Jerry Charles Young II, campus ambassador at Arkansas Tech University, will retire at the end of the 2022-23 academic year for health reasons.
“We recently noticed that Jerry II was uncomfortable walking on some hard surfaces,” said Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations, who along with his wife, Heather, and their son, Seth, serve as primary caretakers for the ATU campus ambassador. “A subsequent trip to his veterinarian, Dr. Heath Stump of Russellville Animal Clinic, revealed that the muscle and cartilage in Jerry II’s hips simply did not form correctly around the joints as he grew over the past few months. The prognosis is Jerry II will have a long and healthy life, but this condition has left him unable to comfortably perform the duties of ATU campus ambassador. As hard as it is to say goodbye after a relatively short tenure, we have and will always do what is in the best interests of each Jerry and his health, comfort and happiness.”
Jerry II, who took office as ATU campus ambassador on Oct. 1, 2022, will turn 1 year old on May 29, 2023. He will return home to his native Kansas later this spring. The veterinarian who helped bring Jerry II into the world, Dr. Stacy Rugan, and her family will care for Jerry II for the remainder of his life.
It is anticipated that the ATU campus ambassador program will provide regular Jerry II updates through the @arkansastechjerry Instagram and Facebook presences.
“We are so grateful to Dr. Stump for his unwavering care for Jerry I and Jerry II, his expertise, his wise counsel and his friendship throughout the 10-year history of the campus ambassador program,” said Strasner. “We look forward to his continued partnership as we move forward. We are also grateful to Dr. Rugan for her partnership in ensuring Jerry II lives his best life and in helping us select the best candidate to become Jerry Charles Young III.”
The process to identify Jerry Charles Young III and prepare the new campus ambassador to take office in the months to come is underway. More information will be announced as it becomes available.
“Jerry II is blessed with all the grit and determination necessary to live a happy life despite this curve that life has thrown him,” said Strasner. “We look forward to keeping the ATU community updated on Jerry II via social media as he begins a new adventure. We will always love him.”
