Ben Hardy Jr. of Mentone, Ala., has established an annual award for members of the Theta Eta chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at UALR.  Hardy made a gift of $5,000 to establish the Ben Hardy Jr. Kappa Sigma Excellence Award.

Michael Cena, a native of Los Angeles who moved to Arkansas in 2001 and graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in Hot Springs, was the first recipient of the $250 award.

“All the Kappa Sigs are touched that a brother cared enough to remember the chapter,” said Dr. Terry Richard, professor of sociology and sponsor of the Kappa Sigma chapter. “Hopefully this gift will pay itself forward when these young men become established in their chosen fields and someday give back to the chapter and to UALR.”

Hardy graduated from UALR in 1967 with a degree in English. His father, Ben Hardy Sr., established a scholarship in 1972 for a student in the College of Business.