, or all of the above.

“Receiving the Bodenhamer Fellowship has made all the difference in my academic and career goals thus far,” said Joshua Jacobs B.A.’23 summa cum laude (classical studies), who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Assyriology at Yale University, one of the world’s premier programs for Near Eastern studies. “Because of [the Bodenhamer] support, I have had the opportunity to pursue my academic interests surrounded by a supportive community who helped me every step along the way. I could not and would not be where I am now without this help.”

Joshua Jacobs credits his experience as a Bodenhamer fellow with providing him an opportunity to pursue an academic interest in the Ancient Near East. “Being a Bodenhamer Fellow has really allowed me the freedom to study what I wanted to in a very real sense.”

Photo by Russell Cothren 

This year, the University of Arkansas Honors College has selected six incoming freshmen as the recipients of the Bodenhamer Fellowships, all ranging widely in interests and skills. The fellowship largely covers tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other academic expenses, providing students with the freedom to pursue original research, study abroad, service learning and academic interests across disciplines.

The 2024 Bodenhamer Fellows

Brayan Estrada is a graduate of Rogers High School, where he played in the band, won state competitions in CAD software design, and led service clubs.

He is both an AP Scholar and Questbridge College Prep Scholar and received a commendation from the College Board National Recognition Program.

He served as the vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens chapter in Rogers and as a section leader in the marching band. He also volunteers in the Rogers community and was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce for his academic excellence and commitment to social responsibility.

Estrada is an avid car enthusiast and used the hobby to strengthen his job experience. When he was not in school, he worked diligently at an auto parts store and held jobs throughout his high school career.

Kelsey Jung is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, where she led the Green Team, National English Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and founded a nonprofit that tutored more than 120 people from Ukraine in English. She also played volleyball and served as team captain.

Jung is a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. She has also received awards for her work with DECA and FBLA and her volunteer service.

Outside of school, she worked at a local restaurant and volunteered as an office volunteer for a children’s charity house.

Clara Nikkel is a graduate of Batesville High School, where she ran track and field, served on the student council, and as president of the Beta Club. She also played the bass drum and oboe in marching and concert bands, winning the title of all-state oboist.

Her passion for chemistry led her to reach out to a professor at Lyon College for experience in research. In the lab, Nikkel performed more than 125 hours of research to modify and purify tuberculosis medication to improve its effectiveness on drug-resistant strains. She hopes to continue research into pharmaceuticals with an interest in studying solutions for underdeveloped countries.

Campus

Nikkel is a National Merit Finalist, Coolidge Scholarship Finalist and AP Scholar with Honor. She has received a commendation from the College Board National Recognition Program and has won awards across the state in both English and mathematics.

Eliot Posey is a graduate of Siloam Springs High School, where he served as vice president of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the International Thespian Society, participated in the theater program, and tutored students in algebra and geometry.

Outside of school, he attended Arkansas Governor's School — concentrating on visual arts, was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, and served on his church’s education committee. Each summer he worked with the grounds crew at John Brown University.

Posey is a National Merit Finalist, Governor’s Young Artist Competition winner and the first Siloam Springs Student of the Month. He has received a commendation from the College Board National Recognition Program and achievement awards in many courses.

Hudson Roberts is a graduate of C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she was the captain of the cross country and track and field teams, president of the student council, and founder of the Mental Health and Wellness Club. She was chosen to participate in the competitive Science & Medicine Academic Research Training Program at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, where she worked in the biomechanics lab studying hardware-induced fragility of bones and the sustainability of orthopedic implants.

Roberts is a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. For her academic, athletic and leadership performance, she was selected as the Caddo Parish High School Student of the Year. Her school also nominated her for the U.S. Senate Youth Program and P.E.O. Star scholarships.

Dillon Sanders is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, where he was a varsity pole vaulter on the track and field team, served as president of the National Honor Society, participated in the Ambassador Program, and oversaw Fayetteville High School’s recycling program.

Living outside city limits, Sanders noticed recycling wasn’t being picked up. He started a business picking up recycling weekly for 15 clients and taking their recycling goods to the city drop-off. Since beginning his business, he’s collected over 2,000 pounds of recyclables a month.

He also hosted a radio show every Saturday night where he interviewed guests, discussed current events, and played music.

Sanders is a National Merit Commended Student and AP Scholar with Distinction. He is part of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Science National Honors Society.

Bodenhamer’s goal, ultimately, was to fight the brain drain of Arkansas’ best and brightest. The Bodenhamers have generously given their time, service and resources to numerous programs across campus and to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, but the fellowship program is “my greatest and first priority,” Bodenhamer said in a 2017 Inviting Arkansas profile.

The University of Arkansas Honors College has selected six incoming freshmen as the recipients of this year’s Bodenhamer Fellowships, (From L-R) Eliot Posey, Kelsey Jung, Hudson Roberts, Clara Nikkel, Dillon Sanders, Brayan Estrada.

Photo by Shelby Gill.

Alumni Membership: Fostering a Culture of Philanthropy

President’s Message

Exciting developments are underway that will expand the reach and impact of the Arkansas Alumni Association. During our recent board retreat in Washington, D.C., we collaborated with the university's advancement team to chart a course for broader alumni recognition and a stronger philanthropic future.

Central to our discussions was our newly approved alumni membership plan, which is designed to engage all alumni in more meaningful ways while increasing our collective impact on the university's growth and success. This shift moves us from traditional annual dues to a more inclusive and dynamic philanthropic approach that recognizes every alumnus, friend and student who supports any University of Arkansas cause.

First, all graduates of the University of Arkansas, past and future, will now automatically be members of the Arkansas Alumni Association. A new tiered benefits system will be linked to annual giving levels and ensure

that all contributors are recognized and celebrated through association membership. This approach will reduce the number of solicitations alumni receive, allowing us to focus on what truly matters — building a culture of philanthropy and scholarship that supports the university’s mission.

Our Washington, D.C. retreat was pivotal in setting the stage for this transformation. Working closely with the university's advancement staff, we identified strategic objectives that will not only enhance alumni engagement but also amplify our philanthropic and scholarship impact. This will allow us to concentrate resources on stewardship and alumni engagement activities, fostering an environment of loyalty and support that benefits the entire University of Arkansas community.

As we move forward with this new philanthropic membership model, the Arkansas Alumni Association remains committed to preserving the cherished traditions that have defined us for nearly 150 years. Our Life Membership program will continue, maintaining our strong relationships with loyal association members while securing sustainable revenue for our operations.

I invite all alumni to join us in this exciting new chapter. Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of future Razorbacks. By embracing this new membership model, we ensure that the University of Arkansas continues to thrive as a beacon of excellence for generations to come.

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our university and our alumni association. Let’s continue to advance the University of Arkansas and strengthen the bonds that unite us as proud alumni.

