糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is in the middle of its Centennial Campaign, the university鈥檚 largest fundraising effort to raise $250 million by the university鈥檚 centennial anniversary in 2027. The Alumni Association is working to elevate the impact of the Centennial Campaign by setting a campaign goal to raise their membership by 20 percent. They would like to celebrate the start of the second century of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock by increasing the association鈥檚 2,400 members to more than 2,900 by 2027.

鈥淢ost importantly, we want to hear from alumni on how they want to get involved and reconnect,鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association President Heide Harrell said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time for us to meet, celebrate the many successes of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and rally together to support the best university in Arkansas.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association Membership Chair Rhonda Aaron has challenged the alumni community to increase membership by at least three percent during the 2023-24 academic year.

鈥淛oining the Alumni Association is important to not only stay connected with our alma mater but an opportunity to expand your network and get involved,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淣ow is the perfect time to join the association and be a part of the Centennial Campaign. Our collective efforts can strengthen our community by empowering our students and building quality programs. Your time and donations are important. If we all get involved in some small way, we can make a big impact for tomorrow’s leaders.鈥�

Alumni Association members have the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students have a successful college education. A portion of all membership dues goes toward the Annual Fund, which provides dozens of annual scholarships for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students.

鈥淏eing involved in the association for the past three years has given me the opportunity to see firsthand through the scholarship interviews just how important it is to give back my time and know that I am making a difference for our students,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淎s an alumnus, I’m able to connect and encourage students on their education journey.鈥�

Members of the Alumni Association make connections with thousands of fellow alumni who can help advance their careers. Many alumni serve as mentors who help fellow members with their career path.

鈥淏eing a part of the Alumni Association has allowed me the opportunity not only to meet new, lifelong friends but also to give back to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Harrell said. 鈥淥btaining my master鈥檚 degree was just the beginning of my journey here at the university, and I鈥檓 proud to offer my time and talents to ensure 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock celebrates its bicentennial year. You have a chance to connect with alumni who are leaders within their respective fields as well as become brand ambassadors to remind your fellow community members of the value of a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock degree.鈥�

Alumni Association members receive exclusive invitations to receptions, athletics, and special events. Members also receive discounts on hotels, car rentals, clothing, tickets, and gym memberships.

New members can join the Alumni Association through an annual, three-year, or lifetime membership. Alumni who have graduated in the past three years can join for just $20 annually. If you would like to join the Alumni Association, visit or contact alumni@ualr.edu.

The post Uniting for a Brighter Tomorrow: 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Looking to Impact Next Century of Education for Future Students appeared first on News.

In spite of a three-week delay, the April 25 event sold out for the first time in history, selling more than 1,060 tickets and drawing a record crowd. Additionally, the event raised more than $145,000 for student scholarships, the most in Taste of Little Rock history.

The event is also a celebration of the university鈥檚 annual Giving Day. The university broke its goal of raising half a million dollars during this year鈥檚 Giving Day, including securing a gift from every county in Arkansas and every state in the nation.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 event was a huge success, thanks to our dedicated board members and co-chairs, Loris Fullerton and Stephanie Caruthers, as well as the entire 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumni and development staff,鈥� said Heide Harrell, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors. 鈥淚t was wonderful to have so many community leaders and university supporters come together to raise money for the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and honor the infamous James Bobo.鈥�

The event honored James Bobo as the night鈥檚 honoree. Bobo, who retired from Entergy in 2017, has a passion for his alma mater and has given back to support higher education in Arkansas. He served two terms on the Alumni Board of Directors and as a past president. He now serves on the Centennial Campaign Cabinet, helping to lead the university鈥檚 largest fundraising effort to raise $250 million by 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 centennial anniversary in 2027.

鈥淚t is awesome, wonderful, and breathtaking to see so many people come out for food, fun, fellowship, and a great time,鈥� Bobo said. 鈥淚 truly appreciate everyone who has come out to support the university and our students. What excites me the most is the money we are raising for scholarships for our students. That is what is near and dear to my heart, helping others, and especially our wonderful students who are working so hard to earn their college degrees.鈥�

Taste of Little Rock, originally scheduled for April 4, was delayed three weeks due to the destructive EF3 tornado that hit Central Arkansas on March 31 and impacted so many people in the community. In light of this, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community was more determined to support students in need than ever before.

“After we had to postpone because of the devastating tornado, it is a true blessing to be able to raise money for our student scholarships,鈥� said Loris Fullerton, co-chair of the Taste of Little Rock Committee. 鈥淥ur sponsors have been wonderful. We have a great crowd, and we are thrilled with tonight鈥檚 event. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and generosity from our community.”

Taste of Little Rock, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 highly anticipated culinary and social event, raises funds for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Scholarship Fund, which provides thousands of scholarship dollars every year to deserving 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students. And Giving Day raises funds to support the Centennial Campaign pillars, which include scholarships, program excellence, student support, and the living and learning environments.

