SAU Bell Tower will chime again

When visitors come to Southern Arkansas University for the holiday season this year, the campus’s landmark Bell Tower will once again be ringing.

The Bell Tower was constructed in 1976 as a water tower for the campus, and until recently, it held 50,000 gallons of water. The addition of a water tower by the city of Magnolia near the SAU campus eliminated the need for the SAU tower.

In 1980, then-SAU president Dr. Harold Brinson purchased the set of 14 bells to begin ringing every quarter hour. The bells were purchased with funds from the University’s first alumni telephone campaign. Time and lightning strikes damaged the original mechanism, making it unreliable, and the tower has been silent for several years.

To bring the Bell Tower’s sound back to the campus, the University will install new digital operating equipment that will provide a variety of options including chimes and music. The work will be done with funds from an $18,475 gift through the SAU Foundation. The donation was made through a partnership of Julia Laney Machen, a member of the SAU Foundation Board of Governors, and members of the Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity.

Machen began the campaign to restore the bells in memory of her late husband, Billy Ray Machen, who was the physical plant director at SAU when the tower was constructed. Looking for a project that would contribute to the SAU campus, the members of Phi Lambda Chi chose to help complete the necessary funding to bring the bells back into operation.

“That was one of Billy’s main projects,” Machen said. “He loved the Bell Tower, and it always bothered him when the bells weren’t chiming.”

Machen said her late husband was a technology guru, so the addition of a new digital mechanism would please him.

“I know that is what Billy would be on board for,” she said. “He loved gadgets.”

Will Bowling, president of the Phi Lambda Chi Alumni Association, said the fraternity’s involvement included active members on campus as well as alumni.

“We completed our first scholarship endowment at homecoming last year, and we made a decision then to raise money for a project on a yearly basis,” he said.

Bowling said the Bell Tower is a project that can be identified by current Phi Lambda Chi members as well as alumni because “everybody knew that spot.”

“We are grateful for this partnership between Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity and Mrs. Machen and for their generous investment to complete this project,” said Josh Kee, associate director of the SAU Foundation. “Bringing the Bell Tower back to life will greatly enhance the SAU campus experience.”

$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.”

University Science Center Donors Visit Physics Lab

Physics Labs in the new University Science Center are filled with the latest in equipment thanks to the support of our generous donors. Recently Ray Uhrich and Mike Epley of the Amfuel Founders group and Dr. Rudy Eichenberger, former physics professor at SAU, visited the campus to observe students utilizing some of the items purchased with funds they helped to provide. Shown above are (left to right) Dr. Scott White, Chairman of the Department of Physics and Chemistry, Epley, Uhrich, Abdel Bachri, Physics Professor, and Eichenberger.

In  1984 a group of local businessmen associated with Amfuel [American Fuel Cell and Coated Fabrics Company] established an endowment to benefit the College of Science and Technology. Through the years, the endowment has provided a series of lectures as well as scholarships for students. Recently earnings from the endowment were used to purchase new computerized equipment to bring the physics labs up to date.

It was a special occasion for Dr. Eichenberger, accompanied by his wife Sharon, to visit with students working in the Dr. Rudolph Eichenberger Physics Laboratory.  Through the generous philanthropy of Dr. and Mrs. Eichenberger, two labs and a faculty office are named in his honor.

2010 SAU Foundation Honor Societies Dinner

2010 SAU Foundation Honors Dinner

On November 9, 2010, Southern Arkansas University Foundation recognized donors of the 2009-2010 fiscal year at a dinner in the Grand Hall of the Reynolds Campus and Community Center.  Tommy Clark, a nineteen-year-old junior from Hot Springs, AR, with a double major in finance and management, expressed appreciation on behalf of students for the generosity of the honorees.

SAU Students Tyler Orsak and Sara Caller hosted an informal art exhibit by students of Dan May, SAU Art Department Chair.

A commemorative coaster, the second in a series, was presented to those benefactors who had given over one thousand dollars during the fiscal year. Awards for lifetime giving were presented to donors who achieved membership in new lifetime giving societies; lifetime giving awards recognize donors whose cumulative lifetime giving is over ten thousand dollars. Receiving awards were the following: Stater Society, Mr. Donald Bustion, Mr. John Phillip Genestet , and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Morrison; Tower Society, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bearden ’61, ‘61, and Mrs. Julia Laney Machen; Hall of Honor, Dr. and Mrs. Rudy Eichenberger, and Mr. and Mrs. Therral Story ’85.

