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P r o u d t o s ay

UCA!History and traditions

uNIVErsIty oF CENtraL arKaNsas

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the University of Central arkansas alumni association

is proud to connect graduates and former students

with the university. the alumni association instills the

spirit of tradition, volunteerism and philanthropy in UCa

alumni and future alumni. it also offers a wide variety of

programming, services, special events and publications

that keep the entire university community connected

with their alma mater. Members of the alumni association

help sustain the university and future generations of

alumni because their dues directly support the university

and its mission to provide excellence in academics.

the UCa alumni association was established in

1911. there are more than 45,000 UCa alumni living

throughout the world.

University of Central Arkansas Alumni AssociationBuffalo Alumni Hall • UCA Box 4925

Conway, AR 72035-4925 • uca.edu/alumni

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the state Legislature created

the arkansas state

Normal school

in 1907. the

purpose was to

properly train

professional teachers.

Classes began in 1908 with nine

academic departments in one

building on 80 acres. the school had 107 students and

seven faculty members.

in 1925, arkansas

state normal school

became known as

arkansas state teachers

College, a name that

accurately reflected the

main program and mission

of the institution.

UCAname changes

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arkansas state teachers

College was known for

decades as the premier teacher-training

college in arkansas.

By 1967, though teacher-training was still an important

part of the mission, other fields began to expand in

liberal arts and health sciences. to

recognize this emerging academic

diversity, arkansas state teachers

College became state College of

arkansas.

President silas snow, who

championed the name change in 1967,

organized state College of arkansas along university

lines in preparation for yet another name change.

state College of arkansas grew rapidly in the

1960s and ‘70s and offered an ever-widening

range of degree programs. By January of

1975, snow’s efforts were realized as the state

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department of

Higher Education

recommended

state College of

arkansas become

the university of

Central arkansas.

today, the

University of

Central arkansas

has more than 11,000 students, studying in more than

100 undergraduate degree programs, more than 30

graduate programs, and four doctoral programs.

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the colors for UCa were decided during

the first year of astC in 1908, and

according to an article in the november

24, 1908 edition of the Log Cabin

democrat, were said to be purple and silver.

according to one story, President doyne assigned the

task of developing school colors to W.o. Wilson and ida

Waldran in 1908. one day Wilson was wearing a gray

sweater and Waldran was wearing a purple scarf. Both

thought that the purple

and gray complemented

each other. today the official

colors for all UCa sports

teams are purple

and gray.

UCAcolors

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it wasn’t until 1920 that the UCa athletic teams had a

mascot. according to “A History of The Arkansas State

Teachers College,” the UCa teams from 1908-1919 were

referred to by many names, including: tutors, teachers,

Pedagogues, Pea-Pickers and normalites. in 1920, the

Bears became the mascot for the teams, however; it

wasn’t until 1921 that the teams were called “Bears” in

print. sources were quoted as saying the Bear was an

appropriate symbol for the

school because arkansas’

nickname

was the

“Bear

state.”

the women’s

teams were

known as the

Bearettes for several

years. the name

sugar Bear came

later.

UCAmascotcolors

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the alma Mater was written in 1923 by ora Blackmun,

a member of the English department. Band director

Homer F. Hess composed the music.

From the hills and from the lowlands,

Comes the song of praise anew;

sung by thousands of our children,

alma Mater we sing to you.

then we’ll unfurl our colors the Purple and the Gray,

and in the breezes see them ever proudly sway;

they lead us upward, they lead us onward,

they lead us to victory (Go Bears!).

then let us gather round with loyal hearts and true,

our alma Mater’s call oBEy;

our dear old colors will live forever,

the royal PUrPLE and the Gray.

UCAalma mater

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UCAfight songin the 1970s, Band

director Homer Brown

chose the “trio to

Purple Pageant March”

as the UCa fight song.

the previous fight

song was the “Eyes of

teachers,” following

the same tune as

“Eyes of texas,” and was adopted during the arkansas

state teachers College years.

