Prior to being known as the Bears, University of Central Arkansas students and teams were known as many things–tutors, teachers and even pedagogues. In 1920, inspired by a student’s class ring design that featured a bear, what was then Arkansas State Normal School adopted the bear as the school mascot. It’s a fitting representative: Arkansas was known as the bear state due to its population of black bears.

Plus, bears have some pretty strong attributes.

“Black bears are very intelligent, super athletic and tenacious,” said Jimmy Bryant ’95, ’96, director of archives and university historian. “Along with some of the black bears’ attributes, BT天堂Bears have additional strengths that have made them leaders in education, health sciences, art and music, communication, business, liberal arts and the sciences.”

BT天堂Magazine caught up with Bryant to explore the various bear monuments on campus.

BIG BOY

It wasn’t long after BT天堂adopted its bear mascot in 1920 that a live bear joined the picture. Dubbed Big Boy, UCA’s live mascot was a black bear owned by Louis Sharpe Dunaway and his family in the early 1920s.

University archives show the 1922 football team posing with Big Boy, noting that Dunaway’s son, football captain Allen Dunaway, said he was “probably elected captain because he was the only one who would hold the bear mascot.”

After Big Boy’s death, his head was preserved and encased. It can be viewed today in the Hall of Fame room in Estes Stadium.

GENE HATFIELD BEAR

In keeping with university tradition, the Class of 1947 planned to leave a special gift to the school: a sculpted marble bear. However, when the class’s artist fell ill and it was too costly to hire another, the effort was abandoned. That’s when Gene Hatfield ’47 stepped in.

As a professor of art, and someone who had assisted in the class’s fundraising efforts for the bear, Hatfield led a project for his class in 1949 to create a concrete bear to fulfill the wishes of the 1947 class. This bear sits between Estes Stadium and Bear Hall today. Over the decades, the bear became misshapen as it saw countless coats of orange, green, yellow and purple paint due to students from rival schools Arkansas Tech University and Hendrix College marking it with their colors. Over the years, this bear has been informally referred to as “Buddha Bear.”

“In the middle of that statue is a book,” Bryant said. “I’m convinced that what Hatfield was trying to do, what his class was trying to do, was show the relationship between athletics and scholarship.”

FARRIS CENTER BEAR

In 1967, the BT天堂Student Senate purchased a purple fiberglass bear that was shipped by freight from California. According to a March 1967 issue of The Echo, the bear, which stands on all fours and bears its teeth, was $500.

For a time, it was displayed in the Administration Building and was also displayed in the Student Center for decades, Bryant said. Today, the 61/2-foot-long bear can be viewed in the lobby of the Farris Center.

Though acquired out of school spirit, this bear is modeled after a grizzly bear, not a black bear. This could be because over the years, sports writers began referring to university teams as the Grizzlies instead of the Bears, leading to misconceptions about which bear the mascot is modeled after, Bryant said.

BRONZE BEAR

In 2006, the BT天堂Foundation accepted a bronze bear in honor of the BT天堂Centennial. Bearing a ferocious pose, the bear can be found outside of Bear Hall, not far from the creation led by Hatfield. David Grimes ’91, ’96 donated this bear in honor of his parents, who are also BT天堂alumni, and his brother Kenny Grimes ’96. The bear was created at a foundry in Thailand.

“The small bronze bear located at the south entrance of Bear Hall is yet another reminder that we are all Bears!” Bryant said.

OTIS

Sculpted by Department of Art Chair Bryan Massey, Otis is a stainless-steel bear replica that hangs on the side of Donaghey Hall. The sculpture was unveiled in 2016 as part of the grand opening for Donaghey Hall. Otis, a 2,000-pound, 15-foot-long creation, greets individuals as they approach the mixed-use building located at Bruce Street and Donaghey Avenue.

“When you see a bear that size on the side of a building, you can easily figure out, ‘Hey, these are the Bears here,'” Bryant said. “I think it gives us a little bit of personality and enthusiasm for our mascot.”

VALOR II

The original life-sized bear carving known as Valor was created from one of UCA’s World War II red oak Memorial Trees in front of Wingo Hall in 2013. Eventually, it had to be removed due to decay. In spring 2019, however, chainsaw artist Gary Keenan returned to campus to sculpt Valor II, which stands in front of Wingo Hall as a welcome to campus. Numerous visitors, including couples who marry on campus, stop to take a picture with the celebrated bear, Bryant said.

