$125,000 endowment honors alumna, provides scholarships

MAGNOLIA – A $125,000 gift to the Southern Arkansas University Foundation will soon provide an annual scholarship for students majoring in mathematics education at Southern Arkansas University.

The Valerie Stewart Math Scholarship was recently established through a gift in memory of Stewart by her sister, Rebecca Stewart Matthews of Little Rock. Matthews received a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from SAU in 1969.

The scholarship will be available beginning with the fall 2012 semester.

The daughter of Howard and Evelyn Stewart of Magnolia, Stewart attended elementary and junior high school at Bright Star, Ark., and graduated from Stephens High School in 1962. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from what was then Southern State College in 1966 and her Master of Science from the University of Oklahoma in 1971.

For over forty years, Stewart was a dedicated math teacher at both the high school and college levels in Arkansas and Texas.  She was known as a caring teacher with high expectations who inspired both her students and her fellow teachers to excel.  She was recognized numerous times during her career for excellence in teaching.

While at SAU, Stewart played AAU basketball and participated in a number of intramural sports. Her lifelong love of athletics and the great outdoors included fishing, snow skiing and especially golf. She could recount every shot she hit while playing Pebble Beach in 2005. She also loved to watch football and basketball games, especially if Arkansas was playing.

“SAU Foundation is pleased to accept this generous gift from Mrs. Matthews on behalf of the University,” said Executive Director Jeanie Bismark. “This scholarship will create a financial bridge for students in need while at the same time honoring Valerie Stewart’s legacy as a teacher and mentor.”

Make your INVESTMENT today!

For over 100 years, Southern Arkansas University has provided deserving students with an exceptional education and skills to succeed in life.

Your investment in these young men and women by your financial support of SAU ensures for them the opportunity to excel.

By investing in the SAU Foundation you assist in providing more scholarships enhancing academic and student programs, ensuring a world-class faculty and staff, and improving the quality of campus life.

Make your INVESTMENT today!

To be counted in the 2010/2011 fiscal year, make your gift on or before June 30, 2011.

Gifts to SAU Foundation are tax deductible as charitable contributions within the guidelines of the IRS.

Contribution can be made online by CLICKING HERE.

P.O. Box 9174

Magnolia, AR 71754-9174

Phone (870) 235-4078

SAVE-THE-DATE

Upcoming Important Dates:

Friday, November 4  - SAU Foundation Board of Governors Meeting

Friday, November 4 - SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner – Social and Informal Concert 6:30 p.m., Dinner at 7:15 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Reynolds Center

Saturday, November 5 - SAU vs. University of Arkansas at Monticello 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 17 - SAU Foundation Christmas Gala – 7:00 p.m. at the Magnolia Arts Building – located on the Southeast Corner of the Magnolia Square

Aerojet gives $17,000 for science preceptors

(Left to right standing: Dr. Scott White, Chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Physics; Taylor Moore, Chemistry Preceptor; Ms. Connie Wilbur, Human Resources Manager of Aerojet in Camden; Dr. Shawn Krosnick, Assistant Professor of Biology; and  Dr. Viktoriya Black, Assistant Professor of Biology; Seated Ryan Mahelona and Jessica Ziegler, microbiology students).

Science courses are often intimidating for college students, but a grant from Aerojet Corporation of Camden will ease the pressure on students at Southern Arkansas University.

Through its parent company, GenCorp Foundation, Aerojet has provided a $17,000 grant to provide for student preceptors to assist students in biology, chemistry, and physics labs and to provide tutoring outside the labs. Nationwide there is a significant attrition rate in university-level science classes. This program is designed to help the students make it through those first daunting university science classes with the skills that they will need to succeed in both upper-level and graduate studies in the future.

The Undergraduate Laboratory Preceptor Experience will target students in introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses. Faculty instructors of the designated courses will select preceptors from the pool of upper-level science and engineering majors. The preceptors will be present during the laboratory sessions and will be available for preparation and tutoring help outside of the lab each week during evening hours.

While the primary beneficiaries will be the beginning science and engineering majors, the preceptors will gain a wealth of practical experience that will assist them when they move on to a graduate or professional program.

The grant funded the program for the spring 2011 semester and will continue in for fall 2011. During the spring semester, 243 students enrolled in 11 lab sections benefited from the use of the preceptors.

The grant from Aerojet was given to the University through the SAU Foundation. Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion and defense and armaments markets since 1942

A Southern Arkansas Evening

Dr. David and Toni Rankin welcomed donors of Southern Arkansas University to their home for a Southern Arkansas Evening.  This event featured cuisine from around the world.  (See Pictures Below)