糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Unveils New Alumni Patio
Serving as a vibrant gathering space for alumni and the community to reminisce, network, and forge lasting bonds, hundreds of people gathered at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center May 10 to celebrate the dedication of the new Alumni Patio.
鈥淲e have all come to appreciate that it鈥檚 important for our Trojan community to have a strong sense of place that honors the past and embraces the potential of the future,鈥� Chancellor Christina Drale said. 鈥淲e are building a living and learning environment that embraces the natural beauty of our campus and brings people together to live and play and engage with one another as we celebrate our past and engage our future. This new alumni patio does all of those things.鈥�
More than 3,000 alumni bricks dating back to 1927 were removed from the library plaza as part of the renovations to enhance the campus living and learning environment. These bricks, each bearing a story of shared campus heritage, have found a new home at the newly constructed Alumni Patio. This initiative is part of the broader Trojan Way project and symbolizes the university鈥檚 dedication to preserving and celebrating the rich history of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.
鈥淎s we gather to dedicate the Alumni Patio, we celebrate this physical addition to campus and the spirit of community and connection that it represents,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. 鈥淚t serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. It marks a milestone to the university鈥檚 history. This is the first addition to the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center since it was built in 2002. Amidst the ongoing Centennial Campaign, today鈥檚 dedication stands as a symbol of progress and growth.鈥�
Rhonda Aaron, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors, commented that it is an amazing time to be a part of the Trojan Family.
鈥淚t warms my heart to look around and to see the love and support from alumni, friends, and supporters of this community,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淚t takes every person being engaged to move this university forward. When you engage, it creates a promise that you are committed to the success of the future of this university. At 2 p.m. today (May 10), I get to sit in the audience to hear my daughter as a speaker chosen by her peers in the School of Social Work Convocation. It took a lot of hard work to get to this moment. When we become engaged, it inspires others to do the same.鈥�
Don Riggin, a member of the Centennial Campaign Committee who attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock when it was known as Little Rock University, said that there is much history to consider in the alumni bricks.
鈥淭hese are not just bricks,鈥� Riggin said. 鈥淭hese are human beings that have graduated, who have gone on and had quality lives in various occupations in Arkansas and around the world. That is what this walkway represents.鈥�
Antonio Mosby, a member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors, commented that he is looking forward to having gatherings of the Theta Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in the new space.
鈥淎s an alumnus of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, the Bailey Center holds a special place in my heart,鈥� Mosby said. 鈥淒uring a 40th anniversary reunion gathering of alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at the Bailey Center, I had the opportunity to meet Christian O鈥橬eal, now the vice chancellor of university advancement. He and his team extended hospitality and warmth to us. It further solidified my commitment to giving back. The Bailey Center offered a warm and familiar environment to celebrate the bonds we created during our college days. We look forward to spending time at this campus, on this patio, and we want to engage more with our members.鈥�
Cindy Conger, an alumna who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting and MBA from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock during the 1980s, described the new Alumni Patio as 鈥渨onderful.鈥�
鈥淚 have been a big fan of this building since it opened in 2002,鈥� Conger said. 鈥淭he Alumni Patio is beautiful, and it gives us a bit more space to hold events. My granddaughter starts school here in the fall, so coming here and finding Grammy鈥檚 brick will be something we can do together.鈥�
Conger said she will always be grateful to the education she received at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, which came at a critical point in her life.
鈥淚 was getting a divorce and knew I needed a plan for me and my children,鈥� Conger said. 鈥淚 have always been a planner. I just learned how to monetize that skill through my degrees. Now my passion is giving to organizations that help women and girls get an education, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is at the top of that list.鈥�
As members of the Trojan Pep Band played the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Fight Song, hundreds of people in the crowd shouted, 鈥淕o Trojans!鈥� as 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community members and alumni happily cut the ribbon dedicating the new Alumni Patio.
Following the ceremony, the campus community, alumni, and university supporters enjoyed lunch from Eat My Catfish, CeCi’s Chicken N Waffles on Wheels, Nach’Yo Nachos, Cajun Trouxth, and Cheesecake On Point.
The event was a great way to reconnect, view personalized bricks, and appreciate the collective journey of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 alumni and students.
鈥淭his event is not merely a reflection of our past but a step towards a united future,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭ogether, we are laying the foundations for continued success and fostering deeper connections within our campus community.鈥