“It is kind of like a destination point when people come to our campus to have their picture made with that bear,” he said. “It’s been extremely popular, and it’s been a public relations home run. But it’s meaningful, too, because Valor bear represents those alumni who were killed in World War II.”

These are some of the recent milestone anniversaries for the university.

Old Main

Whether the institution was known as Arkansas State Normal School, Arkansas State Teachers College, State College of Arkansas or the University of Central Arkansas, Old Main has served every generation of student. Completed in 1919, the structure is the oldest building on campus.

“Old Main sits in the center of campus and serves, in many ways, as both the physical and symbolic center of UCA. It represents UCA’s history while remaining an active part of the university with classrooms, the Ida Waldran Auditorium and a number of campus services housed in the building,” said Julia Winden Fey, director of the Office of Student Success.

The structure, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, marked its 100th “birthday” in February.

Winden Fey was one of several committee members who worked to plan a birthday party as a way to celebrate the life and experiences of the historic structure.

The afternoon gathering included reflections from BT天堂President Houston Davis, Provost and Executive Vice President Patricia Poulter and longtime professor Don Jones, as well as a birthday cake for attendees to enjoy.

“Instead of just noting that this particular pile of bricks and mortar has been here for over a century, we wanted to honor the many experiences of students, faculty, staff and community members that have taken place within its halls,” Winden Fey said.

Originally known as the Administration Building, the structure housed the library, classroom spaces and all administrative offices, including the president’s office and registrar’s office.

Ida Waldran Memorial Chapel, now Ida Waldran Auditorium, was added to the original building in 1937 and named in honor of the school’s first dean of women, Ida Waldran.

Today, the building houses the Department of Student Transitions, Office of Learning Communities, Office of Student Success, BT天堂STEM Institute, Upward Bound, Bear Essentials Food Pantry, Veterans Services Center, a lactation suite, and Minton Commuter College Lounge and Computer Lab, as well as several other offices and classroom spaces.

“Although UCA’s campus facilities have expanded greatly in the last century, Old Main continues to serve students and the community alike, and likely will do so for many more years,” Winden Fey said.

Outreach and Community Engagement

The Division of Outreach and Community Engagement (OCE) marked 100 years with a celebratory gathering in April.

The division began in 1919 as the extension department at Arkansas State Normal School, now UCA, with only 91 students enrolled in classes the first year. By the second year, more students were enrolled in extension courses than were enrolled in traditional college courses. Today, the division has grown to serve thousands of individuals annually with its classes, programming and services.

“We give people access who may not have traditional access to education,” said Shaneil Ealy ’03, associate vice president of the division. “I see us as a unit who is responsive to the community from 100 years ago to today.”

The division is home to the Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute, Women’s Leadership Network, BT天堂Family Network, Arkansas Coding Academy, Center for Community and Economic Development, and Community Development Institute.

The division also includes UCA’s service-learning initiative that integrates meaningful community service with classroom instruction. Through this initiative, the university has partnered with many local organizations and provided thousands of hours in service.

Held in April, the 100th anniversary brought former deans, staff and employees back to campus to share their experiences. Many of the comments focused on the division providing opportunities for lifelong learners and being a trendsetter.

“OCE was integrating classes before the integration of the university. We were breaking barriers back then,” Ealy said. “We are responding to what the community needs beyond traditional education, and so that was exciting to see that we are still carrying that legacy.”

BT天堂Downtown also falls under the OCE umbrella. Opened in 2016, BT天堂Downtown is a multiuse event space in downtown Conway, hosting hundreds of university and community meetings, retreats, nonprofit trainings, art exhibits, receptions and more.

The division also provides programming, services and classes for adults and youth such as ACT prep, culinary education and professional development, as well as hosts hundreds of events in university facilities through its conference services department.

Ealy believes OCE will continue its legacy as a community leader.

“That has been the thread throughout these 100 years,” she said. “We’ve always been that connector to the community, and it’s always going to be that way.”

College of Business

Since its inception July 1, 1969, much has changed in and around the College of Business.

The college has called numerous buildings on campus home before moving into its current 78,000-square-foot building in 2010. New programs, departments and fields of study have come and gone, but one thing has remained the same: the college’s unwavering commitment to providing a high-quality business education.

Today, the college has more than 1,600 students and offers 13 baccalaureate degrees, two master’s and one graduate certificate, and houses the state’s only insurance and risk management program.

