The aroma of barbecue and the sound of live music filled the air at the 19th annual BBQ at Bailey on Oct. 8, as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock welcomed a record-breaking crowd of more than 2,200 attendees to celebrate one of the university鈥檚 most beloved traditions.

Hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association, the annual tailgate-style event transformed the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center into a hub of Trojan pride, camaraderie, and celebration. Alumni, students, faculty, and staff came together to enjoy an afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun while honoring the university鈥檚 Ohio Valley Conference championship teams from the past three years.

Guests dined on barbecue from Whole Hog Caf茅, cookies from Community Bakery, and enjoyed live music from Klassik Entertainment, while Travis 鈥淭re Day鈥� Rowan, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumnus and host of 鈥淭he Drive Time Show鈥� on Power 92 FM, broadcast live from the event.

鈥淏BQ at Bailey is more than just a meal. It鈥檚 a celebration of who we are as a Trojan community,鈥� said Guy Choate, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors and chair of this year鈥檚 event. 鈥淔or 19 years, this tradition has brought together generations of Trojans to share good food, good company, and good memories. This year鈥檚 turnout shows just how strong our community is.鈥�

The event opened with remarks from Chancellor Christina S. Drale, who highlighted the university鈥檚 recent growth and accomplishments. She shared that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 enrollment rose by 1.4 percent this fall, with the freshman class growing by an impressive 33 percent, which is the largest increase in years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always a joy to gather with you at BBQ at Bailey, where we get to kick off the fall with great food, great friends, and the kind of Trojan spirit that makes this university so special,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淥ur students and faculty are achieving remarkable things and events like this remind us what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves.鈥�

Drale also spotlighted the dedication and excellence of the university鈥檚 student-athletes, who brought home multiple Ohio Valley Conference titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Athletic Director Frank Cuervo joined the celebration to honor the teams鈥� achievements.

鈥淭his is a great event,鈥� said Nate Olson, associate athletic director of strategic communications. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very special for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff to be recognized like this. You could see how much they enjoyed connecting with people from across campus and the community who support them.鈥�

Technology, Tradition, and Trojan Pride

While BBQ at Bailey celebrates tradition, it also embraces innovation. This year, students from the Emerging Analytics Center added a high-tech twist by debuting a custom Snapchat filter designed specifically for the event.

鈥淲e walked around and helped people use the BBQ at Bailey Snapchat filter, and they were really impressed,鈥� said Dalen Villa, a graduate student in computer science. 鈥淧eople are very intrigued by the technology used to create the app. People use Snapchat every day, and this app is our special mark on it.鈥�

That blend of old and new is part of what makes BBQ at Bailey so special. Students from across disciplines joined alumni and faculty under the canopy of the Bailey Center patio, laughing, networking, and celebrating the shared spirit of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

A Tradition That Brings Trojans Together

For many, BBQ at Bailey has become a cherished annual tradition. Leisa Myles, a 1998 graduate of the administration program who has attended all 19 events, said the celebration continues to grow in both size and spirit.

鈥淓ach year this event gets bigger,鈥� Myles said. 鈥淲hat I love most is that it provides a good sense of community and camaraderie among faculty, staff, and students. It gives us all a chance to take a break, say hello, and enjoy each other鈥檚 company. It鈥檚 good music, good food, and good spirits.鈥�

Others experienced BBQ at Bailey for the first time and were moved by the sense of connection it fostered. Kevin Jones, a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock donor and volunteer, said he was impressed by both the turnout and the purpose behind the event.

鈥淚鈥檓 a big believer in the value of higher education,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淐ollege changed my life, and it鈥檚 great to see so many people supporting the university. BBQ at Bailey had quite the turnout. It鈥檚 nice to see this level of support for the university.鈥�

For international students like Sai Kandula and Shivani Katta, both graduate students from India, BBQ at Bailey offered a warm introduction to Trojan traditions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to experience the culture here,鈥� Kandula said. 鈥淣ot only is this a place for coming together, but showcasing the championship trophies and the athletes who won them shows another quality of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock 鈥� it鈥檚 a winning culture.鈥�

Katta agreed, noting that the event helps bridge connections across the university.

鈥淚t brings the campus together,鈥� Katta said. 鈥淭he student body can mingle with professors and instructors in an informal space. It鈥檚 great for campus pride.鈥�

Pride, Legacy, and Looking Ahead

Longtime supporters also reflected on how BBQ at Bailey embodies the university鈥檚 enduring mission. Don Riggin, a 1962 graduate and member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Centennial Campaign Committee, said the event symbolizes the university鈥檚 deep roots in the community.