Go, Go, Fight Bears,

you will lead us on to victory!

Hey, Go, Go, Win team,

Bears will charge the field and never yield,

so, FiGHt! FiGHt! FiGHt!

We’ve got the spirit,

and we’ll show our colors here tonight!

so let’s cheer the Purple and the Gray team,

Mighty BEars will win the FiGHt!

alma mater

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Main Hall – 1919the oldest building on campus,

Main Hall was completed in

1919 and was built by former

Gov. George donaghey.

after the building was

constructed, it served a dual

role as the administration building

and as a classroom building. it continued to serve as the

administration building until a new one was built in the

1960s at the corner of donaghey and Bruce.

UCAlandmarks

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Wingo Hall – 1934Wingo Hall was the most hurriedly built building on the

UCa campus. it was built in 1934, in less than five months,

and was the first Public Works administration project in

the state to be completed and dedicated. originally an

apartment-style dormitory, Wingo Hall is named after

state sen., and later U.s. rep., otis t. Wingo. the building

has been remodeled numerous times and now serves as

the UCa administration building.

landmarks

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Harding Centennial Plaza – 2005Harding Centennial Plaza was dedicated in 2005 as

the result of a major gift by loyal University of Central

arkansas alumni rush and Linda Harding. the plaza’s

stunning fountain and lush surrounding gardens make it

a signature landmark, commemorating UCa’s centennial

anniversary and affirming the university’s reputation as

one of the most beautiful campuses in the south.

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one of the most exciting

times at UCa is during the

traditional homecoming week.

Each year, a theme is chosen

and the activities reflect the

theme. among the events

traditionally featured during

UCa homecoming is a

student pep rally, bonfire,

parade, party for alumni and

friends and tailgating along Bruce

street before the football game.

UCAhomecoming

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the official Class ring of the University of Central

arkansas evokes special memories of the history and

heritage of UCa.

the top of the ring boldly presents the letters “UCa”

encircled by the full university name. one side of the

ring features: the recipient’s graduation year; Main Hall,

the oldest building on campus; and UCa’s founding year,

1907. the other side features: the recipient’s degree and

the UCa Bear, which was named the official mascot in

1920. Both sides of the ring display four ginkgo leaves,

which represent the four names of the university since its

founding.

traditionally, students wear their official UCa Class

ring with the university name facing them when

their hand is extended. once

the degree is granted at

commencement, the ring

is turned around so that

the name, UCa, faces

outward – symbolizing

that the new alumnus is

ready to face the world.

UCAofficial class ring

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UCa’s ring is reserved exclusively for graduates and

students in good standing who have completed at least

60 credit hours. designed by a committee of association

of Future alumni students and alumni, the official Class

ring is offered exclusively through the UCa alumni

association and association of Future alumni.

in 2004, the association of

Future alumni began providing

each incoming freshman with

a UCa lapel pin during the

Freshmen Convocation of

Welcome Week. once students

graduate, they are once again

presented a lapel pin designating them as UCa alumni.

the first class to receive the UCa alumni lapel pins was

the centennial year graduating class in 2007.

official class ring

UCAlapel pins

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the senior Legacy Walk

was established in 2004

to mark the educational

achievement of graduating

seniors. these bricks are

placed along a walkway in

front of the student Center.

the bricks, purchased

through the UCa alumni

association, are most often personalized to reflect the

graduate’s name, class year and degree.

the Legacy Walk is significant because it

symbolizes UCa’s strong

heritage of educational

excellence and

accomplishing

personal

endeavors.

