Arkansas Tech University launched its centennial celebration at the State Capitol in Little Rock on Wednesday by participating in a ceremonial re-enactment of the signing of the law that created Tech and three other state universities.
A crowd filled the State Capitol Rotunda and looked on as Gov. Mike Beebe signed a reproduction of Act 100 of the 37th Arkansas General Assembly.
Former Gov. George Donaghey signed the original on April 1, 1909, and thus created four agricultural schools that were placed around the state of Arkansas.
A century later, the Second District Agricultural School has become Arkansas Tech University. The institution has grown from an initial class of 186 students in fall 1910 to 7,498 students in fall 2008.
Meanwhile, the First District Agricultural School (now Arkansas State University), the Third District Agricultural School (now Southern Arkansas University) and the Fourth District Agricultural School (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello) have charted their own paths of growth and development.
“Clearly, much has changed in 100 years, but the one thing that has not changed over all of that time is the ethic of these four agricultural schools,” said Arkansas Tech President Dr. Robert C. Brown (photographed). “Whether you are at Arkansas State, UA-Monticello, Southern Arkansas or Arkansas Tech, we know that we represent for the majority of our students their singular opportunity to achieve a better life through a college education.
“And we’re not just speaking of the material benefits, although they certainly are great,” continued Brown. “We are talking about the transformational benefits that come from receiving an education.”
Among the speakers at Wednesday’s event were Brown, Chancellor Jack Lassiter of UAM, President David Rankin of SAU, Chancellor Robert Potts of ASU and Governor Beebe.
“More important than what we are celebrating today is the legacy and history of countless individuals who have benefited from the vision that created these colleges 100 years ago,” said Gov. Beebe. “I don’t expect the progress of the next 100 years at these institutions to reflect the progress of the last 100 years. I expect that progress to be exceeded in multiples that we can’t even envision.
“I expect that the change we will see in the next 100 years at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, Southern Arkansas, Arkansas Tech and Arkansas State will greatly exceed the expectations even of the people in this room,” continued Beebe. “And the people in this room have high expectations for these four schools. So I think we celebrate the past, we acknowledge the present and we look forward to a wonderful future.”
Wednesday’s activities also included legislative re-enactments by actors from the Arkansas State University Theatre Department.
Performers representing Rep. J.J. Bellamy of Lawrence County, Rep. J.L. Brown of Independence County, Rep. Oscar Winn of Pulaski County, Rep. E.D. Smothers of Baxter County and Sen. Robert W. Glover of Grant County recited speeches given by their characters when Act 100 was debated a century ago.
“I have plowed for 30 years,” said Sen. Glover 100 years ago, and again through the actor representing him on Wednesday during the re-enactment. “I am a firm believer in agricultural schools and know the value to be derived from them. But I regard it the worst blunder the Arkansas Legislature could make to build four schools that will fight themselves to death in six years.”
Glover’s prediction of doom for the newly-created schools was proven wrong again on Wednesday with the celebration of 100 years of service to the state of Arkansas by all four institutions. Combined, Arkansas Tech, UA-Monticello, Southern Arkansas and Arkansas State have produced 132,650 graduates during their first 100 years.
Arkansas Tech University will continue its 100-year anniversary celebration throughout the coming months with a series of events. For more information, visit www.atu.edu, www.arkansastechnews.com and www.atu.edu/centennial.
To view additional photos from Wednesday's event, click here.