鈥淭his event shows pride 鈥� from sports to academics to community fellowship,鈥� Riggin said. 鈥淚t shows that this university is part of this community鈥檚 culture. When I enrolled here, I came because I could get a great education at an affordable cost, and that鈥檚 still true today.鈥�

This year鈥檚 record turnout reaffirmed that BBQ at Bailey isn鈥檛 just an event but a reflection of what makes 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock special: its people, its pride, and its shared sense of purpose.

鈥淓very year, BBQ at Bailey reminds us why we love this university,鈥� Choate said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration of where we鈥檝e been, where we are, and where we鈥檙e going 鈥� together.鈥�

This year鈥檚 BBQ at Bailey took on a special twist as several community volunteers joined the event to help serve students. Traditionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock student-athletes serve at the annual gathering, but this year鈥檚 addition of local business representatives brought an exciting new dimension to the event.

The goal was to give students an opportunity to interact with professionals from a variety of industries, people they might one day work alongside or for, while also recognizing the generous spirit of the business community that supports the university.

Representatives from the following companies volunteered their time to serve: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bailey Construction, Bravere, Centennial Bank, City of Little Rock, DDK Forestry and Real Estate, LLC, Flexion Point, Good Seven Management, LLC, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, JP Morgan Chase, KSmith Properties, mhp.si, Regions Bank, Simmons Bank, and TMB Capital Partners.

Their participation not only made this year鈥檚 BBQ at Bailey a memorable experience but also underscored the strong partnership between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the local business community in supporting student success.

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This year鈥檚 picnic will feature a special Celebration of Champions theme, recognizing the outstanding achievements of that brought home conference titles from 2023 to 2025.

Honorees include the 2024 and 2025 OVC Tournament Champion Baseball Team, the 2024 OVC Regular-Season Champion Men鈥檚 Basketball Team, the 2023 OVC Regular-Season Champion Women鈥檚 Basketball Team, the 2023 and 2025 OVC Champion Men鈥檚 Golf Team, the 2024 OVC Champion Women鈥檚 Golf Team, the 2024 and 2025 OVC Champion Men鈥檚 Indoor Track and Field Team, the 2024 OVC Champion Men鈥檚 Outdoor Track and Field Team, and the 2024 and 2025 Pac-12 Dual Meet Champion Wrestling Team.

The annual picnic will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, where students, employees, alumni, and friends of the university can gather to enjoy barbecue, music, and fellowship.

Whole Hog Cafe will cater the event, with vegetarian burgers available, and cookies from Community Bakery will be served. DJ Klassik Entertainment, owned by alumnus Jonathan Nunn, will keep the celebration lively with music, while the Trojan Pep Band and Maximus will join the festivities. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumnus Travis 鈥淭re鈥� Day鈥� Rowan, host of the Drive Time Show on Power 92.3FM, will be broadcasting live from BBQ at Bailey. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to welcome everyone back for BBQ at Bailey, a tradition that unites our community,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. 鈥淭his year we鈥檒l celebrate our championship teams and make the day even more special with alumni and community volunteers, including our Alumni Board and Foundation Fund Board members, stepping up to serve in honor of our student-athletes, who traditionally fill that role.鈥�

Frank Cuervo, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 director of , added that this year鈥檚 celebration is a fitting way to spotlight the dedication of the university鈥檚 student-athletes.

鈥淥ur teams truly embody the pride, passion, and spirit of Little Rock鈥攏ot only through their championship success on the field, but also through their dedication and achievement in the classroom,鈥� Cuervo said. 鈥淭his celebration is about more than trophies and titles. It鈥檚 about honoring the relentless effort, teamwork, and Trojan pride that define our student-athletes. We can鈥檛 wait to bring the entire university community together to share in these incredible accomplishments and celebrate in true Trojan fashion.鈥�

Hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors, BBQ at Bailey remains one of the university鈥檚 favorite traditions, uniting students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community supporters at the start of the academic year. Guests are also invited to visit with student organizations, snap photos at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock backdrop, view their bricks on the alumni patio, and enjoy lawn games on the alumni patio.

The celebration also highlights 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Centennial Campaign, a historic fundraising initiative leading up to the university鈥檚 100th anniversary in 2027. Focused on scholarships, student support, program excellence, and enhancing the living and learning environment, the campaign reflects the same spirit of community and excellence that shines each year at BBQ at Bailey.

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More than 1,000 people attended the annual campus picnic Sept. 24, where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gathered for food from Whole Hog Caf茅, cookies from Community Bakery, and music provided by Klassik Entertainment.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale highlighted the university鈥檚 many accomplishments this fall, including the largest enrollment growth in 15 years, one of the largest freshman classes in decades, and 46 new faculty members whose expertise will further enrich the educational experience at the university.