The college boasts more than 10,000 alumni scattered across the U.S. and the globe, working in various industries including accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, information technology, logistics and insurance.

In marking its 50th year of existence, several alumni are being highlighted across multiple media channels. The college also has other activities planned throughout the year marking this milestone anniversary.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier business education alliance, accredited the college in 1984. Less than 5% of business schools worldwide have AACSB accreditation. The accreditation, for undergraduate and graduate programs, exemplifies the college’s commitment to excellence and the value it provides its graduates.

“Since its founding, the BT天堂College of Business has become a leader in business education. Fifty years’ worth of graduates cover the state, region and beyond in sectors and industries across government, nonprofits and private business,” said Michael B. Hargis, dean of the College of Business. “Our past successes give us the foundation to look toward the future and solidify our place among the top business schools in the country.”

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing was established in 1967 after the closure of a baccalaureate nursing program at another Arkansas university brought 100 nursing students to Arkansas State Teachers College, now UCA. The first class of 29 baccalaureate students graduated in the spring of 1969.

In April, nursing alumni and friends celebrated the 50-year anniversary of the first graduating class. Alumni from several of the School of Nursing’s earliest classes were present for the weekend celebration. One honored guest was Mary Anne Parsley ’70, ’80, a nursing alumna and former School of Nursing faculty, who provided remarks during the event.

Since 1967, the School of Nursing has played a leadership role in nursing education and has been an integral part of the university’s academic community.

Located in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the School of Nursing programs include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Consistently responding to the needs of students, changes in health care and education standards, UCA’s nursing degree programs ensure that students are prepared for a quickly evolving health care environment.

Student Orientation Staff

Sporting bright orange T-shirts and enthusiastic smiles to help welcome newcomers to campus, members of the Student Orientation Staff (SOS) recently celebrated 40 years.

SOS is a group of student volunteers that works with new students to ease the transition from high school to college. Each SOS member volunteers approximately 200 hours of service to the university between April and August of each year.

Lindsey Shurley ’08, the current director of New Student Programs at UCA, said SOS boasts at least 1,200 alumni including individuals such as former mayor of Conway Tab Townsell ’84 and Brad Lacy ’94, who is former chair of the BT天堂Board of Trustees and president and chief executive officer of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as Warren Readnour ’90, BT天堂general counsel.

The 40-year reunion brought approximately 120 SOS alumni back to campus for a weekend of events hosted in September. At least 37 years of SOS leadership was also represented as former leaders such as Fred Rhodes, Charlotte Strickland ’81, Hank Phelps, Colin Stanton ’04, ’06 and Lindsay Henderson ’03, ’04 were also in attendance, Shurley said.

“Many things about the university have changed, and the requirements of being an SOSer have changed, but the culture of staff hasn’t,” Shurley said. “That culture of care, that culture of family that we have in SOS is our legacy.”

Also in continuing that legacy, the Student Orientation Staff Scholarship has been created to support an SOS student with a financial need.

Established in fall 1979 under the direction of Rhodes, former dean of students at UCA, SOS students were chosen from the Student Senate and Royal Rooters, now the Student Government Association and Bear Den, respectively. Today, students are selected based on academic standing, campus involvement and dedication to service through an application and panel interview. The current group boasts about 90 members.

Student Government Association

The Student Interest Committee was first established in 1920 and was comprised of five members who were appointed by the university president. They sponsored receptions, dances and tea parties. In the 1940s, the organization became known as the Student Council, and in the mid-1950s, the group was renamed the Student Senate.

It was during this time that the scope of work for the student-led organization began to grow. The Student Senate began to hear complaints about food service and residence halls, as well as other duties. They also polled the student body about women’s rights, extended library hours and purchased a printer for student use at Torreyson Library.

In the late 1980s, the group’s name was changed to the Student Government Association, which serves as the voice of the student body. It comprises 39 senators, four executive board officers, one chief of staff and four advisers.

The SGA is now planning for its 100-year anniversary in 2020. While plans are still underway, one activity for the group is a centennial banquet for current and former SGA members, BT天堂administrators and other guests. The SGA will announce a full schedule of events once all details are finalized.

Since the university recognized its first recipients in 1986, a total of 43 alumni have been presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The university recently selected the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients who will be presented at Laurels & Stripes, the university’s annual fundraising gala, on April 4, 2020.

Meet the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, Terri Jordan ’85 and Lavon Morton ’72.

