Dr. Bernadette Fincher, Chair of the SAU Department of Nursing, said the expansion comes at a good time as there is a growing need for registered nurses, particularly in rural communities.

“The expansion of SAU’s Wharton Nursing Building is an important element toward increasing the number of professional nurses available in south Arkansas to provide the surrounding health care facilities with qualified nurses to meet current and future workforce demands,” said Fincher.

The new addition and renovations were completed in two phases. Phase 1 was conducted January through March of 2007 and included connecting the building to the University’s district cooling loop, renovations to the mechanical room and design work necessary for Phase II. All work connected to Phase I was made possible through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant of $334,000 sponsored by Congressman Ross.

Phase II included renovation of three existing classroom/laboratories and the addition of 10,287 square feet in new classrooms/laboratories, offices, support facilities and parking. This phase was conducted February through November 2008, cost approximately $1.9 million and raised total square footage to 25,114. The building addition was designed by CADM architects of El Dorado, Arkansas and constructed by general contractor Coker Building Company Inc. of Arkansas.

Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with the Magnolia Christmas Parade and continue at 6 p.m. with greetings and caroling and the RHA Celebration of Lights at Overstreet Hall. This segment of the evening will include a special lighting of 100 trees on the lawn of Overstreet Hall. Each section of trees will represent the different periods of SAU’s history including its history as the Third District Agricultural School from 1909-1925; Agricultural and Mechanical College from 1925-1951; Southern State College from 1951 to 1976 and Southern Arkansas University since 1976. Holiday cookies, hot apple cider and hot chocolate will be served to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

At 6:20 p.m., Christmas entertainment will be provided by Central Baptist Church handbell choir and Miss SAU Kristen Mosley will take place in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center plaza. Christmas parade winners will be announced and the lighting of the Bell Tower will take place. Cheese and crackers, mixed nuts, English toffee cappuccino and hot cider will be served.

The entertaining night will continue with a special appearance from a visitor traveling all the way from the North Pole. Children are welcome to visit with Santa Claus, provide him with their Christmas wishes and have their photo made with him.

The evening concludes with a seasonal feast including pork loin and herbed rotisserie roasted chicken, wild rice and apple dressing, roasted garlic sweet potatoes, green bean almondine, fresh baked rolls, tea or coffee and assorted holiday desserts. The dinner will be served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Reynolds Center. Piano music will be provided by Magnolia resident Walter Hale. SAU students will eat free as will children under six years old. Tickets for children six through 12 years old are $3.75 and tickets for adults are $7 per person. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Farmers Bank and Trust, BancorpSouth, Peoples Bank and the SAU Communications Center. Tickets will also be sold at the door on the night of the event.

For more information, call (870) 235-4028

Activities relating to International Education Week will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, November 18 in Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center. At noon, Dr. Charles Keller, associate professor of history, will present a slide show and lecture about his experiences while visiting China. There will be a panel available for a question and answer session after the presentation.

Other highlights of the day will include exhibits from many different countries around the world to view, snacks from around the world to sample, and entertainment and international music to enjoy. In past years, countries such as Russia, Nepal and Sri Lanka have been focused on during International Education Week. Nationally, the week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and allows for the opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

Also next week, Keller will have a poster exhibit in the Brinson Fine Arts Building. The goal of the exhibition is to pass on the reality of the atomic bombings on to as many people as possible and to raise awareness for peace. The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the first cities to experience the horror of nuclear weapons, loan exhibit posters to various groups for educational and non-profit purposes. The exhibition is co-sponsored by the SAU Art Department, the Asian Studies Minor program, and the Chinese Club.

The public is invited to attend any and all events on campus next week. For more information, call Claudia “Penny” Lyons, director of International Student Services at (870) 235-4082.

The workshop, co-sponsored by the Golden Triangle Economic Development Council of South Arkansas and SAU, provides a forum for south Arkansas constituents to meet and discuss with our legislative delegation important issues impacting our region during the upcoming legislative session. Senator Percy Malone and Representative Bruce Maloch will serve as moderators of the workshop which costs nothing to attend. Lunch will also be provided for all participants.

