Arvest Supports New Ag Education Building at ATU

Arvest Donation for ATU Agricultural Education Building 2024
Representatives from Arkansas Tech University and Arvest Bank gathered for a check presentation on the ATU campus in Russellville.

Arvest Foundation has donated $10,000 to the Arkansas Tech University Foundation in support of the construction of a new agricultural education building on the ATU campus in Russellville.

Shawn Bates, Arvest Bank community bank president in Russellville, presented the check to Jason Geiken, ATU vice president for advancement and executive director of the ATU Foundation.

Additional Arvest Bank representatives on hand for the check presentation were: Tammy Burchett, commercial loan assistant; Daniel Kimbrough, commercial agriculture lender; Whitney Koenigseder, loan assistant; Jessy Moreno, loan assistant manager; Ashley Smith, branch sales manager at the North Arkansas Avenue location; Brittany Tolliver, commercial banker; and Tony Warren, commercial lender.

Additional ATU representatives present for the check presentation were: Ashley Bryant, director of grants and donor relations; Bryan Fisher, associate vice president for advancement; Dr. Bryan Rank, associate professor of agriculture and director of the ATU agriculture program; and Dr. Matt Wilson, associate professor of agriculture.

The ATU agriculture program advisory board was represented by Jeff Ray and Emily Woodall.

The new ATU agricultural education building will be approximately 1,980 square feet and will house welding equipment, a tool storage area, classroom space, laboratory space and other equipment. It will be located on the Tech Farm, adjacent to the ATU Greenhouses and the Dr. James “Jim” Collins Agriculture Classroom.

Learn more about the ATU Department of Agriculture and Tourism at www.atu.edu/agri-tourism.