Spring 2011 Razorback Impact e-Newsletter

Gifts through the Annual Fund impact your YOU of A in countless ways.  

The articles below offer just a few examples of how gifts from University of Arkansas alumni and friends impact the lives of our students and make a difference for our entire university community.  

Featured Articles:

Gifts of Sight and Sound

Dollars for Doctorates

First 'Thank a Donor Day' Event a Success 

Need-Based Scholarship Gifts Doubles

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Gifts of Sight and Sound

 
Daniel Jordan is a junior music education major from Catoosa, Okla., who hopes to become a high school band director after graduation. Jordan, whose primary instrument in the Razorback Marching Band is the euphonium, chose to attend the University of Arkansas because of the reputation of his euphonium teacher. In fact, he didn’t apply to any other schools because he was sure this is where he belonged.
 
The band, as a part of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, recently received an outpouring of Annual Fund gifts designated to the Razorback Band Instrument Fund. Jordan is one of many students who have new instruments because of these gifts.
 
“New instruments mean a lot because no one had their own horn before,” Jordan said. “The horns we had were 20 years old, and they were brown and ugly. We just received this new shipment of instruments, and they sound and look so much better. It’s such a big difference from past years.”
 
Jordan views his band experience almost like a four-year internship preparing him for his career. And he says it is one of the most fun things he’s done at the University of Arkansas.
 
“I’ve worked with high school marching bands before, but coming here and actually being in a marching band has helped my perspective,” Jordan said. “Being on the field during games is the best part. Everyone’s yelling, and it’s really a big thrill.”
 
The new instruments add to the excitement because the students feel ownership of their instrument, and they are proud to have equipment that helps them live up to the expectations Razorback fans have of the band.
 
When asked if people will notice a difference in the band because of the new instruments, Jordan said “absolutely!”
  
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Dollars for Doctorates  

Scholarship support can make a difference for students at every level of education. Shay Hopper, a curriculum and instruction doctoral candidate in the College of Education and Health Professions, balances her school obligations with her full-time job as an 8^th grade history and journalism and 9^th grade yearbook teacher at Woodland Junior High School in Fayetteville. And as if that isn’t enough to keep any person busy, Hopper is also involved on special committees at her school and throughout the district, and she is an active volunteer in the community. 
 
Last fall, Hopper was awarded the College of Education Alumni Endowed Scholarship, a fund supported by gifts made to the college through the Annual Fund.
 
“Some people may assume when you are an older, non-traditional student who is married and established, you have the means to pay for classes,” said Hopper. “Graduate tuition is substantial, and any help is a huge relief. Teachers are not the most highly paid individuals in the world, and paying for school out-of-packet can be taxing at times.
 
“I don’t think it is widely known that the university gives scholarships to older students,” she continued. “I am honored and flattered to have been chosen for this scholarship, and I can focus on my classes rather than worrying so much about the cost.”
 
Hopper earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees, in journalism and secondary education respectively, from the University of Arkansas, and she surprised herself by her original choice to come to Fayetteville.
 
“I am from Texas, north of Houston, and my family and I looked at more than 20 colleges and universities all over the eastern half of the country,” said Hopper. “We drove through Fayetteville on the way home from our trip, and we stopped even though we didn’t have a scheduled appointment. The admissions office set us up with a student ambassador, and we took the tour. As soon as I got in the car, I looked at my mom and said, ‘I’m going to school here.’ I never looked back, and I never regretted it.”
 
Hopper and her husband David, a pilot, live in Fayetteville and enjoy Razorback football games, canoeing, listening to live music, traveling and spending time with their wonderful friends and family, especially their first and only niece, Claire.
 
Hopper’s long-term goal is to teach at the university level.
 
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First 'Thank a Donor Day' Event a Success   

  
The University of Arkansas held its first Thank a Donor Day event during the 2010-11 academic year to bring visibility to the many financial contributions that may go unnoticed by members of the campus community and to educate the Arkansas family about the importance of private gifts and how they can get involved.

During this celebration of benefactors to the university, students, employees, alumni and friends were invited to grab a slice of pizza and a piece of cake and sign a hog-sized thank you card, which ended the day with 439 signatures. Participants were also offered the opportunity to say a few words of thanks that were videotaped and will be used in fundraising and stewardship efforts. Another component of this event was to acknowledge the donors who are a part of campus each day already — the many faculty, staff and students who choose to support the institution through financial contributions.

The event was planned by the office of annual programs within University Development.

"The first year of any event involves a lot of unknowns in planning and execution," said Rachel Krest, director of annual programs. "But I am pleased to say the university’s first Thank a Donor Day was a complete success! We learned as we went, and we will make it even better in years to come. I hope more members of the U of A community, on and off campus, will take part next year. You can never thank benefactors enough for what they give to our university."

During the two-hour event, Chancellor G. David Gearhart made remarks about the importance and impact of private giving, a winner was announced for the Thank a Donor student video contest leading up to the event and 34 door prizes donated by local businesses were given away. More than 100 members of the campus community updated their contact information, which helps in outreach efforts and overall communications.

The day would not have been possible without the generous help from student, staff and faculty volunteers and the many members of the Arkansas family who stopped by to say thanks.


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Need-Based Scholarship Gifts Doubled Now Through
June 30


 
When Debbie Walker of the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation announced a $1 million gift to the University of Arkansas in support of need-based scholarships, she wanted to encourage others to get involved and support students with financial need.


In order to bring that goal to life, the 2011 Walker Challenge was born: a two-and-a-half month initiative that will use funding from the foundation’s gift to match contributions from alumni and friends. The Walker Challenge doubles the impact of gifts made to support the Access Arkansas need-based scholarship fund, now through June 30.

"Education is a critical component of success and opportunity," said Walker, "and we want to be a part of making a University of Arkansas degree an attainable goal for students with financial challenges. The cost of higher education prevents many students from beginning their college journey or from continuing in school, and we want students to complete their education."

In 2007, the university launched Access Arkansas, a program committed to raising money for need-based scholarship support, particularly for undergraduate students.

"The Access Arkansas initiative, through support like that of the Walker Foundation, will go a long way toward increasing the number of Arkansans who earn and benefit from a bachelor’s degree," said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. "With the help of these need-based scholarships, students are able to concentrate more of their time on their academics and, in many instances, lessen the financial pressure to work extra hours outside of school to make ends meet. Need-based scholarships help provide recipients with the resources and perhaps the extra incentive to complete their college degree. The matching funds provided through the Walker Challenge provide an outstanding opportunity to make scholarship dollars go further."

More than 16,000 students have received scholarships, grants, loans or Federal Work Study assistance during the current academic year. Even with this incredible number of students helped, the average amount of unmet need for each student this year is still $3,780, but for students who qualify for Access Arkansas scholarship support, that number rises dramatically to $11,770.

"The statistics showcasing the amount of debt most students have accrued by graduation is astonishing," said Walker. "If our support helps to make those first years out of college a little bit easier, we have accomplished our objective."

The goal of the Walker Challenge is for University of Arkansas alumni and friends to contribute $50,000 to Access Arkansas, which when matched, will raise a total of $100,000 for need-based scholarships. Gifts of up to $5,000 per household received by June 30, 2011 will qualify for the challenge. Click here or call the office of annual programs at 479-575-2944 to learn more.


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