Higher education notebook

ASU aid earmarked for county's natives

A Prairie County man has started an endowed scholarship at Arkansas State University to help other county students study agriculture.

Bruce Devore transferred Wal-Mart stock to the ASU Foundation for the scholarship and has also created a living trust to give more money to the university when he dies, according to a news release. The university has awarded the first scholarship to Lucas Tenison of Hazen, it said.

Devore bought an 80-acre farm -- with 54 acres devoted to row crops and 19 to timber -- between Des Arc and Hazen from his father in 1998. The state Department of Agriculture recently designated the farm an Arkansas Century Farm. He had worked on the farm at an early age and took on more tasks as he grew older, the university said.

Devore served in the National Guard and in the Army Reserve and worked in the transportation business in Pulaski County, the university said.

"I didn't get a college education," Devore said in a news release. "But I think students coming from where I did should be able to if they want to."

The endowed scholarship -- named after himself and his father -- is for Prairie County students who want to pursue an agriculture degree. Students from that county who have attended Arkansas State University-Beebe and transfer to the Jonesboro campus also will qualify.

Canned-food drive benefits UCA pantry

The University of Central Arkansas and a market have teamed up for a canned-food drive supporting the school's campus food pantry.

Uncle T's Deli-Market will give canned goods and other nonperishable food to the Bear Essentials Food Pantry when customers buy an item or sign up for the store's customer loyalty program, according to a news release. The canned food drive will run through July.

The eatery has a campus location at 250 Donaghey Ave. in Donaghey Hall. The market has daily lunch specials, other prepared foods and grocery staples.

"Our inventory gets really low in the summer, but we still have many students and staff who rely on the food pantry during this time of year. It is critical that we increase the food supply," Reesa Ramsahai, UCA staff counselor and food pantry volunteer, said in a statement. "This partnership with Uncle T's will help us increase our food supply, and we are thankful to ... Uncle T's for their support."

Magnolia building is donated to SAU

Southern Arkansas University will soon have a presence in downtown Magnolia.

The university's board unanimously approved the donation of a building at 113 N. Jefferson St. in the Magnolia square by Bobbie Ruth Webb. The university's Physical Plant will renovate most of the 3,800-square-foot building using outside donations of materials and equipment, SAU President Trey Berry said in a statement.

Once the renovations are complete, the university will have a store run by Master of Business Administration and entrepreneurial students, he said.

The university also plans to offer community education courses, learning programs for children, events and school-related merchandise, he said.

"We are truly blessed by the gift of Mrs. Webb on so many levels," Berry said. "Many of her family members are SAU graduates and the store has been in her family for more than 100 years. This partnership is a marriage of two important entities in her life."

He added, "We plan on this facility to be yet another example of how SAU and Magnolia are coming together and benefiting one another."

Metro on 06/18/2017

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