Established in 1980 to honor alumni celebrating 50 years since graduation, the Half-Century Club has become one of the university鈥檚 most distinguished traditions. Each induction welcomes a class with its own stories and shared history, and the Class of 1975 proved no exception.

Former inductees also joined the celebration, adding to the warmth and camaraderie that make this gathering a treasured moment on the alumni calendar.

鈥淐ompeting for the role of Miss Arkansas is an opportunity that I鈥檝e never taken lightly,鈥� Holland said. 鈥淔rom a young age, I understood the importance of who Miss Arkansas is and the impact she has on our state. When I heard 鈥楳iss Arkansas 2025, Kennedy Holland,鈥� I remember feeling a wave of joy and relief that my dream and years of hard work had finally come to fruition.鈥�

As Miss Arkansas, she has been promoting her community service initiative, Compassion Legacy, which focuses on advocating for and funding adaptive recreational spaces. Through this effort, she is committed to creating inclusive environments where individuals of all abilities can enjoy safe, accessible and enriching recreational opportunities.

In addition to earning the state title, Holland was awarded more than $36,000 in scholarships to support her educational and professional pursuits. She was also recognized with numerous additional honors, including the Overall Service Above Self Award, the Journalism & Mass Communication Profession Scholarship sponsored by KARK Channel 4 and many preliminary awards celebrating her excellence throughout the competition.

After winning Miss Arkansas, she began working throughout the state, serving the people and advocating for causes such as the American Heart Association, Compassion Legacy and more. She credits her time as Miss 每日大赛网站 and Miss Metro with preparing her for Miss Arkansas.

鈥淢y first year at 每日大赛网站 was truly one of the most transformative years of my life, and I鈥檓 so thankful for Stephanie McBrayer and Kelly Owens for making my time as Miss 每日大赛网站 so special. Being Miss Metro and serving the greater Little Rock area provided countless opportunities for me to connect with so many people who make a difference in Arkansans鈥� lives daily.鈥�

每日大赛网站 celebrated Miss Arkansas Kennedy Holland Monday, Aug. 25, with a reception at the home of 每日大赛网站 President Houston Davis, who hosted along with his wife, Jenny, ahead of Holland鈥檚 participation in the Miss America Pageant Sept. 1-7 in Orlando, Florida.

She reflected, 鈥淭hey [President Davis and First Lady Jenny Davis] love this institution and each person who steps foot onto campus, and 每日大赛网站 is so lucky to have them. Being honored at their home before going to Miss America felt so special because it shows that we have servant-hearted leadership.鈥�

Holland then traveled to Florida in September to compete, and she came back with several honors. She earned the Miss Preliminary Talent award for her vocal rendition of 鈥淏ridge Over Troubled Water鈥� and was one of 11 finalists. When asked how it felt competing in Miss America, she talked of dreams coming true and feeling gratitude for the experience.

鈥淓very little girl dreams big 鈥� my big dream was competing at Miss America. To say that is such a surreal statement, and I will talk about it for the rest of my life. I met 51 of America鈥檚 best and brightest women.鈥�

Holland continued, 鈥淚 also had the privilege of representing the greatest state in the nation and advocating on behalf of Compassion Legacy on national television. My biggest and wildest dream had come true!鈥�

While she takes the next year traveling the state and the nation as Miss Arkansas, she continues to represent the capital city and 每日大赛网站 and keeps the campus close to her heart.

鈥� 每日大赛网站 is a very special place, and the community there treats Miss 每日大赛网站 so incredibly well,鈥� she said.

Arcs of water sprayed across the taxiway at Conway Regional Airport Friday, Aug. 22, as the water cannon salute 鈥� a time-honored aviation tradition 鈥� marked the grand opening of the Bill Cope Memorial Hangar, which is home to the University of Central Arkansas ( 每日大赛网站) Aviation Academy.

