Bryan Day, executive director of has made a planned gift, estimated to be worth $150,000, to create the Bryan M. Day Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will provide assistance for education-related expenses, such as tuition, books, fees, and room and board, for students in the MPA program.

In addition to his planned gift, Day has made another $5,000 donation that will provide a $1,000 scholarship to an MPA student for the next five years.

鈥淚 have been very blessed in my career,鈥� Day said. 鈥淥ne of the fundamental reasons I have been so successful is because of the education I received at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Both my undergraduate and graduate programs were exactly what I needed at the time and helped further my career. My hope is that students down the road will have the same experiences I had 鈥� a good career in local government and the ability to give back to their community.鈥�

Day is a leader who has worked in state and local government for 35 years. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice in 1986 and a Master of Public Administration degree in 1994 from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. This year he earned a certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program.

He spent 20 years working for the City of Little Rock, including roles as the assistant city manager and director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation. He was appointed executive director of the Port of Little Rock in 2014, where he works closely with industries located in the 4,000-acre industrial park. He oversees the Port Authority Railroad, which is served by the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroads, as well as the industrial and slackwater harbors.

鈥淎t the end of the day, I am simply an economic developer trying to sell the value of Little Rock to the world so that people will choose to locate their businesses here in our great community,鈥� Day said.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Day, Day is an adjunct professor in the MPA program where he teaches a graduate course called Urban Management, a member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Heritage Society, and a former member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors. He also serves as a member of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Transportation Advisory Council, the executive committee of the National Waterways Council, a charter member of the Arkansas State Parks and Recreation Foundation, and a board member of the Arkansas Oklahoma Port Operators Association.

鈥淎s a local government official, having a university in our town is a very valuable and very much appreciated asset,鈥� Day said. 鈥淲e support students, businesses, communities, and the local economy. I hope as the community continues to grow and evolve, that we as a community will have a better appreciation for everything 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock brings to Central Arkansas.鈥�

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The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Heritage Society recognizes those with a profound legacy of support who have designated a planned gift to the university in their estate plans. The new members were honored during the Heritage Society Annual Reception held Aug. 17 in the Windgate Center of Art and Design.

The new members include Bryan Day, double alumnus, adjunct professor, and executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority; Jeanette Hamilton, a double alumna, attorney, and pianist; Dr. Norman L. Hodges Jr., retired director of the Arkansas State Claims Commission and former board president of the Friends of Public Radio; and Dr. Paula Wyatt Morris, a double alumna, former chemistry professor at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and retired professor of pediatrics at 糖心Vlog传媒MS and chief of pediatric rheumatology at Arkansas Children鈥檚 Hospital.

Planned gifts are an important investment in the future of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, which is in the middle of its Centennial Campaign, the university鈥檚 largest fundraising campaign to date with a goal of raising $250 million by 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 100-year anniversary in 2027.

鈥淵our gifts help make 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock an educational destination of choice,鈥� Chancellor Christina Drale said. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 the benefit of scholarships, program excellence, unique academic opportunities, or another benefit of attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock – students realize the difference we offer. Planned gifts are crucial in helping us plan for our future. Your support has never been more important, as we set the course for our next 100 years.鈥�

During fiscal year 2023, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock raised nearly $2 million through pledged or realized planned gifts. Since July 1, more than $1.2 million has been pledged or realized in planned gifts.

鈥淲e thank our new Heritage Society members for your investment in our future, our students, and our community,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淓ndowed scholarships strengthen recruitment and retention, as students weigh their options for a quality education without incurring enormous debt. Gifts toward our programs enhance or create opportunities for students. And endowed professorships or chairs help us recruit and retain exceptional faculty which, in turn, benefits our students – and recruitment.鈥�

The new Heritage Society members and their gifts include:

Bryan Day – Day earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Criminal Justice and his master鈥檚 in Public Administration from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.  He begins his fifth year of service as an adjunct professor in the master鈥檚 of public administration program this fall.  After making previous gifts to the university, Day has continued his generosity by designating an estate gift to create an endowed scholarship in his name for the benefit of students in the MPA program.

Jeanette Hamilton – An alumna of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 music program and the Bowen School of Law, Hamilton is a skilled pianist who continually displays her love of music and support for higher education. After one of her recent concerts in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, she designated an estate gift to create an endowed scholarship in her name for music students. Additionally, she plans to donate her immaculate Steinway piano to the university鈥檚 music program.

Dr. Norman L. Hodges, Jr. 鈥� Love of public radio runs deep in the Hodges Family. Hodges is a former president of the Friends of Public Radio and helped plan the 20th anniversary celebration for the launch of the K糖心Vlog传媒R/KLRE public radio stations. His late brother, Madison Hodges, served as the first general manager of public radio when the station was part of the Little Rock School District. The station later became K糖心Vlog传媒R, which is now part of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Public Radio. Hodges鈥檚 planned gift will establish an endowed scholarship in his and his brother鈥檚 name to fund radio internships for mass communication and applied communication students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

Dr. Paula Wyatt Morris 鈥� Before entering medical school, Morris served as a chemistry professor at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She retired as a professor of pediatrics at 糖心Vlog传媒MS and chief of pediatric rheumatology at Arkansas Children鈥檚 Hospital. Morris has designated an estate gift to create an endowed professorship in her own name in the Department of Chemistry. Morris鈥� mother, Pauline Graves Wyatt, was also a graduate of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in the School of Education. In honor of her mother, Wyatt has made a designated gift to name a classroom in the School of Education after her mother as well as create an endowed scholarship for education students in her name.

Through their visionary foresight and profound generosity, these new Heritage Society members have chosen to leave an indelible mark, ensuring the flame of knowledge continues to burn brightly for generations to come at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

If you are interested in making a planned gift to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and learning more about the Heritage Society, contact Ginger Daril, director of development for planned giving and university initiatives, at vlkays@ualr.edu.

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