Hello from Arkansas!!!!
October is the best month to visit Arkansas. The weather is perfect. Jon and I have taken some motorcycle rides and we spent a fantastic day in one of my favorite places.
Any college football fans will know about the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks. But if you haven't seen the campus, let me show you now. I don't think I have ever seen a more picturesque campus.
"Old Main"
The University of Arkansas is located in Fayetteville and is the "Flagship" Campus of the University of Arkansas System. There are six main campuses within the state -- U of A Little Rock, U of A Monticello, U of A Pine Bluff, U of A Fort Smith, and the U of A for Medical Sciences. Currently over 25,000 students are enrolled in over 188 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. Founded in 1871, as Arkansas Industrial University, the name was changed to the University of Arkansas in 1899 and classes were first held on January 22, 1872. The University is noted for its strong architecture, agriculture (particularly animal science & poultry science), business, communication disorders, creative writing, history, law and Middle Eastern studies programs.
The U of A completed its "Campaign for the 21st Century" in 2005, in which the University raised more than $1 Billion for the school, used in part to create a new Honors College and significantly increase the University's endowment. Among these gifts were the largest donation given to a business school at the time ($50 million) and the largest gift given to a public university in America ($300 million), both given by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation.
Total enrollment for the Fall Semester 2013 was 25,365. The University Campus comprises more than 130 buildings on 345 acres, including Old Main, the first permanent academic building erected, and the Inn at Carnall Hall, which serves as an on-campus hotel and restaurant facility.
The U of A offers 214 areas of study, with academic programs organized into numerous departments and schools based out of the ten primary colleges on the main campus. The University and several of its programs have been recognized on the national level. The one that I am most familiar with (and means the most to me) is the Sam M. Walton College of Business which is ranked the 24th top public business school in the nation, and is ranked 42nd amongst all public and private schools. With even higher rankings in specific areas such as 6th place ranking for its marketing program and corporate strategy program and 9th place ranking for its Accounting program.
There are several distinguished alumni:
Ricardo Martinelli (President of the Republic of Panama)
Mike Beebe (Governor of Arkansas) - A total of 17 Governors of Arkansas are Alumni of the U of A
Jerry Jones (Owner of the Dallas Cowboys)
S. Robson Walton (Walmart)
Thomas A. Mars (Mars, Inc.)
Scott Ford (Alltel)
David Russell (Verizon Communications)
Cliff Lee (MLB Cy Young Award winning pitcher)
There are many many more including my favorite. Sara Moore-Rizzotti, my beautiful daughter.
Every year the University lists the graduates in a concrete sidewalk. The above is the 2006 walk with a closeup of Sara's name. I am so pleased that this is the University that Sara choose to attend. She graduated from the Walton School of Business with a degree in Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate. She started at the U of A when she was just 17 years old and didn't have an idea of what she wanted to do for a career. My advice was to get the best education possible, because a degree will open doors. Sara currently works as a Project Manager for a large Internet Company in San Francisco.
You can enter the University via Dickson Street. A very cool street in a very cool town.
My favorite place in Arkansas has to be Eureka Springs. The entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Eureka Springs is a unique Victorian resort village. The city has steep winding streets with the buildings mostly constructed with native stones. The current population is just over 2000. However at one time it was the second most populous city after Little Rock. I love love love it here!
This town is and has always been a tourist destination. The mineral springs are thought to have healing powers. We are in the South and in the Bible Belt. Take a look at the Christ of the Ozarks.
Just outside of Eureka Springs is a beautiful park setting with this 65.5 feet tall statue of Jesus. In the same area is a small chapel with an actual 10 X 10 section of the Berlin Wall. It is amazing to think that the "Wall" has been down for nearly 24 years now.
Outside of Eureka Springs is a beautiful glass chapel - Thorncrown. If you need a little inspiration in your day, check out the website: www.thorncrown.com
The beautiful scenery, the spectacular architecture, the amazing generosity of the property owners all work together to make this a truly special place. Thorncrown affects people differently. I felt very peaceful as I sat on a pew and looked at the surroundings. You can't help but to feel the presence of God. I read that an atheist said he did not believe in God unless he was in Thorncrown Chapel. It is a remarkable place and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes here.
Everyday I say out loud that I am so lucky. I never imagined that I could have this life. I hope that my words and Jon's pictures inspire.
What would you do if you could change your life?
