Ferguson Student Union is not just a building for Arkansas Tech University students. It is a building that was planned by ATU students and will be operated on a day-to-day basis by ATU students.
The two most recent ATU Student Government Association presidents — Carson Smith of Russellville and Elli White of Malvern — spoke about that aspect of the facility and why student input in the design process was important during the Ferguson Student Union dedication ceremony on Wednesday, March 18.
“As SGA President, I am honored to be here today as we celebrate the opening of this incredible new building,” said Smith. “This moment represents far more than brick, glass and steel. It represents vision, partnership and a shared commitment to the future of Arkansas Tech University.”
Smith expressed appreciation to the donors who made private gifts in support of the construction of Ferguson Student Union and the university administrators who oversaw the design and construction process. Drew Dickey (director of facilities management), Chelsea Neal (associate dean for campus life and director of Ferguson Student Union), Kevin Solomon (assistant vice president for campus life) and Amy Pennington (vice president for student affairs) were among the ATU staff members Smith mentioned as being integral in the process.
“Your belief in this institution and your willingness to invest in its future have created something that will serve students for years to come,” said Smith. “Your support has helped turn an idea into a reality, and for that, we are deeply thankful.
“That same spirit of investment and service was also reflected in the people who worked to ensure students had a voice throughout this process,” continued Smith. “I want to take a moment to recognize some individuals whose leadership and support made a lasting impact. A special thank you to prior SGA presidents Elli White and Hannah Stone. I am grateful for their guidance and for the work they did in uplifting student voices during this process. Their leadership helped carry forward the student perspective in a project that will benefit generations of Arkansas Tech students.”
White, who has since graduated from Arkansas Tech and was recently hired as ATU coordinator of student involvement, reflected on how she and her peers were engaged in planning Ferguson Student Union during the 2023-24 academic year.
“This building serves as a final puzzle piece that completes the greater picture of ATU, and that piece fits due to the collaboration between our administration and the student body,” said White. “Because of the hard work that students put in serving on committees, gathering feedback and crafting a vision, this building will serve as the beating heart of our campus community. I am grateful that students were heavily involved in this project before the concrete was poured, ensuring that this building can be a functional and vital part of campus life.
“This building has been on my mind since I stepped foot on campus in 2021, and I’m happy to report that it has exceeded my expectations,” continued White. “I’m looking forward to the many memories we will make in this facility, where I now have the honor of working. Finally, it is time to turn the page and enter a new chapter for ATU.”
One of the most significant steps in the development of Ferguson Student Union occurred when ATU SGA voted during the 2018-19 academic year in support of a new student union and recreation fee. That fee was subsequently approved by the ATU Board of Trustees in May 2019. Smith reported during the Ferguson Student Union dedication ceremony that the fee generates approximately $3 million per year in support of the facility.
“Those numbers reflect more than funding,” said Smith. “They reflect a real commitment to honoring student priorities, and I am thankful for those who helped ensure those resources were used in a way that reflected the needs and vision of our students.
“And while those numbers are important, what matters even more is what they represent,” continued Smith. “This building is a reflection of something that makes Arkansas Tech so special — the investment of students in the future of their university. Long before these doors opened, students played an important role in the planning, conversations and support that helped make this day possible. It is important that we recognize the students who came before us and helped shape the vision for what this building could become. Their time, their effort and their belief in making ATU better for future generations helped lay the foundation for what we celebrate today. This new space will become a place for connection, opportunity, leadership and community. It will serve as a reminder of what can happen when people come together with a common purpose and a shared belief in students. Today, we celebrate not just the opening of a building, but the opening of new possibilities for Arkansas Tech University.”
