The gift from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumnus and retired attorney James Bruce McMath and his wife, Becky, contributes to the Shellam Flake Planetarium Endowment Fund.

As 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock prepares to reopen the planetarium this fall, the endowment ensures the facility has the long-term support needed for operations, programming, and staffing, positioning it as a lasting destination for students and the community.

For McMath, the investment is deeply personal, rooted in a lifelong fascination with the night sky.

鈥淚 am a space race baby,鈥� McMath said. 鈥淚 was eight when Sputnik launched, and I followed it with the same enthusiasm as some people follow a sports team.鈥�

That early curiosity grew into a serious pursuit. What began as a telescope for his son turned into a lifelong passion, including building telescope mirrors and conducting amateur research. Today, McMath operates a robotic telescope and has contributed more than 130,000 observations of variable stars to an international database.

He sees the planetarium as a way to share that sense of discovery with others, especially at a time when fewer people have experienced the night sky in its full form.

鈥淭he reality is, without question, the greatest natural spectacle is the Milky Way stretching across the night sky,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut these days, few people have ever truly seen it.鈥�

A planetarium, he said, can help bridge that gap by giving people a broader understanding of the universe and their place within it.

鈥淎 planetarium can open people鈥檚 eyes and minds to the reality of our situation here on our little planet,鈥� McMath said.

Supporting the endowment is also a way for McMath to give back to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock was an important element in my personal development, and I have not done much to pay it back,鈥� he said.

He also sees the planetarium as a key connection point between the university and the city.

鈥淭he planetarium will be an ambassadorial and educational tool for the university,鈥� McMath said. 鈥淚t is an investment in the community that will build pride in the university among city residents and help people better understand our place in the universe.鈥�

Their support helps position the planetarium as a long-term asset for both the university and Central Arkansas.

Learn more about the Shellam Flake Planetarium at

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The gift from Centennial Campaign co-chair Jerry Damerow and his wife, Sherri, supports the Shellam Flake Planetarium Endowment Fund in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (DCSTEM), adding to ongoing investments in the planetarium鈥檚 future.

As 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock prepares to reopen the planetarium this fall, the endowment ensures the facility has the long-term support needed for operations, programming, and staffing, positioning it as a lasting destination for students and the community.

鈥淚 believe the planetarium and the Science Triangle project will help interest young people in science and attract them to the beautifully updated 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus,鈥� Damerow said. 鈥淪TEM education is extremely important in our rapidly changing economy, and we will need more scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to power our Central Arkansas economy.鈥�

For Damerow, the planetarium is also about creating experiences that draw people to campus and spark interest in science.

鈥淚 think the planetarium will be a magnet, attracting not only young people but also adults to campus. Getting people on campus is an important way of showcasing what the university has to offer and why it is so important to our community.鈥�

Their support adds to early efforts to ensure the planetarium鈥檚 long-term success. Although not alumni, the Damerows said supporting 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is an investment in the community they call home.

鈥淭his is the community that I love and that has warmly welcomed us,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 strong university here will help attract the talent needed to build our future economy. Our state capital needs a great research university, and that is 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. If those of us who love Arkansas do not participate in building this great state, it will not happen.鈥�

Learn more about the Shellam Flake Planetarium at .

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She鈥檚 sponsoring two in honor of her grandchildren, Sadie and Henry, making the project personal long before the doors open.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of a better way to celebrate curiosity and discovery than by supporting a space like the planetarium,鈥� Bain said. 鈥淜nowing Sadie and Henry will have a connection to this experience, and that so many other children will be inspired here, makes this especially meaningful.鈥�

That same opportunity is now available to others.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is inviting alumni, friends, and community partners to support the return of the planetarium through a new seat sponsorship program.

Following a $1.2 million gift to restore and modernize the Shellam Flake Planetarium, the university is offering a limited opportunity for supporters to sponsor seats inside the facility. Each sponsored seat will include a personalized nameplate displayed for five years.

鈥淭he return of the planetarium to our campus is a transformative moment for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and our seat sponsorship program offers our community a unique opportunity to be a part of that legacy,鈥� said Dr. Tansel Karabacak, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. 鈥淲e invite alumni, friends, and partners to lend their support and help inspire the next generation of scientists, educators, and explorers right here in central Arkansas.鈥�

Seat sponsorships are available for $2,500 for a five-year term, with the option to make a one-time gift or a five-year pledge of $500 per year. Sponsors will receive a personalized nameplate on a planetarium seat for the duration of the sponsorship, with the opportunity to renew at the end of the five-year period.

