About Us
Donnie Pendergraft made a tremendously significant gift of $5 million to UA Fort Smith in memory of her husband, Ross, and in honor of her two children, Neal and Lauri. The gift was announced on June 24, 2005, Ross’ birthday. The gift established several special endowments.
The Donnie Pendergraft Health Sciences Endowment will provide scholarships, technology and professional development for faculty, as well as meet other needs as determined by the dean of the College of Health Sciences.
The Ross Pendergraft Professor of Leadership Endowment and the Neal Pendergraft Professor of Entrepreneurship Endowment will be used to attract and retain top level professors to the College of Business.
The Lauri Pendergraft Mason Merit Scholarship Endowment will be used to recruit outstanding students in the baccalaureate health sciences programs at UA Fort Smith.
The Pendergraft Endowment for the College of Business will provide key support for the college as determined by the dean, including enhancement of instructional technology, professional development for faculty and merit scholarships to attract outstanding students. It will also provide startup funds for the Family Enterprise Center and establish a distinguished speaker series.
In recognition of Donnie’s contribution, UA Fort Smith has named its new health science center in her honor.
Baldor Electric and Roland S. Boreham support College of Applied Science & Technology and the Engineering Program
 | Baldor Electric Company; Roland S. Boreham, Baldor’s former CEO and chairman of the board; and John McFarland, Baldor's current chairman and CEO gave gifts of almost $2 million to help equip and endow the university’s Baldor Technology Center, home of the College of Applied Science and Technology. As a result, the facility is one of the best equipped technology buildings in the country. In addition, before his death in 2006, Rollie gave generously to endow the university’s Boreham library, to establish a premier endowed scholarship program for outstanding students in engineering, and to endow a prestigious scholarship for students in nursing. |
Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Gives $1.5 Million to UA Fort Smith to Establish the Joel R. Stubblefield Chair for the Dean in the College of Business
 | The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith has received a $1.5 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to establish the Joel R. Stubblefield Chair for the Dean in the College of Business. The announcement came on May 5 from Fred W. Smith, chairman of the board of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, who spoke before a group of faculty, staff, students and community members in a special noontime program in front of the Reynolds Tower. Smith praised the accomplishments of the former UA Fort Smith chancellor who died in October 2005, citing Stubblefield’s effectiveness as a leader and his interest in business in particular as reasons why the decision was made to fund the Joel R. Stubblefield Chair for the Dean in the College of Business. |
Sam Sicard and the First Bank Corporation Board of Directors provide a $1 million endowment for “Scholarships of Distinction” for outstanding students in the College of Business
| While Sam M. Sicard and First Bank Corporation have given generously over the years to various causes at UA Fort Smith, their major investment in the university and in the economic future of the Fort Smith region occurred on April 18, 2006 when they announced a pledge of $1 million to create an endowment for “Scholarships of Distinction” for outstanding business students. “We felt the best way we could support the economic well-being of the Fort Smith region was to provide funds to the UA Fort Smith College of Business, funds which will be used to attract top level business students to our community,” Sam remarked. “This will enable our region to continue to possess the human talent which is vital for the prosperity of our future. Attracting and retaining talented people who are educated in business will help existing businesses in our communities grow and prosper. Others will become entrepreneurs who will form their own businesses and add significantly to the economic vitality of the region.” |  |
Hanna Oil and Gas Gives $1 Million to UA Fort Smith in Support of the University's Family Enterprise Center
The Family Enterprise Center in the UA Fort Smith College of Business will be the recipient for the next five years of earnings on a $1 million endowed gift from Hanna Oil and Gas of Fort Smith. Bill Hanna, president of the family-owned company, made the surprise announcement June 2 during the dedication of the company’s new facility in downtown Fort Smith. “We want to give back to our community in a way that will help local family-owned businesses like ours prosper and thrive,” Hanna said. “That’s why we’ve decided to support the operations of UA Fort Smith’s Family Enterprise Center for the next five years. Beginning with the sixth year, we have asked that the earnings from our gift revert to unrestricted and its use be left to the discretion of the institution’s chancellor and leadership.”
The $1 million pledge, to be paid over a period of five years, will be placed in an endowment fund, with only the annual earnings spent in support of the Family Enterprise Center and, after five years, other university needs. It is expected that the endowment will generate approximately $50,000 a year in spendable revenue.