Deborah Lewis, coordinator of the GTEDC, which includes Camden, El Dorado, Magnolia, Hampton and Smackover, said issues such as local government, highways, education and Arkansas economic development will be discussed. She said it is a great opportunity to share perspectives with government and professional leaders from Arkansas who are in positions to make a difference.

To register call Deborah Lewis at (870) 235-4924 or email her at gtedc@saumag.edu. The agenda for Monday’s workshop is available at www.gtedc.org.

The groundbreaking will include brief comments from SAU President, Dr. David Rankin, Jasper Lewis, associate vice president for facilities, Dr. James Rasmussen, chair of the biology department and Kara J. Way, a senior pre-med biology student. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The University Science Center is planned to be completed within the next year, a timeframe that will coincide with the University’s Centennial Celebration.

“This is going to be a tremendous facility with state-of-the-art technology that will serve students who are beginning our next centennial of success at Southern Arkansas University,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin.

The cost of the 64,000-square-foot project is estimated to be $16,747, 986, which includes the main building, district cooling system upgrade, parking, landscaping, furniture, audiovisual equipment and design fees. The general contractor for the project is CDI Contractors of Little Rock and the architects are WER and Associates of Little Rock.

The new facility will house the departments of biology, chemistry, and physics within the College of Science and Technology. Planning for the Center began in 2003 when the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $240,000 to SAU to prepare a proposal for a science and technology building. During the next two bienniums, the University received additional funding, and in 2006, Governor Mike Huckabee awarded $601,747 to the project. Governor Mike Beebe followed with a $1 million award in 2007.
As a result of a special election and the passage of the Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act, SAU will receive $1,432,980 for the project. The University has also issued bonds in the amount of $14 million.

“The Southern Arkansas University Science Center will be the type of facility that will ensure that students who use the facility will be exceptionally well prepared for work or further education when they receive their degrees,” Rankin said. “Classes are currently held in five different buildings, and this center will help centralize many of the programs.”

The SAU Foundation is continuing to seek gifts for the completion of this project. Naming opportunities are available for many of the classrooms and offices. Please contact the SAU Foundation at 870-235-4078 for more information.

Southern Arkansas University officials announce plans for the new University Science Center to be completed within the next year, a timeframe that will coincide with the University’s Centennial Celebration.

“This is going to be a tremendous facility with state-of-the-art technology that will serve students who are beginning our next centennial of success at Southern Arkansas University,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin.

According to Jasper Lewis, associate vice president for facilities, the cost of the 64,000-square-foot project is estimated to be $16,747,986, which includes the main building, district cooling system upgrades, parking, landscaping, furniture, audiovisual equipment and design fees. The general contractor for the project is CDI Contractors of Little Rock and the architects are WER and Associates of Little Rock.

The new facility will house the departments of biology, chemistry, and physics within the College of Science and Technology. Planning for the Center began in 2003 when the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $240,000 to SAU to prepare a proposal for a science building. During the next two bienniums, the University received additional funding, and in 2006, Governor Mike Huckabee awarded $601,747 to the project. Governor Mike Beebe followed with a $1 million award in 2007.

As a result of a special election and the passage of the Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act, SAU will receive $1,432,980 for the project. The University has also issued bonds in the amount of $14 million.

“The Southern Arkansas University Science Center will be the type of facility that will ensure that students who use the facility will be exceptionally well prepared for work or further education when they receive their degrees,” Rankin said. “Classes are currently held in five different buildings, and this center will help centralize many of the programs.”

The SAU Foundation is continuing to seek gifts for the completion of this project. Naming opportunities are available for many of the classrooms and offices. Please contact the SAU Foundation at 870-235-4078 for more information. The date for a planned ground breaking ceremony will be announced in the near future.

The Distinguished Alumni Dinner, “A Red Carpet Affair,” which takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, October 10, in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center, will include a red carpet entrance. Of course, the main guests of honor of the night will be the award recipients of this year’s Distinguished Alumni awards. These guests of honor include Cecil Yates who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. William C. Lindsey, this year’s Distinguished Golden Rider, Gaye Manning this year’s Distinguished Alumni and Stephen Weaver, who will be recognized as the Young Alumni recipient.