Regina Hopper  B.A.’81, J.D.’85 President, National Board of Directors Arkansas Alumni Association

THANK YOU New Life Members 

11096 Caroline F. Thomas '77

11097 Jan Getty Burks '80

11098 Dr. Wesley Burks

11099 Heather D. Linnevers '93 11100 Thomas A. Linnevers

11101 Frank R. Eversole '72 11102 Gary W. Hunt '84 11103 Lana Taber Hunt 11104 David Wylie '65

11105 Carolyn H. Wylie

11106 Evan J. Gray '16 11107 Grayson L. Bruce 11108 Jon Mark Rundle '64

11109 Jason D. Angel 11110 Jessica B. Angel '14 11111 Kenny L. Kerr

11112 Lisa Kerr

11113 Michael B. Young 11114 Matthew Gregory Sutton '99, '01 11115 Andrea Sutton 11116 Christopher E. Lang '13 11117 Jessica Hester

11118 Dan A. Fagan '86 11119 Bernadine Fagan 11120 Brad Peter 11121 Cadi Fung

11122 Brandon W. Lacy 11123 Megan A. Henry '02, '05 11124 Lana C. Turney '70 11125 Van H. Nichols '69 11126 Bryan H. Walker '95, '97 11127 Scott M. Simmons '92 11128 Dana R. Simmons 11129 Sandra Sweetin 11130 Randy G. Sweetin '83 11131 Beatrice A. Harris '05 11132 Caroline McCrary Lasiter '94 11133 Shelly Dawn Bell '02 11134 Homer T. Buck

11135 Lynn B. Haney 11136 Harriett Bracey Pollock '78 11137 Terry Pollock 11138 George M. Waller '79 11139 Barbara Waller '80 11140 Edelma Simes '76

11141 Marcus Allen Hopkins '06

11142 Andrea L. Hopkins '08

11143 David C. Overton '05

11144 Amanda C. Overton

1923-24 Joseph Kirby Mahone  B.A.’07

1924-25 Robert Hill Carruth B.A.’11

1925-26 James E. Rutherford  B.A.’22

1926-27 Winston Lee Winters B.S.C.E.’06

1927-28 J.L. Longino B.S.E.E.’03

1928-29 Alfred Boyde Cypert B.A.’12

1929-30 James William Trimble B.A.’17

1930-31 G. DeMatt Henderson B.A.’01, LL.B.’03

1931-32 Dr. Jasper Neighbors M.D.’18

1932-33 Scott D. Hamilton B.A.’24

1933-34 Charles A. Walls B.A.’07

1934-35 Arthur D. Pope B.A.’06

1935-36 John C. Ashley B.A.’11

1936-37 Beloit Taylor B.A.’19

1937-38 John P. Woods  B.A.’09

1938-39 Glen Rose  B.S.E.’28, M.S.’31

1939-40 Claude J. Byrd  B.S.A.’25

1940-41 Charles Frierson Jr. ’29

1941-42 John B. Daniels B.S.A.’33

1942-44 G. DeMatt Henderson B.A.’01, LL.B.’03

1944-45 Dr. M. L. Dalton M.D.’32

1945-46 Jack East  B.S.E.’24

1946-47 Steve Creekmore  B.S.B.A.’11

1947-48 Maupin Cummings  B.A.’32

1948-49 Roy Milum B.A.’04, LL.D.’58

1949-50 Paul Sullins  J.D.’37

1950-51 Francis Cherry LL.B.’38

1951-52 J.C. Gibson B.A.’24, M.S.’38

1952-53 George Makris  B.S.B.A.’37

1953-54 Edward B. Dillon Jr.  LL.B.’50

1954-55 Beloit Taylor B.A.’19

1955-56 Louis L. Ramsay Jr. LL.B’47, LL.D.’88

1956-57 Stanley Wood  B.A.’23

1957-58 A.L. Whitten M.S.’40

1958-59 W.R. “Dub” Harrison B.A’.20

1959-60 E.M. “Mack” Anderson + B.A.’32

1960-61 Warren Wood  LL.B.’32

1961-62 Owen Calhoun Pearce B.S.B.A.’38, LL.B.’41

1962-63 James C. Hale B.A.’33

1963-64 Jack East Jr.  B.S.B.A.’48

1964-65 J. Fred Patton + B.A.’29 M.A.’36

1965-66 P.K. Holmes Jr.  B.A.’37 LL.B.’39

1966-67 William H. Bowen  LL.B.’49

1967-68 Guy H. Lackey + B.S.B.A.’49

1968-69 Robert P. Taylor + B.S.B.A.’47, M.S.48

1969-70 John Ed Chambers B.A.’39, LL.B.’40

1970-71 Chester H. Lauck ’25

1971-72 Nathan Gordon + J.D.’39

1972-73 Charles E. Scharlau + LL.B.’51

1973-74 Carl L. Johnson  B.S.B.A.’47

1974-75 R. Cecil Powers  B.S.B.A.’30

1975-76 J.C. Reeves  ’25

1976-77 Elizabeth (Sissi) Riggs Brandon + B.S.E.’55

1977-78 Roy Murphy + B.S.I.M.’49

1978-79 J. Fred Livingston  B.S.B.A.’55

1979-80 Tracy Scott  B.S.E.’53

1980-81 Edward W. Stevenson + B.S.B.A.’60

1981-82 J. Fred Livingston  B.S.B.A.’55

1982-83 Don Schnipper + B.A.’63, J.D.’64

1983-84 Mary Trimble Maier + B.A.’49

1984-85 Bart Lindsey + B.S.B.A.’67

1985-86 W. Kelvin Wyrick + B.S.E.’59

1986-87 Larry G. Stephens B.S.I.E.’58

1987-88 Rebecca Shreve + B.S.E.’60, M.Ed.’63

1988-89 Robert T. Dawson + B.A.’60, LL.B.’65

1989-90 Gregory B. Graham + B.S.B.A.’70, J.D.’72

1990-91 Blake Schultz + B.A.’51

1991-92 Chuck Dudley + B.S.B.A.’76, M.B.A.’77

1992-93 Harriet Hudson Phillips + B.A.’72

1993-94 Richard Hatfield + B.S.B.A.’65, LL.B.’67

1994-95 Jenny Mitchell Adair + B.A.’62

1995-96 Jack McNulty + B.S.B.A.’67 J.D.’70

1996-97 Sylvia Boyer + B.S.E.’63

1997-98 Morris Fair  B.S.B.A.’56

1998-00 H. Lawson Hembree IV + B.S.A.'82

2000-02 Jeffrey R. Johnson + B.A.’70

2002-04 Edward Bradford + B.S.E.’55, M.Ed.’56

2004-06 Brian M. Rosenthal + B.S.B.A.’84

2006-08 Kenny Gibbs + B.S.B.A.’85

2008-10 Gerald Jordan + B.A.’70

2010-12 Steve Nipper + B.S.B.A.’71, M.B.A.’73

2012-14 John Reap + B.S.B.A.’70

2014-16 Stephanie S. Streett  B.S.’91

2016-18 Don Eldred + B.S.B.A.’81

2018-20 Teena Gayle Gunter  J.D.'92, LL.M.'97

2020-22 Ron Rainey  B.S.A.’91, M.S.’93, Ph.D.’01

2022-24 Don Walker + B.S.A.’74

Photo courtesy of University

Connect, Learn and Engage Arkansas Alumni Association Hosts Alumni Leaders Summit

BY TIMOTHY R. WILLIAMS  B.A.’14

In July, the Arkansas Alumni Association hosted its biennial Alumni Leaders Summit at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House, bringing together alumni leaders from 11 alumni chapters and 10 alumni societies nationwide. Sponsored by First Security Bank and Experience Fayetteville, the event provided an opportunity for alumni leaders to connect, learn and engage with the latest developments within the association and the university.

One of the key highlights of the summit was the introduction of a new membership model for the Arkansas Alumni Association. This innovative approach aims to enhance alumni engagement through philanthropy. Leaders were briefed on the specifics of the new model, which is designed to foster a deeper connection between alumni and the university while providing greater value to members.

The summit also featured a keynote address by National Board Member Oliver Sims III  B.S.B.A.’85, who inspired attendees with his insights on leadership and the importance of alumni engagement. His speech underscored the critical role that alumni play in supporting the university and fostering a strong Razorback community.

Chancellor Charles Robinson  shared key developments at the University of Arkansas, including academic achievements, campus improvements and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the university's reputation and student experience. His address provided

alumni leaders with a comprehensive understanding of the university's direction and priorities.

Adding a unique and local flavor to the event, attendees were treated to a tasting of a non-alcoholic beer brewed by University of Arkansas researchers with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture. This special brew, made with Arkansas-grown rice and blackberries, showcased the university’s commitment to innovation and local agriculture. The beer-tasting experience was well-received, highlighting the university’s connection to the state’s agricultural roots and its ongoing efforts to incorporate locally sourced ingredients into new products.