UCAsenior legacy walk

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during the 1950-51 academic year, art Professor Gene

Hatfield and his craft class created the first statue of

the UCa Bear mascot. the bear was made of clay and

concrete, and was originally placed by the flag pole

in front of the administration Building (Main Hall). the

statue was the focus of rival pranks for many years as

students from other colleges would sneak onto campus

and paint the bear their school colors. the bear was

always repainted its traditional purple or gray. in 2006,

members of the

Bear den Executive

Board voted to

have the statue

placed at the

north end zone

of Estes stadium

establishing a

tradition for

students to rub

the bear statue for

good luck before each home football game.

senior legacy walk UCAbear statue

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1907 John James doyne sponsored a legislative bill to establish arkansas state normal school (asns). He then became the institution’s first president.

1908 Formal opening and dedication of asns.

1911 alumni association is officially established.

1917 Burr Walter torreyson became the second president of the school.

1922 the school conferred its first baccalaureate degree.

1925 the school was renamed arkansas state teachers College (astC).

1929 Construction began on the school’s first library, named for President Burr Walter torreyson.

1930 Heber L. Mcalister officially became the third president.

UCAtimeline

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1941 dr. nolen M. irby became the fourth president.

1946 Enrollment was exceeded 1,000 students for the first time.

1953 dr. silas snow was the first alumnus to serve as president.

1964 Ferguson Chapel was dedicated in honor of former physics professor dr. W.C Ferguson.

1967 astC was renamed state College of arkansas (sCa).

1975 the college was granted university status and renamed the University of Central arkansas.

1975 dr. Jefferson d. Farris Jr. became the sixth president.

1977 Enrollment exceeded 5,000 students for the first time.

timeline

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1982 dr. norb schedler established the state’s first Honors College at UCa.

1986 First distinguished alumnus, Jimmy driftwood, was announced.

1987 scottie Pippen was the first basketball player in UCa history to be drafted by the nBa.

1988 dr. Winfred L. thompson became the university’s seventh president.

1998 UCa alumni association established a permanent home in Buffalo Hall.

2002 Lu Hardin was named the university’s eighth president.

2004 Enrollment exceeded 10,000 for the first time.

2005 UCa was invited to join the division i southland Conference in athletics.

2007 UCa celebrated its centennial anniversary.

2009 dr. allen C. Meadors became the university’s 9th president.

2010 UCa athletics unveils new Bear logo.

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U – C – a Bears ... UCa Bears!

Go Purple, Go Gray ... Go UCa!

UCAchants

do it Like a Big Bear! ... Grrrr!

Who dat talkin’ about Beatin’ them Bears! ... Who dat? Who dat?

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• In1909,aUCAmalestudentwasfined$10forflirting

with a student from Central Baptist College.

• DuringWorldWarII,UCAwasthehomeofthe

Women’s army Corps Branch no. 3. approximately

1,800 women were trained at UCa.

• In1987,ScottiePippenwasthefirstbasketballplayer

in UCa history to be drafted by the nBa.

• Thefirstcommencementceremonyrecognized

10 graduates.

• In1923,OraBlackmunfromtheEnglishDepartment

wrote the words to the alma Mater.

• In1962,womenwereonlyallowedtowearshortson

campus while at the tennis courts and were required

to cover up with a skirt or coat until they reached

the courts.

UCAdid you know

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• UCAHonorsCollegewasthefirsthonorscollege

in arkansas.

• TheBearDenwasformerlyknownastheRoyalRooters.

Members were selected on the basis of their leadership

ability, school spirit, and participation in campus

activities.

• In1916,afullcreditcouldbegainedbyparticipation

in two or more sports on campus.

• UCA’sfirstfootballgamewasagainstHendrixin1908,

but UCa didn’t have a victory over Hendrix until 1928.

• In1939,avarsityclubwasorganizedafterthe1938

football season. the men were awarded a letter “t” (for

teachers) after excelling in more than four sports at UCa.

• McCastlainHallwasoriginallycalledtheCommons

when it served as the campus dining hall.

• UCA'sWorldWarIIMemorialwasdedicatedin2003.

the memorial contains the names and branch of

service of 46 UCa alumni who were killed during

World War ii.

did you know

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Compliments of

uCa aLuMNI assoCIatIoNwww.uca.edu/alumni

Go BEars!!!