Terri Jordan ’85

Terri Jordan ’85 has been a top-level executive for some of the world’s largest companies — Walmart Inc., eBay Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Her work takes her across the globe to locations from Dublin and Tokyo to Paris and London. She serves as a mentor to up-and-coming professionals and has maintained her connection to the University of Central Arkansas through a scholarship, the BT天堂Foundation and other activities.

With her extensive background and sustained support of the university, Jordan has been selected as one of two 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Jordan received the news in October.

“I’m very honored,” Jordan said. “I am still processing this. I’m pretty much just shocked.”

A native of Morrilton, Jordan graduated from BT天堂with a double major in computer science and mathematics. She worked part time at a local bank while a BT天堂student and continued there after graduation because the bank had begun implementing the use of computers in daily operations. She soon found a computer programming role with a small company in Little Rock before accepting a position in software development for Walmart stores in 1987.

“That’s where my career pretty much took off. I was there for about 19 years,” Jordan said. “I had many promotions, and I worked in many different functions in technology.”

Before her departure in 2006, Jordan served as senior director in Walmart’s information systems division. Jordan spent the next three years as vice president of technical operations at eBay in California before another opportunity became available.

“I made the choice to move up here to the Seattle, [Washington], region, and I started working for Microsoft to help launch the first Microsoft retail stores,” she said, adding that the company opened its first retail location in six months. “By the time I left that part of the organization, we had over 100 locations across the U.S.”

Jordan served as chief information officer for Microsoft’s retail stores. In 2015, an opportunity arose for Jordan to join Microsoft’s rapidly expanding cloud computing division. She currently works as the general manager for cloud operations and innovation at Microsoft.

In each of these roles, Jordan has worked to be a mentor and role model for individuals pursuing careers in technology, particularly women.

“I like to spend my time mentoring, but I don’t limit it to just females because everyone needs a good mentor,” she said. “Sharing what my experiences have been like shows how you can make a difference and you can accomplish big things.”

Though she and her husband, Richard, live in the Seattle area, she has worked to stay connected to UCA. She has visited campus to deliver a talk to students in the Department of Computer Science and remains in contact with the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She has previously served as a member the BT天堂Foundation Board, working to increase money for BT天堂students.

Additionally, the Jordan family established the Richard and Terri Harper Jordan Scholarship to assist full-time female students seeking a degree in computer science.

Since its establishment, the fund has awarded multiple scholarships, with several being awarded last year, Jordan said.

“The biggest thing for me is being able to give back and help others, and particularly females, because there’s still a significant disparity between the number of males versus females in the technology space,” she said.

Jordan believes the Distinguished Alumni Award recognition will continue to highlight the achievements that are possible with a BT天堂education and looks forward to strengthening her connection to the institution.
“Staying connected to BT天堂is staying connected to home,” Jordan said.

Lavon Morton ’72

Lavon Morton ’72 has visited Buffalo Alumni Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas many times. During these visits, he would view the plaques hanging in the social room that recognize previous Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

“I know about many of them, but it never occurred to me, not one time, to look at those names and think that I would one day be selected,” Morton said. “It never crossed my mind that I would receive this tremendous honor.”
Morton has been selected as one of two recipients of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award.

“BT天堂has a lot of really outstanding graduates,” he said. “I am tremendously honored, very surprised, but tremendously honored to be selected.”

Morton has enjoyed a stellar career since earning a bachelor’s in accounting and later becoming a certified public accountant. At the advice of a BT天堂accounting professor, Morton applied for and was offered a position at Ernst & Young in Little Rock, one of the largest accounting firms in the nation. After 12 years at the firm, Morton was named a partner, eventually serving as both a tax partner and an audit partner. He spent a total of 24 years at Ernst & Young before moving to Fort Smith in 1996 to join Arkansas Best Corp., now ArcBest, a publicly held nationwide freight transportation company. He served in multiple financial positions at ArcBest and eventually became a senior vice president of risk and chief audit executive. He retired from ArcBest in 2016, but he continues to work with the company as a consultant.

Morton supports the Fort Smith community through a number of endeavors. He has served or serves on a number of boards including the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, Fort Smith Symphony, Advancement Advisory Council for the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and Goddard United Methodist Church. He previously served on the board of the United Way of Fort Smith Area and currently serves as chairman of the United Way of Fort Smith Area Endowment Committee.

