Initial accounting indicates that last week’s gala celebrating the 10th Anniversary of UALR’s Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology set a new event fundraising record for UALR.

The event also honored Dr. Mary L. Good, the inaugural dean whose driving vision made the college a reality. Bob Denman, executive director of the Office of Development, said the event raised $238,000.

“I think we have set a new gold standard for fundraising dinner events at UALR,” Denman said. “Never before has our institution enjoyed the high-profile crowd as was in attendance Thursday night.”

The night marked the first time a president of the United States visited the campus. The former president also brought two former cabinet members to the event – former Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and former White House Chief of Staff Thomas “Mack” McLarty.

Many in the crowd of more than 500 had never before visited the campus. The gala was held in the decked-out Derek Fisher Court at the Jack Stephen Center.

“It was a remarkable page in the history of the state of Arkansas,” said William H. Bowen, former dean of the law school and one-time chief of staff for then-Gov. Bill Clinton.

A video presentation that followed the former president’s talk illustrated some of the cutting edge research, teaching, and outreach going on at EIT – activities that Clinton said would define Arkansas in the 21st century.

“I think 50 years from now, when you look back, you may think that the establishment of the College of Engineering and Information Technology – and the luring of this astonishing woman into this job – may wind up being the most significant thing this institution has done since its creation,” Clinton said.

See photos and watch video from the event.