Festival Encourages Writers of Tomorrow
February 10, 2010
On Saturday, March 13th, area students and their teachers will visit the SAU Campus for a Model Creative Writing Workshop as part of the Youth Writing Festival underwritten by the Gerald F. and Betty Fincher Scott Academic Enrichment Endowment. The Department of English and Foreign Language at Southern Arkansas University will host the annual Youth Writing Festival. Over 1,000 entries are expected in this year’s contest. In the afternoon, winners will read or have their selections read to their peers, teachers, and parents. Winners will be announced at the close of the afternoon session.
The Gerald F. and Betty Fincher Scott Enrichment Endowment was fully endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fincher on August 6, 1996 to benefit the Youth Writing Festival at Southern Arkansas University. Mr. and Mrs. Fincher contributed the endowment to the SAU Foundation in honor of the Scotts’ many years of service on the board of Peoples Bank – Waldo, McNeil, Emerson and Magnolia.
The purposes of the festival, founded by Dr. Kathleen Mallory, are as follows:
- to get students more involved in writing
- to give students recognition for outstanding work
- to motivate students to write more
- to develop more fluent, competent writers
- to help raise awareness about the importance of writing
The Youth Writing Festival is held each spring and has grown from 345 entries in 1995 to 1,153 entries last year. Students from schools across south Arkansas submit poems, short stories and essays. Judges rank the entries as good, excellent or superior. From the entries judged superior, three are chosen in each category and grade level to receive special recognition consisting of a cash prize for first, second and third place winners and a trophy for the first place winner.
Entry forms may be requested by contacting David Wingfield in the Department of English and Foreign Languages at (870) 235-4202 or by emailing dlwingfield@saumag.edu . They can also be printed from the Web site (http://www.saumag.edu/efl) after clicking on Youth Writing Festival 2010.
Endowments Open Doors to Education
January 6, 2010
“SAU has given me an opportunity to get an education first and foremost, but also to develop a strong bond with the teachers and lifelong relationships with my classmates. The scholarships I received to come to SAU have allowed me more time to focus on my studies because I don’t have to work as many hours and I don’t have to worry with loans and how I will pay them off. Being in the Ag department is like having another family. The professors really do care about your success in the classroom and your ability to apply your knowledge in the real world.”
Frank Sturgeon
Senior
Crossett, Ark.
Career plan: sales representative in the agri industry
New and Newly-completed Endowments
Completed Endowments (July 1 – December 31, 2009)
Class of 1948 Scholarship Endowment
Drs. Jerry and Diana Pyle Enrichment Endowment to benefit the Special Education Department
Ted G. and Maxine Harmon Ward Scholarship Endowment
Coach Rip Powell Enrichment Endowment to benefit the Mulerider Football Program
Harold and Betty Jameson Enrichment Endowment to benefit Mulerider Athletics
Endowments Begun (July 1 – December 31, 2009)
Patty Newton Hague Miller Enrichment Endowment to benefit Magale Library
Richard G. and Pam L. Murphy Foundation Scholarship to be awarded to a student majoring in Business
Dr. and Mrs. Bill Scurlock Enrichment Endowment to benefit Mulerider Athletics
Nancy Williams Enrichment Endowment to benefit Magale Library
Lewis T. and Maxine Porterfield Foundation Scholarship
For more information on a status of a current endowment or beginning an endowment to benefit Southern Arkansas University and its students contact Jeanie Bismark, mjbismark@saumag.edu, or Josh Kee, joshkee@saumag.edu. or contact the SAU Foundation at 877-235-7409
SAU Foundation Honors those who have completed endowments
November 20, 2009
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.
First Recipient of the Emogene Winn Burns, Ray Burns, & John G. Winn Endowment
September 21, 2009
Southern Arkansas University sophomore Christy Wust thanks SAU Alum Ray Burns for his endowment to the University’s nursing program. Wust said the award has inspired her to continue her education and receive a bachelor’s in nursing. Photo by SAU Communications/Jessica Merritt.