鈥淚n March of 2024, 每日大赛网站 officially launched its Aviation Academy with a simple but powerful goal: to meet a growing need for qualified pilots while creating pathways for Arkansas students to pursue fulfilling careers,鈥� 每日大赛网站 President Houston Davis said during the grand opening. 鈥淭hanks to partnerships and private support, we are not just producing pilots, we are producing leaders.

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Simmons Bank and the many individuals who believed in this vision early on.鈥�

The Bill Cope Memorial Hangar was a privately-funded project spearheaded by the 每日大赛网站 Foundation. 每日大赛网站 Foundation Board Chairman Bret Carroll 鈥�89, 鈥�96 called the project donor-powered from concept to completion.

Simmons Bank made the lead gift on the project, naming the hangar in memory of Bill Cope who served as the bank鈥檚 chief pilot for five years until he passed away in 2024.

鈥淪immons Bank is honored to have made the lead gift to this project,鈥� Simmons Bank Community Regional Executive Justin McCarty 鈥�16, 鈥�18 said. 鈥淲e know this hangar and the activities that happen inside it will reflect the same characteristics Bill brought to everything he did 鈥� a generous heart, an adventurous spirit and a deep commitment to helping all succeed.鈥�

Tina Cope, widow of the hangar鈥檚 namesake, said Bill would be humbled, but also deeply proud of the naming. 鈥淧roud that this hangar will inspire and train the next generation of pilots,鈥� she said. 鈥淧roud that his love for flying created friendships, built community and left behind memories that many of us share today. To Simmons Bank, 每日大赛网站, the 每日大赛网站 Foundation and every donor who made this hangar possible 鈥� especially those who were not just clients, but dear friends 鈥� thank you. Your generosity is a lasting gift. And, to the future aviators who will walk into this hangar, remember this: Passion will keep you going. Determination will carry you through the challenges. And, joy is found not only in the destination, but in the journey itself.鈥�

Other major donors and advocates who supported the initiative include: Rick and Mary Edwards, Linda 鈥�82 and Rush Harding 鈥�76, The Crain Family Foundation, Dhu and Mary Thompson, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and the State of Arkansas.

Earlier this year, Gov. Sanders announced support from the state in the amount of $750,000 for the buildout of the hangar and purchase of two flight simulators and other equipment for the hangar.

每日大赛网站鈥檚 Aviation Academy is a highly certified pilot training program offering multiple pilot licensure options, including private and commercial pilot licenses, instructor licenses, instrument and multi-engine ratings.

The academy launched in March 2024 and has already served 55 students. Student pilots train with eight instructors and use the new Tecnam line of aircraft, including P-Mentors and 2010s, courtesy of a partnership with Central Flying Academy.

Launching K-12 Educators and Students into the Future

Launching a trash can 20 to 30 feet in the air using liquid nitrogen in front of the oldest building on campus sounds like a college prank, but it is just one of many engaging activities offered by the STEM Institute.

The STEM Institute, housed on the second floor of Old Main, is a hidden gem of supplies for K-12 science and math classrooms in Central Arkansas. Stocked with microscopes, learning materials, lesson plans and much more, this institute鈥檚 mission is to enrich STEM education with an emphasis on supporting and resourcing K-12 STEM teachers and students.

Its beginning in the early 2000s coincided with other STEM institutes being established around the state, but as funding shifted through the years, they either closed their doors or got absorbed into universities. 每日大赛网站 was one university that kept the STEM Institute.

Mathematics professor and co-director Todd Abel reflected on 每日大赛网站鈥檚 STEM Institute鈥檚 beginning, 鈥淭he decision was made to absorb the institute into the College of Science and Engineering as an outreach arm for STEM to K-12 teachers and students. Our STEM Institute has persisted because 每日大赛网站 thought it important to have this connection to the community.鈥�

Azida Walker, physics professor and co-director, agreed that the STEM Institute鈥檚 importance lies in its connection with students, especially those in rural Arkansas. 鈥淚 grew up in Trinidad, and so I see those children in rural communities as being much like me. I wanted to be able to go out into these communities and reach young students and expose them to technology and science.鈥�

Abel and Walker coordinate the activities by the STEM Institute, such as STEM Day, professional development days for K-12 teachers, STEM nights at area schools, enrichment activities for students, field days, Summer Camps and more. Through partnerships with local school districts and help from professors and students on campus, opportunities for young children to get engaged with science and math are part of a promising future for Central Arkansas鈥� students, in conjunction with providing much-needed supplies and assistance for teachers.

