In April 2001, when Joe Darling, who was vice president of Institutional Advancement at the time, hired me as director of Alumni Services, he expected me to take the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association to the next level. Nearly 14 years later and with numerous challenges along the way, I can honestly say that the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association has moved well beyond just the next level.

There have been a number of successes through the years but here are a few highlights:

The UCAAA Life member program, established in 2002, continues to grow, providing long-term financial security for the alumni association.

The Association of Future Alumni, introduced in 2003, is an energetic and vibrant student alumni program and one of the most prestigious student organizations on campus.

The association celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2011 and successfully completed its first fundraising campaign, raising over $100,000 and fully endowing all alumni association scholarships, therefore increasing the number of scholarships awarded to BTÌìÌÃstudents.

The Legacy Walk has become a focal point on campus and the cornerstone of tradition for BTÌìÌÃgraduates.

Events, such as Freshmen Welcome Lunch, tailgate parties, receptions, professional development workshops and a variety of events throughout homecoming week continue to keep alumni and friends of BTÌìÌÃconnected and involved.

And the most evident change in the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association is its financial growth. Funding for endowments, restricted funds and operating accounts have nearly tripled since June 2001, providing for the expansion of events, programs and services to alumni and students.

Now we are winding down the Alumni Association’s first comprehensive membership campaign, Bear Your Stripes, and at its completion we expect to add it to our list of successes.

During these years, I have been blessed to work with some very special people who have been and will continue to be dedicated to this university, its students and alumni. They believe in doing the right things, the right way and for the right reasons. I will be forever grateful for the encouragement we’ve shared through the years and the friendships that developed. We should always strive to leave any situation, thing or place better than it was when we arrived, and I hope my service has been a demonstration of that intent.

I leave you with this. University presidents, administrators and alumni directors will come and go, but you will always be an alumnus of BTÌìÌÃso embrace it, protect it and support your alma mater.

Alumni Association Offers Fun Way for Supporters to ‘Bear Your Stripes’

The latest fashion trend to take the BTÌìÌÃcampus by storm can’t be purchased in stores.

It’s a pair of purple and gray wide-striped socks — featuring the logo of every bear’s favorite University — and they are only available through the Alumni Association.

The membership campaign, which is the first of its kind, kicked off in July with a series of videos featuring BTÌìÌÃpersonalities proudly donning their socks all around town.

Of course, the Alumni Association encourages members to wear the socks — featuring bold stripes with the BTÌìÌÃlogo — at games and events on campus. Newcomer says she also hopes recipients will show their Bear Pride by wearing the socks all over town and throughout the state and country.

“This campaign is really a rallying cry to all alumni to make a statement about their bear pride,” said Haley Fowler, former assistant director of Alumni Services.

The sock-centric video featuring a number of familiar faces and locales around Conway was released through email, Facebook and other social media portals.

President Tom Courtway, who stars in a scene in the video, says it is an honor and privilege to be included in the campaign. “This is such an easy and fun way to support UCA, and I’m excited about getting alumni even more connected to the university than they have been.”

These socks are only available to BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association members. Life members have an opportunity to sport these exclusive spirit socks with a $25 donation.

To get yours, simply join, renew or give today. Memberships are available on four levels:

• New graduates, those who have received their first degree within the last 12 months, can join for $10.
• Individuals can join for $35 annually.
• Couples can join for $50 annually.
• Life Membership, which includes a Life Member certificate, a personalized brick in the Legacy Walk, free admission to Alumni & Friends tailgate parties, and exclusive invitations to special events, is available for a one-time donation of $500.

For more information visit uca.edu/alumni.

Most who meet Jan Newcomer are surprised to learn that she is not an alumna of UCA. Perhaps it’s because she is the first director of Alumni Services to have a degree from another school, but most likely it’s because of the passion and pride she brings to UCA.

Whether she’s traveling around the region to watch her beloved Sugar Bears play basketball and cheering so loudly that she’s hoarse the next day, or cutting a rug at the homecoming party, no one can deny that purple runs through Newcomer’s veins.

In December, Newcomer will retire from BTÌìÌÃafter 13 years as director of Alumni Services. In that time, the alumni association has grown into a strong organization that proudly serves to engage graduates, former students and friends of the university through a diverse array of programs and services – and much of that is attributable to the energy and enthusiasm that Newcomer has brought to the university.

Newcomer came to Arkansas from Louisiana in 2000 to be with her new husband, Bruce. A former alumni director at University of Louisiana at Monroe, she quickly landed the alumni director’s role at UCA, following a long line of alums who had held the position starting with Hank Adams in 1972.

“Sometimes it seems important to have one of our own alums in a position like that, but it’s not necessary if they can come in and do an excellent job, and that’s just what Jan did,” said Bill Plummer ‘51, a longtime alumni association board member and volunteer. “[The late] Myrtle Lee Selig and I were dear friends and we had long conversations, and we agreed that bringing Jan to BTÌìÌÃwas the best thing we ever did.”

While she made connections with and earned the respect of alumni like Selig and Plummer, she recognized that new graduates were not as connected to their alma mater. Newcomer first organized the Young Alumni Chapter in 2002. The group connected alumni just 10 years out of school back to their alma mater in new ways with social activities and service projects.

Next, she set her sights on the future alumni – BTÌìÌÃstudents. In 2003, Newcomer organized the Association of Future Alumni to provide a link between students and alumni. This student organization, Newcomer’s proudest accomplishment, has developed into one of the most prestigious organizations on campus.