Recognizing outstanding contributions, the summit awarded Lynann Hill  B.S.B.A.’84 and Bo Morrison + B.A.’94 with the prestigious Morris Fair Heart Award for their dedication and service to the Arkansas Alumni Association within their respective chapter and society. Additionally, the Charleston Chapter and the PRIDE Alumni Society were honored with the MACE Award, recognizing their exceptional work in alumni engagement and community outreach.

The Alumni Leaders Summit 2024 was a resounding success, and we are grateful for our alumni leaders who are committed to serving their alma mater.

Photo by Catherine Baltz.

Photo by

Catherine Baltz.

Exemplary Achievements 2024 Faculty Award Recipients

BY CATHERINE BALTZ + B.S.’92, M.ED.’07

The Arkansas Alumni Association and the University of Arkansas have a long history of recognizing the outstanding faculty dedicated to Arkansas and facilitating the lifechanging opportunities that the U of A creates for our students. On October 18, four faculty members were honored for their exemplary achievements at the 79th Alumni Awards Celebration. Three faculty members were honored with Faculty Distinguished Achievement Awards, John C. Pijanowski, William F. McComas and Kelly Hammond. Kristofor “Kris” Brye was honored with the Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award. As a part of the awards, each faculty honoree received a $5,000 stipend and permanent recognition at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

John C. Pijanowski

Dr. John Pijanowski is a professor of educational leadership in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the College of Education and Health Professions. Pijanowski joined the U of A faculty in 2007. He has served the university, the state and the global community in numerous ways over his 17 years as a member of the U of A family.

Pijanowski is the recipient of the 2024 Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Outstanding Public Service. This honor recognizes, rewards and encourages the faculty members who are basically teachers but whose professional service activities are particularly successful and outstanding. It is designed to distinguish service to the state, region, or nation through the faculty member’s professional expertise.

Pijanowski’s nomination highlighted his service in two major areas — service to the state of Arkansas and service as a campus leader. Pijanowski is the principal investigator of IMPACT, an innovative school leadership preparation program improving schools in the most impoverished communities in Arkansas, which was founded in 2014. He was instrumental in securing the funding to launch the program. Since its founding, IMPACT has supported 168 aspiring school leaders who have served 145 highpoverty schools in 97 school districts and eight public charter schools. The 21 new members of the ninth cohort met for the first time in June to participate in an intensive summer symposium, which kicked off the 18-month program that leads to a master’s degree in educational leadership from the U of A. IMPACT results data from cohorts 1-6 illustrates a 100% pass rate on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment, a 98% program graduation rate with 95% of graduates continuing to work in Arkansas education, and 90% of the graduates remaining in a high-poverty school or district in Arkansas.

Above, IMPACT cohort 9 poses for a group photo during the summer symposium.

Pijanowski is also a well-known campus leader. His leadership within the university community began in his department when he assumed responsibility as the program coordinator for the Educational Leadership program. He has served in a variety of other critical faculty leadership roles on campus, many centered on teaching and learning, including:

Photo submitted.

Photo submitted.

• President of the Arkansas Teaching Academy, 2016-17.

• Chair of the Campus Faculty, 2015-16 and 2022-23.

• Chair of the Faculty Senate, 2016-2017 and 2023-24.

• Chair of the College Council, 2010.

• Co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, 2013-16.

Beyond the university and the state, Pijanowski has impacted other universities in the United States and abroad through his service.

William F. McComas

Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity. The award recognizes, rewards and encourages the faculty members who are basically teachers but whose research efforts are particularly successful and outstanding.

McComas has made numerous impactful contributions to the field of science education, and his impressive research is evidenced by his publication record and grant productivity.  He has edited seven books and contributed to over 110 scholarly publications. McComas is also a sought-after speaker and presenter, engaging in over 185 presentations, lectures and keynote addresses, many of them delivered internationally.

Dr. William “Bill” McComas is a Distinguished Professor and the inaugural holder of the Parks Family Endowed Professorship in Science Education. He joined the Department of Curriculum and Instruction faculty in the College of Education and Health Professions in 2006.

McComas is the 2024 recipient of the Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award in Outstanding

McComas has been honored with 30 different awards in his career. On Jan. 13, he was inaugurated as the 85th president of the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE). McComas has been active in ASTE since he was a graduate student at the University of Iowa. Before being inaugurated president, he served on the Board of Directors and was recognized with the group’s Outstanding Mentor and Outstanding Science Teacher Educator awards.

The National Association of Biology Teachers named McComas an “Honorary Member,” the highest honor bestowed by the organization recognizing a lifetime of achievement and service to the association, at the annual conference in Baltimore on Nov. 4, 2023. McComas has been a member of the NABT since 1980 and has served as the editor of its peer-reviewed journal, The American Biology Teacher

the past 10 years.

, for

Above, Chancellor Charles Robinson  and Pijanowski engage in conversation at a university event.

(From L-R), Jennifer Oramous Ph.D.’21, Kate Walker M.S.’14 (instructor of biology), Michelle Childress B.A.’05, Ph.D.’22 (instructor of science education), Noushin Nouri Ph.D.’17, William McComas and Stephen Burgin (associate professor of science education).

Photo by Whit Pruitt

B.A.'16

McComas with his “Honorary Member” award from NABT.

Photo submitted.

Photo submitted.

Kelly Hammond

Dr. Kelly Hammond is an associate professor of history and the associate director of international and global studies in the Fulbright College of Arts Sciences. Hammond joined the Department of History faculty in 2015.

Hammond is the 2024 recipient of the Faculty Distinguished Achievement Rising Teaching Award. This award recognizes, rewards and encourages the superior classroom teachers whose early career has brought distinguished results. It is reserved for tenured, tenure-track, or non-tenure track assistant or associate professors.

Hammond specializes in modern Chinese and Japanese history. She has developed over a dozen courses foundational to the history program and Asian studies, international studies and gender studies. Student evaluations praise Hammond’s passion and intellect. In 2024, she co-taught the Honors Passport May Intersession study abroad in Japan with architectural historian Kim Sexton of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Seventeen students joined them on a captivating journey from Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, to Tokyo, its presentday capital and the world’s most populous metropolis.

An exceptional mentor for undergraduate and graduate students, Hammond has directed 10 undergraduate thesis projects over the last five years.  She is serving as the primary advisor for a Ph.D. candidate in East Asian history and has served on committees for M.A. and Ph.D. candidates in Middle East history.

Hammond’s research focuses on Islam in East Asia, and she is the author of China’s Muslims and Japan’s Empire: Centering Islam in World War II (UNC Press, 2020). She is currently writing a biography of Chinese Muslim General Bai Chongxi (1893-1966). Hammond actively incorporates her research into her pedagogy, teaching courses like “World War II in the Pacific” and “Islam in Asia.”

China’s Muslims and Japan’s Empire: Centering Islam in World War II by Kelly Hammond.

Photo by Whit Pruitt

B.A.'16

Photo by Chieko Hara, University Relations.

Photo by Chieko Hara, University Relations.

Above & Top Right, Kelly Hammond instructs students participating in the Honors College Passport Japan.

Photo courtesy of University of North Carolina Press.

Kristofor R. Brye

Dr. Kristofor “Kris” R. Brye is a University Professor of Applied Soil Physics and Pedology at the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Brye joined the faculty in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (CSES) in 2001. For over twenty years, Brye has demonstrated his commitment to the university’s Land Grant mission in his comprehensive approach to teaching, student advisement and mentoring. He is the 2024 recipient of the Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award. The award recognizes outstanding teaching and is reserved for full-time tenured or non-tenure track full professors, university professors, or distinguished professors.

