The Legacy Created When Giving Back
Alums Tyler ’14 and Caitlin ’13 Rodgers chose the University of Central Arkansas because of its location in central Arkansas and so they could move just far enough away from home to gain independence while still getting to stay in their home state. What the couple discovered was not only a campus but a home they could come back to and engage with after graduation. They donate their time and funding to the college they feel has given them so much.
The Rodgers actively give their time and efforts to continue the tradition of giving back at UCA. Tyler, having just finished a term as president of the UCA Alumni Association Board of Directors, felt that giving back is a way to keep the connection with his alma mater.
“It really wasn’t a choice. I’m a big believer that we are in the place we are today because of the people who have contributed to our lives. When we first got out of college, we didn’t have a ton of money to give, so I felt like I needed to contribute with time, partnerships and relationships,” Tyler said.
Caitlin agreed that UCA is more than a college campus. “The things that we’re talking about that we took away the most from our experience at UCA has to do with people. It’s about the people that are there and how they invest in you and I think that’s important to know. It comes down to those who are willing to give and who want to give their time because it’s something that impacted them. And that they want that impact for somebody else as well.”
To the Rodgers, giving back, no matter the amount, is an important part of supporting UCA students. With giving, “You’re bringing it back. You’re helping the people that are coming behind you. You preserve tradition … and you can change and make things better,” said Tyler. Caitlin also saw giving as a way to “put funds where the biggest need is, those stories that spoke to our hearts and we felt it would be important. It’s investing in someone’s potential.”
The family culture at UCA inspires the Rodgers to keep coming back and giving. “Straight out of college, we were still local and we still had people and friends that were attending the university. We had professors that reached out and wanted to stay in contact just like you would with family,” Caitlin said.
Tyler continued, “I think giving in general contributes to that sense of family and culture. We moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2020, but every time I go back to UCA, it feels like I’m going back home even though we were born and raised in Northwest Arkansas. There’s a culture of family at UCA, and it creates a sense of belonging to the community that goes way past the four years or six years or eight years that you’re at the university.”
For Tyler, “It’s an easy call. I was carried through college because of scholarships. For me, it’s just something that has deep meaning, and I was deeply impacted by it.”