MAGNOLIA–Ray Burns has established the Emogene Winn Burns, Ray Burns, & John G. Winn Endowment in memory of his late wife, Emogene Winn Burns and his late daughter, Suzanne Harvey who was a nurse. Burns met the first recipient of his endowment, Christy Wust, a sophomore working on her associates in nursing earlier this week.
“It was wonderful to meet her,” Burns said. “She is excited and I think she has a great attitude and I think she has a bright future ahead of her in nursing. We always had a lot of respect for nurses in my family.”
Burns, who now lives in Denver, was in Magnolia to participate in the Great Southern Arkansas Mule Ride. This event allows the community, faculty and staff, students and alumni to ride mules or ride in wagons to neighboring McNeil to celebrate the University’s Centennial. Burns brought his grandson, Daniel Harvey, of Dallas and Harvey’s three children along for the ride. Burns and Harvey will ride mules and the children will ride in a wagon.
The name of the University’s Mascot, the Mulerider, was created because football players used to have to ride their mules to catch a train in McNeil to go to away football games. Burns attended the University in 1940 when it was known as Magnolia A&M. He is originally from the Walkerville Community which is located in between Emerson and Taylor. He had a 30 year military career which included service with the National Guard and the Air Force. After his military service, he worked at Lockheed Martin.
Wust, a native of Magnolia, is the first recipient of the endowment which was started in 2007. She said receiving the scholarship was a surprise, an honor and something that may help her go further in her education than she could otherwise go.
“This has really inspired me to continue my education and to consider getting my bachelor’s degree,” Wust, who will receive her associates in nursing in December 2009 said.
Wust moved to El Dorado in June and is working on her clinicals at the Medical Center of South Arkansas. With her degree, Wust said she hopes to one day work in the emergency room or work with geriatric patients.
First Recipients of the David Sixbey Foreign Studies Endowment Grant announced
August 3, 2009
Pictured are (Left to Right) David Sixbey, Dr. Svetlana Paulson, Assistant Professor of History, Casey L. Hayes, and Daniel S. Hammack
Casey L. Hayes and Daniel S. Hammack are the first recipients of the David Sixbey Foreign Studies Endowment Grants for Study Abroad. Both students traveled to Moscow this summer.
The grants are made possible by a generous contribution by Amy and Pat Sixbey in honor of David Sixbey. Professor Sixbey is a former history faculty member at Southern Arkansas University who established the Russian Exchange Program. Their gift provides an opportunity for junior or senior students in the School of Liberal and Performing Arts to have an opportunity to study in a way they might not otherwise have the opportunity to do. Preference is given to students seeking educational opportunities in Russia. Amy and Pat Sixbey have also begun an endowment to provide a permanent source of funding for future students
Both Hayes and Hammack are non-traditional students who attended area community colleges before continuing their education in history and political science at SAU.
Hayes transferred from South Arkansas Community College in 2008 to SAU. She graduated from El Dorado High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Hayes said Dr. Svetlana Paulson’s Russia and the USSR history at SAU course sparked her interest in Russia. Hayes traveled to Moscow for three weeks this July so she could conduct research and schedule oral interviews on the collapse of the Soviet Union. She also said she was looking forward to visiting museums and galleries as she explores the life and culture of the city and the nation.
Hayes is scheduled to graduate from SAU in December 2009 and plans pursue a master’s in history at Louisiana Tech University.
Hammack graduated from Abilene Texas High School and attended the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope before enrolling in SAU in 2008. He also plans to graduate in December 2009.
Growing up during the cold war era, Hammack has long been intrigued by Russia but was frustrated by the lack of information in his public school classes. His courses at SAU provided valuable insight and have prepared him for his stay in Moscow throughout June and July.
