SAU FOUNDATION RECEIVES $10,150 FROM MONSANTO FUND

Pictured are:  (Left to Right) Southern Arkansas University students Brittany Horten, junior biology major from Omaha, Texas and Heather Rochelle, junior biology major from Redwater, Texas, measure the production of oxygen and carbon dioxide with one of the Vernier Lab Quest packages recently purchased through a grant from the Monsanto Foundation.  Dr. James Rasmussen, chairman of the SAU Department of Biology explains the use of the equipment

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES $10,150 FROM MONSANTO FUND TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW UNIVERSITY SCIENCE CENTER

Southern Arkansas University Foundation today announced it has received $10,150 from the Monsanto Fund, a private foundation and  the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, to purchase seven Vernier Lab Quest packages with appropriate sensors and biochambers. The equipment will be utilized by the SAU Biology Department in the University Science Center currently under construction on the Magnolia campus. The SAU Foundation raises funds for the literary, scientific, and educational purposes of the University.”

“SAU Foundation is pleased to team up with the Monsanto Fund to help provide the latest in teaching and laboratory equipment for the new University Science Center,” said Jeanie Bismark, Executive Director of the Foundation. ”Agricultural education is an important part of the University’s mission. The new center will provide a centralized facility for the study of the interrelated energy sciences: chemistry, physics, and biology, and will support teaching in the agri-sciences, including plant production.”

“Monsanto has targeted 2030 as a goal for doubling yields in our four core crops of corn, soybeans, cotton and canola. To reach that goal Monsanto will need the brightest and most talented future scientists available,” said Dr. Floyd Hancock, Soybean Breeding Manager of the Monsanto facility at Stuttgart, Ark. “Supporting education is a way that Monsanto can help insure that the talent needed to reach our goal is available.”

The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. Incorporated in 1964, the Fund’s primary objective is to improve the lives of people by bridging the gap between their needs and their resources. The Monsanto Fund is focused on grant-making in four main areas: nutritional well-being through agriculture; science education, primarily on professional development for teachers; healthy environment, which includes conservation, protection of biodiversity, clean water and restoration of wildlife habitat; and improving the quality of life in communities where Monsanto employees live and work.

Visit the Monsanto Fund at http://www.monsantofund.org/asp/welcome.asp.

SAU Foundation Honors those who have completed endowments

Southern Arkansas University Foundation honored donors who completed endowments during the past fiscal year at the annual Honor Societies dinner on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. Pictured in front of the Endowment Honor Wall are seated, left to right, Mrs. Clara Jones, Mrs. Nancy Williams, Mrs. Laverne White; standing left to right: Mr. Ken Williams, Mr. James Tim Daniels, Mrs. Marsha Daniels, Mrs. Jeanne Bowman Franks, Mr. O. A. Buddy Franks, Jr., Mrs. Donna Rowe Buelow, Mr. J. W. Rowe, and Dr. Stephen Anton Jones. Endowments completed during 2008-2009 honor W. Lloyd and Enda A. Bowman; Tommy and Zelma Daniels; Sharon Lee, Linda Louise, Patty Ann, and James Richard Miller; M. C. (Buddy) Jones and the VC-9 Naval Air Squadron; James and Lucille Holley Nix; Janis Brian Rowe; Mary Sue DeLaughter Shinn; Corbit White; and Chuck and Mandy Williams.

Muleriders on Tour – Porterfield Day

Lewis T. and Maxine Porterfield were honored for their service to the University at Porterfield Day on October 31, 2009. Approximately 250 people attended the event, organized by the Agri Department and agri alumni as part of the Centennial Muleriders on Tour series. Dr. David Rankin presented the Porterfields with a plaque recognizing their contribution to SAU. Ed McCrary of Nashville and Billy Moore of Hartford spoke in tribute to Lewis Porterfield and the SAU Agri program. Proceeds from an auction conducted by Representative Bruce Maloch established a scholarship endowment honoring the Porterfields. Gifts to the Porterfield Agri Scholarship may be sent to SAU Foundation, P. O. Box 9174, Magnolia, AR 71754-9174, or you may click the Make a Gift button on this page.

AG Day 2010 is scheduled for September 25, 2010.

Other Pictures from this event:

2009 SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner

On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the contributors to Southern Arkansas University were recognized at the 2009 SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner. This annual event acknowledged those who have give $1,000 or more annually, $10,000 or more lifetime, given twenty-five consecutive years, the Top Five Donors, and members of the Legacy Society.

Top Five Award
Special recognition is given to the Top Five, those five individuals who, in a given July 1 – June 30 year, are the most generous to Southern Arkansas University.

Members of the 2009 Top Five are (Left to Right) Dr. and Mrs. David Rankin, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fincher, Mrs. Mary Harsh, and Mr. and Mrs. Andy Franks.

Other Pictures from the event

The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation inducted as new members of the Mulerider Society

Pictured above are Dr. David Rankin, SAU President, presenting the Mulerider Society Award to Mrs. Pat Walker and Ms. Debbie Walker of The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation at the 2009 SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner.

The Mulerider Society recognizes those who, through contributions to the SAU Foundation, support any area of the University by making cumulative contributions of $500,000 or more.

The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, through two grants to the Mulerider Baseball Program, has gifted $660,000 to benefit Southern Arkansas University and its students.

Other members of the Mulerider Society are:

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fincher

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip E. Laney

Mr. and Mrs. John Rhea, Jr.

Farmers Bank and Trust

2009 SAU Foundation Christmas Gala

The SAU Foundation Christmas Gala will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2009.

This annual event will take place at the Magnolia Country beginning at 7:00 p.m. This year’s event will feature live music and a professional photographer for those who wish to have a memento from this wonderful, festive event.

Dress is black tie, holiday, or centennial attire.

For centennial attire please check the following websites:

Gentleman’s Emporium
www.gentlemansemporium.com
(offering both ladies’ and gentlemen’s clothing)

Recollections
www.recollections.biz
(ladies’ Edwardian styles)

These two resources offer items for sale, but many costume rental options are also available.

Invitations for this event will be sent.

Please RSVP by calling the SAU Presidents office at 870-235-4001.

2009 SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner

The SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

Social and Informal Clarinet Concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Dinner will follow at 7:15 p.m.

Featured speaker for this event will be Ms. Debbie Walker, Executive Director of the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.

Invitations for this event have been sent.

Please RSVP by November 10, 2009 by calling 870-235-4078 or emailing mjbismark@saumag.edu.