鈥淩aising money for student scholarships is what this event is all about,鈥� said Alfred Williams, co-chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Centennial Campaign Committee. 鈥淭he whole Centennial Campaign is all about providing the best education and future possible for our students.鈥�

Taste of Little Rock is an incredible gathering that showcases the diverse and delectable cuisine of the city’s most talented and innovative restaurant owners. This event provides an opportunity for the community to come together and savor the best flavors Little Rock has to offer while supporting an important cause.

The culinary extravaganza featured a wide variety of restaurants and caterers with selections to fill every palate. They included Afrobites, Andy鈥檚, Blue Cloud, Blue Coast Burrito, Burge鈥檚, Cantina Laredo, Chuy鈥檚, Chicken Salad Chick, Community Bakery, Delicious Temptations, Fazoli鈥檚, Kemuri, Happy鈥檚 Energy and Nutrition, Kreative Expressionz Catering, Kris and Sam鈥檚, Le Pops, Loblolly Ice Cream, Lost Forty Brewing, Mockingbird Bar and Tacos, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Rivera Italian Restaurant, Sauced Bar and Oven, SAP鈥檚 Creole Cuisine, Southern Glazer鈥檚, Red Moon Tavern, Smackey鈥檚, Taj Mahal, Whole Hog, Wright鈥檚 BBQ, and Zin Wine Bar.

鈥淚 think this event and the food variety is amazing,鈥� said Taste of Little Rock attendee Carson Vogelpohl. 鈥淚 am excited to try all the different kinds of delicious food. It鈥檚 really fabulous how many choices are available. You can see Little Rock with a fork.鈥�

Taste of Little Rock would not have been a success without the event鈥檚 dedicated sponsors. Gold Sponsors include Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Entergy, and Natural State Private Wealth Group. The night鈥檚 silver sponsors include Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, Garver, HoganTaylor, Loris and Jay Fullerton, Simmons Bank, Glazer鈥檚 Beer and Beverage, Stephanie and Brooks Caruthers, and USAble Life.

Rebecca Weaver, a senior human resources business partner with Southern Glazer鈥檚, said her company has been an avid supporter of Taste of Little Rock for more years than she could remember.

鈥淲e鈥檝e supported 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for a long time,鈥� Weaver said. 鈥淲e love to see how our donations go to support student scholarships and help grow a great workforce for Arkansas. We hope 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 students will gain a great education and come work for us in the future.鈥�

Every gift made to the university through December 2026 will be a part of the Centennial Campaign, the university鈥檚 largest fundraising campaign in history.

To learn more or give, visit /giving/product/centennial-campaign/.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Holds Most Popular Taste of Little Rock to Date, Breaks Giving Day Goals appeared first on News.

Heide Harrell, APR, vice president and communications director of the Private Wealth Management division at Stephens, will serve as the 2023 chair of the Alumni Board of Directors, whose members use their time and talent to represent the university by building membership and engaging with alumni. Members also help raise money for student scholarships and plan key university events like Taste of Little Rock and the Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon.

鈥淚 am very honored to have been asked to lead this board,鈥� Harrell said. 鈥淓ver since I stepped foot on campus to begin my master鈥檚 program, I have developed such a passion for the university and its faculty. It鈥檚 critical for alumni to support and rally around 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock so we can continue to provide scholarships to those who need them. We are so blessed to have a metropolitan university in our capital city.鈥�

The daughter of two veterans, Harrell was born at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, to an Air Force mom and a Marine dad. A first-generation college graduate, she earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in speech communications from the University of Central Arkansas and a master鈥檚 degree in applied communication studies from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

With a strong desire to help students achieve their dream of a college education, Harrell joined the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors in 2019. Leading the scholarship committee has provided her with a unique perspective on the importance of making college more affordable for students.

鈥淚t is extremely important for us to continue to give back to a university that has given this community so much,鈥� Harrell said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so inspiring to see what these students are trying to overcome to get their college degree. Sometimes they have to choose between paying a bill and buying a book. It shouldn鈥檛 be that way. They are so determined to get that degree and so passionate about what they鈥檝e decided to do. I鈥檓 inspired by them. It puts everything into focus on why this Alumni Association is so important. It鈥檚 a privilege to be able to sit there, get to learn a little about them and know that the money we raise as an association is going to help these students fulfill their dreams.鈥�

Harrell is also committed to the advancement of the public relations field. Harrell is beginning her fourth year on the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Board of Directors, and she is the first Arkansan ever to be elected to the PRSA national executive committee. She is a past president of the PRSA Arkansas Chapter, past chair of the Southwest District, and was a member of the 2018 PRSA Nominating Committee.

With nearly 20 years of public relations, communications, and marketing experience, Harrell is a graduate of the Little Rock Regional Chamber Leadership Greater Little Rock program, the 2021 Arkansas Business Executive Leadership Academy, and a 2020 honoree of Arkansas Business 40 Under 40.

Prior to joining Stephens, Harrell served as director of marketing and business development at Rose Law Firm, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi. She spent nearly six years at Stone Ward as a senior public relations account manager and senior brand manager. Harrell also worked at Mangan Holcomb Partners as a public relations account executive, as well as five years for now Congressman J. French Hill at the former Delta Trust & Bank as communications and marketing officer.

The post PR Veteran Named Leader of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors appeared first on News.