First Recipient of Ivan Smith Furniture Scholarship

Gloria and Ivan Smith, Jr. stand with Allyssa Rolen, center,  the first recipient of the Ivan Smith Furniture Scholarship at Southern Arkansas University.  Rolen is a freshman accounting major from Taylor. The Smiths first met Allyssa at the grand opening of the new Ivan Smith Furniture location in Magnolia.

University receives $1.96 million from Cinda Hallman estate

MAGNOLIA— Southern Arkansas University has received a $1.9 million distribution from the estate of the late Cinda Hallman, a 1966 graduate and 1999 recipient of the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The gift, combined with a preliminary distribution of $60,000 received in late 2009, will become a part of the SAU Foundation’s endowment. As directed by Hallman, the $1.96 million will provide scholarships for women pursing degrees in the University’s College of Science and Technology.

“During her career, Ms. Hallman was an inspiration for young women as she met the challenges of corporate leadership and succeeded at the highest levels,” said Jeanie Bismark, executive director of the SAU Foundation. “We are grateful that she chose to provide support and encouragement for a new generation of young women through this bequest.”

Hallman was the former chief executive officer of Spherion Corporation, a provider of staffing, recruitment, and workforce solutions. She was appointed to the position in 2001 following six years of active membership on Spherion’s board of directors. She retired in March 2004 and passed away on December 24, 2007.

Before joining Spherion, Hallman had a distinguished 20-year career with DuPont. As senior vice president of DuPont global systems and processes, she led a major effort to define new business models associated with a strategic shift in focus for the $40 billion global enterprise. She also had full responsibility for global information technology, processes and strategy, and corporate core managing processes. She was named Chief Information Officer of the Year by Information Week Magazine for “reshaping DuPont’s information systems organization to meet the changing competitive needs of its business units.” She also received a special recognition as one of the most influential information technology executives of the last decade by CIO Magazine in 1997 for strongly influencing the evolution of the IT profession and expanding the strategic possibilities of information technology in the enterprise.

“From a small town in Arkansas to the top echelons of the corporate world, Cinda Hallman distinguished herself and Southern Arkansas University,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin. “We all appreciate the very generous contribution to the future of science education at SAU.”

While a student at SAU, Hallman was a member of the Delta Y Math Club, Alpha Chi national honor society, and worked on the student newspaper, The Bray. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in mathematics and was named to the Dean’s List during each of her semesters at the University.

“Hard work, scholastic achievement, and focus while at SAU have paid dividends throughout my life,” Hallman said upon receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999.

For more information on making a bequest to Southern Arkansas University or creating an endowment, contact the SAU Foundation at (870) 235-4078.

6th Annual Farmers Bank & Trust Distinguished Speaker Series

Distinguished speaker series will feature FOX News Channel duo

MAGNOLIA – FOX News Channel contributors Monica Crowley and Alan Colmes disagree on almost every political issue. Representing opposite ends of the political spectrum, the duo will be the featured speakers at the 6^th annual Farmers Bank and Trust Distinguished Speaker Series on Monday, Oct. 18. The event will take place at the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center at Southern Arkansas University, and proceeds benefit the scholarship endowment of the Southern Arkansas University Foundation.

Crowley and Colmes regularly square off on various hot button issues during appearances on FOX News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factory, but one thing that takes their debate to the next level is the fact that they are brother and sister-in-law. The pair’s presentation at SAU will be titled “All disagreements are relative: a conversation with Crowley and Colmes.”

“With the election just around the corner, it is exciting to have Alan Colmes and Monica Crowley debate the issues of the moment,” said Dr. David Rankin, president of Southern Arkansas University. Everyone who attends will have the opportunity to hear two of the best political commentators in the business.”

Crowley is a panelist on the legendary McLaughlin Group, which she joined in 2007. She is a longtime FOX News political and foreign affairs analyst, having joined the network at its inception in 1996. Her intelligent, original, and witty analysis attracted radio programmers, and she launched her radio career with a show on the number one talk station in the nation, 77 WABC in New York, in 2002. The show now airs on over 130 stations.

Crowley holds two masters degrees and a Ph.D. in international affairs from Columbia University and worked as a foreign policy assistant to former President Richard Nixon from 1990 until his death in 1994. Her experience with Nixon prompted her to write to best-selling books, Nixon off the Record: His Candid Commentary on People and Politics and Nixon in Winter.