Brye teaches four undergraduate- and two graduatelevel courses and administers the environmental, soil and water science (ESWS) portion of CSES’ Internship course. He has recently taught Introductory Soil Science. Brye consistently performs at a high level across a broad range of courses and topics.

Brye was inducted into the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy in 2012. He has been recognized for his efforts in teaching, research and service numerous times, including:

• Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America (2018).

• Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy (2018).

• John W. White (JWW) Award for Outstanding Teaching (2013).

• Jack J. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence (2020).

• Spitze Land Grant University Faculty Award for Excellence (2020).

He also mentors less-experienced teachers as a member of the official faculty mentoring committee and a member of other faculty’s peer-review-of-teaching committee.

Photo

Photo submitted.

Above & Top Right, Brye has been the instructor/coach of the U of A’s soil judging team for 23 years. Photos submitted.

Memories Inspire Giving Alumni

Past Presidents’ Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship

BY KATIE CHANCE B.S.B.A’19

Memories, inspiration and motivation are all shared by every student at the University of Arkansas. While each student’s journey differs, they all share the same goal of furthering their knowledge and education through the University of Arkansas. This has remained consistent whether it was the first graduating class or the Class of 2024, and the proof is on the sidewalk. The same goal held true for the 87 Past Presidents of the Arkansas Alumni Association, who found inspiration in the students on campus and the students to come. Their fond memories of their time on The Hill continue to fuel their love for the University of Arkansas and prompted them to create the Alumni Past Presidents’ Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship in 2019. As Kenny Gibbs + B.S.B.A.’85 who served as president of the Arkansas Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2006-08 shared, “We decided as a group to find a way for us to give back to something that keeps giving to us. We then created the scholarship endowment, and all donated some money into it … plus the student gets to meet and, in some cases, get to know all of us Past Presidents which might really open some doors for them.”

Past Presidents gathered in Little Rock in 2019.

Photo submitted.

Now, Cailee Stone B.S.A.’24, a recent graduate with a degree in poultry science from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has her memories of being an alumni scholar. Stone is the inaugural recipient of the Alumni Past Presidents’ Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship. Stone credits being the past presidents’ scholar as being an integral part of her memories over the past four years; giving special credit to Gibbs who hosted networking events where she met other students and was introduced to Kappa Delta alumnae. Through these events, she learned how to create a resume that highlights her strengths and experiences, how to navigate sorority recruitment, and how to network. The financial and social support received as an Alumni Past Presidents’ Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholar also helped Stone learn, “I’m capable.”

A first-generation student, Stone always dreamed of being in the recovery aspect of healthcare. As she prepared for graduation this past spring, Stone’s experiences and memories also helped her prepare for her future in pharmacy school. Stone completed six interviews with different pharmacy schools throughout the South, remembering that “determination can get you a lot more places than you expect.” She considers the resume she crafted as a past presidents’ scholar and the consistent improvements made to it key to her acceptance to the UAMS College of Pharmacy. As she approached to her white coat ceremony in early September, Stone said she is still discerning between a future in either pediatric or veterinary pharmacy. Stone continues to thank the alumni past presidents — and all alumni scholarship donors — for “making college available to a whole group of people.”

Danny Liu  is in the midst of creating memories at the university. A sophomore accounting major who is minoring in finance, Liu is the second recipient of the Alumni Past Presidents’ Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship. A first-generation student from Crawford County, Liu said, “Being awarded an alumni scholarship served as an excellent motivator and confidence booster. Having this scholarship made me feel like someone believed in me, and I carry that motivation with me every day, especially in class. As an alumni scholarship recipient, I am endlessly grateful to be bestowed this incredible opportunity.”

During his first year, Liu interned for the UA Vietnamese Student Association, was a member of the Volunteer Action Center, and was a member of the Community Leaders Program offered by the Honors College. Liu shared, “One of my favorite things about being a U of A student is that I get to meet so many different people, each from various cultures and backgrounds. I also love exploring the amazing campus and learning about its rich history.” Liu also enjoys volunteering with the Salvation Army in Fayetteville. “I find that the coordinators are great people to work with and giving back to the community is its own reward,” he said.

While the memories of our University of Arkansas alumni, students, families and friends differ, they spark a little something in all of us. Exploring the memories that sparked the creation of many Arkansas Alumni Association scholarships is something we hope to share. What memories of your time on The Hill, people or events associated with the University of Arkansas, compose your history?

Left, Cailee Stone. Right, Danny Liu.

College of Education and Health Professions Alumni Awards

The College of Education and Health Professions celebrated a dozen outstanding alumni who are transforming people's lives through research, teaching, leadership, philanthropy and public service.

“My heart is filled with gratitude as we celebrate the careers of our outstanding alumni who have opened the doors to brighter futures, more educational opportunities and better quality of life for many individuals and communities around them,” Dean Kate Mamiseishvili said to alumni and friends gathered at the awards banquet on March 8, at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

Each award recipient has made a transformative change in education or healthcare in their own unique ways, but their stories all have one thing in common. They embody the values of our caring college, Mamiseishvili added. She also noted that each awardee has abundant patience, tolerance, kindness, empathy and genuine care.

The first awards were presented to outstanding alumni from the college's five departments and the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. Among the departmental alumni award winners was Keith A. Jones B.S.E.’85, longtime head athletic trainer for the Houston Rockets, who dedicated his award to Dean Weber. Weber, a longtime beloved head athletic trainer at the U of A, passed away in February.

Following the departmental awards, Mamiseishvili announced five college-wide alumni awards. Among them was Distinguished Public Service Award winner Naccaman Williams Ed.S.’92, Ed.D.’94, director of special projects at the Walton Family Foundation. This is a new award in the college and is given to a graduate who has fostered a caring culture and improved people's lives through civic engagement, community service and volunteer efforts.

The last award was presented to Reed Greenwood B.S.E.’61, M.Ed.’62, Ed.D.’74, who served as the dean of the College of Education and Health Professions from 2001 to 2009 and retired in 2014 after a 35-year career with the U of A. The new Dean’s Circle of Care Award recognizes an individual connected to the college who exemplifies the culture of caring at its deepest level. 1.

1. College of Education and Health Professions 2024 Alumni Award winners (front row, L-R) are Karan B. Burnette B.S.E.’78,M.A.’79, Michael M. Kocet Ph.D.’01, Keith A. Jones, Elise Swanson Ph.D,’19, Michael Tapee B.A.’15, M.A.T.’16, and Heather D. Hunter B.S.N.’09, M.S.N.’16; (back row, L-R) are Naccaman Williams, Judd Semingson B.S.N.’00, Reed Greenwood, Curtis L. Ivery Ed.D.’84, Jordan Glenn Ph.D. ’15 and Jennifer Ash Ph.D.’15

2. Alumni Award winner Naccaman Williams poses with his family at the banquet.

3. Dean Kate Mamiseishvili visits with (from L-R) Mandel Samuels M.B.A.’04, Ed.D.’17, Provost Terry Martin  B.S.E.E.’77, M.S.E.E.’83, Ph.D.’89, and Curtis Ivery.

4. From L-R, Warren McDonald B.A.’74, M.S.’00, Provost Terry Martin, Jane Gearhart + B.S.E.’74 and G. David Gearhart + J.D.’78, Ed.D.’89

5.From L-R, Roman Ruiz M.Ed.’13, Devan Ford Ed.D.’14, Fred Bonner Ed,D.’97 and Devan Chambers.

6. Dean Kate Mamiseishvili (middle) with Charlotte M.Ed.’78, Ed.S.’83, Ed.D ’86 and Conley Meredith J.D.’70

7. Naccaman Williams receiving his Distinguished Public Service Award from Dean Kate Mamiseishvili.

8. From L-R, Halley Mayo M.F.A.’19, Jennifer Ash, Michelle Harpe and Elise Swanson.

9. Former Dean Reed Greenwood giving remarks after receiving the Dean’s Circle of Care Award.

2.

