Up Close – UCA Magazine

Up Close with Jeff Standridge ’90

If you’ve taken notice of the bustling startup culture that’s been making its way through central Arkansas for the past several years, you’ve probably taken note of Jeff Standridge ’90.

Up Close with Stacy Smith-Foley ’96

Smith-Foley’s time at UCA, during which she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and an oboe player, was positively impacted by the Schedler Honors College and encouragement from its founder, the late Norbert O. Schedler.

Up Close with Nancy B. Reese ’80

Reese graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in physical therapy, and though she completed additional degrees at other institutions, she’s been a part of UCA’s physical therapy department since 1988 and has never left. She was named chair in 2004.

Up Close with Alan Bandala

The sophomore nursing major is a recent recipient of an Arch Ford Endowed Scholarship that is helping to ease the stress of paying for college for him and his family.

This year has been filled with many history-making moments, and this issue of the UCA Magazine showcases several of those instances.

We start with the total solar eclipse in April and the rarity of witnessing this celestial event. With UCA being in the path of totality, our campus became a destination for thousands of individuals from Arkansas and at least 32 states and five countries. We hosted presentations with UCA professors, eclipse yoga, children’s book readings, a car show, and of course, the watch party on The Stripes. If that was not enough, our campus played host to Luna: the Eclipse Superhero, and the Barkanalia event which allowed visitors to experience the eclipse with their dogs. This was a “totally” great day.
Continue Reading