For more than 20 years, he has served on the audit committee for the city of Fort Smith and was recently appointed to the Fort Smith Board of Directors, representing Ward 3.

Morton’s passion and commitment to service include his alma mater, evident through his life membership in the BT天堂Alumni Association. He served on the BT天堂Foundation Board of Directors for six years, including serving as chair for two years.

As a member of the BT天堂Foundation Board, Morton focused much of his energy on boosting private scholarships.

“It was tremendously rewarding and satisfying,” he said. “I’m a great believer in scholarships. It’s important to support them.”

At the time he joined the board, more than $425,000 a year in private scholarships was being granted. Midway through his six-year term, Morton said the board established a goal of $1 million in annual scholarships. At the end of his term in 2015, more than $850,000 in scholarships was awarded during the 2014-15 fiscal year. Last year, the total was $1,478,259 in private scholarships.

He and his wife, Brenda Yelvington ’91, established the J. Lavon Morton and Brenda Yelvington Scholarship Fund at BT天堂to provide annual scholarships for students majoring in accounting or any business-related discipline.

They have also established the Northside Legacy Scholarship Fund to help students from Northside High School in Fort Smith pursue higher education. Band students from Northside were chronicled in Yelvington’s feature-length documentary film, “Leaving a Legacy.” Morton was executive producer. The film won best documentary at the Fayetteville Film Fest in 2017.

When reflecting on his life and career, Morton considers a different film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and the lead character, George Bailey, played by James Stewart.

“I’m going to say that George Bailey has nothing on me,” Morton said. “I’ve had a wonderful life, and I’ve got more to go. I want to do more good to help people the way so many people have helped me.”

Sporting their official colors and armed with 7-foot-tall wooden Greek letters, members from seven fraternities joined University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees members and administrators to break ground for Greek Village Phase II.

With approximately 250 people in attendance, the event was held Sept. 14.

This phase of Greek Village includes construction of housing for Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities Sigma Tau Gamma, Sigma Nu and Pi Kappa Alpha, along with a National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Fraternity Complex that will have meeting spaces and chapter rooms for Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma.

“Generations of work, leadership and dedication have laid the groundwork for what we are seeing today,” said Colton Rowe, president of the IFC. “By this time next fall, we will see three amazing houses in full use. Today symbolizes the next 100 years of Greek life at UCA.”

Each fraternity house will be approximately 7,365 square feet with 11 bedrooms, a chapter room, living room, kitchen and other amenities specific to the individual fraternities.

The NPHC Fraternity Complex will include a chapter room for each of the four fraternities and other features in approximately 4,730 square feet.

“This building will provide us with a space we can call our own. We have the opportunity to better support each other as we work toward achieving common goals,” said Jarrett Counts, speaking on behalf of the NPHC at the groundbreaking.

In 2015, the university opened the first phase of Greek Village residencies for the five sororities of the Panhellenic Council and an NPHC Sorority Complex. The new IFC fraternity houses will be situated on Donaghey and College avenues, near UCA’s existing sorority houses. The fraternity complex will be adjacent to the sorority complex on College Avenue.

The university began discussions of housing for the Greek population as early as 2004, and some past and current administrators believe talks began even earlier. In either case, Ronnie Williams, vice president of Student Services and Institutional Diversity, is one of several consistent voices that kept the talks moving forward.

“Phase II acknowledges the value added that our Greek community brings to campus, but it is also a fulfillment by this administration to allow us to create a living-learning community for our Greek community,” Williams said.

“This second phase of Greek Village honors the amazing contributions that you bring to our campus.”

Williams said that the Greek community leads the campus in every major category — leadership, service, philanthropy and, most importantly, academic achievement. Currently, more than 1,000 students are members of the Greek community at UCA, with a cumulative 3.24 GPA for the spring 2019 semester. Last year, BT天堂Greeks participated in more than 800 volunteer projects, donated more than $42,000 in philanthropic support and logged more than 11,000 hours in community service.

The university began calling for support from private donors in the Greek alumni community in 2018. Haley Fowler, director of annual giving, worked throughout the year with each fraternity and its alumni to create a fundraising committee with a chair in efforts to garner support for the project.

“Through their efforts, we have raised more than $1.4 million for Greek Village from over 700 donors,” Fowler said. “Our fundraising efforts will continue as we work together to raise funds for amenities and furnishings.”

Architects for the project include WER Architects/Planners and H+N Architects. Nabholz Construction is the general contractor.