3.

7. 8. 9.

Fireside Chat

Arkansas alumni from the Dallas Alumni Chapter gathered for an engaging event featuring a fireside chat with David Boguslawski B.S.I.E.'03, CEO of CityVet. The evening was filled with insightful discussions, networking and a shared Razorback spirit, bringing together alumni to celebrate and connect over their common bond.

Centennial Speaker Series

“From Waterman Hall to the Governor's Mansion” kicked off the University of Arkansas School of Law’s Centennial Speaker Series. The luncheon, held in conjunction with the Arkansas Bar Association Annual Meeting in Hot Springs, featured a candid discussion with Govs. Mike Beebe J.D.'72 and Asa Hutchinson J.D.’75. The two former Arkansas governors captivated the audience as they shared their law school memories and reflections on their distinguished careers. David Matthews B.S.P.A.’73, J.D.'76 moderated the insightful discussion. The Centennial Speaker Series is part of the Centennial Celebration commemorating the School of Law’s rich history and accomplishments during the past 100 years while looking toward a bright future. To see a full list of Centennial events, visit law.uark.edu/100. Join the school in “Embracing the Past, Enhancing the Future” of Arkansas Law.

NWA PRIDE Parade Grand Marshal

The PRIDE Alumni Society of the Arkansas Alumni Association hosted a dinner celebrating Sandra Kurjiaka, Grand Marshal of the 20th Annual NWA Pride Parade. Sandra is the namesake of the Sandra Kurjiaka Diversity and Inclusion Award and former ACLU director who led a landmark lawsuit on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian Students Association at the University of Arkansas, advancing LGBTQ rights in Arkansas.

1. Kurjiaka pictured with members of the PRIDE Alumni Society Board and Chancellor Charles Robinson 

2. NWA PRIDE Parade Grand Marshall Sandra Kurjiaka pictured with members of the PRIDE Alumni Society Board and NWA Equality.

3. NWA PRIDE Parade Grand Marshall Kurjiaka speaking about her time at the University of Arkansas.

Photos submitted.

Back-to-School Shoe Drive

On Saturday, July 27, Dallas Alumni Chapter members volunteered at the annual Carlin Morris Back-to-School Shoe Distribution at Shoe Carnival, sponsored by the Wilkinson Center.

1. Chapter volunteers,

2. Volunteer confers with a child on the shoe they wish to take home.

3. Making sure the shoe fits.

Photos submitted.

led by Justin Lewis (center), pose with shoes.

Chicago Centennial Reception

In conjunction with the American Bar Association annual conference, the University of Arkansas School of Law hosted the Chicago Centennial Reception at Swissotel Chicago. Law Hogs were joined by past and present presidents and other delegates of the American Bar Association and the Arkansas Bar Association for a fun evening celebrating 100 years of Arkansas Law.

1. Past and current presidents pictured with University of Arkansas School of Law Dean Cynthia Nance  include (from L-R): Judy Perry Martinez, Denise Hoggard, Jamie Jones, Dean Nance, Mary L. Smith, William Bay, Kristin Pawlik Holmes  B.A.’96 J.D.’99, William C. Hubbard and H.T. Moore J.D.’75

2. Pictured from L-R: Dean Cynthia Nance, Deborah EnixRoss and H.T. Moore.

3. Pictured from L-R: Judge Eileen A. Kato, Ajay K. Mehrota and Sjar Toney

4. Michael Hammonds, Student Bar Association president, and Ilse Ghent, Student Bar Association vice president.

Photos submitted.

4.

Welcome Dinner

On July 24, members of the Chicago Alumni Chapter hosted a welcome dinner for Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Ann Bordelon + B.S.B.A.’89 (center) and recent graduate turned professional women's soccer midfielder for the Chicago Red Stars Bea Franklin B.S.B.A.’23 (left center).

Student Send-off

The Saint Louis Alumni Chapter hosted a Student Send-off at the City of Chesterfield Sounds of Summer Free Concert series.

RiverDogs

Members of the Charleston Alumni Chapter attended the July 12 RiverDogs game.

1874

The state Legislature voted to remove all trustees of the Arkansas Industrial University.

1884

General Daniel Harvey Hill, citing declining health, resigns as president of the Arkansas Industrial University.

1924

• Election fraud voids student elections.

• Razorback football play-byplay is broadcast on KFMQ, the original call letters of the campus’s first radio station.

• Two new sports, boxing and wrestling, are added for students.

• Fall semester enrollment is 1,500 students.

• An editorial in the student newspaper argues that prohibition has done

“innocent injury” to the university life by changing the attitude of the entire student body toward drinking.

1934

• George Cole joins the Arkansas football coaching staff as freshman coach.

• A freshman green cap costs 50 cents at Campbell & Bell on the Fayetteville Square.

• The first woman enters

In 1984, alumnus Ken Hatfield + B.S.B.A.’65 begins his first season as head coach of the football team.

Razorback

the College of Business as a master’s candidate.

• The fraternities vote to boycott the local dry cleaners because of high prices, arguing: “Wear that suit that’s messed, if prices don’t decrease. Wear those pants unpressed. We don’t need a crease!”

• Students begin publishing a humor magazine called The Arkansas Stooge

1944

• Dr. Hampton Adams and banker Benjamin Wooten are the commencement speakers as 225 seniors receive their degrees.

• Ocie E. Richie FS’45 is the first World War II veteran to enroll in the U of A under the GI Bill.

• Students can watch Veronica Lake in The Hour Before the Dawn at the UARK Theater.

• More than 700 women are enrolled in the university, making up nearly 60 percent of the student body.

• “Doc” Boone and his Skunk Holler Syncopators, a hillbilly band from Springdale, perform a show at the Student Union.

1954

• Drivers parking illegally at the U of A get tickets ranging from 50 cents to $1.

• The Razorback Band performs for a Lions Club international convention in New York City.

• More than 1,500 parking permits are issued, or an average of 3.25 cars per parking space on campus.

• The first university telephone switchboard goes into operation.

• The Razorbacks play their 500th football game.

• During construction of Barnhill Field House, part of the structure collapses, killing one person and injuring four.

• Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visits the campus and gives two lectures, spending the night at Holcombe Hall.

• Ladies Day Voting elects David Pryor B.A.’57, LL.B.’64 as the Campus Casanova, part of a contest to publicize Bob Hope’s latest movie, Casanova’s Big Night.

1964

• President David Mullins B.A.’31 adopts a new athletic ticket policy with the hope of ending students’ camping out before games.

• The Arkansas Razorbacks football team completes its first undefeated season since 1909.

• Barry Goldwater and Winthrop Rockefeller win student mock votes for president and governor, respectively.

• The student government begins a series of 60 trials involving altered birth dates on student ID cards.

• Sophomore Raymond Carter submits a complaint to the Arkansas Advisory Committee and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights arguing that the university housing is discriminatory.

1974

• The U of A Bands celebrate their 100th anniversary.

• The Southwest Conference celebrates its 60th athletic season.

1984

• The band Chicago plays a concert at Barnhill Arena.

• Ray Thornton LL.B.’56, president of the University of Arkansas System, is named one of the state’s 10 most influential persons.

• Tensions between residents of a fraternity and a residence hall escalate with 32 incidents being reported to the University of Arkansas Police Department by members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Buchanan-Droke Hall.

• A student group called the Magic Club is formed with the express purpose of getting a group photo in the yearbook; it meets just once a year.

1994

The university cracks down on unlicensed items bearing the university name after a rash of products bearing the Hog logo hit the market following the national basketball championship.

