2008 Phonathon a Success!

This year’s phone campaign raised more than $50,000 of unrestricted money for Southern Arkansas University. The phone campaign is staffed by student volunteers from various student organizations. Organizations that participated in this year phone campaign were President’s Ambassadors, SAU Band, Phi Mu Fraternity, Phi Lamb, Sigma, Sigma, Sigma, Upward Bound, Students in Free Enterprise, and AGR.

President’s Ambassadors from left to right include Pate Bauldree, Brandon Renfro, Zach Fowler, Clayton Norman, Kandice Smith and Gary Herron. The President’s Ambassadors were awarded $500 from the SAU Foundation for raising the largest amount of donations in four nights of phone campaign. The President’s Ambassadors raised more than $10,200 of unrestricted money for the University.

The SAU Band members include Heather Townson, Rachel Karger, David Hernandez and Duane Torres. The SAU Band was awarded $200 from the SAU Foundation for raising more than $6,000 in four night of phone campaign.

Members of the Phi Mu Fraternity include, front row left, Megan Black, Cari Strickland, and on the back row Sarah Gatliff, Candice Morgan, Kayla Pipkins and Chelsea Roach. Phi Mu Fraternity was awarded $200 from the SAU Foundation for raising more than $6,000 in four night of phone campaign.

Phi Lamb members include Zach Fowler, Zach Flanagan and Corey Davis. Phi Lamb was awarded $200 from the SAU Foundation for raising more than $6,000 in four night of phone campaign.

Sigma Sigma Sigma members include Beth Hugh, Haley Burrow, Angie Dennington, Megan Holliday, Amber Johnson and Miranda Burris. Sigma, Sigma, Sigma was awarded $200 from the SAU Foundation for raising more than $6,000 in four night of phone campaign.

Honor Societies Dinner

Save the Date: 6:30 p.m. October 9, 2008 – The dinner recognizes members of the President’s Club, Founders’ Club, 1909 Club, Lifetime Giving Societies, Legacy Society, Hall of Honor, and those who have completed endowments during the past fiscal year.

On October 18th, 2007 we honored 2006-2007 fiscal year donors. We heard Whitney Black describe how her scholarship is enriching her university life and enabling her to participate in programs that she could not experience without this assistance. We were touched by Billy Wallace who spoke of the joy that his sister Bettie Clark has brought to their family through giving.

Shown at right are Steve and Kerry Keith accepting the bronze Mulerider award for Farmer’s Bank & Trust of Magnolia, AR. FB&T joins the Fincher, Laney, and Rhea Families in receiving this prestigious award.

Jordan Babineaux brings the NFL to SAU

Southern Arkansas University Alumnus Jordan Babineaux returned to his university home on April 24 to visit with old friends and talk about his experience as a defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks.

The special event was sponsored by the SAU Foundation, with proceeds benefiting the foundation and the Kathleen Mallory Lectureship Endowment. A private reception with Babineaux was held in the Magnolia Room of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center. The reception allowed special ticket holders to meet Babineaux and have their picture made with him before the dinner that followed in the Grand Hall of the Reynolds Center.

At the dinner, Babineaux told the crowd about the influence SAU had on his life, including the grueling football practices that helped shape him into a player ready for the challenges of the National Football League. But the road certainly wasn’t always easy, according to Babineaux.

To further emphasize his point, Babineaux read the poem “Mother to Son,” by Langston Hughes, which contains the famous line, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”

The mission of the Kathleen Mallory Lecture Series is to honor the contributions of Dr. Mallory, an English professor who has made extraordinary contributions to SAU and to issues of English curriculum improvement in Arkansas and the United States. Mallory is credited with brining scholars working in the fields of African Diasporic and African American Studies to Southern Arkansas University to share their scholarship with students, faculty, staff and members of the community.

Lamar & Patsy Reece enter Legacy Society

Lamar and Patsy Reece of McCaskill, Arkansas, are the newest members of the Southern Arkansas University Foundation Legacy Society. The Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have included SAU in their estate planning.

Reece, a retired director of transportation for the Pulaski County School District, attended Magnolia A & M where he played both football and basketball for Coach Elmer Smith. Following military service, he returned to Magnolia to complete his education. After graduating he spent many years as a coach and administrator in Arkansas schools.

The Reece’s are now enjoying their retirement in the country. Because of his love of sports, this gift will benefit the athletic department.

Alumni Association seeks help with bridge

The Southern Arkansas Alumni Association is searching for donors whose generous gifts will make a bridge on campus a reality.

The bridge will connect the Welcome Center area with the football field.

The cost of the project is estimated at $50,000 and plans are for the bridge to be completed by the first football game of the fall 2009 said David Butler, a member of the SAU Alumni board and the coordinator for this project. Butler said it is anticipated that Unit Structure Company, a local manufacturing company, will be selected to work on the project.

Mike Waters, the chairman of the SAU Alumni Board that governs the SAU Alumni Association, said this bridge will be a valuable asset to the University. “With all the construction taking place on the campus, this is a natural direction for the Alumni Association to follow,” Waters said. “This is by far the largest project the association has taken on and the bridge is going to be the kind of project that alumni will be proud they have contributed to.”

Alumni Director Ceil Bridges said a ceremony to honor the bridge will be held in conjunction with SAU’s centennial celebration.