“Greek Village Phase II would not be possible without the vision, contributions and dedication of our Greek alumni,” said BT天堂President Houston Davis. “Our Greek system and their alumni contribute greatly to the quality of campus life and our community.”

The University of Central Arkansas, once again, toppled its previous all-time fundraising record with a total of $30,051,844 raised in 2018-19.

This marks the second time in as many years that the institution has bested its record.

“These new fundraising milestones show the tremendous support our alumni, donors and friends have for UCA,” said BT天堂President Houston Davis. “Their steadfast engagement will continue to transform our university and our communities for generations to come.”

The total represents a 193% increase from the 2017-18 year. During that time, the university raised more than $10 million, which set the previous all-time record.

Included in these latest figures are two events that also continue to set or break fundraising milestones, Day of Giving and Laurels & Stripes.

The fifth annual 24-hour Day of Giving raised $757,939, which represented a 74% increase from 2017-18 and set another record. Donors — alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, corporate partners, friends and many others — were able to give to specific impact funds within student, campus and community impact categories.

Formerly known as Night of Distinction, the inaugural Laurels & Stripes was the “fundraising party of the year.”

The event raised $719,000 in private scholarship support, with several endowed funds announced during the evening, including the Amber and Jeffrey Hall Gallivant Grant.

Amber Hall ’07 and her husband, Jeffrey, decided to establish the fund to support students who need to travel to present research or attend professional conferences. She explained that while she and her husband received academic scholarships, in many cases, those funds rarely covered experiences outside the classroom. Students from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics would be eligible.

“We wanted to give students the opportunity to go and present the research they’ve done,” Amber Hall said. “We wanted to pay for students to actually have an experience out in the world.”

The BT天堂Foundation was also awarded the largest gift in the history of the university — a $20 million challenge gift from the Windgate Foundation in support of the arts. One portion, $1 million, will be added to the Windgate Scholarship Fund, and $19 million will support the construction of the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

Providing much-needed classroom, studio, rehearsal and design spaces, the facility will foster collaborative partnerships for students and faculty across multiple academic disciplines.

Additionally, the university added more than 1,800 new donors and experienced a 78% increase in major gifts.
“Securing 114 major gifts doesn’t happen by accident. That reflects the hard work of a dedicated team of professionals who love UCA,” said Kale Gober ’09, vice president for University Advancement and president of the BT天堂Foundation. “This level of giving is a testament to our incredible donors. They see the trajectory and feel the excitement under Houston Davis’ leadership, so they are investing with confidence and enthusiasm.”

Scholarship dollars awarded increased by more than 20%, with 771 students receiving private scholarships, up from 690 the previous year.

The BT天堂Foundation’s net assets are $53,754,909, and the current total endowment level is $29,078,210. The foundation has 210 fully endowed scholarships and has awarded more than $12 million in scholarship support since its inception in 1981.

“I am thrilled that we continue to raise more and more private funds for university support, and specifically, for student scholarships,” Davis said. “The generosity of our donors ensures our students — many of whom are first-generation college students — have the resources they need to earn life-changing college degrees and impact economic and cultural growth in Arkansas and beyond.”

Jimmy Bryant ’95, ’96 takes frequent walks on the University of Central Arkansas campus. As he encounters university employees, he either greets them by first name or stops to chat and become acquainted with the employee.

He takes various routes, but he regularly visits the World War II Memorial and the BT天堂War Memorial, which are both dedicated to the BT天堂men and women who perished in wars since World War I. Bryant helped lead the efforts to bring these memorials to UCA’s campus.

“Most of the names on those monuments are young people who gave their life in the line of duty. They didn’t get to stay in the classroom and go to college. I think when students realize the contribution that their fellow students made, it really opens their eyes,” Bryant said. “History is more than just the events and a date. It’s how people’s lives are impacted by the things that are taking place.”

Bryant’s adoration for history began while growing up in England, Arkansas. He kept a box in his bedroom closet with news clippings of important events and happenings.

“I always liked history, and I liked collecting things, but I didn’t realize people got paid to collect stuff like that at a full-time job,” Bryant said.

As director of archives and university historian, Bryant is the campus expert on UCA’s history, as well as Arkansas history.

“I wrote the book, ‘The Centennial History of the University of Central Arkansas,’ and that was published in 2008, and I’ve written probably 200 articles about UCA, in some form or fashion,” Bryant said.

