It was great to get back to a bowl game and walk away with a win. Although we have just barely thawed out from the Liberty Bowl victory and associated events in Memphis it is already time to look forward to future alumni activities.
Before doing that, however, we need to send kudos to our volunteers from the Mid-South Alumni Chapter and the Memphis-East Arkansas Razorback Club for their help in Memphis earlier this month. Their involvement helped make the experience a huge success.
As a critical part of our efforts, we wouldn’t be able to do everything we do without the support of our volunteers and members. In the upcoming month, volunteers will also help us review scholarship applications and identify next year’s recipients during a two-day review session on February 19-20 at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. If you have a relative or neighbor who might qualify, urge them to submit an application now as February 1 is the application deadline for the Alumni Association Scholarships.
Alumni should take great pride in this program, which provides funding for 200+ students every year. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, the program was launched in the early 1990s and has grown each year – approximately $350,000 was awarded this year alone. Along the way, we have added the “Roads Scholarships” funded by the Hog License Plates issued in Arkansas (and now Missouri, too.) Chapter scholarships also help encourage students from areas where alumni chapters are located to attend.
This year new awards were initiated by members and volunteers of the association. A portion of each person’s membership dues helps fund a need-based scholarship. To date more than $70,000 has been provided by this funding source. Our members have made a significant impact with several students who desperately needed funds to continue their successful studies.
During the month of February, the Arkansas Alumni Association will also produce the second Pride of Arkansas Tour. We are visiting alumni statewide and in our Texas and Missouri chapter areas allowing them the opportunity to revisit Fayetteville from their hometown.
Teams of alumni staff members and volunteers will be attending 47 events in 26 days – quite a daunting task – to give us a chance to visit some of the small towns of Arkansas that alumni call home.
Finally, more than 26,000 alumni have already shown Pride in their alma mater and their degree, exhibited a Passion for what the association is doing and made a Promise to ensure that the university becomes even better – by becoming a member. It is through their efforts that we are able to continue providing scholarships, produce amazing programs like the Pride of Arkansas Tour and be present to cheer on the Hogs to victory.
We need your help in urging alumni, who are not members, to become members of the Arkansas Alumni Association this year. Another type of giving is through a gift of service. Volunteers play a key role in association activities and we welcome your involvement!
To you, our active members, thank you for helping us continue our efforts to connect and serve our alumni and the university.