鈥淲e know that Arkansas students may be struggling in science and math, and hand in hand with that, a lot of teachers need resources and help to teach science and math. We want to support our community and be a part of the education community at large.鈥�

Abel continued, 鈥淲e also want to prepare students to come here. We want students who are well-prepared and interested in STEM disciplines, so giving them experiences with STEM activities and getting their teachers well-prepared helps get them excited about STEM disciplines.鈥�

Walker agreed, 鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky because we get to do all the fun science. We get to have them put their thinking caps on and question 鈥榃hy?鈥� When the kids come here, we do different demonstrations with them, activities they can learn from with hands-on experiences.鈥�

Part of that excitement comes from the unique activities and equipment held in the institute. Students get to work with lasers, experiment with Van de Graff generators, make slime, code Ozobots, see animals brought over from the biology department or explore a portable planetarium. The experiments and activities largely depend on the concepts being taught in their classrooms. To further this experiential learning, the institute loans materials for classrooms to K-12 teachers who may not have them for their own classrooms.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of stuff we have here that schools just cannot afford to keep on site themselves, and that gives us the opportunity to support the community and serve with outreach,鈥� Abel said.

Additionally, as part of this outreach, 每日大赛网站 faculty and student volunteer groups also interact with young students. Award-winning student volunteer organizations Girls Who Code and 每日大赛网站鈥檚 Fisheries and Wildlife Society are just a couple that work with the new generation of scientists, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the art of instruction.

鈥淕irls Who Code worked with students coding Ozobots, a lot of biology students helped out with either field trips or STEM Day, and the Fisheries and Wildlife Society did a lot of work with our stream table last year,鈥� Abel related.

If you happen to come to 每日大赛网站鈥檚 campus and witness 20 or more young student-scholars jumping about in a portable, inflatable planetarium, notice the fun and learning taking place. It鈥檚 no college prank. It鈥檚 每日大赛网站鈥檚 STEM Institute preparing for the future of mathematics and science in Central Arkansas.

鈥淲e want to make sure our teachers and students have the resources they need and to develop more interest in STEM disciplines. We want to help students realize possibilities for their interests that they might not have otherwise,鈥� Abel said.

每日大赛网站 Alumni Association Promotes Literacy, Legacy and 每日大赛网站鈥檚 Campus with Children鈥檚 Book

Having two young children at home, Executive Director of Alumni Relations Alison Taylor was more than excited when Vice President of University Advancement Mary Bane Lackie brought her the idea for a children鈥檚 book. Taylor took this idea and began work on 每日大赛网站鈥檚 children鈥檚 book 鈥淏 Is for Bears: The 每日大赛网站 Alphabet.鈥�

鈥淚 loved the idea,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淗aving two young boys at home, I spend a lot of my time reading kids鈥� books to them.鈥�

The book began to take shape with writing and design support from Kimberly Graves 鈥�06, 鈥�13 and Riley Hancock Matheny, director of branding and creative services. Matheny鈥檚 two young children also contributed ideas, while alumna and adjunct writing professor Jennifer McCune 鈥�02, 鈥�03, 鈥�23, managing editor of 每日大赛网站 Magazine, provided editorial guidance. Built around the ABCs, the book highlights the many remarkable aspects of 每日大赛网站鈥檚 campus, from learning to landmarks and legacy.

