UA Little Rock Unveils Custom Street Signs for Centennial Celebration
As the University of Arkansas at Little Rock celebrates its 100th anniversary, newly dedicated custom street signs are leaving a lasting mark on campus while honoring the university’s century of history.
Campus and community members gathered Thursday, July 16, at the southeast corner of 28th Street and Campus Drive for the dedication ceremony. The event included remarks from UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., a graduate of the university, followed by the unveiling of the new signs. During the ceremony, Scott also presented a commemorative proclamation on behalf of the City of Little Rock recognizing UA Little Rock’s centennial celebration.
“One hundred years, a centennial, higher education, economic development, the fabric of a capital city: that is the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, (and) I’m a proud graduate of this university,” Scott said. “On behalf of the City of Little Rock, I share my appreciation for this university and its 100 years of steadfast service, 100 years of sacrifice, and 100 years of success.”
The signs not only recognize the university’s centennial but also its longstanding place in Arkansas and the city of Little Rock. While UA Little Rock has occupied three locations throughout its history, it has called its current campus home for over 75 years, growing alongside the city it has served for a century.
You can’t go to any public square, any pulpit, any process of progress across this entire state and not meet a UA Little Rock graduate,” Scott said. “That’s the type of impact they have.”
The idea for custom signage originated with dedicated UA Little Rock alumnus and Board of Visitors member Larry Golden, who envisioned using the university’s signature maroon color and Trojan head logo to create a more recognizable campus identity and to highlight UA Little Rock’s presence in the surrounding community.
“Street signs do more than direct traffic,” Drale said. “They create a sense of place. They tell people they’ve arrived somewhere that matters. Beginning today, everyone who enters our campus will be welcomed by signs that proudly reflect this university.”
The custom signs were made possible through a partnership with the City of Little Rock and the university’s facilities management team. In collaboration with the City of Little Rock and its Public Works Department, the university designed custom street signs and identified key campus intersections for the new signage.
The street sign dedication is one of several centennial initiatives recognizing the people, places, and partnerships that have shaped UA Little Rock over the past century while looking ahead to its next 100 years.
“These signs now become part of that story,” Drale said. “They will welcome prospective students on their first campus visit, families celebrating graduation, alumni returning home, and countless others who will discover all that happens here.”