“We are going to be highlighting campus stars such as the current Mulerider Idol,” said Alumni Director Ceil Bridges. “It will be just like we are at the Grammy’s or Academy Awards. We really want to place a special emphasis on the Distinguished Alumni recipients. Lat year was extraordinary and we are going to make it better than last year. We have the recipe to do that.”

HOMECOMING AT A GLANCE

Homecoming begins with a 6:30 p.m. pep rally Monday October 6 at the Greek Theatre. These events, which include the announcement of the homecoming king and queen, are coordinated by the Student Government Association.

At 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Student Activities Board will sponsor a drive in movie, “Hancock,” in the Reynolds Center parking lot.

Wonder Boy Burgers will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 in the Mall Area. The burger event will be hosted by Aramark and the SGA.

An invitation only SAU Foundation Honor Societies dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 9. in Grand Hall of the Reynolds Center.

The SGA will lead street painting from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9 on the SAU Farm Road. There will also be a bonfire.

At 4:30 a.m., SAU students and faithful fans will gather together on Friday, Oct. 10 to appear on Channel 7 Daybreak at Reynolds Plaza.

The Rider Golf Tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Magnolia Country Club. The tournament will be a four person scramble and the registration fee is $75 per person. SAU Alumni President Mike Waters is coordinating the event. Call Waters at 901-2208 for more information on the tournament.

The Heartbeat will kickoff at noon on Friday, Oct. 10, in the Senior Walk Mall Area. The event is coordinated by the SGA.

The Foundation Board will have a meeting at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10 at the Reynolds Center. This is coordinated by SGA.

The Distinguished Alumni dinner, “A Red Carpet Affair,” will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Reynolds Center. The event is coordinated by the Alumni Association, SAU Homecoming Royalty and the President’s Ambassadors. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased by calling 235-4079.

A black alumni reception will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, in the Mulerider Center. Back by popular demand is the group “Chemistry,” which has a range that contains anything from gospel to classic Prince hits.

Of course the big day of the week will be Saturday, Oct. 11 with a host of activities planned.

At 8 a.m. on Oct. 11 in the Grand Hall of Reynolds, a Golden Rider Breakfast will be held to honor the class of 1958 that will be celebrating their 50th reunion.

At 10 a.m. the SAU parade begins and proceeds through campus. The parades will line up at 9:30 a.m. in the Assembly of God Church parking lot. This event is coordinated by the SGA.

Also at 10 a.m., Homecoming banners will be displayed at Wilkins Stadium. This is coordinated by SGA.

At 10:30 a.m., floats will be on display at the Reynolds Parking Lot. This is coordinated by the SGA.

Mulegating will be in full force at noon at the Welcome Center. Food and fellowship is available through many organizations and children will enjoy the popular Children’s Corner, which includes inflatable bouncers, cotton candy, and a clown handing out balloons. Enjoy seeing old friends at the different alumni reunions.

1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, SAU Pep Rally, Welcome Center coordinated by the SAU Cheerleaders and the SAU Marching band. This event coordinated by the SAU Cheerleaders and the SAU Marching band.

The SAU Homecoming Queen and her court will be presented at 2 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium. The football game begins at 2:30 p.m. The Muleriders will face Arkansas Tech University. During halftime, banners and float winners of the Homecoming parade will be announced.

The Alumni baseball game will begin thirty minutes after the football game. This event is coordinated by SAU Baseball coach Allen Gum.

Following the game, the Greek Step Show begins at 7 p.m. at W.T. Watson Gym. This event coordinated by Assistant Dean of Multicultural Services Cledis Stuart.

•The SAU Foundation and the SAU Alumni Office donate 1,000 towards prizes to SAU Student Organizations during the homecoming week.

The rodeo is brought to fans by the rodeo team at Southern Arkansas University and is approved by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Ozark Region rodeo. The Ozark Region of the NIRA consists of colleges and universities in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and parts of Louisiana.

“We have about 15 schools in the region and about 220 participants total,” said SAU Rodeo Coach Rusty Hayes.

