Jeanette Hamilton, a retired lawyer from Little Rock, has left a gift in her estate to create the Jeanette L. Hamilton Endowed Music Scholarship to benefit music students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. The scholarship can be used to provide assistance for education-related expenses, including tuition, books, fees, and room and board.

鈥淚t seemed like the most natural thing in the world to make this donation,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淢usic education has been one of the biggest gifts in my life. If there is a way I can help young people with their musical journey, it was a no brainer.鈥�

In addition to the scholarship fund, Hamilton has also made a second planned gift to donate her 2017 Model A Steinway Piano to the university鈥檚 music program to benefit future generations of music students.

Hamilton started playing the piano at the age of eight. Her best friend had started taking piano lessons, and Hamilton lamented to her parents that they were one of the few houses in the neighborhood without a piano. She promised to work hard and practice every day if they would get a piano.

鈥淢y parents broke down and bought me an older piano,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淭rue to my world, I got a really fine teacher, practiced every day, and soon I was playing Chopin鈥檚 waltzes.鈥�

Hamilton graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in piano performance in 1979, followed by earning her law degree from the William H. Bowen School of Law in 1986. She spent her successful law career working for the North Little Rock City Attorney鈥檚 office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Arkansas Attorney General鈥檚 office.

Once she retired from her law career in 2016, Hamilton has been able to return to her first love of piano. She takes piano lessons and piano ensemble through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Extended Education and volunteers to play the piano at CARTI.

鈥淕etting back to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after retiring is one of the best decisions I ever could have made and one of the best decisions of my life,鈥� Hamilton said.

The donations are a part of the Centennial Campaign, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 largest fundraising effort to date. The university is working to raise $250 million by its 100-year anniversary in 2027.

For more information on the Centennial Campaign, visit to find out how your contribution can make an impact through scholarships, student support, program excellence, and improving the living and learning environment at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

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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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