After a string of successful radio shows in New York, Colmes gained a reputation as a hard-hitting liberal known for his electric commentary on the American agenda. He joined FOX News Channel in 1996 and co-hosted “Hannity and Colmes” for more than 12 years. That program became the No. 2 show in all of cable news, helping FOX achieve prime time dominance. His radio show is now syndicated by FOX News and heard on satellite radio across the country.

Colmes attracts many key political and pop culture figures to his microphone. Among his guests have been President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former Vice Presdient Al Gore, Lynn Chaney, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and others. His likeability, humor, command of the issues, and appeal to both sides of the political plate have helped him garner the biggest audience of any liberal radio broadcaster.

“We strive each year to provide a program that is both entertaining and informative and that also presents current issues of national significance,” said Bob Burns, chairman and CEO of Farmers Bank and Trust.

The Farmers Bank and Trust Distinguished Speaker Series was established in 2005 to benefit students of Southern Arkansas University through a scholarship endowment with the Southern Arkansas University Foundation. In fulfilling its mission, the series brings speakers of national and international prominence to the SAU campus, providing a memorable experience and enhancing the visibility of the University. Former speakers have included Steve Ford, Oliver North, Michael Reagan, James Carville, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

For more information or to obtain tickets for the event, contact the SAU Foundation at (870) 235-4078.

$68,000 bequest will provide scholarships at SAU

Rhonda Woodroff, center left, sister of Quintus Crews and executor of his estate, presents SAU President Dr. David Rankin with a check for $68,000. Also pictured are Josh Kee and Jeanie Bismark of the SAU Foundation.

Quintus Crews was a legendary figure in south Arkansas college athletics during his career. A Mulerider football player in the 1950s, he later went on to coach at Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He passed away on Dec. 5, 2009, at age 77, but his legacy will live on at Southern Arkansas University after a $68,000 bequest from his estate was presented to University officials this week. The gift will fund an endowed scholarship in Crews’ name through the Southern Arkansas University Foundation.

“We are pleased and grateful that Mr. Crews made this bequest to create a perpetual resource for future generations,” said Jeanie Bismark, executive director of the SAU Foundation. “He was a beloved coach and mentor to many young students, and the SAU Foundation is thrilled to be a part of his dream of helping young people achieve their educational goals.”

The scholarship created with the Crews bequest will be available to students who demonstrate financial need, regardless of academic major. Crews had previously funded a scholarship for a student in the College of Business and was a faithful supporter of the athletic programs at SAU.

A native of De Queen, Crews played all sports in high school and achieved All-State status in football. After high school, he attended Southern State College (now SAU) where he played football for Coach Elmer Smith during the Muleriders’ 1951 and 1952 seasons. He later transferred to Arkansas A&M (now UAM) where he earned All-AIC and All-American honors in 1955. After graduating from college, he attended officer’s training for the United States Marine Corps and was commissioned as lieutenant. With an honorable discharge, he returned to Arkansas and began coaching in 1967. After coaching at OBU and UAM, he retired to Prescott where he owned and operated Baker’s Easy Pay Store until 2007.

For more information on making a bequest to Southern Arkansas University or creating an endowment, contact the SAU Foundation at (870) 235-4078.

Top Seven Reasons To Name SAU in Your Will

For more information on including SAU in your estate plans, please contact Jeanie Bismark or Josh Kee toll-free at 1-877-235-7409 or click the following link www.saufoundation.org/giving.

SAU Alumni and Friends visit Canada

Seventeen alumni and friends of Southern Arkansas University recently traveled through the Canadian Rockies by Train.  This trip was through Collette Vacations and included stops in Banff, Jasper, and Vancouver.  Below are several pictures from this recent trip.

For more information on upcoming trips through the SAU Foundation, please contact us toll-free at 1-877-235-7409.

Splendors of the Nile

Southern Arkansas University presents Splendors of the Nile with optional Jordan Post Tour Extension.

March 9 – 20, 2011

For more information click on the link below.

Splendors of the Nile

A debt repaid

Joan Dempsey , a former U.S. intelligence official and Southern Arkansas University alumnus, recently pledged to invest in SAU and the William C. Nolan Endowment which will provide a stipend for a student intern in Washington D. C.

While at SAU as an undergrad, Mrs. Dempsey benefited from the teaching of both Dr. William Nolan and Dr. James Willis.  During Mrs. Dempsey’s final semester at SAU,  Dr. Nolan recommended that she pursue graduate school.  Dr. Nolan contacted colleagues at the University of Arkansas and secured a graduate assistantship for Mrs. Dempsey that facilitated her work toward a Masters in Public Administration.  She completed that degree in 1983, and applied for and was selected as a Presidential Management Intern.