2004

• Henry McLeish, the former first minister of Scotland, gave the Hartman Hotz Lecture on “Results of the U.S. Presidential Race: The European Response.”

• Author Isabel Allende is the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecturer at the university.

• Three Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonists spoke at the university in a panel discussion titled “Drawn and Quartered.”

2014

The University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony opened their fall concert season featuring two works by distinguished American composer Vincent Persichetti.

In Sept. 2014, the Emmy Award-winning Bill Nye, the science guy, draws a record crowd to Barnhill Arena as the distinguished lecturer for the fall semester, telling the crowd of students, faculty and people from around the region that the joy of discovery is why they are at the university.

Photo by Alejandro Zeballos Rieger B.S.B.A.'16

From Senior Walk

Let us know about your milestones and anything else you would like to share with your classmates — births, marriages, new jobs, retirements, moves and more. Please include your degree, class year, and when applicable, your maiden name. To provide the most thorough coverage of alumni news, we publish notes about members and non-members of the

Class Notes

1970s

Collins Hemingway BA'72 of Redmond, Oregon, published a book about classic English literature author Jane Austen. The book is a piece of literary criticism that delves into the development of Austen's fictional writing techniques throughout her career.

Bob Crawford  BSPA’74 of Springdale, was awarded the prestigious Leadership Award from the Military Officer Association of America. Crawford earned the award for an extraordinary 127% increase

Arkansas Alumni Association and will indicate membership status for reference. You may send us news or simply update your information. Since the next issues of Arkansas are already in production, it may be a few issues before your item appears. Submit your news online at www. arkansasalumni.org/classnotes; by mail: From Senior Walk, Arkansas Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1070,

in chapter membership over the previous two years, for establishing a nationally acclaimed mentorship program with Army and Air Force ROTC programs at the U of A. EDITOR'S NOTE: This award news was attributed incorrectly to Crawford’s spouse in the Summer 2024 issue of Arkansas. We apologize for the error.

Amanda Lohec  BSBA'78 of Pearland, Texas, recently retired after a successful career in IT management. In retirement, Lohec plans to focus primarily on charity work.

Fayetteville AR 72702; or by email: news@arkansasalumni.org.

These symbols indicate Alumni Association membership:  Student Member

 Member

+ Member, A+

 Life Member

+ Life Member, A+

David Tirman BA'78 BARCH'81 of Truckee, California, earned a Master of Urban Planning from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

1980s

Dennis Hunt  MPA'81 of Fayetteville is a member of the board of directors at the Arkansas Community Foundation.

Forrest Spicher BSPA '83 rejoined Regions Bank in August 2023 as market executive and vice president commercial banking in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Mike McClure  BSBA'84 of Monet, Missouri, was enshrined as a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 in recognition of his contributions to sports playby-play broadcasting. McClure

has broadcast over 4,200 games during his 38-year career, including games on ESPN channels.

Molly Rapert  BS'85 MBA'87 of Fayetteville was awarded the Walmart Lectureship in Retailing within the Sam M. Walton College of Business. This position aims to honor the highest academic and intellectual achievement in retail.

Missy Darwin Kincaid BA'87 is the director of development for the Honors College at the University of Arkansas.

Tracy Cude BSBA’89 of Bentonville is the chair of the board of directors at the Arkansas Community Foundation.

1990s

Kevin Trainor BA’94 MA’05 of Fayetteville is the 2024-25 president of the College Sports Communicators. He is the 70th president in CSC history. Trainor continues his position with the University of Arkansas as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Public Relations.

Katy Butler Beck  BA'95 of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is assistant vice president of marketing and brand strategy with American Heritage Bank located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

2000s

Kristi Perryman  PHD'02 received a Counselor Educator Advocate Award from the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling. The award honors educators who exemplify advocacy and outreach, are leaders for change, and have a history of mentoring.

Greneda Johnson BA'04

JD'07 was awarded the Dean's

Circle Outstanding Staff Members award at the University of Arkansas. This award honors staff who have greatly impacted a graduating student or students.

Will Foster JD'05 was awarded the Dean's Circle Faculty Award for Public Service at the University of Arkansas. This award recognizes a faculty member who models excellence through outstanding service to the law school, legal academy, or legal community.

Justin Mazzanti BA'06 was named employee of the year by the University of Arkansas Global Campus. Mazzanti won the award for providing exceptional service and support to university faculty.

Brenda Magnetti MA'07 was awarded the Fulbright College

Outstanding Teaching Award. Magnetti's dedication as a teaching assistant professor, T.A. supervisor, and basic Spanish program coordinator for the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Fulbright College led to this honor. The award honors up to three outstanding teachers annually, selected through letters of nomination.

Leigh Sparks PHD'08 was awarded the Fulbright College

Outstanding Advisor Award. Sparks' performance as teaching associate professor and assistant director of graduate programming for the Department of English led to this honor. The award recognizes a faculty member's exceptional contributions to the departmental or college advising program, selected through a letter of nomination.

Becca Bradley BA'08 MED'22 of Fayetteville is the Senior Director of Development for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Tara Dryer EDD'09 is the assistant vice chancellor for workforce development at the University of Arkansas. Dryer helps lead the university's strategic planning and execution of workforce development programs and initiatives.

Matt Gerner MS'09 was awarded the Fulbright College Outstanding Instructor Award. The award recognizes excellence within Fulbright College, honoring a distinguished instructor for their dedication to educational advancement. Garner’s' performance teaching more than 10,000 students as an instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the university led to this honor.

2010s

Katharine “Katie” Sabo BA'09 MA'13 is the Associate Director of Global Engagement at Fulbright College.

Kim Gillow BS'10 was selected as the winner of the Quarterly Financial Affairs Service and Innovation Award (FASI) for quarter 2 by the University of Arkansas. FASI was created by the Office of Financial Affairs to recognize individuals throughout the university who take bold, innovative, and creative approaches to common, everyday university problems.

Daniel Rice BA'11 was awarded the 2024 Dean's Circle Award for Scholarship. This award honors scholarship that is novel, addresses complex material and is overall exceptionally presented.

Tina Sutej BS'13 represented Slovenia in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sutej placed 19th in the women's pole vault.

Clark Eckels BA'14 is a member of the International Students and Scholars Office that helped win Best Poster in Community Engagement at the annual Association of International Educators Conference (NAFSA) in May. The group of members was nationally honored for their excellence in international education.

Autumn Spicher  BA'14 MPA'21 is director of development and strategy on the Fulbright College development team.

Alice Havner Kent JD'15 of Galveston, Texas, is Chief of the Family Division in the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office. In this position, Havener-Kent prosecutes child protection cases on behalf of the state.

Justin Mazzanti (center) with Cheryl Murphy (left) and Jamie Loftin (right).

Becca Bradley (left) with Olivia Graham and Autumn Spicher.

Alice Havner Kent JD'15 and her husband Adam Kent of Galveston, Texas, welcomed their first child, Lily Jean Kent on July 18, 2024.

Tyler Hartney BA'15 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an associate with Ogletree Deakins Law Firm.

Jiamei Li PHD'16 was awarded a prestigious Early Career Recognition of Professional Excellence Award (RoPE) from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance in the experiment station's mission and goals. Li was recognized for exceptional work that supports experiment station research.

Taliyah Brooks BA'16 MA'18 of Fayetteville represented Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Brooks placed 11th in the women's heptathlon with a score of 6,258 points.

Maria Gabriela Lopez Butron BA'16 represented Mexico in the 2024 Paris Olympics women's golf competition.

Harrison Smith BS'17 was awarded the Gerald O. Mott Award this past summer, recognizing his research in the Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas. The Gerald O. Mott Award is distributed annually through the Crop Science Society of America and honors outstanding students pursuing advanced degrees in crop science disciplines.

Nikki Hiltz BA'18 represented Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hiltz placed seventh in the women's 1,500-meter final.

