The University of Central Arkansas Foundation recently received a $100,000 gift from Paul and Mary Cantrell of Little Rock that will benefit the football program. The Cantrells established the Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund for Athletics with their gift. This endowment will provide much-needed private scholarships for UCA football players. The establishment of the fund also creates an avenue … [Read more...]

University of Central Arkansas legend Scottie Pippen won't be suiting up when he returns to the Farris Center on Wed., Jan. 20, but he will have a jersey. UCA's most recognized alumnus will have his No. 33 jersey retired in the Farris Center in a halftime ceremony during the UCA-Nicholls State men's basketball game. Pippen was a two-time NAIA All-American at UCA (1986, 1987) and a six-time NBA … [Read more...]

The Grammy award-winning artist Loretta Lynn will bring her timeless music to the University of Central Arkansas's Reynolds Performance Hall on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. as part of UCA's Public Appearances. Known as the "Coal Miner's Daughter" due to her hit single, album, best-selling autobiography and an Oscar-winning film, Lynn has journeyed from the poverty of the Kentucky hills to Nashville … [Read more...]

The UCA Minority Student Services Department will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 15. The breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. in the Student Center Ballroom on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. Former Rep. Linda Pondexter Chesterfield will be the keynote speaker. The prayer breakfast is held annual to commemorate the spiritual legacy, the moral … [Read more...]

The University of Central Arkansas Foundation recently received a $500,000 gift from the Rush and Linda Harding Charitable Lead Trust. According to the agreement, the foundation will receive $100,000 per year for the next five years as a result of the Hardings' planned gift. "For my wife and I, UCA has always been at the forefront for us and at the top of our list for charitable giving. Our … [Read more...]

Colleagues, friends and family of Tom Courtway gathered at the University of Central Arkansas on Dec. 22 to celebrate the endowment of a scholarship that was started in honor of his leadership during the university's transitional period, but it was his mother, Betty Courtway, who was truly honored. Courtway, who served as interim president for part of 2008 and 2009 and has resumed his position as … [Read more...]

The Master of Arts in Teaching graduate program at the University of Central Arkansas has been selected as a finalist in the Association of Teacher Educator's Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award. The award honors outstanding teacher education programs that exemplify comprehensive and cohesive teacher preparation courses aligned with strong collaboration between local school … [Read more...]

UCA alumna Natalie White beat out 20 contestants to become the winner of CBS reality show "Survivor: Samoa." White, 26, of Van Buren, was named the winner of the show during the season finale that aired live Dec. 20. She was presented a $1 million dollar check Dec. 21 on CBS "The Early Show." During the "The Early Show" interview, White said she was still in shock about winning the … [Read more...]

The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees held a teleconference Dec. 16 to approve the sale of property. The university received bids recently for five tracts of land, known as the Crow Farm, located in Elaine. The board approved the highest bids for each of the five tracts totaling $2.5 million. The money from the sale of the Crow Farm will be used to endow scholarships.The board … [Read more...]

Diane Newton, the vice president of business and administration at Lander University in South Carolina, will assume the role of vice president of finance and administration at the University of Central Arkansas. Newton had accepted the position of vice president of financial services in November, but after further discussions it was decided to merge the vice president of administration and the … [Read more...]