Sponsors may choose to recognize an individual, family, organization, or honor the memory of a loved one. Seat selections will be available on a first-come, first-served basis once commitments are confirmed.

Funds raised through the program will support the planetarium鈥檚 educational mission, including:

• STEM education programs
• K鈥�12 school field trips
• Public planetarium shows
• Equipment maintenance and upgrades
• Student learning experiences

The restored Shellam Flake Planetarium will serve as a multidisciplinary learning space, creating hands-on opportunities for students across campus. The space will feature student artwork in adjacent outdoor areas, involve students in developing the planetarium鈥檚 visual identity, and provide business students opportunities to create and implement marketing plans.

The planetarium is scheduled to open in Fall 2026. To learn more about the planetarium or to purchase a seat, visit ualr.edu/planetarium or call Lloyd Webre at 501-951-1794.

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The renovation is made possible through a $1.2 million gift from Leslye and Ray Shellam honoring Leslye’s late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and her late mother, Linda Blaine Flake. The Shellam Flake Planetarium will soon reopen after nearly two decades. But for faculty and students, the reopening is about far more than renovation and technology upgrades. It signals a new era of immersive, interdisciplinary learning.

For Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy, the planetarium represents a fundamental shift in how students experience complex scientific ideas.

鈥淲hat excites me most is the opportunity to transform how students experience physics,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭he planetarium allows abstract ideas 鈥� whether dynamical systems in classical mechanics or quantum state evolution in quantum computing 鈥� to become immersive and intuitive.鈥�

In fields such as quantum computing, many ideas are highly abstract. Guisbiers envisions the planetarium as a way to transform his teaching by making difficult core concepts and invisible phenomena more accessible. The dome鈥檚 immersive capabilities allow students to visualize challenging processes such as wavefunctions, carrier dynamics, and structure-property relationships.

鈥淚 would also integrate research data into the learning experience, allowing students to explore simulations and experimental results interactively,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭his connects coursework with research, strengthens undergraduate research opportunities, and helps students develop both scientific intuition and communication skills.鈥�

The planetarium will also elevate 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 role as a public-facing science institution. Rather than science existing primarily in classrooms and labs, the dome creates a shared space for research visualization, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement.

Guisbiers notes that the planetarium is not just a site of education but a hub for the community.

鈥淭he 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock planetarium can become a bridge between the university and the broader Little Rock community by serving as a hub for STEM education, public science literacy, and interdisciplinary engagement,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eyond astronomy, it can function as a cultural and creative space where science, art, and storytelling intersect, strengthening the university鈥檚 role as a regional center for education and community connection.鈥�

Guisbiers sees the planetarium reopening as representative of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 broader investment in science infrastructure and education. Alongside the observatory reopening in March 2025, the planetarium showcases the university鈥檚 commitment to hands-on learning and expanding access to STEM education.

Dr. Michael DeAngelis, associate professor of geology, sees equally transformative potential in the planetarium鈥檚 reopening.

Currently, the geology department offers field experiences to locations such as the Bahamas for the Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas course, excursions to Colorado and New Mexico for Field Geology II, and local trips across Arkansas to the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains. The planetarium’s immersive capabilities unlock new opportunities for students to explore different regions of the world.

鈥淎s a geology professor, I consistently seek opportunities to expose our students to diverse global environments,鈥� DeAngelis said. 鈥淲ith the planetarium鈥檚 digital projection system, I can now envision taking our students on virtual expeditions: to the peaks of the Himalayas, the frozen depths of Antarctica, inside the giant crystal caves of Mexico, or even to never-before-visited locations like the Moon or Mars to explore their geology.鈥�

The planetarium鈥檚 versatility creates an interdisciplinary space for learning that extends beyond the sciences. DeAngelis sees potential for immersive experiences such as virtual art shows for art and design students, concert performances for music students, and visualized global supply chains for economics students.

For DeAngelis, the reopening is especially significant for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 science programs.