Isabel Whitehead-Adams MS'18 was awarded a North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award at the NACTA annual conference in Wooster, Ohio. WhiteheadAdams is a dean's office staff member at the University of Arkansas and teaches classes in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications, and Technology.

Maria Jose Fassi Alvarez BS'19 represented Mexico in the 2024 Paris Olympics women's golf competition.

2020s

Ayawovi Selom Ametepe MS'20 was awarded the DeLill Nasser Travel Award for Professional Development in Genetics from the Genetics Society of America, a prestigious national recognition supporting early career scientists in their professional development.

Ally Heiland BA'20 was selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as an honorable mention for its graduate research fellowship.

The fellowship is highly competitive and recognizes academic excellence in students pursuing graduate studies in STEM.

Anna Hopkin MS'20 represented Great Britain in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hopkin placed multiple times throughout the Games. She placed seventh overall in two team events. She also finished 10th in the women's 50-meter freestyle race and 11th in the 100-meter race.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board selection is made by the Nominating Committee of the Arkansas Alumni Board of Directors at the winter meeting each year. Nominations are kept in a pool for a minimum of three years, and membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association is required.

To be eligible for the FY25 (Class of 2028), nominations must be received by Dec. 1, 2024.

Nominations received after this date will be considered for the next board class. The nomination form is available online at www.arkansasalumni.org/boardnoms.

Jason Howard BA'20 is the donor experience officer with the Division of Advancement at the University of Arkansas. In this position, Howard provides personalized outreach and deeper engagement with university supporters and alumni.

Lexi Applequist BSBME'21 of Fayetteville has been awarded a $20,000 Scholar Award from the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic educational organization dedicated to supporting higher education for women.

Shafiqua Maloney BA'21 MSOM'22 represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maloney made history as the first athlete from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to compete in the Olympic finals. She finished fourth in the 800-meter final.

Eva Stephani Caroline MS'22 has been awarded the $5,000 International Peace Scholarship from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic educational organization dedicated to supporting higher education for women.

Kayla Ford MA'22 of Fayetteville has been awarded a $20,000 Scholar Award from the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic educational organization dedicated to supporting higher education for women.

Katie Winkler BA'22 MS'24 was honored as the Academic Employee of the 4th Quarter for the 2024-25 academic year at the University of Arkansas. Winkler is the assistant director of advising. The staff members awarded this honor embody the university's core values and significantly contribute to their unit and the university.

Sumanjot Kaur MS'23 was awarded the Health & Nutrition Student Excellence Award at the American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting and Expo in Montreal, Canada. Kaur's award-winning presentation was also featured in the May issue of Inform, the official magazine of the American Oil Chemists' Society.

Adedolapo Ogungbire MSCE'23 was honored with the Tau Beta Pi Graduate Fellowship for the 202425 academic year. The fellowship honors outstanding engineering students for their academic excellence, leadership and dedication to the engineering profession.

Ayden Owens-Delerme MBA'23 represented Puerto Rico in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Owens-Delerme placed ninth overall in the men's decathlon and finished with a score of 8,437 points.

Nina Reich BSE'23 was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award by Global Campus at the University of Arkansas. The award recognizes staff who have worked at Global Campus for less than a year but whose efforts support, boost, or enhance the services provided to staff, students, and the overall community.

Rachel Taylor BS'23 was awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowship. The fellowship is highly competitive and is given to students pursuing graduate studies in STEM.

Henry Akwah PHD'24 was recognized at the American Association for Agricultural Education annual meeting in Kansas for work on a poster presented at the event that placed in the top 10 research posters.

Chris Bailey MSOM'24 of Fayetteville represented Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bailey won gold as a member of the men's 4x400-meter relay team and finished sixth in the men's 400-meter finals.

Gabrielle Bulliard BSBME'24 was awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowship. The fellowship is highly competitive and is given to students pursuing graduate studies in STEM.

Jacob Foor JD'24 was awarded one of the inaugural Justice Jump Start Fellowships by the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation. The Justice Jump Start Fellowship program provides financial and programmatic support for exceptional law students.

Ackera Nugent BA'24 represented Jamaica in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nugent made it to the finals of the women's 100-meter hurdles.

In Memoriam

1950s

Raymond Shaw BSIE'55 of Hot Springs Village on July 7.

Forrest E. Lane BA'56 MED'59 MS'63 of Rogers on May 15.

James C. Epperson BSA'57 of Yazoo City, Mississippi, on Feb. 14.

1960s

Jim C. Courtney BSEE'61 of Boise, Idaho, on Jan. 18.

Louise M. Miller BSCHE'61 of Little Rock on Aug. 2, 2023.

Thomas F. Moore BSE'61 of Owatonna, Montana, on June 23.

Lucy Oglesby Peterson BSE'62 of Covington, Georgia, on May 19.

Bill Cain Sr.  BSBA'65 of Berryville on Jan. 24.

Randy L. Oates  BSBA'65 of Punta Gorda, Florida, on April 10.

Robert S. Wheeler III + BSEE'66 of Harrison on May 5.

Arthur M. McLean  MBA'69 of Dallas, Texas, on July 22.

1970s

Gregory G. “Greg” Brittain BSA'79 JD'84 of Lavaca on May 29.

Former Faculty and Staff

Seth Y. Young III of Fayetteville on July 17.

Friends

Yvonne Brandon + of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 24, 2022.

Roy Curt Rom

January 29, 1922-June 15, 2024

Roy C. Rom died on June 15 at 102 years old. Rom was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Roy George and Emmie Glaettli Rom and grew up with three sisters. His great love for the outdoors led him to pursue a degree in horticulture at the University of Wisconsin. World War II interrupted his academic endeavors when he became a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot instructor. Rom was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant at the war's end. Following the war, he returned to college to finish his degree.

After graduating college, Rom met, and married Margaret “Meg” Muehleisen Rom. Following earning a doctorate at the University of Wisconsin, Rom joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas in 1959. He served the university in teaching, research and extension services for 30 years and rose to the rank of University Professor.

As a faculty member, he served in several officer roles of Gamma Sigma Delta, an international honor society for agriculture students and those in related fields, including the president; a long-time secretary-treasurer of the Foreign Student Association; and chair of the Campus Council and Campus Faculty. He was accorded emeritus status upon his retirement in 1989.

Rom helped reestablish the Arkansas State Horticulture Society and served as executive secretary and editor from 1964 to 1989. He received the APS Wilder Medal for significant contributions to American pomology. Rom as also recognized as an American Society for Horticulture Science Fellow and received the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association. The U.S. National Peach Council gave him the Mr. Peach Award for outstanding contributions to peach cultivation in the South. He received the Fulbright Fellowship to study in France and other fellowships to study and consult in Poland and Tunisia. He founded various research projects and received many accolades from the USDA.

He started the Rom Family Orchard in 1967, owning and operating it until 2010. The orchard grew and sold apples at the farm, to local stores and at the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market.

Rom also supported several university areas through giving and was a member of the Towers of Old Main.

Rom is survived by his four children, Christine C. Rom B.A.’73, Gretchen Stark B.A.’74, Curt Rom +, B.S.A.’80, and Mark Carl Rom + B.A.’80; five grandchildren, including Zoe Rom B.A.’16 and Clio Rom B.A.’18; and one great grandchild.

submitted.

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Northwest Arkansas’ Premier Independent Living Community

Grand Living. Grand Life.

