This year’s Day of Giving will take place on Thursday, April 28 (our beloved mascot Numa’s birthday). Our Day of Giving is an opportunity for projects and departments on campus to create unique experiences for our students that couldn’t happen without the support of our alumni and friends. Please consider becoming an ambassador for our cause and donating to impact our students’ experiences. Already an ambassador? Check out our Toolkit (which will become available on April 14) for ideas, graphics, and tutorials on how to help your project succeed!

This year’s Day of Giving will take place on Thursday, April 28 (our beloved mascot Numa’s birthday). Our Day of Giving is an opportunity for projects and departments on campus to create unique experiences for our students that couldn’t happen without the support of our alumni and friends. Please consider becoming an ambassador for our cause and donating to impact our students’ experiences. Already an ambassador? Check out our Toolkit for ideas, graphics, and tutorials on how to help your project succeed!

This year’s Day of Giving will take place on Thursday, April 28 (our beloved mascot Numa’s birthday). Our Day of Giving is an opportunity for projects and departments on campus to create unique experiences for our students that couldn’t happen without the support of our alumni and friends. Please consider becoming an ambassador for our cause and donating to impact our students’ experiences. Already an ambassador? Check out our Toolkit for ideas, graphics, and tutorials on how to help your project succeed!

Studying abroad is a life-changing experience for our students, personally and academically. Help them get there by contributing to this merit-based scholarship. About our Scholarship These funds will cover a full merit scholarship for a UAFS undergraduate to study abroad in Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), Mexico. Recognized by M.I.T. as a member of EdNET and affiliated with the Harvard School of Business, this university is a center for innovation and the study of language and culture. UPAEP is located in the beautiful and temperate city of Puebla, in central Mexico, rich in history and culture. The Battle of Puebla, for example, celebrated in the United States as the fiesta of “Cinco de Mayo,” took place here May 5, 1862. In addition to a rigorous academic program of Spanish and Latin American history, this study-abroad opportunity gives students 24-hour immersion in Mexican culture and language, as they are housed with carefully selected Mexican families. Students acquire cultural competency as well as Spanish fluency as they explore the ruins of Teotihuacán and Monte Albán, travel to Oaxaca and Mexico City with their cohort, and discover pre-Columbian traditions still practiced in the town of Cuetzalan. The $5,000 scholarship covers the following: roundtrip airfare, tuition, room and board, and professionally guided field trips including hotel and fees. “UAFS prepares students to succeed in an ever-changing global world. This scholarship opens doors for students who would otherwise be unable to take advantage of an opportunity to explore the rich and wonderful world outside of US borders.” -Dr. Mary A Sobhani, head of the World Langauges Department Student Testimonials “I was impressed by the coexistence of so many cultures and ethnicities. My time in the university inspired me to expand my knowledge of the world and helped me understand the depth of how entwined we are as a society on a global scale.” –Jordan Pomeroy, 2018 Study Abroad Graduate "It didn’t last long enough. It really was hard to go home (I cried the whole plane ride home.) You should start a program where the students ‘accidentally’ disappear for a year or two." —Rachel Smith Jordan, 2007 Study Abroad Graduate "I felt safe the entire time I was in Mexico. Safety was the primary concern for my family when I first considered going on this trip. After being there a month, I have to say that safety was not an issue for me whatsoever. As long as you are smart, such as, not going downtown at 3 a.m., just as you would not do here in Fort Smith, etc., there is nothing to worry about." –Stephanie Waack (Longley) 2010 Study Abroad Participant "The excursions were grand. The best ones to “Las Estacas” (a natural park) and the Folkloric Ballet of Mexico. The others were also impressive, like the one to Teotihuacan and the Frida Kahlo Museum." –Isaac Navarro, 2010 Study Abroad Participant. Connect with Study Abroad on Facebook!

Your gift will provide matching scholarships to our Jumpstart national service members who dedicate their time to serving those most in need in our community, our children! About our Project Jumpstart Arkansas is our AmeriCorps national service program on campus. Our members are college students who serve under-resourced children in local preschools. Members commit to serve 300 hours during a school year to help the children they serve increase their language, literacy, and social-emotional skills while forming trusting relationships with caring adults. Jumpstart is working toward the day when every child enters kindergarten ready to succeed! Our members are a diverse group of college students from a variety of majors who are dedicated to bettering our community through early childhood education. Members serve an average of 10-15 hours per week during the school year without receiving an hourly wage. In addition to their service, several members work multiple jobs while taking a full-time course load. Most also plan to pursue careers in service sectors. Upon completion of 300 hours of service, members receive a $1,342 scholarship from AmeriCorps. We would like to match that amount on our campus for as many members as possible. Let's demonstrate that service is valued on our campus and in our community by assisting these individuals with finishing college with less of a financial burden. Not only will the project assist this group of students, but the matching scholarships will allow UAFS to become recognized nationally as an AmeriCorps School of National Service, potentially bringing more service-minded students to our campus. "Through the AmeriCorps Jumpstart Grant, students who complete 300 hours of service are eligible for a $1,342 Segal Educational Award. We are proud of this opportunity that can be provided to students. However, the chance to increase this award for members who struggle financially yet still choose to serve their community through working with our youngest learners thrills me. Students serving their communities while attending the university deserve the highest assistance we can provide. This project would allow students to be retained at the university and complete a bachelor’s degree without a heavy financial burden upon graduation. Join us in making college more affordable for our national service members!” -Dr. Monica Riley, Executive Director of the School of Education and Jumpstart Campus Champion Did you know? Awarded over $33,000 in Segal Educational Awards from AmeriCorps since 2020 25 members have successfully completed their full 300 hour term of service since 2020 Our members major in education, dental hygiene, nursing, criminal justice, social work, and international business. For more information about our program, please visit our website! Follow UAFS Jumpstart on Social!

Read This is a community-wide literacy program that aims to select thoughtful books and provide programming about diverse communities around us and bring to light important social issues that foster discussion and mutual understanding. About our Project The Read This program is a multidisciplinary literacy program, which originated in the English Department and has extended throughout UAFS and the community. We provide programming relevant to the selected book. Read This is a great way to bring our students together with the community while also covering important social issues to help us all be more culturally aware. Such lessons and interactions can help make our university and community better citizens and human beings. Funds will be used to invite off-campus guest speakers or towards the expenses associated with author visits; prizes for writing/art contests or other projects or activities; printing and advertising costs, and many more possibilities. Our Books & Authors Testimonials "Bringing a community together to discuss a book/topic creates opportunities for new and different ideas and perspectives to be discovered and discussed." ― Rene Wilson Myers, Scott-Sebastian Regional Library "What draws me most to the Read This Program is the tremendous respect I have for all the research that goes into creating a book like Killers of the Flower Moon. Not only do we gain knowledge from reading the book, but we also get to participate in many fun and interesting events. I have learned many fascinating facts about my hometown Fort Smith through the book launch. Book club is a great place to not just learn about the book but for fellowship and friendship. I highly recommend getting involved in Read This!" ― Joshua Hawk Hays, Computer Graphic Technology-Architectural Follow us on Social!