When Steven Godwin heard about colleges growing up, he mostly heard about Southern Arkansas University. That is because almost everyone in his family, with the exception of one aunt attended SAU.
This third generation Mulerider from Hope, Arkansas, said he believes he made the right college choice and is excited about being the recipient of an alumni scholarship which pays for his tuition for the next four years.
“He talked about going other places, but when he got ready to send in his papers, he didn’t send them anywhere except SAU,” his grandmother Wanda Fincher said. “He is blooming now, and really likes college and his classes.”
The legacy of Muleriders in Steven Godwin’s family began with his grandparents, Jim Fincher, who graduated in 1963 with his bachelors, and Wanda Fincher, who took vocational business classes in the 80s at SAU that she would later use to teach in Prescott.
Steven Godwin’s parents, Mike and Dee Godwin are also graduates, with Mike Godwin receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1985 and Dee Godwin receiving her master’s degree in 1995.
His aunt and uncle, Jo Beth Fincher Glass and Wayne Glass are graduates too. Jo Beth Fincher Glass and Wayne Glass graduated in 1985.
Kenny Fincher, another uncle, graduated from SAU in 1994 and Steven Godwin’s great aunt, Mary Jo Fincher Curtis, attended SAU in 1952 and 1953 before going to nursing school in Little Rock.
Steven Godwin, who is considering pursing digital media and desktop publishing because he said he likes making movies on the computer, said he has enjoyed his time outside of class as well.
“The people I’ve met there are different than the people in high school. Where I live in East Hall, I have a bunch of new friends,” Steven Godwin said. “We have more of the same interests, like music, sports, and things, in general.”
Wanda Fincher said she is delighted that her grandson seems to be so open to new experiences in the first month he has attended SAU. Although her grandson has been somewhat shy in the past, he has joined Encore, the song and dance troop on campus.
This kind of impact on students makes her want to continue what has become a family tradition, she said.
“We are prepping for more grandkids now,” Wanda Fincher said of her five grandchildren who could be Muleriders.
The youngest grandson, Dusty Glass, 10, is already forming some idea about where he wants to go to school, she said.
“He always talking about being a Mulerider,” she said of Dusty Glass, the son of Jo Beth Fincher Glass and Wayne Glass of Prescott.