鈥淔or science programs, the planetarium will allow for the visualization of phenomena at scales beyond human perception,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his includes viewing microscopic interactions, such as microbial life, mineral structures, and simulated chemical reactions. It also encompasses the immense, like solar system formation, supernovae, and the expansion of the universe.鈥�

Concepts that once existed only in textbooks or on flat screens can now unfold across the dome in full scale, placing students inside the systems they study.

When asked what he hopes visitors will take away from their experience, DeAngelis answered with a single word:

鈥淎we,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd all of its synonyms 鈥� wonder, astonishment, reverence, and amazement.鈥�

As the university approaches its centennial, the reopening of the Shellam Flake Planetarium signals forward momentum in science education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In reopening the planetarium, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is not just restoring a beloved space 鈥� it is strengthening its role as a regional hub for education, innovation, and opportunity.

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The gift from Leslye and Ray Shellam honors the legacy of Leslye’s late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and her late mother, Linda Blaine Flake, and will name the facility the Shellam Flake Planetarium.

Shellam said the naming honors her parents, her father鈥檚 deep commitment to civic life in Arkansas, and her own belief in education as a bridge between the university and the community it serves.

Closed for nearly 20 years, the planetarium will undergo a full renovation, including major technology upgrades, improvements to the roof and flooring, and the installation of a state-of-the-art projection system that eliminates the traditional central projector, creating unobstructed views of the dome. The renovated space will feature modern, home theater-style seating for up to 89 visitors.

Shellam said she hopes the restored planetarium will serve as a point of connection between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the broader community, creating opportunities for people to learn more about one another through shared experiences. She also emphasized the importance of student involvement, envisioning the planetarium as a space where students gain hands-on, real-world experience while helping bring science, art, and storytelling to life for audiences beyond campus.

Once reopened, the planetarium will serve 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff, as well as K鈥�12 school groups and members of the general public. 

Shellam also envisions the planetarium as a multidisciplinary learning space that extends beyond astronomy to provide hands-on experiences for students across multiple majors. For example, the space will feature student artwork in adjacent outdoor areas, support student involvement in developing the planetarium鈥檚 visual identity, and offer business students opportunities to create and implement marketing plans.

鈥淭he planetarium has long been a special place on campus, and I wanted to help bring it back for today鈥檚 students and families,鈥� Shellam said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 meaningful to be able to restore a space that encourages curiosity and a love of science and learning.鈥�

The vision for the restored planetarium aligns closely with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission and its emphasis on applied learning and community engagement.

鈥淭his investment allows us to reimagine the planetarium as an active learning environment that supports teaching and discovery across disciplines,鈥� said Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淚t will provide 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with increased engagement with our community. It is exciting to bring life back to a space that means so much to Little Rock, the University, and future generations of planetarium visitors.鈥� 

The restoration also supports the university鈥檚 broader investments in science education, which include the campus observatory and other spaces along the Trojan Way. 

鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to Leslye Shellam for believing in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and in the vision we share for the future of the planetarium,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淭his gift reflects a close partnership with Provost Bain and our academic leaders to reimagine the planetarium as a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning space. As we approach our centennial, the Shellam Flake Planetarium honors our past while opening new doors for student learning and community engagement.鈥�  

The planetarium is on target to open in Fall of 2026 and is a part of the university鈥檚 broader science-based investments which includes the campus observatory, the future 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Museum of Natural History, and outdoor educational features such as the Solar System Walk along Trojan Way. Additional details about programming and public access will be announced as renovations continue and the planetarium is reimagined to support both student experiences and community engagement. To learn more about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Centennial Campaign and how supporters are making a lasting commitment to student experiences, visit .

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As his final project for the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, Rogers, a recent mass communication graduate, produced 鈥�,鈥� an eight-minute film that takes viewers behind the scenes of two astronomy landmarks, one which has recently been revived and the other awaiting its second act.

鈥淚 wanted to tell a story about abandoned buildings on campus,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淲hen I talked with Sandra Vail, she brought up the term mothball to describe buildings that had been closed off. I thought it was a very interesting term that I really liked for the name of the documentary.鈥�

The documentary features interviews with Sandra Vail, director of operations and services for Facilities Management; Mike Seamon, assistant director of operations; and Dr. Greg Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy. Their voices guide viewers through the campus鈥檚 recent revival of the observatory, which was brought back to life after the excitement of the 2024 total solar eclipse, and its still-dormant counterpart, the planetarium, which will be undergoing the first phase of renovations this year.