Hammack plans to interview Russians who recall the cold war to learn their attitudes toward the U.S and their perspective on Soviet policy during that period. He intends to compare the cold war outlooks to current views of Russians on the relationship of their country with the U.S. Hammack said he believes this experience abroad will strengthen his own preparation to become a school teacher and answer the type of questions for which he sought answers when he had been a student.
Study abroad is and increasingly valuable educational opportunity and the SAU Foundation is pleased to offer this award through the generosity of friends at SAU. Friends and former students of Professor David Sixbey are invited to contribute to the endowment in his honor. For more information on doing so, contact the SAU Foundation at 870-235-4078.
Mary Sue DeLaughter Shinn Endowment to benefit the Theatre Department
May 27, 2009
In honor of her 80th birthday, the family of Mrs. Mary Sue DeLaughter Shinn recently gave $20,000 for an endowment to benefit the Theatre Department. Mrs. Shinn received her Associate of Arts degree in Home Economics from SAU in 1939. Mrs. Shinn and her family are long-time benefactors of the University. In 1980 she and her husband endowed the Gresham J. and Sue DeLaughter Shinn Scholarship. In 1987, Jay Shinn endowed a scholarship in honor of his sister, Bobo.
Mrs. Shinn’s children who gave the endowment are (left to right) Wayne and Sarah Shinn Newton BBA 1966 of Dallas, Jay Shinn of Dallas former student, Linda Shinn Grace BSE 1967 and Happy Grace BBA 1968 of Texarkana, seated Becky Shinn BBA 1969 of Texarkana and Mary Sue Shinn.
Southern Arkansas University honors those who have made gifts for the past 25 years
October 14, 2008
MAGNOLIA—Southern Arkansas University Foundation honored individuals, companies, and foundations that have contributed to scholarship, academic and athletic programs, and campus projects at the University during the past year at the annual Honors Societies Dinner on October 9, 2008, in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center.
New this year was an award for those who had made an annual gift to the University during each of the past 25 years. Honorees present were (left to right) Mr. Louis Blanchard, Mrs. Martha Blanchard, Mrs. Mickey Ketchum, Mrs. Bobbie Taylor, Dr. Gayle White, Mr. Richard White, Mrs. Mona Harrington, Dr. Jack Harrington, Mrs. Dorothy Fincher, Mrs. Helen Samuel, Mr. Harold Fincher, Mr. Archie Monroe, Dr. Corbet Lamkin, and Mrs. Verna Lamkin.
Also honored, but not pictured were Mrs. Amy Ambler, Dr. Richard Ambler, Mrs. Gene Brinson, Dr. Harold Brinson, Dr. David Crouse, Mrs. Margaret Crouse, Dr. L. Carson Davis, Dr. Elizabeth Davis, Mrs. Ann Reeves Eddy, Dr. Rudy Eichenberger, Mrs. Sharon Eichenberger, Mrs. Dorothy Longino, Mrs. Judy McNeal, Dr. Larry McNeal, Mrs. Billie Ross, Dr. Delwyn Ross, Mr. Glenn Vasser, Mrs. Judy Vasser, and Miss Patsy Weaver.
Honor Wall Ceremony recognizes individuals who have completed their endowments
November 16, 2007
The Southern Arkansas University Foundation recognized those who have completed their endowments during the past fiscal year at the 18th annual Endowment Honor Wall Ceremony on October 18 in the Foundation Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center. This year’s ceremony was part of the Honor Society Dinner.
Those recognized were Ralph and Margaret Weiser; Don and Jessica Adcox; Sharon Lee Miller Eichenberger; Kenneth R. and Vilma Norwood Crain; Alcoa; Margaret Brewer Memorial; Rex and Betty Dodson; and Richard E. and Celeste Muse Harton. Their names have been added to the Endowment Wall inside the Reynolds Center, joining honorees from previous years.
At the end of June 2007, the combined endowments of the University and the University Foundation exceeded $21 million. This money helps provide enrichments that help the faculty, staff, students and all departments of the University.
For information about how you can become a member of the Honor Society, call the SAU Foundation office at235-4078.
