Happy New Year to all past, present and future U of A Black Alumni Society members! Happy Birthday wishes also go out to all Razorback alumni celebrating a birthday during the month of January!
It was once state law that every high school student in Arkansas would take a class on Arkansas History. Prior to Arkansas being nicknamed “The Natural State,” it was known as “The Land of Opportunity” instead. Since the inception of the U of A Black Society more than 22 years ago, our primary purpose has been to elicit, generate, promote and support ideas that would transform the University of Arkansas into a “University of Opportunity” for all, especially the recruitment and retention of minority students, faculty and staff. The university, state and nation have since embraced this idea, now called “diversity.” Through the perseverance, sweat, tears and even blood of the great pioneers of our cause, we have come a long way toward improving diversity. We are not fully there just yet. However, the most effective current, future and enduring champion of diversity is YOU — each and every one of us. To continue to affect more positive changes at the “_of A”, we need “U” to “Think Back, Look Back, Come Back and Give Back” of your presence, time, knowledge, experience and finances!
We are well into the late stages of planning and nearing the execution phase of our University of Arkansas Black Alumni Society 2013 Reunion. The 2013 BAS Reunion Committee, headed by Mrs. Ebony Wyatt and Dr. Synetra Gilmer, have put together a dynamic program of events that I am sure you will enjoy and entice you to keep coming back to the hill. As it should, it all begins on Friday afternoon with a Professional Career Development Symposium for our students followed by a reception hosted by the Sam M. Walton College of Business for Dr. Eli Jones, the first African-American dean of the college. A highlight of the evening will be an enchanting welcome reception at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House, followed by a little more exhilarating night of dancing, partying and/or conversation. We are excited about the ever-growing and infamous step-show on Saturday afternoon and closing with religious services at Saint James Baptist Church on Sunday morning. The culmination of the reunion is of course the awards banquet on Saturday night. This year, we want it to be and it will be more spectacular than ever before. To begin with, it is going to be a “black tie” affair. We have some outstanding award recipients that you need to hear about and meet. Additionally, we will be recognizing Dr. Gordon Morgan on the occasion of his retirement for his many accomplishments and outstanding support over the years.
The 2013 U of A BAS Reunion is yours and for you. Therefore, we need you to hop onto bas.arkansasalumni.org to register, and then invite your classmates, family and friends to attend the 2013 U of A BAS Reunion being held Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21, 2013.
