- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/bruce-murphy/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Fri, 12 Apr 2019 22:15:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Taste of Little Rock draws record crowd, raises $100,000 /news-archive/2019/04/12/taste-of-little-rock-2/ Fri, 12 Apr 2019 22:15:18 +0000 /news/?p=74039 ...]]> Taste of Little Rock set new records this year, with nearly 800 people attending and more than $100,000 raised for student scholarships. Visitors were treated to tamales from , perfectly plated beef medallions with mashed potato from Arthur’s, melt-in-your-mouth sweets from , frozen treats from and many other cuisines provided by this year’s 33 vendors. served a seafood pasta that won over the crowd and earned the restaurant the “Best of Taste” designation for the second year in a row. “This was by far the most highly attended Taste of Little Rock yet,” said Ryan Miller, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association. “We are excited that this event continues to grow and have an impact on student scholarships.” The event raised just over $100,000 for student scholarships.

“This event wouldn’t happen without our volunteers,” Miller said. “Mauri Douglass has been the longtime chair of this event, and we wouldn’t be successful without her guidance. Stephanie Caruthers stepped in to serve as co-chair, and we look forward to her leadership in the coming year. Additionally, the Alumni Board and Taste of Little Rock committee put in countless hours securing sponsors and restaurants to make the event a success, and we had more than 75 student volunteers.” This year’s Taste of Little Rock paid tribute to Arkansas Heart Hospital CEO Bruce Murphy for his longtime support of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and his work to impact the health of Arkansans. Murphy, who graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science, has been a longtime supporter of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Last year, he gave $800,000 to the College of Education and Health Professions. That gift helps support the Student Success Initiatives Fund, which provides academic tutoring and mentoring to students as well as a full-time social worker to assist students. On April 3, the night before Taste of the Little Rock, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock hosted a small reception honoring Dr. Murphy. Sloan Davidson, director of the nursing department, told Dr. Murphy that her students have benefited tremendously from having access to a social worker. Nursing is ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s largest major, with more than 400 students enrolled in associate degree programs and another 400 in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. “Many students have life issues, and their financial need is tremendous,” she said. “A majority are first-generation, and oftentimes they work multiple jobs to get through school to better themselves and their families.” Davidson has had students who have dealt with the death of a spouse and a child. “Having resources to help them get through that and have access to mental health care makes all the difference,” she said. “This gift has been a godsend for our program and our students.” The Student Success Initiatives fund includes emergency funds that have been used to help students in desperate situations. “We’ve been able to help students renew their electricity and prevent them from being evicted. We’ve had homeless students we’ve been able to get housing for. It’s just been more than we could ever ask for, and we so appreciate it,” Davidson told Dr. Murphy. Those kinds of resources often mean the difference between students dropping out of school or finishing a degree that will help them get a job with which they can support themselves and their families. ‘“It’s also adding a nurse to our community, where we currently have a nursing shortage,” Davidson said. Murphy said he felt honored by his alma mater. “I believe that I have a debt to pay to for where I am,” he said. “My expectation when I began this was not that I’d be where I am today. I know it is because I was blessed by my Lord, blessed by the education I got, and I was very blessed by the people who helped me and became role models for me, who were the motivators and molders that gave me the opportunity to stay on the road and not the shoulder.” Top right photo: A Taste of Little Rock attendee samples edamame quinoa salad preapred by Arkansas Heart Hospital. Above left: ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student volunteers sample frozen treats from LePop, one of this year’s vendors at Taste of Little Rock. Photos by Benjamin Krain ]]> Taste of Little Rock to honor Dr. Bruce Murphy /news-archive/2019/01/22/taste-of-little-rock/ Tue, 22 Jan 2019 22:17:46 +0000 /news/?p=73185 ...]]> The 16th annual Taste of Little Rock will introduce guests to some of the best food from the finest restaurants in central Arkansas while honoring Arkansas Heart Hospital CEO Bruce Murphy for his longtime support of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and his work to impact the health of Arkansans. The event will be on Thursday, April 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Proceeds benefit the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Mauri Douglas (Class of ’74 and ’86) is co-chairing the event for the fifth year along with Stephanie Caruthers, a managing partner at Trios restaurant. “I have helped interview students who have applied for scholarships,” Douglas said. “ I’ve heard their stories. I know what these scholarships mean to our students.” The event honors Dr. Murphy, a longtime Little Rock cardiologist, who graduated in 1975 summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2011, he became the CEO of Arkansas Heart Hospital. “We are excited to honor Dr. Murphy for his passion to impact the lives of Arkansans through education and creating a healthy lifestyle,” said Ryan Miller, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association. “He is passionate about moving the city of Little Rock forward in collaboration with the university. When I first met him, he said he wanted to make Little Rock more of a college town – and I believe this effort will have a lasting impact on our ��ǳ��ܲԾ��ٲ�.” A longtime supporter of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Murphy gave $800,000 last year to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Education and Health Professions. His gift helps support the Student Success Initiatives Fund, which provides academic tutoring and mentoring to students as well as a full-time social worker to assist students. Murphy said he hopes the gift will help equip students with the resources they need to overcome obstacles that might prevent them from getting a college education. “Dr. Murphy understands the role ��Vlog��ý Little Rock plays in this city and is willing to support programs that promote student success while helping the economy of the region,” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said. Murphy has also been instrumental in creating new and innovative ways to impact the health of Arkansans. His vision of exercise and food as medicine can be seen in a variety of initiatives. The is the largest intensive cardiac rehabilitation facility in the state and the only unit in central Arkansas. There, patients are treated through diet, exercise, and lifestyle education to help them live their best lives. His work is also reflected in the mission of the Arkansas Heart Hospital