To make the kickoff gala a complete success, members of the UALR Campaign Committee had to rely on faculty, staff, and students from throughout the campus. Faculty and staff worked to plan the event, engineering each detail, while students contributed to the art of the evening.

Graduate Amy Blackwell Bennett, ’08, designed the limited-edition bowls that were given to each guest at the event. The hand-made vessels feature the UALR logo and an image of a clock to remind guests of the theme for the campaign – It’s Time for UALR – and the importance of making a positive impact on Arkansas through higher education.

When she was an undergraduate, Bennett double majored in studio art and psychology. In addition, she competed three years on the Trojan swim team and studied abroad in Austria as a Donaghey Scholar.

Bennett is currently pursuing her graduate degree in studio art. She still explores new worlds through her pottery, currently pairing her preconceived notions of marriage with those from the Victorian era. This exploration finds its way into the patterns on her ceramics.

In addition to Bennett’s artistic contributions, several current UALR students and faculty performed at the gala. They are:

• Kristina Marinova, a native of Bulgaria, holds a master of arts in piano performance from the University of Michigan. Marinova-Pavlov is the vocal coach for the UALR Opera Theatre and assists the UALR Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Women’s Ensemble, and Community Chorus.
• Blake Wicker, a Little Rock native, is a senior pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design and illustration.
• Satia Spencer, a former marine from DeWitt, Ark., is now a music major minoring in secondary education. She is a 2008-09 recipient of the Dean’s Talent Award for Music.
• Shea Williamson, a senior music major, secondary education minor from Brinkley, Ark., recently returned from studying at the Music in the Marque in Urbania, Italy. Williamson is the 2008-09 recipient of the Josef Rosenburg Endowed Award.