Those receiving awards but unable to attend were the following: Stater Society, Dr. and Mrs. Mark Dixon ‘78, Dr. and Mrs. B. C. Dodson, Mr. and Mrs. Don R. Johnson ‘57, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. William Mallett ’65, ‘65, Ms. DeAnna Rogers , Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Scott ‘43, Mr. and Mrs. Pat Sixbey ‘78, Dr. Betty Faye Smith ‘49, Ms. Adell Whitfield; Tower Society, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Franks, Mr. and Mrs. O. A. (Buddy) Franks, Jr. ‘54, Dr. and Mrs. James Tollett ’58, Mr. Ted Ward, Jr. ’47; Golden Circle, Mrs. Holly Hartrick Childs, Mr. James Freeman ’71.

Dr. David Rankin, President, Southern Arkansas University, and Mr. Louis Blanchard, President of the SAU Foundation presented special awards to the Top Five donors of 09-10: (in alphabetical order) Dr. and Mrs. Rudy Eichenberger of Magnolia, Arkansas, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fincher of Waldo, Arkansas, Ms. Cinda Ann Hallman Estate, Mrs. Mary Harsh of Magnolia, Arkansas, and Mr. and Mrs. Therral Story ’85 of Magnolia, Arkansas.

The highlight of the evening was the induction of Mr. and Mrs. Therral Story into the Mulerider Society, the highest recognition given by Southern Arkansas University Foundation.

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.

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.

Southern Aluminum Invests in SAU and the Deparment of Art and Design

Southern Aluminum makes $5,000 investment in SAU art and design students

MAGNOLIA – The Department of Art and Design at Southern Arkansas University is benefiting from a $5,000 investment made by Southern Aluminum Manufacturing, Inc. of Magnolia. The money will purchase software upgrades for the department’s computer lab.

“We at Southern Aluminum feel it extremely important that local businesses and industries support SAU because of the caliber of students and the skills these students can contribute here in Magnolia,” said Mark Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Southern Aluminum. “SAU is producing as high of quality skills and knowledge as we have seen when comparing with large universities, and we honestly feel that Southern Aluminum and SAU will mutually benefit through supporting and nurturing this relationship.”

Associate Professor Doug Waterfield, chair of the department of art and design, said approximately 150 students from across the University will benefit from the software upgrades. A $5,000 gift from Southern Aluminum in 2009 purchased three additional Macintosh computers for the department bringing its total to 15.

“We have enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership with Southern Aluminum,” Waterfield said. “The generosity of Mark Taylor and the staff there has enabled us to continue to be at the forefront when it comes to technology and enabling student preparedness. We deeply appreciate all they have done for the SAU Department of Art & Design and look forward to working with them for years to come.”

SAU receives new science equipment through grant

The College of Science and Technology at Southern Arkansas University has received specialized equipment for use in its physics laboratories, thanks to a grant from Aerojet Corporation through the GenCorp Foundation. Connie Wilbur, human resources manager of Aerojet in Camden, visited SAU recently to observe students using the Millikan’s Oil Drop Apparatus purchased with the grant. With this equipment, students in intermediate and advanced physics laboratories will be able to perform the physics experiment that established the existence of subatomic particles.

Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader, principally serving the missile and space propulsion and defense and armaments markets. The GenCorp Foundation was established in 2000 to meet the charitable needs of the communities where the company conducts business. Its primary giving focus is education, specifically science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This giving focus targets students to better prepare them to be educated citizens and contributing members of our nation’s future workforce. Aerojet and its parent corporation GenCorp have been faithful supporters of the College of Science and Technology at SAU.

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

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. adds to scholarship endowment

Members of the Magnolia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. present the Southern Arkansas University Foundation with a check for $5,000 to rejuvenate their endowment and add benefits to the current students. The Delta Sigma Theta endowment began in 1977 and was completed at $8,000 in 1987. Pictured are, from left, Irs Harris, Cheryl Felder Stuart, Mary Porchia-Wilborn, Dr. Kathleen Mallory and Virginia Todd of Delta Sigma Theta; Josh Kee and Jeanie Bismark of the SAU Foundation.

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