The BT天堂Archives has approximately 385 large collections and 2,000 small collections. A small collection can fit into a folder while a large collection requires at least one box, but it could be as many as several hundred boxes.

Judge Morris S. Arnold, a senior judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, deposited 35 years of his original court opinions, as well as family documents, beginning more than two decades ago.

Arnold said his family has practiced law in Arkansas since 1881. The family’s documents, including scrapbooks dating back to the 1890s, help trace the political and legal history of Arkansas. Over the past few decades, Arnold has periodically updated the collection.

“I got acquainted with Jimmy when I deposited some papers some 20-plus years ago,” Arnold said. “He knows every inch of the archives and the content of the archives. He’s an extraordinarily useful resource for people who want to do Arkansas history.”

Arnold said he and Bryant remain in contact discussing what items might be added to the collection in future deposits.

The BT天堂Archives also houses 50,000 photographs, 1,000 maps, 5,000 pamphlets and 11,000 books about Arkansas.

Bryant is called upon to speak about Arkansas history at local civic organizations, with state and national media, and on the BT天堂campus. He showcases historical photos, news clippings and other materials from the archives.

Charlotte Strickland ’81, UCA’s director of professional development and training, regularly invites Bryant to make a presentation during new employee orientation.

“Jimmy’s session to our new employees consistently receives the highest marks of all the speakers in the program,” Strickland said. “It is fascinating to hear the many stories and illustrations he has regarding UCA’s history.”

Bryant first came to BT天堂in the ’70s as a student. While here, he met his wife, Jann ’77, ’91, who retired from the BT天堂Community School of Music, now the Community Music Institute. He completed a bachelor’s and master’s in history in 1995 and 1996, respectively. He began working as director of archives and university historian in 1998.

Additional collections of materials may not be possible for the foreseeable future. Bryant said the BT天堂Archives is close to capacity, but he plans to continue researching and writing about Arkansas and BT天堂history. In fact, some of his recent research revealed that the campus hosted a teacher-training center for African American students in 1932, prior to integration. He hopes to continue conducting this kind of research and inspiring others to do the same.

“The only thing I truly want to do is to renew an interest in Arkansas and BT天堂history,” Bryant said.

Presented by Conway Regional Health System, BT天堂Homecoming 2019 included a Young Alumni Night, the Alumni & Friends Party, a victorious football game against Sam Houston State University and more. The Bears beat Sam Houston 29-25 on The Stripes.

The university kicked off the week with its high-energy Fall Fest and College Square Pep Rally on Oct. 21 and later in the week hosted performing arts and comedy shows for the BT天堂and Conway community.

The Oct. 25 Homecoming Greek Show at the Farris Center saw Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. take home the first-place prize of $1,500 for its performance in the step show, with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. being named first runner-up and earning a $1,000 prize, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. taking home the second runner-up title and $500 award. Also that day, the Alumni & Friends Party honored two BT天堂alumni for their service to the BT天堂or broader community. Brandy Pate ’98, clinical instructor I in the Department of Occupational Therapy, was presented with the Alumni Service Award, and Spencer Gordy ’07 was awarded the inaugural Young Alumni Award. Pate has been chapter adviser for Alpha Sigma Tau for about 20 years and serves on the interview committee for the Student Orientation Staff. While a student, Gordy held many roles. He was an SOS team leader, executive on the Interfraternity Council and BT天堂Ambassador, to name a few.

Also on Homecoming Day, BT天堂crowned senior Kamoni Manago as the 2019 Homecoming Queen and junior Jarrett Counts as its first-ever Homecoming King, bringing a historic moment to this year’s Homecoming celebration. Trace Huckabay was announced the Homecoming Prince, and Maggie Mankin was named Homecoming Maid.

Counts is a junior health administration major who is also a BT天堂Ambassador, Minority Mentorship Program leader and president of the BT天堂chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He said he was shocked to be named UCA’s first Homecoming King.

“It was a surreal feeling,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do other than stand there and wave. I was trying to take the moment in, make it last.”

Manago is an exercise science major whose campus involvement includes being a Minority Mentorship Program mentor, Women of Excellence member, Greek Elite board member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member and more.

“I really love BT天堂a lot because it makes me feel like I’m home,” Manago said. “They allow you to be you; they allow you to be free and express who you are as an individual as you represent UCA. The amount of love shown to each student here on campus, each and every faculty and staff, that’s amazing to me that BT天堂has that.”