鈥淎s we celebrate today, I want to thank each and every one of you for being here and for your continued support in making 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock the thriving, dynamic community that it is,鈥� Chancellor Drale said. 鈥淭o our alumni, whether you are here for an athletic event, concert, or simply to walk our beautiful campus, remember this is your home, and we love to see you back with us every time you come.鈥�

The alumni patio is home to more than 3,000 alumni bricks that date back as far back as 1927. In a new tradition, the university invited alumni who have purchased a brick to come back to campus during BBQ at Bailey to find their brick.

鈥淲e were excited to revive this cherished tradition at the Bailey Alumni Center,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. 鈥淚t was a great opportunity to bring our campus community together and celebrate the connections that make our university unique.鈥�

BBQ at Bailey brings together students, faculty, staff, and alumni for an afternoon of fun, games, and barbecue. The event fosters campus unity and offers a chance for the university community to connect in a relaxed setting.

鈥淚 became a lifetime member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association in 2019, but this is the first time I鈥檝e attended BBQ at Bailey,鈥� said 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumnus Damon Dortch, who earned his MBA in 2018. 鈥淚 think the event was well done. I enjoyed seeing some of my old business professors, and I had a lot of fun.鈥�

Dr. Joe Felan, associate professor of management, marketing, and technology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, is a long-time BBQ at Bailey fan who loves showing off his moves with the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Dance Team.

鈥淚 love dancing with the students,鈥� Felan stated. 鈥淚t keeps me young.鈥�

MaryGrace McAfee, a senior double major in biology and chemistry from Texarkana and captain of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Dance Team, agreed that this is her favorite part of BBQ at Bailey.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really good opportunity to get students, faculty, and alumni together to have fun celebrating 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� McAfee said. 鈥淭he Dance Team comes every year, and we love to dance with the community and have fun.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumnus Bryan Hosto, who served as a co-chair for BBQ at Bailey, said it was great to see the campus come alive on the beautiful new spaces at the Bailey Center.

鈥淭here’s renewed energy on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus,鈥� Hosto said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see so many faculty, students, alumni, and business leaders come out to support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

If you are looking for the next big event to attend at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Chancellor Drale invited the Trojan community to come to the Trojan Way Dedication on Oct. 8.

鈥淥n Oct. 8, we will gather again to dedicate Trojan Way, the largest outdoor renovation project in the university鈥檚 history,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his transformational gift made possible by the Donaghey Foundation will enhance the way we experience our campus, and I hope you will join us for this important event.鈥�

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The annual campus picnic will take place from 11:30 a.m. 鈥� 1:30 p.m. at the Bailey Center, where alumni, friends, and the campus community will gather for great music, food, and company on the beautiful alumni patio. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is holding 11:30 a.m. 鈥� 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, as a rain date.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock dedicated its new alumni patio in May. The lovely space is home to more than 3,000 alumni bricks from as far back as 1927 that were previously housed in the courtyard in front of Ottenheimer Library. This is the first addition to the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center since it was built in 2002.

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome back this beloved campus tradition to the Bailey Alumni Center,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. 鈥淭his is an opportunity that brings our campus community together and rekindles the spirit and connections that make our university so special. We are happy to welcome our alumni to once again discover their alumni bricks on our wonderful new alumni patio and to meet Sarah Grace Hall, our new alumni engagement coordinator.鈥�

In a new tradition, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is inviting all alumni who have purchased a brick to come back to campus during BBQ at Bailey to find their brick in the new alumni patio.

Hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of the Chancellor and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association, BBQ at Bailey is a wonderful way for students, employees, alumni, and friends of the university to enjoy some great barbecue, fellowship, and fun.

Whole Hog Cafe will cater the event with treats from Community Bakery with music provided by Klassik Entertainment. Students are encouraged to stop by and visit with student organizations, take a selfie with the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock backdrop, play Baggo and other fun lawn games, and mingle with the campus community.

Bryan Hosto, the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the School of Business, and Rhonda Aaron, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors,  are serving as co-chairs of BBQ at Bailey.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock supporters can sign up for the Alumni Association to support scholarships for deserving students. Faculty and staff can join for $30, while students can join for just $10.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is celebrating its Centennial Campaign! The countdown is underway to the university hitting its milestone 100-year anniversary in 2027. The campaign pillars include scholarships, student support, program excellence, and the living and learning environment. Find out more about the Centennial Campaign by visiting .

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The annual school picnic held Oct. 4 was moved inside to the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center to avoid the rain, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, employees, and alumni enjoyed some great food and music, all in the name of school spirit. BBQ at Bailey is made possible by a joint partnership of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association and the Office of the Chancellor.