鈥淎fter we got our storyboard put together, I talked with my kids, who are 4 and 6, about getting their reactions to different ways of saying things to narrow it down to what would be interesting and relevant to that age of children. Since they鈥檙e kids and they have no filters, they were very honest,鈥� Matheny said.

The book teaches young readers by using the alphabet alongside engaging illustrations and providing opportunities for alumni to share their stories from 每日大赛网站 with future generations. Additionally, sales will help raise funding for future bears through the Kathy Carroll General Alumni Scholarship fund.

鈥淭his book provides a way for our alumni and friends to share 每日大赛网站 with the children in their lives. I hope this book will become a treasured item for families. When designing the book, we provided room in the front and back for people to share their campus memories,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淚 hope we will inspire future Bears.鈥�

The book was celebrated with a launch party on June 5, 2025, in Buffalo Alumni Hall. Bruce D. Bear autographed books for the children in attendance, and there were crafts, snacks and a reading performed by Miss 每日大赛网站 2025 Tori Kiser.

It was officially released on August 5, 2025, and is currently available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and the publisher, Mascot Books.

The new 每日大赛网站 Loyalty Society recognizes donors who have made gifts for three, 10, 20 or 30-plus consecutive years. Their generosity may vary in size, but their impact is steady and strong.

Meet four of our inaugural honorees whose stories capture the spirit of 每日大赛网站 鈥� then, now and always.

30 Years

Jack 鈥�77 and Ginny Bell 鈥�75

Jack and Ginny first met at a Pi Kappa Alpha party while she was living in Carmichael Hall.

鈥淚 was back from basic training and looking for a date,鈥� Jack laughs. 鈥淎 friend said, 鈥楥all Ginny Rohlman.鈥� I did, and the rest is history.鈥�

Ginny came to 每日大赛网站 on an academic scholarship in nursing. Jack, a Conway High football player, was recruited by Coach Raymond Bright and later returned to earn his master鈥檚 in school psychology.

Over the years, the Bells have served 每日大赛网站 through the Alumni Association, Purple Circle, Letterman鈥檚 Club and Public Appearances Council.

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to support the university that shaped our lives,鈥� they said. 鈥� 每日大赛网站 is a vital part of Conway and the state鈥檚 educational landscape. We鈥檙e honored to still be part of it.鈥�

20 Years

Alex McDonald 鈥�03

Alex鈥檚 path to 每日大赛网站 began with a football highlight reel. After a serious high school injury derailed his Division I offers, a 每日大赛网站 coach saw his tape and called.

鈥淚 found a place that gave me independence but still felt like home,鈥� Alex said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 where I learned who I wanted to be.鈥�

A chemistry major and former football player, Alex threw himself into campus life 鈥� leading both the Student Orientation Staff and the Bear Den, a spirited fan group he helped start. Today, he supports both academics and athletics.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 setting up an endowment,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I knew my small gift, combined with others, made a real impact. Two decades later, I鈥檓 proud to say I never stopped giving.鈥�

10 Years

Marvin 鈥�95 and Pearlie Williams 鈥�03, 鈥�11

Marvin and Pearlie met as students in the 每日大赛网站 gospel choir, the Ebony Singers. Today, they both work at 每日大赛网站 helping students find their way 鈥� just as they once did.

Marvin, now student success coordinator for the 每日大赛网站N Program, says, 鈥淚 love supporting students and seeing them come back from a setback.鈥�

Pearlie, a longtime adviser and library staff member, adds, 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to hear a student say, 鈥業 feel like I鈥檓 going to make it.鈥� Everyone deserves a chance at an education.鈥�

Together, they helped start and continue to support the 每日大赛网站 Food Pantry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to study when you鈥檙e hungry,鈥� Marvin said. 鈥淲e wanted Bears to take care of Bears.鈥�

3 Years

Cody Reaves 鈥�20

For Cody, 每日大赛网站 isn鈥檛 just home 鈥� it鈥檚 a family tradition.