Foundation, now known as Champions for Health, which focuses on helping Arkansas youth learn how to plan for health. According to Murphy, “To be a transformative organization, you have to be disruptive.” This year’s Taste of Little Rock will feature more than 40 restaurants. Several restaurants from years past will be participating along with some new eateries. “I’ve had many attendees tell me that Taste of Little Rock is their favorite event,” Douglas said. “Once people come, they want to come back again and again.” Tickets are $75 each, or $35 for lifetime alumni members, and can be ]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock exceeds fundraising goal, raises $18 million /news-archive/2018/07/10/fundraising/ Tue, 10 Jul 2018 14:00:29 +0000 /news/?p=71097 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock finished the 2018 fiscal year with $18 million in private gift support, surpassing its annual goal and making it the third-best year in the university’s fundraising history. “One of our top priorities is to make a quality college education accessible and affordable in central Arkansas,” Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said. “Private philanthropy is vital to providing this pathway to support student scholarships and experiential learning opportunities. “I couldn’t be more grateful to our supporters who understand the value of a college degree and why supporting a university in Little Rock is good for everyone in central Arkansas and in the state.” More than 7,400 individuals, corporations, and private foundations gave 24,642 gifts between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018. Twenty-nine new endowments, totalling nearly $1 million, were established during the 2018 fiscal year, bringing ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s total endowment to more than $78 million. Among the gifts were nearly $1 million from Windgate Foundation to establish a professorship in applied art; $800,000 from Dr. Bruce Murphy, president and chief executive officer of , to benefit students in the College of Education and Health Professions; and nearly $1 million to create a more affordable pathway to a law degree for Pulaski County residents and future law students who want to practice law in the county. The money is part of the charitable component left over in a $45 million cigarette settlement fund. Private funding allowed for the creation of the Signature Research Experience Awards, a new program in 2017-18 that provided 79 students an opportunity to work with a faculty member on a research or creative works project. The program helps students gain knowledge and skills required to compete in a competitive workforce upon graduation. Trojan Athletics posted a banner year with $4.3 million in gifts designated for student-athlete support. The university’s largest gift was a $1.4 million gift from Greg Hatcher, chief executive officer of The Hatcher Agency, to start a NCAA Division I wrestling program in the state. “The growth of interest and support for the Little Rock Trojans continues to make a significant impact on our athletics program,” said Chasse Conque, director of athletics. “We are most grateful for the generous contributions of our loyal donors who believe in our vision to elevate Trojan Athletics to heights we have not seen before.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association also contributed to the university’s fundraising efforts. Its signature fundraiser – Taste of Little Rock – raised more than $130,000 for student scholarships. More than half of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees also contributed through the university’s “All In” campus campaign. Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Christian O’Neal said the university is well-positioned moving forward into its five-year comprehensive campaign. “We exceeded our annual goal, and we have strong momentum as we begin our campaign,” he said. “Our community and supporters are driving us forward, and the best is yet to come as we anticipate publicly launching our capital campaign in Fall 2019.” External constituents of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock are also proud of the fundraising success in 2018. “As students at our university continue to excel in academic success, it is paramount that we continue to partner with our alumni, friends, and organizations that are vital to the continued growth and success of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Foundation Fund Board Chair Carlton Billingsley ’02. “I look forward to working with our board and the Advancement staff to continue to work together in achieving more for our university and the region as a whole.” Alumni Board President Becky Blass ’73 and ’82 added, “The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumni board is proud of its role in helping raise monies this fiscal year which directly benefit so many of our outstanding students. We plan to work even harder this next year in our fundraising mission for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” ]]> Gift of $800,000 to benefit ��Vlog��ý Little Rock education, health professions students /news-archive/2018/04/25/murphy-gift/ Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:28:01 +0000 /news/?p=70315 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received an $800,000 gift from Dr. Bruce Murphy, president and chief executive officer of the , that will benefit students in the College of Education and Health Professions. Murphy’s gift supports the Student Success Initiatives Fund within the college. Funding will be used to employ a full-time social worker and provide emergency funds for student support services such as expanded academic support through tutoring and mentoring programs, career development and financial management workshops, emergency student assistance funds, and scholarships. “Dr. Murphy understands the role ��Vlog��ý Little Rock plays in this city and is willing to support programs that promote student success while helping the economy of the region,” said ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. “His generous giving to the College of Education and Health Professions to help in the retention and timely graduation of our nursing, social work, and education students clearly serves our students and central Arkansas. I thank him sincerely for his ongoing faith in this university and his commitment to continue to move ��Vlog��ý Little Rock forward in the coming years.” Murphy, a longtime Little Rock cardiologist, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He said he hopes the gift will help equip students with the resources they need to overcome obstacles that might prevent them from getting a college education. “One future Little Rock must face and meet is the hope these kids have to get a college degree,” Murphy said. “This generation needs family-like resources, and we are planning this effort to supply resources to those in need.” About 2,500 students are now enrolled in programs within the College of Education and Health Professions, which includes the ; the School of Counseling, Human Performance and Rehabilitation; the School of Education; Department of Nursing; and School of Social Work. “Students across all of our disciplines have benefited from the availability of these services,” said Dr. Ann B. Bain, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “This is a model of support for students that makes a difference in student success. I cannot thank Dr. Murphy enough for his support.” Dr. Bruce Murphy is shown in the photo at top right.]]>