Chris Whitt Gives $1 Million Gift for Scholarship Endowment in Honor of His Parents
 | The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Foundation has received a $1 million pledge in support of an endowed scholarship fund from Chris Whitt, owner of Whitt Properties LLC and a member of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Foundation Board of Directors. The endowment is named in honor of his parents, John and Mary Whitt. When the endowment is fully funded and coupled with gifts from prior years, it will generate approximately $60,000 each year in scholarships. Whitt said the goal of the scholarship is to allow UA Fort Smith to reach out to high quality students from different geographic locations who will benefit from a regional university education. “I wanted to find a way to honor my parents, who both placed a high value on education, and give back to this community at the same time,” Whitt said. “I think this gift accomplishes my goal.” |
Arkansas Best Corporation and Robert and Mary Young Make Combined Pledge of $500,000 for Unrestricted Scholarships
 | The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has an additional $500,000 in endowed funds for unrestricted scholarships, thanks to generous gifts from Arkansas Best Corporation and Robert and Mary Young of Fort Smith. The two gifts of $250,000 each were announced in April of 2006 at a special celebration luncheon by Arkansas Best Corporation Chairman of the Board, Robert A. Young III. The endowments will generate approximately $25,000 every year for scholarship awards. Mr. Young is the Chairman of the Board of Arkansas Best Corporation and also the past chair of the UA Fort Smith Foundation Board of Directors. He and his wife, Mary, are long time supporters of the university. “Providing young people the opportunity to get a first class college education right here in Fort Smith benefits all of us,” Mr. Young stated. “It benefits the student, it raises the standard of living for the student’s family, and it enhances the quality of life for all of us who live and work here in Fort Smith. Mary and I can’t think of a better gift to give than a gift of education.” |
Don Flanders remembers good friends who have passed on
| A number of years ago Don Flanders made the lead gift to the university’s campaign to raise $5 million. His gift established the Don and Phala Flanders Endowment Fund. The proceeds of the endowment are used annually for the greatest needs of the university. In addition, around Christmas time each year, Don makes contributions to a number of scholarship funds that he created in memory of several of his good friends who have passed on. The scholarships are named for his friends. In 1993 the Flanders Building, home to the College of Business, was named in Don and Phala’s honor. Phala passed away in September of 2004. |  |
Zero Mountain president, Mark Rumsey, honors a loyal and valued employee
 | Mark Rumsey, president of Zero Mountain, established a major scholarship endowment in honor of one of his long-time employees, Andrew Sudigala and his wife, Billie. Over the years Andrew worked his way from being a dock supervisor to head of Zero Mountain’s IT department. His wife, Billie, is a physical therapist for the Greenwood School District. Zero Mountain is also an annual sponsor of the university’s Season of Entertainment, a program that brings nationally recognized arts and entertainment to Fort Smith. |
Bill and Betty Klusmeier support College of Health Sciences with a gift of an operatory
| Bill Klusmeier, a retired Fort Smith orthodontist, and his wife, Betty, gave a gift that supported the purchase a dental operatory for the dental hygiene program at UA Fort Smith. The operatory now has a plaque with their names on it. Bill and Betty have also generously funded the Dr. William and Betty Klusmeier Endowment Fund. The proceeds of this fund are used annually for the greatest needs of the university. |  |
Alma 50's Alumni Scholarship Endowment provides scholarships for Alma students A group of Alma High School alumni from the decade of the 1950's support an endowed scholarship fund to provide tuition, fees, and books support for Alma High School graduates attending UA Fort Smith. One or more scholarships is awarded each year from this fund.
Dr. Fred & Helen Hander create a music scholarship endowment
 | As a part of their estate plan, Dr. Fred and Helen Hander have funded two charitable gift annuities at UA Fort Smith. The annuity provides a stream of income, payable each quarter, to the Handers for as long as they live. In the future, the remaining proceeds will be used to establish a music scholarship endowment for students attending UA Fort Smith. |
Local PEO chapter provides scholarship donations in memory of former member Helen Frasier
| Members of the Chapter BD of the P.E.O. Sisterhood contribute each year to an endowed scholarship fund that they established in memory of Helen Frasier, one of their members and a former university instructor who has passed on. The endowment supports female students who need financial assistance in order to attend UA Fort Smith with preference given to part-time students. The endowment criteria were established by the members of the P.E.O. chapter. |  |
Merhl and Elizabeth Palenske’s testamentary gift leaves their entire estate to UA Fort Smith
 | Merhl and Elizabeth Palenske were both Fort Smith school teachers. Over their lifetime they accumulated a fairly sizable estate. Not having any children, and wanting to do something to strengthen education in Fort Smith, they left their entire estate to UA Fort Smith for an endowed scholarship fund with preference given to students majoring in education. While Merhl and Elizabeth Plaenske are now both gone, their memory will live on forever as scholarships to UA Fort Smith are awarded to area students each year in their names. |
Elvin and Sally Frick Support the Season of Entertainment Endowment Fund
| Elvin and Sally Frick are long-time supporters of UA Fort Smith and have made gifts to scholarship funds, the general endowment, and the arts. Elvin and Sally’s financial support helped start the university’s Season of Entertainment Endowment Fund that provides resources annually to help underwrite the cost of bringing outstanding vocal, dance, opera, and Broadway headliners to Fort Smith. In addition, Sally established the Charles and Nadine Baum Scholarship Fund in memory of her father and stepmother. The scholarship is awarded annually to support a student who is working at least part-time to help pay his or her own way through college. |  |
Dr. Frank Lockwood provides annual support for outstanding students through donations to the Chancellor’s Leadership Council Scholarship Fund
 | While Dr. Frank Lockwood has given generously over the years to various causes at UA Fort Smith, one of the most satisfying endeavors he's supported recently is the Chancellor’s Leadership Council Scholarship Fund. An annual gift of $3,500 is added to other university funds to provide a full tuition, fees, and books scholarship for top students who were leaders in their schools or communities in high school. The scholarship also provides the student with a laptop computer and some living expenses. It is a highly competitive scholarship and helps draw some of the best students from the region to UA Fort Smith. |
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