In 2005, Mrs. Dempsey retired after 25 remarkable years of combined military and civilian service at all levels of the US Government to include serving as a political appointee in both Democratic and Republican administrations and after a final two years in the White House.  From the White House, Mrs. Dempsey, was recruited by arguably the best private company working in the national security business today to become an officer and a shareholder in the firm.

“None of it would have been possible without Professor Nolan’s gentle encouragement and active support”,  Mrs. Dempsey stated. “He, Dr. Willis, and Mr. Sixbey, among others, encouraged me to rise above my circumstances and exceed my grasp.  I have served with many colleagues over the years who received their degrees from the finest institutions in the world but none of them got a better education than I.  None of them were taught how to think more critically or express themselves better.”

Mrs. Dempsey plans to complete this internship endowment in Dr. Nolan’s honor in gratitude to him and Dr. Willis.  Mrs. Dempsey said, “It’s a dept I owe and gladly repay.”

SAU receives $2 million gift to build new University Rodeo Arena

Dr. David Rankin, center right, accepts a check for $2 million from Therral and Jan Story of Magnolia while the SAU rodeo team and other administrators look on.

SAU receives $2 million gift to build new University Rodeo Arena

MAGNOLIA – Construction of a new rodeo arena at Southern Arkansas University is much closer to reality after a $2 million donation from Therral and Jan Story of Magnolia. The gift, made through the SAU Foundation, is the largest ever received by the University from an individual donor.

“Through their extraordinary generosity, Therral and Jan Story are making an investment in Southern Arkansas University that will impact both the students and programs on the SAU campus and the future of this region,” said Jeanie Bismark, executive director of the SAU Foundation. “On behalf of the Board of Governors of the SAU Foundation, we gratefully accept this, the largest gift from an individual in the history of the University. What a wonderful way to begin SAU’s second century of learning.”

The Storys presented a check to the SAU rodeo team and administrators on Wednesday, April 14. Therral Story said he appreciates the hard work demonstrated by the students on the rodeo team and is impressed by the fact the team is composed of students from across the nation. He hopes a new arena will only expand the team’s successes and bring more events to Magnolia.

“It’s hard to have a rodeo without an arena,” he said. “We thought it would be a good idea for the community and the growth of the University.”

As part of the University’s Blue and Gold Vision master plan, the proposed covered arena will be designed to meet the needs of SAU’s intercollegiate rodeo team. The facility will also be built to accommodate horse shows and other livestock events as well as concerts and trade shows. Feasibility studies are being conducted to determine the best location for the arena in the vicinity of the existing Mulerider Stables.

SAU President Dr. David Rankin said the arena will provide an excellent location for members of the nationally competitive SAU rodeo team to practice rain or shine. It will also help draw more visitors to the campus and Magnolia.

“We are very grateful to the Storys for their outstanding generosity,” said Rankin. “They are making the lead gift for a facility that will greatly benefit Southern Arkansas University and the local and regional economy.”

SAU Rodeo Coach Rusty Hayes said the new arena will give the University a competitive edge. SAU has hosted high school rodeos in the past, but they have been held out of town due to the lack of facilities. The new arena will allow more collegiate and high school rodeos to be held on the SAU campus, and those rodeos will bring more prospective students.

“Just getting students on campus to see what you’ve got is half the battle most of the time,” Hayes said. “This will help.”

While plans for the arena have not been finalized, University officials estimate its total cost will be $3.5 million and that it will be approximately 125,000 square feet covered. Parking will add an additional 12 acres to the site plan. The SAU Foundation will continue to raise private funds for the arena’s construction.

Magale Rehearsal Hall to be named in band building

Southern Arkansas University and the SAU Foundation plan to recognize the Magale Foundation for their continued investment in the Mulerider Band Program by naming the primary rehearsal hall – Magale Rehearsal Hall.  Over a period of five years, the Magale Foundation has contributed over $125,000 for instruments and equipment.  With the continued support and relationship of  Magale Foundation and the SAU administration, the band department has given student performers opportunities that were not previously possible.  The spring 2009 band concert featured four percussion instruments that would not have been available without this assistance. Today, the band program consists of approximately 120 students per year, up from only 72 in 2000.

The University and Foundation plan to honor the Magale Foundation Trustees at a dinner followed by a Mulerider Band concert on Thursday, April 29, 2010.

« Previous Page — Next Page »