Discover a lifestyle of freedom, fun, and fulfillment in Northwest Arkansas’ premiere senior living community. Our facility is designed to provide a vibrant and engaging environment, where you can embrace an active lifestyle while enjoying the comforts of a well-appointed home. Grand Village offers:

Indoor Pool

Fitness Center

Saunas & Massage Therapy Rooms

100-seat theatre

Outdoor grill and dining areas

Library

Lounge and bar

Pool table and shuffle board

Card games

Hiking trail

Chef-prepared meals included in monthly rent

Frequent outings throughout Northwest Arkansas

• Big Screens to watch games

Razorback Marching Band • U of A Spirit Squads

• Special guests during the season

OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

Publication title: Arkansas 2. Publication number: 9515

Filing date: 09/09/2024 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly

Issues published annually: 4 6. Annual subscription price: $24.00

Office of publication: PO Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR, 72702-1070

. General business office: Same as 7.

Publisher: Brandy Cox Jackson, PO Box 1070 Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070 Managing Editor: Catherine Baltz, PO Box 1070 Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070

Owner Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. PO Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, or other security holders holding one per cent or more of total amounts of bonds, mortgages, or other securitites: none.

Tax Status: Has not changed during the preceding 12 months.

Issue date for circulation data: 07/29/2024

15. Extent and nature of

OFFICERS

President Regina Hopper  81, ’85, Alexandria, VA

Past President

Don Walker + ’74, Fayetteville, AR

Treasurer

Kristen Collier Wright  ’98, ’01, Forrest City

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Class of 2025

Heba Abdelaal  ’11, Ramstein, Germany

Steve Berner + ’69, Oklahoma City, OK

Judy Simmons Henry  ’81, ’84, Little Rock

Sarah K. Hudson  ’07, ’10, Washington, DC

Lauren Love  ’19, Allen, TX

Daniel McFarland  ’15, Boston, MA

Bill Stovall + ’72, Charleston, SC

Richard Welcher  ’99, ’04, Fayetteville

Kristen Collier Wright  ’98, ’01, Forrest City

Class of 2026

Stacie Fujii + ’98, ’02, Smyrna, GA

Kathleen Gonzalez ’11, Rogers

Clayton Hamilton  ’94, Fayetteville

Janie Hipp  ’96, Fayetteville

Robert Koenig  ’90, Leawood, KS

Wes Shirley  ’99, ’02, Fayetteville

Shambrekia Wise ’08, Dallas, TX

Charles Zimmerman  ’85, Springdale

Class of 2027

Amber Bynum  ’08, Bentonville

Drew Goesl  ’98, Washington, DC

Amy May Hopper  ’15, Belton, MO

Faheem Khan  ’91, Lewisville, TX

Nate Looney  ’09, Little Rock

Darrin Malone + ’88, ’90, Paragould

Oliver Sims III  ’85, Carrolton, TX

Kristine Stover + ’81, Tulsa, OK

Cedric Williams  ’93, of Forrest City

Ebony Wyatt  ’03, Minneapolis, MN

STAFF

Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Executive Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association

Brandy Cox  M.A.’07, Ph.D.’23

Director of Alumni Programs and Special Events

Deb Euculano 

Director of Finance

Hal Prescott 

Director of Strategic Alumni Services

Lisy McKinnon  B.A.’97

Becky Afonso , Special Events Coordinator

Catherine Baltz + B.S.’92, M.Ed.’07, Associate Director of Collaborative Services

Tim Barker , Fiscal Support Analyst

Collin Brunner  B.S.H.E.S.’10, Associate Director of Revenue Management

Katie Leonard Chance B.S.B.A.’19, Assistant Director of Scholarships & Student Programs

Shamima Majid , Fiscal Support Analyst

Rebecca Mason  B.S.E.’96, Assistant Director of Facilities & Revenue

Elaine Olson , Administrative Specialist

Kyle Payne  B.S.E.’09, Assistant Director of Internal Relations

Patti Sanders + B.S.A.’08, Associate Director of Alumni Scholarships

Joni Thompson, Administrative Assistant

Kalen Williams  B.S.B.A.’20, M.Ed.’22, Assistant Director of Member Services

Timothy R. Williams  B.A.’14, Associate Director of Alumni Programs & Special Events

Thomas F. Treat + B.S.B.A.’59

January 28, 1937-May 16, 2024

Thomas Frank Treat of Arkadelphia died on May 16 at age 87. He was born in Fort Smith to Frank B and Rena Mae Spencer Treat. After graduating from Fort Smith High School, Treat enrolled in the University of Arkansas. He studied accounting and became a member of the Razorback Marching Band. Treat met his wife of almost 65 years Marsha Crawford Treat + B.S.B.A.’59 at the U of A where they were both members of the band.

After graduating from the U of A, where he received an AFROTC commission as a second Lieutenant in the United States Air force, Treat went on to serve as a Medical Service Corps officer. After 30 years of service, he retired in 1989 as a Colonel and Administrator of Air Force Systems Command Regional Hospitals in Florida and Texas.

While an officer, Treat enrolled at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he received an M.S. in management. He earned a doctorate in business administration at Texas A&M in 1973. He also graduated from Squadron Officer School

After receiving his Ph.D., Treat was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General, Washington, D.C., from January 1974 to June 1978. Following his time in Washington, D.C., Treat was selected to teach at the Army-Baylor Program in Healthcare Administration. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Central Michigan University, Trinity University in San Antonio and Washington University in St. Louis.

Following his retirement from the military, Treat relocated to California’s Silicon Valley, where he briefly worked for Lockheed at NASA’s Ames Research Center. Lastly, he landed his dream part-time job, inspecting hospitals for The Joint Commission for almost 15 years. As a field representative he was able to continue his commitment to U.S. hospitals, which led Treat and his wife, Marsha to eventually travel to all 50 states in the U.S.

In 2009, Treat and Marsha moved to Marsha’s hometown of Arkadelphia. There, they appreciated the town’s music scene and even served two terms as co-presidents of the Philharmonic Club.

Treat is survived by his wife, Marsha; their three sons, including Timothy Treat  B.S.I.E.’85 and Tyler Treat  B.S.B.A’88; and five grandchildren.

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U of A Sets Enrollment Record With More Than 33,600 Students

For the fourth-consecutive year, the University of Arkansas has set an overall enrollment record with 33,610 students beginning the fall semester. The new record, which includes undergraduate, graduate and law students, reflects an increase of more than 1,500 students.

The 11th day census “snapshot,” required by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education, indicates that overall enrollment at the U of A has increased by 4.6% over the previous year, part of a 22% increase during the last five years.

This year’s freshman class is the second largest in school history with 6,614 students, nearly 500 students shy of the record 7,096 in 2022. Despite the controlled growth of the incoming class, overall enrollment has grown partially due to the university’s increasing retention rates, which have grown to 85% or above since 2020.

Scan QR Code to read the full story about the new enrollment record.

Photo by Whit Pruitt B.A. ’16

cash back bonus offer*

The Arkansas Alumni Association Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Maximize your cash back by choosing how you earn rewards

• Get a $200 cash back bonus if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening*

• Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then 1% thereafter.

To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to Online Banking, or use the Mobile Banking app.1 You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same.

This offer is unique to this solicitation. Our credit card offers may vary, and this offer may not be available elsewhere. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

To apply for a credit card, please visit

For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this card or to apply, please visit bofa.com/arkansasalumni

Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details.

* Bonus Cash Rewards Offer. You will qualify for $200 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of purchase transactions totaling at least $1,000 (excluding any fees) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Returns, credits, and adjustments to this card will be deducted from purchases, even if this card was not the original payment method. Cash Advances and Balance Transfers are not considered purchases and do not apply for purposes of this offer. Limit 1 bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to customers opening a new account in response to this offer and will not apply to requests to convert existing accounts. Your account must be open with active charging privileges in order to receive this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Once you qualify, you will receive your cash rewards within your next 1–2 billing cycles. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither we nor our affiliates, provide tax advice.

1 Mobile Banking. Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to the Arkansas Alumni Association.

This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC. ©2023 Bank of America Corporation