鈥淭he observatory renovation was only the first step,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淣ow that it has been completed, people can see that with a small amount of money strategically invested, a lot can be achieved. Phase one of the planetarium renovation will be completed this summer. I really hope this documentary spreads throughout the community so we can gather more support to complete phase two. Overall, this documentary is a testimony of what we are trying to achieve in Physics and Astronomy at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

For Rogers, the contrast between the two spaces created a natural tension, and every good documentary needs a conflict. While the observatory has been renovated and reopened, the planetarium remains mothballed, waiting to be cleared out so an inflatable planetarium provided by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium can be installed for the public to enjoy.

鈥淲hen I arrived on campus in 2020, the observatory was closed to the public. It felt like this magical, mysterious place no one could reach,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淭he planetarium is even more hidden. Most people don鈥檛 even know it exists. I think the different perspectives, especially Mike Seamon鈥檚 story of how he resonated with the planetarium when he was young, adds an interesting point of view and momentum to the story.鈥�

Guisbiers said he hopes the documentary helps attract support for ongoing renovation efforts at the university.

鈥淭his was a great experience. I really enjoyed it,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淚 was able to share with Adrian my vision for the department. I am passionate about physics and astronomy, and I really care for this department.鈥�

Rogers, who studied documentary filmmaking while studying abroad in Australia, spent nearly two years researching, filming, and editing the project to spotlight the potential these spaces still hold.

鈥淚 like showing how the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is growing,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淭he observatory is an example of that growth. It has the potential to grow even more with the planetarium.鈥�

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鈥淚t all started with the solar eclipse,鈥� said Dr. Greg Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy. 鈥淚 got a grant from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium to purchase nearly 60 telescopes for members of the campus community and the public to celebrate the event and experience the wonder of the solar eclipse. I saw the momentum and excitement that was caused by the event. A lot of people were showing a renewed interest in space and astronomy. I thought it was a good idea to get the observatory reopened and to do something with all those telescopes and public interest.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will celebrate the observatory鈥檚 reopening with an open house starting at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, in the Physics Building 101. Following a ribbon cutting and presentation, guests will have the opportunity to tour the observatory space (weather permitting).

The observatory had previously been closed for more than 10 years. Guisbiers gained approval from university leadership to begin restoration efforts, enlisting the help of faculty, staff, and students. The team cleaned out the space, installed new flooring, painted, and prepared to reinstall an 11-inch telescope in the dome.

Matthew Burningham, a senior physics major from Las Vegas, was one of several students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who participated in the efforts to reopen the observatory. During the campus solar eclipse celebration in 2024, Burningham saw firsthand how excited members of the community were about space and astronomy when he showed people how to use telescopes and ran the inflatable planetarium provided by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium.

鈥淚 am extremely excited to get the observatory going again,鈥� Burningham said. 鈥淚 believe the observatory is a good start to getting astronomy back into the spotlight. The observatory will allow us to go back to showing some of the wonders of space to the students directly. This feels like a small thing when 3D high-definition images are so often available, but there is something powerful in seeing these things first hand. It is my hope that seeing space will inspire students to further the understanding of science and get more students into the STEM fields.鈥�

The observatory鈥檚 dome, originally built in 1930 by newspaper executive Frederick Allsopp for his astronomy-enthusiast wife, was donated to the university in 1970 and installed on Stabler Hall during the tenure of Chancellor Carey V. Stabler. In its prime, the observatory hosted up to 70 events a year. While that number won鈥檛 be matched, Guisbiers plans to hold about 10 observations annually, offering both daytime and nighttime events. Daytime sessions will allow visitors to observe the sun, including sunspots and eclipses, while nighttime viewings will focus on planets, meteor showers, and galaxies.

鈥淭he observatory will serve as a gateway to scientific discovery, inspiring students and community members to explore the wonders of astronomy through hands-on learning experiences,鈥� said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School.

鈥淲e are very happy to reactivate this rooftop space and to maximize the use of the telescopes we obtained for the eclipse event,鈥� Provost Ann Bain added.

The revitalization of the observatory not only marks an important chapter in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 history but also reaffirms the university鈥檚 commitment to fostering scientific curiosity and engagement for students and the community alike.

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