Hayes said he expects the SAU men’s team to dominate the calf roping and team roping while the SAU women’s team to be strong in the barrel racing, goat tying and break-away roping. Hayes said the women’s team recently won the title in their first rodeo of the season in Marshall, Missouri.

As true with other sports, sometimes athletes performing on familiar turf have a home field advantage, Hayes said, adding his athletes will have the benefit of being able to rest before the events.

“Because all of us and the horses haven’t ridden in a truck for 10 hours, we should be fresher,” he said.

Hayes said proceeds from the rodeo and the concession stand at the event pays for the Agriculture Formal each December, as well as some of the supplies for the animals.

A special aspect of Friday and Saturday evenings rodeos will be a calf scramble will be held for children 10 and under. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded to the children who can grab a ribbon of a calf’s tail the fastest.

Also, the collegiate cowboy and cowgirl with the highest totals for the rodeo will each be given a saddle donated by the Magnolia Advertising and Promotion Board.

For more information on the rodeo, call the SAU Agriculture Department at 870-235-4340.

Carville’s speech is being presented by Farmers Bank & Trust and proceeds will benefit the SAU Foundation.

“James Carville is an internationally-recognized political consultant, known for his keen wit and astute political analysis,” said Southern Arkansas University President Dr. David Rankin. “It will be a pleasure to have him at SAU as part of this outstanding lecture series.”

The event begins with a private reception from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Farmers Bank & Trust. The dinner and presentation will follow at 7 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center at SAU. Tickets are $100 to attend the dinner and lecture and $200 to attend the dinner and lecture as well as the private reception where you can have a photo taken with Carville.
Bob Burns, chairman and chief executive officer of Farmers Bank & Trust, said the goal of the lecture series is not to support any specific political interest, but to support students who want to attend the University but may have financial difficulties.

“What is really important is that the series helps us make a difference in the lives of a few students,” Burns said. “The more funds we raise, the more students who get to go to college.”

Burns said there are four students who currently benefit from the lecture and the hope is to add two to three more this year.

Those who want to help students this year by participating in the lecture are in for an interesting night.

Carville, along with his wife Mary Matalin, wrote “All’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for President,” the best-selling political memoir in American history. His second book, “We’re Right, They’re Wrong,” made it to number one on The New York Times Best Seller list and his third, “And The Horse He Rode In On-the People v. Ken Starr.” His latest release is “Take It Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future,” with Paul Begala.

Perhaps a lesser-known fact about Carville is that he was a partner in a restaurant in San Francisco called Hawthorne Lane. Another interesting fact is that he was featured in a documentary called “The War Room” about the 1992 Bill Clinton presidential campaign that was nominated for an Academy Award.

For more information on the event, or to reserve tickets, call the SAU Foundation office at 877-235-7409 or 870-235-4078.

That is why Sneed is heading to Boston on July 10 to spend five weeks studying at the Berkley College of Music. After this five week period, he will have the chance to audition for an opportunity to attend the school to receive an education in music.

The competition will be stiff.

“I think an average of about 3,000 try out, so it’s around the size of SAU,” Sneed said. “The school is world renowned, so people are trying to get in there day in and day out.”

Sneed was named 2005 Mulerider Idol at SAU. He participated in the contest that gives SAU students the chance to compete against their peers just like American Idol. The song he performed was an original called “That is the way it is.” Sneed said he wrote the song about a guy whose life was impacted just because he got in a friend’s car and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The song is just one of several Sneed has written and produced on a CD. When he is not creating new music, he is planning what songs are the best to worship to at the Full Gospel Holly Temple Church in Magnolia where he unofficially heads the church’s music department.

Sneed said if he is accepted into Berkley, he would like to pursue a music degree from the university and work at a music company like Sony after he graduates. With this job he hopes to combine his talent as a performing musician as well as a producer, something he has learned from experience of putting together tracks for events such as the Miss SAU Pageant.

“I would eventually like to have my own small scale company, and I would like to bring something back to Magnolia,” Sneed said.

But first thing is first. And right now Sneed hopes his next four-year stop is Berkley.