鈥淭he event was a terrific success,鈥� said Bryan Hosto, co-chair of BBQ at Bailey. 鈥淭he 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock staff did a fantastic job considering the last-minute site shift due to the weather. Everyone had a great time, and, once again, this event has proven to be one of the best in the community!鈥�

Participants ate a delicious lunch catered by Whole Hog Caf茅, followed by dessert from Community Bakery.

鈥淒espite the rain, this year鈥檚 BBQ at Bailey was a roaring success,鈥� said Dr. Danyell Crutchfield Cummings, co-chair of BBQ at Bailey. 鈥淭his campus tradition delivered on a promise of good music, good food, and good fun for our 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock family!鈥�

More than 1,000 people attended the event. Peter Stuckey, database administrator with IT Services who volunteered to serve lunch, recalls being surprised by the large and enthusiastic crowd.

鈥淭he people just kept coming,鈥� Stuckey said. 鈥淭hat is what really impressed me is the number of people that came. I was worried about the weather keeping people away, but they just kept coming and coming and coming.鈥�

Alumna Catie Ross, who works at Priority1, enjoyed the chance to reconnect with the campus community.

鈥淚t is one of my favorite on-campus events that allows the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community to come together,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淚 enjoy getting to come back home and see the campus, the students, and my friends again.鈥�

Don O鈥橠onnell, senior program/project manager with IT Services, said he enjoyed the fun atmosphere while running a table to let people know about the Staff Senate Helping Hands Committee. Staff Senate members will begin collecting Helping Hands donations this month through boxes that are set up around campus.

鈥淲e are letting the campus community know about the importance of our Helping Hands Campaign to collect food for people in need during the holidays,鈥� O鈥橠onnell said. 鈥淣ext week we begin our seven weeks of food collection. We will have collection locations across campus and at Bowen Law School. I always enjoy BBQ at Bailey every year. This year was no exception.鈥�

Rosalie Shahan, contracts and operations manager, said she was impressed with the large crowd and the vibe of the event.

鈥淓veryone was excited to see everybody, despite it being indoors because of the rain,鈥� Shahan said. 鈥淚 love to see the students interacting with the staff and faculty. I think BBQ at Bailey is one of the times we know we will all see each other and connect. I think it鈥檚 a really positive event.鈥�

Next year, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock looks forward to going back to the Bailey Alumni Center with the addition of a beautiful, newly constructed alumni patio that will house the alumni bricks that were previously placed in front of Ottenheimer Library.

Be sure to check out of the excitement of BBQ at Bailey!

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The tailgating-style event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus. While you鈥檒l still find the same great food, music, company, and school spirit, this year鈥檚 celebration will not be found at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center due to the construction of a new alumni patio in front of the Bailey Center.

Instead, BBQ at Bailey will be held at the Grove, a lovely newly upgraded shaded outdoor gathering space behind the Fine Arts Building, as well as the beautiful campus green space between the Fine Arts Building and the Bailey Center. The Grove is one of several campus renovation projects that is being funded by a generous grant from the George W. Donaghey Foundation.

Next year, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock looks forward to going back to Bailey with the addition of a beautiful, newly constructed alumni patio that will house the alumni bricks that were previously placed in front of Ottenheimer Library.

鈥淲e are excited to have BBQ at Bailey in the Grove this year, and even more, we welcome our alumni to join us to reconnect with our faculty, staff and students,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. 鈥淚t is our goal to increase our alumni presence in the community and what better way than to invite our grads back to see for themselves the great things happening on campus.鈥�

Hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association, the picnic is a wonderful way for students, employees, alumni, and friends of the university to enjoy some great barbecue, fellowship, and fun.

Whole Hog Cafe will cater the event with treats from Community Bakery. Students are encouraged to stop by, grab some free stickers and fans, visit with student organizations, take a selfie with the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock backdrop, play Baggo and other fun lawn games, and mingle with other students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Bryan Hosto, the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the School of Business, and Dr. Danyell Crutchfield Cummings, past president of the Alumni Board of Directors, are serving as co-chairs of BBQ at Bailey.

鈥淚 always look forward to BBQ at Bailey,鈥� Hosto said. 鈥淚t is a great chance for anyone- Alumni, Students, Friends, or anyone else to connect or reconnect with Little Rock鈥檚 University while enjoying a free meal at our beautiful campus. It is a great event, and I encourage everyone to join us!鈥�

鈥淏BQ at Bailey is an opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones,鈥� Cummings added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a campus tradition that promises music, food, and fun for our 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock family!鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock supporters can sign up for the Alumni Association to support scholarships for deserving students. Faculty and staff can join for $30, and students can join for $10.

BBQ at Bailey is sponsored by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Alumni and Development.

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