Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Southern Aluminum Manufacturing, presents a $5,000 check to Josh Kee and Jeanie Bismark of the SAU Foundation and Doug Waterfield, chair of the Department of Art and Design
MAGNOLIA – The Department of Art and Design at Southern Arkansas University is benefiting from a $5,000 investment made by Southern Aluminum Manufacturing, Inc. of Magnolia. The money will purchase software upgrades for the department’s computer lab.
“We at Southern Aluminum feel it extremely important that local businesses and industries support SAU because of the caliber of students and the skills these students can contribute here in Magnolia,” said Mark Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Southern Aluminum. “SAU is producing as high of quality skills and knowledge as we have seen when comparing with large universities, and we honestly feel that Southern Aluminum and SAU will mutually benefit through supporting and nurturing this relationship.”
Associate Professor Doug Waterfield, chair of the department of art and design, said approximately 150 students from across the University will benefit from the software upgrades. A $5,000 gift from Southern Aluminum in 2009 purchased three additional Macintosh computers for the department bringing its total to 15.
“We have enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership with Southern Aluminum,” Waterfield said. “The generosity of Mark Taylor and the staff there has enabled us to continue to be at the forefront when it comes to technology and enabling student preparedness. We deeply appreciate all they have done for the SAU Department of Art & Design and look forward to working with them for years to come.”
