Splendors of the Nile
May 27, 2010
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.
2010 Distinguished Alumni Dinner
April 14, 2010
The 2010 Distinguished Alumni Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Center – Grand Hall. Tickets for this event are $17 and may be purchased from the SAU Alumni Office by calling 870-235-4079.
During this year’s ceremony the following will be recognized:
Distinguished Young Alumni
Dr. Jason Ellen
Class of 1995, BS in Biological Science
Opthalmologic Surgeon – 2005 Outstanding Young Optometric Physician in Oklahoma
Amy Freedman
Class of 1995, BBA in Accounting
Attorney and Political Campaign Manager
Joe Pieratt
Class of 1992, BBA in Management
Chief Network and PC Support for Murphy Oil Corporation, Developer of Deer Creek Subdivision
Lifetime Achievement
Dr. Norman Huneycutt
Class of 1958, BSB in Industrial Management
Ordained minister, former Trustee of the Presbyterian Foundation, former Trustee of University of the Ozarks, present Trustee of Austin Theological Seminary, founder and former CEO of Employee Support Systems Company, former Director of Program and Fiscal Development of National Council on Alcoholism, and presently retired to ranching in Terrell, TX
Distinguished Alumni
Joan Avalyn Dempsey
Class of 1981, BA in Political Science
Vice President of US Geospacial Intelligence Foundation, Vice President Booz-Allen-Hamilton, former Chief of Staff for CIA Director George Tennet
Dr. Samuel Smith
Class of 1977, left SAU for medical school
Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Distinguished Golden Rider
Dr. James Tollett
Class of 1957
Retired Chairman of SAU Agriculture Department, honored with the dedication of the 81st Arkansas FFA State Convention in his name, National Association of Agricultural Educators Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Charles Beeson – Deceased
Class of 1941
Cardiologist, Retried Professor of Medicine at University of New Mexico and UCLA
Muleriders on Tour – Springdale, AR
April 8, 2010
To RSVP for this event please click on the link below
University Science Center Dedication
March 3, 2010
University Science Center Dedication
Monday, April 5, 2010 at 12:00p.m.
Location – University Science Center Lobby
Governor Mike Beebe is expected to attend
Naming opportunities still exist in this state-of-art facility that will greatly impact the students of SAU for many years to come.
For more information on this dedication ceremony or naming opportunities please contact the SAU Foundation at 1-877-235-7409.
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.
2009 President’s Gala
January 6, 2010
(More pictures shown below)
Southern Arkansas University Foundation and President and Mrs. David Rankin entertained donors to the University at the annual President’s Gala on Saturday, December 12, at the Magnolia Country Club. This festive evening
was the final event of the University’s year-long centennial celebration. The tables and tree were decorated with turn-of-the century postcards and traditional ornaments. Approximately 150 friends of SAU enjoyed hors d’ouerves of fresh shrimp, bacon-wrapped filet bites, spanakopita, fresh fruit, cheeses and cupcakes.
Guests enjoyed dancing to a live band led by Zane Glasscock and featuring vocalist
David Price. Beth Anne Rankin and Josh Kee entertained with special music, and Ray and Kay Stephens of Little Rock presented ballroom dance exhibitions of the waltz, the fox trot, and the Argentine tango.
Holiday photographs by Aaron Street were given as mementos of the evening.
Muleriders on Tour – Porterfield Day
November 20, 2009
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
November 20, 2009
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
Muleriders on Tour – Mena
October 22, 2009
(See More Pictures Below)
More than 150 people attended a Muleriders on Tour in Mena, Arkansas on September 8, 2009, at the Mena Historic Armory. Featured speaker at the event was Dr. Jeff Miller, new Chairman of the Agriculture Department at SAU and formerly of Mena. This was the fourth in a series of Muleriders on Tour events scheduled as part of the University’s Centennial Celebration.
In addition to visiting with friends and networking, guests enjoyed a chicken dinner prepared by Chuck Bell of Tyson’s and his helpers, and a performance by the Mena High School Jazz Band.
Lee Smith (’96), Career & Technical Education Coordinator of the DeQueen-Mena Educational Cooperative emceed the event. Dr. Diann Gathright (’70), Superintendent of Mena Public Schools, welcomed the group, and Duane Webb (’96), President, Polk County Cattlemen, gave the invocation.
Dr. David Rankin, President, Southern Arkansas University, described the school’s progress on fulfilling the Blue and Gold Vision and introduced Miller, chair of the SAU Agriculture Department. Miller expressed his dedication to providing a quality agriculture program at SAU for the young people of southwest Arkansas. Carla Vaught (’84) gave a presentation on the variety of hats that Miller has worn in his life.
Others who spoke on the importance of SAU, agriculture, and education to the region were Donald Westerman (’87), Southern Regional Education Board, Dr. Keith Lusby (‘68), Animal Science Department Head, University of Arkansas and Representative Bill Abernathy. Jim Baker (‘68), Vice President of Business Development, National Bank of Arkansas, closed the evening with some personal memories of SAU and his experiences in agriculture to emphasize the importance of a university education.
The evening was organized by a local committee of Ronnie Duckett (’75), Al Gathright (’69), Dr. Diann Gathright (’70), Scott Sullivan (’83), Lee Smith (’96), Dr. Steve Rook, Beverly Morton Bell (’78), Carla Vaught (’84), Dotsy Webb (’97), Jason Sullivan (’94), and Kyle Risley (’08) in coordination with the SAU President’s Office, Foundation, Alumni Association, and Mulerider Club.
Library officals pose with longtime friend of Magale Library, Archie Monroe
September 21, 2009
Magale Library Director Daniel Page, left, longtime friend of the library, Archie Monroe, center, and Donna McCloy, right, a reference librarian share a moment during a reception at the library this past Thursday. Page took the post of director in July. Photo by Becky Bell/SAU Communications