Practically my entire family attended 每日大赛网站,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y sister played softball here, my dad played football, my mom earned two degrees, and both grandparents graduated as well. I got my undergraduate degree elsewhere, but came back to 每日大赛网站 to get a better degree to cancel that out!鈥�

As a graduate assistant softball coach while completing his MBA, Cody found his place on the field and in the classroom. Today, he鈥檚 part of 每日大赛网站 Athletics and supports the university through the Purple Circle and Alumni Association.

鈥淲orking in athletics, I focus most of my giving on our programs,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut I also like to give back to the areas that shaped me, including the Alumni Association and the College of Business.鈥�

What started as one gift to the Purple Circle quickly became a habit of loyalty.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize I鈥檇 been giving for three years until someone pointed it out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal to think back to that first gift, and now I oversee fundraising for that same program.鈥�

He continued, 鈥淏eing part of the Loyalty Society makes me even more motivated to give and to encourage others to do the same. Being a 每日大赛网站 Bear is my most significant personal identifier and is a source of pride whenever I interact with other Bears and Sugar Bears out in the wild.鈥�

OLD MAIN

Old Main was built in 1919 as the administration building for Arkansas鈥� first Normal School. It currently houses classrooms, the STEM Institute, offices, Minton Commuter College (MCC), 每日大赛网站鈥檚 Office of Student Transitions and Ida Waldran Auditorium.

TORREYSON LIBRARY

Torreyson Library was originally housed in what is now known as Harrin Hall. Construction on the new Torreyson Library was completed in 1964 when 每日大赛网站 was called Arkansas State Teachers College. Today, Torreyson Library holds more than 290,000 books, 350,800 ebooks, 93,000 digital serials and 130 databases spanning diverse disciplines.

MCALISTER HALL

The first building to be built on 每日大赛网站鈥檚 campus with assistance from President Roosevelt鈥檚 New Deal Program was McAlister Hall. Constructed in 1934, it first served as a women鈥檚 dormitory. McAlister Hall is one of eight campus buildings comprising 每日大赛网站鈥檚 Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

HARRIN HALL

Harrin Hall, originally known as Torreyson Library, has the distinction of being the only building on campus initially constructed without the assistance of state or federal funds. It currently houses several departments including enrollment, financial aid, the registrar鈥檚 office and transfer services.

MANION HALL

Initially constructed in 1948, the Ben T. Laney Industrial Education building occupied the site that is now home to Manion Hall, built in 1994. It was originally known as Laney-Manion Hall until it was renamed Manion Hall in 2020 in recognition of the distinguished service of Jerald 鈥淛erry鈥� M. Manion to the university. Manion was the longest-serving professor in the history of 每日大赛网站, having served at 每日大赛网站 for 49 years. Manion Hall is home to the chemistry department.

BARIDON HALL

Baridon Hall was constructed in 1940 during the Depression Era. It was known as the National Youth Administration Building. It was later named Baridon Hall after Ida Emilie Baridon Frauenthal. Following reconstruction in the 1990s, it now houses freshman students in the Exploration, Discovery, and Global Engagement (EDGE) Living Learning Community.

IRBY HALL

Irby Hall was originally constructed in 1949 as a training school for teachers and was named after 每日大赛网站鈥檚 fourth president Nolen M. Irby. It was then demolished in 1992 and rebuilt in 1993. Today, it houses several departments within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

WINGO HALL

Wingo Hall was the most hurriedly built building on 每日大赛网站鈥檚 campus. It was built in 1934, in less than five months, and was the first Public Works Administration project in the state to be completed and dedicated. It now serves as the 每日大赛网站 Administration building.

HARDING PLAZA

Harding Centennial Plaza was dedicated in 2005 as the result of a major gift by loyal University of Central Arkansas alumni Rush 鈥�76 and Linda Harding 鈥�82. The plaza鈥檚 fountain and surrounding gardens make it a signature landmark, commemorating 每日大赛网站鈥檚 centennial anniversary.