{"id":7847,"date":"2019-12-08T21:26:16","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T03:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/?p=7847"},"modified":"2019-12-09T08:26:51","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T14:26:51","slug":"love-and-loyalty-aims-to-secure-the-future-for-generations-of-muleriders-to-come","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/2019\/love-and-loyalty-aims-to-secure-the-future-for-generations-of-muleriders-to-come\/","title":{"rendered":"Love and Loyalty aims to secure the future for generations of Muleriders to come"},"content":{"rendered":"

Southern Arkansas University has launched the boldest fundraising initiative in its 110-year history. The Love and Loyalty Campaign aims to strengthen SAU\u2019s commitment to affordability and innovation. The University\u2019s public launch of the campaign took place through a series of events on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7. During that time, alumni and friends experienced the advancements taking place at SAU. Attendees enjoyed a variety of activities including a trapshooting demonstration, rocket launch, presentation of student research posters, a reception with coaches, and more.<\/p>\n

Through the Love and Loyalty Campaign, the University seeks to raise $22 million over five years to benefit student enrichment, faculty and staff support, academic programs, student life and community engagement, revitalized facilities and athletics. A major focus of this effort is the strengthening of the SAU Foundation endowment, which annually provides resources for scholarships, academic enrichments, professorships, and athletics.<\/p>\n

\"Ron<\/a>

Ron Harrell speaks to future Muleriders during Lights Love and Loyalty on Saturday, December 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

The leadership phase of the campaign began in November 2016. Since that time, SAU alumni, friends, corporate partners, faculty and staff have graciously given more than 11,200 gifts, sparking the creation of 65 new endowments. These include SAU\u2019s first endowed Dean\u2019s Chair and its first endowed Department Chair.<\/p>\n

Securing SAU\u2019s future<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Trey<\/a>

Dr. Trey Berry, president of SAU, holds aloft the minutes of the first Board of Trustees meeting dating to 1909.<\/p><\/div>\n

Holding aloft the minutes from the very first Board of Trustees meeting dating back to 1909, the year of SAU\u2019s founding, Dr. Trey Berry, president, asked those gathered to consider future generations of Muleriders. \u201cThe Third District Agricultural School was founded 110 years ago on the vision that south Arkansas matters,\u201d Berry said. \u201cWe stand on the shoulders of many who came before us to pave the way for the success we now enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noting that SAU serves a diverse student population from across the United States and around the world, Berry pointed to the University\u2019s many new programs that are meeting the demands of a changing educational environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was here that the late Louis Blanchard taught me about dedication to your profession and the people in your life,\u201d Galway said. \u201cIt was here that Dr. Terry Stinson taught me to pay attention to details. They were channeling us to excellence.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe must remain forward thinking and innovative in a highly competitive world,\u201d Berry said.<\/p>\n

Beth Galway, a 1984 alumna and an officer of the SAU Alumni Association Board of Directors, spoke, calling her alma mater \u201ca shining light to our lives and the community.\u201d She asked everyone to consider the ways SAU has touched their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was here that the late Louis Blanchard taught me about dedication to your profession and the people in your life,\u201d Galway said. \u201cIt was here that Dr. Terry Stinson taught me to pay attention to details. They were channeling us to excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joan Dempsey, a 1981 alumna, told the crowd that SAU helped define her life as well as her professional worth. \u201cI learned at SAU how to think critically, write persuasively, and argue eloquently,\u201d she said. \u201cThese skills have served me well in everything I\u2019ve achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dempsey announced that, as a legacy student, it was her pleasure to participate in the campaign by endowing a scholarship for education majors in the name of her father, James Riddle (\u201961).<\/p>\n

\"Eboni<\/a>

Eboni Edwards, a theatre major at SAU, speaks during the Lights Love and Loyalty celebration on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

Eboni Edwards, a senior performing arts major from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, gave a student\u2019s perspective. \u201cI came to SAU with my sights set high, and SAU has risen to my expectations,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

Generous giving benefits students every day. \u201cDuring the stressful college audition process, SAU is set apart by its competitive scholarships. No matter the subject or career plan, scholarships are the way to our future,\u201d said Edwards.<\/p>\n

Edwards thanked Mrs. Dempsey for endowing a scholarship, as well as other donors for the gifts they have provided. \u201cThank you for all the ways you make being a Mulerider one of the greatest experiences of my life,\u201d Edwards enthused.<\/p>\n

Dr. Abdel Bachri, dean of the College of Science and Engineering (COSE), said that since joining the faculty in 2007, he has witnessed SAU\u2019s commitment to meeting its goals. \u201cI\u2019ve seen the outpouring of support by administration, alumni, friends, and industry partners,\u201d Bachri said. \u201cAs dean, I realize the tremendous role donors play in helping us build a program from the ground up. The support the College receives from donors is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bachri explained the COSE faculty members inspire innovation, offering students hands-on research with the tools they need to succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe work of philanthropy is significant,\u201d LeMay said. \u201cThrough giving, we transform organizations, and our giving transforms us. Together, we are able to accomplish so much.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Abdel<\/a>

Dr. Abdel Bachri speaks during the Lights Love and Loyalty celebration on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cCompetition for Engineering students is challenging,\u201d he said. \u201cOur supporters have stepped up to provide resources for the scholarships that attract students to SAU.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ron LeMay, a 1967 alumnus of Southern State College, serves as co-chair of the campaign. He spoke about the importance of continuing the advantages he had as a student.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe work of philanthropy is significant,\u201d LeMay said. \u201cThrough giving, we transform organizations, and our giving transforms us. Together, we are able to accomplish so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ron Harrell, a 1956 graduate of Southern State College, spoke after children representing the future of SAU gathered onstage to \u201cThis Little Light of Mine.\u201d He spoke of the responsibility of providing educational opportunities to future Muleriders. \u201cThis is not only our future, but the future of our country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Love and Loyalty Campaign and how you can join this effort, please visit\u00a0https:\/\/sauloveandloyalty.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Beth Galway, a 1984 alumna and an officer of the SAU Alumni Association Board of Directors, speaks during Lights Love and Loyalty on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Joan<\/a>

Joan Dempsey, a 1981 alumna, speaks at Lights Love and Loyalty on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Lights<\/a>

The Lights Love and Loyalty celebration was held on the Campus Mall on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Love<\/a>

Fireworks explode over the SAU Campus Mall at the conclusion of Lights Love and Loyalty on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Southern Arkansas University has launched the boldest fundraising initiative in its 110-year history. The Love and Loyalty Campaign aims to strengthen SAU\u2019s commitment to affordability and innovation. The University\u2019s public launch of the campaign took place through a series of events on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7. During that time, alumni and friends… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":564,"featured_media":7848,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[97,276,32641,200,7753,288],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7847","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-alumni","8":"category-community-corner","9":"category-featured-layout","10":"category-foundation","11":"category-homepage","12":"category-regional-news","13":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7847"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/564"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}