Melissa Nix-Edge ‘04 was not only a founder of the AFA, but also the organization’s first president. She had joined Newcomer at a conference to learn about student alumni programming while serving as a student worker. “When we got in the car and started driving back, I said, ‘We have to start this at UCA,’ and that’s what she hoped I would say.”

AFA has been responsible for many popular projects including Freshmen Survival Kits, Roses for Grads, Mudstock Volleyball, and the class ring program. It has also helped students connect to alumni.

“Jan brought the relational part back to alumni relations,” Nix-Edge said. “She bridged the gap between students and alumni. She wanted us to feel engaged with alumni and ask questions, get to know what alumni did after graduation and seek their advice. She knew that we had something to give one another.

Newcomer has worked tirelessly over the years to bring programs, projects and experiences to BTÌìÌÃalumni that would keep them engaged and passionate about their alma mater.”

“I get emotional when I think about what my experience would have been at BTÌìÌÃwithout her. Miss Jan was my Arkansas mom. She is a fine lady … irreplaceable,” Nix-Edge said.

In answer to this need, the Young Alumni Chapter established the Mentor Connection program in spring of 2013.

The Mentor Connection program establishes partnerships between individual students and young alumni. These relationships provide valuable
on the job experience for students and unique leadership opportunities for alumni.

“When I heard about this opportunity to actually get in the field and get some hands-on experience, I jumped right on it. In today’s world, any experience you can get before joining the workforce is essential.” said Tyler Rogers, a recent graduate who was mentored by Ike Linck, ’06.

With many successful and seasoned alumni, the program has much to offer students. The experience and advice that a young professional can give to a student before he or she graduates can be invaluable in determining if a major is the right fit and provides needed insights helpful to a student’s career goals.

“One of the most important steps in advancing in a career is helping others,” Linck said. “It is my opinion that the golden rule should apply in business as well. Years from now Tyler and I may be working on the same team somewhere, and together our relationships and connections may prove beneficial to both of us in the long run.”

Apply at uca.edu/alumni/mentorconnection and join other mentors and mentees in the Mentor Connection program. Application deadline is November 14.

Karen Sullards ’72, ’75 was elected for a third term as President of the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association. She served on the alumni board for several years prior, most recently since 2011. The remaining members of the board’s executive council include Bill Ott ’72, vice president, and Jennifer Williams Ragsdale ’08, secretary.

New members joining the board July 1 are Ryan Caststeel ’04, ’08, Rebekah Gardner Fincher ’07, Susan St. John Hoggard ’67 and Alex McDonald ’03. Scott Zielstra ’02, ’06 was elected to a second term. “I sincerely appreciate and thank my fellow alumni for electing me to serve on the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association Board of Directors,” said Caststeel. “I look forward to meeting each alumni member and helping lead the Alumni Association into the future.” Additional members of the board are Johnny Adams ’84, ’90; Linda Beene-Ballard ’72, Mark Fowler ’81, ’83, Greg Hunt ’03, Wale Mohammed ’06, John David Pittman ’04, and Sue Conner Voegele ’62.

In July, the alumni association introduced “Bear Your Stripes”, a comprehensive membership campaign. Karen Sullards stated “the goal of the campaign is to increase membership in the alumni association and to remind our alumni of their bear pride. Anyone who joins the alumni association will receive a pair of BTÌìÌÃpurple and gray striped spirit socks.” In addition to the membership campaign, the board will address membership retention and long-term strategic planning. To contact a member of the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association Board of Directors, visit
uca.edu/alumni/board-of-directors.

Pat Otto ended her professional career with BTÌìÌÃin spring 2014, but her role as proud alumna and dedicated volunteer continues. When you review her background, it becomes obvious she was destined to be part of BTÌìÌÃhistory.

Otto’s relationship with BTÌìÌÃbegan at the age of three when she enrolled in the Irby Training School on the Arkansas State Teachers College (ASTC) campus. Her education continued at the training school through her completion of the 6th grade. Only a short seven years later, she returned to ASTC as a member of the 1962 freshman class. In typical Pat Cantrell Otto fashion, she made every minute count while enrolled. The 1962-1966 Scrolls are interspersed with Otto’s involvement and accomplishment: cheerleader, Royal Rooter, Delta Zeta (served as president), the 1965 homecoming queen, and the list goes on.

After graduation, she spent many years working beside her husband, Bill, in the dental supply business and teaching in the Conway School System. When time permitted, she would pursue opportunities to be involved with her alma mater. That time developed into 10 years of service on the BTÌìÌÃAlumni Association Board of Directors, two of those as president of the association. In 2000, Dr. Win Thompson, BTÌìÌÃPresident at the time, asked Otto if she would turn her volunteerism into full-time employment. She joined the BTÌìÌÃAdvancement office as a major gifts development officer. Otto stated, “My greatest reward was the opportunity to connect with so many alumni and develop some really wonderful relationships. Many of them became scholarship donors and distinguished alumni recipients and that is very fulfilling for me.”

After 12 successful years in fundraising, Otto joined the Alumni Services staff as outreach coordinator in 2012. It provided her an opportunity to work part-time and still continue what she loved: working with BTÌìÌÃalumni and students. “Otto had such good, strong relationships with our alumni, it was an easy transition for her and a great addition to our department,” said Jan Newcomer, director of alumni services.

Otto’s retirement plans are simple. She is working in her yard and enjoying time with her family and friends. She states, “We as alums are very fortunate to have attended and graduated from UCA. And we can look forward to a promising future for our university and all students to come.” So what about her continued involvement with UCA? Well, it’s in her blood, so she’ll be around.