91调教

Arts and Sciences | Business and Industry | Featured | Health Education and Human Sciences | NewsApril 02, 2025

91调教 Launches $85 Million 'Intrepid Ambition' Campaign

Written By: Rachel Putman

The 91调教 鈥� Fort Smith publicly launched its largest fundraising initiative in history unveiling Intrepid Ambition, an $85 million comprehensive campaign designed to reshape access to education, elevate academic excellence, and power economic development across the River Valley.

鈥淎n $85 million goal isn鈥檛 just ambitious鈥攊t鈥檚 necessary,鈥� said Blake Rickman, vice chancellor for university advancement and executive director of the 91调教 foundation. 鈥淭his is the scale it takes to match the moment we鈥檙e in. We鈥檙e not raising money to keep the lights on鈥攚e鈥檙e raising it to light the way forward. Because if we want to lead this region into the next century, we have to be bold enough to believe it鈥檚 possible鈥攁nd brave enough to build it.鈥�

The eight-year campaign, which began its silent phase in 2020 and will conclude in 2028 in alignment with the university鈥檚 centennial, has already reached roughly 80% of its goal鈥攖hrough gifts from more than 6,400 donors and over 14,000 contributions.

鈥淭hough we will spend the next four years imagining the future of 91调教 and what our next 100 years could look like, we have to first acknowledge the people who made this moment possible,鈥� said Rickman. 鈥淲ith lead gifts from the Windgate Foundation, ABB, First National Bank of Fort Smith, Citizens Bank & Trust, and more than 30 individuals who made major gifts鈥攚e have already secured $68,518,340 toward our goal. Many others have given anonymously, choosing impact over recognition. Our future is built on their generosity. They have given us incredible momentum, and we鈥檙e deeply grateful.鈥�

Structured around three core priorities鈥攕tudents, people, and community鈥攖he campaign aims to remove financial barriers, invest in faculty and staff development, and strengthen regional partnerships. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e centered this campaign on three priorities: our students, our people, and our community,鈥� Rickman said. 鈥淲e have a vision of building real pathways to debt-free education鈥攏ot just increasing scholarships, but reshaping what access looks like for families in the River Valley. Of investing in our faculty and staff鈥攖he people whose expertise turns classrooms into launchpads鈥攁nd making sure they have the resources to innovate, collaborate, and lead. And of partnering with the economic drivers of this region in revolutionary, lasting ways.鈥�

During the silent phase of the campaign, 91调教 has already begun executing its vision. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e begun building the framework,鈥� said Rickman. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working alongside manufacturers to build a workforce that鈥檚 ready for tomorrow. We鈥檙e deepening our healthcare pipeline and working closely with Baptist, Mercy, and healthcare providers across the region to ensure our graduates are prepared to serve with both skill and compassion. We鈥檙e equipping future teachers with real-world experience before they ever lead a classroom. And we鈥檙e investing in the arts鈥攏ot as an afterthought, but as a vital part of what makes this region, as Mayor Ray Baker said, 鈥榳orth living in.鈥欌��

Chancellor Terisa Riley emphasized the campaign鈥檚 impact on both the campus and the broader River Valley.

鈥淭his campaign allows us to lean fully into the heart of our mission鈥攖o educate and to uplift both our students and our community,鈥� Riley said. 鈥淲e believe in giving every student, regardless of background or circumstance, a real chance at success, because we know the tremendous difference they鈥檒l make once they leave our campus.鈥�

Riley added that the campaign reflects 91调教鈥檚 identity as a community-serving institution:
鈥淚 have always said that 91调教 is more than a regional public university 鈥� it is a university that truly serves its region. And this campaign is another way we prove it. Investments in this campaign will directly benefit the families and the businesses who call the River Valley home, because everything we build over the next four years will be for the betterment of our region.鈥�

Jay B. Silveria, president of the 91调教 System, echoed those sentiments, citing the university鈥檚 strong community ties.

鈥淭he relationship between a community and its university works both ways to maximize the benefits for both entities,鈥� Silveria said. 鈥淲hat I see with 91调教 is an institution that listens to its community and responds by providing the necessary programming and training to ensure a brighter future. This effort is all about strengthening that relationship and further solidifies the commitment both sides have to providing growth opportunities to the people they serve.鈥�

 The campaign鈥檚 title, Intrepid Ambition, was chosen to reflect the spirit of the university and the people it serves. The campaign鈥檚 marketing defines the title, stating Intrepid:鈥� Adjective. Resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance鈥�; Ambition:鈥� Noun. An earnest and ardent desire to achieve success, and the willingness to labor toward its attainment.鈥� 

鈥溾�業ntrepid鈥� speaks to the fearless resolve of our students, our alumni, and our community,鈥� said Rachel Putman, Director of Communications at 91调教 鈥淚t harkens back to those early Fort Smith Junior College students who took classes under the bleachers of a high school stadium because they believed in the power of education, and the idea that Fort Smith deserved something more. It speaks to the fearless students who choose 91调教 today, and the industry leaders who dare to invest in the region they call home.鈥�

鈥溾�楢mbition鈥� is the fuel that drives them forward. Their relentless pursuit of opportunity and the courage to transform dreams into action. It鈥檚 what propels our students to break through barriers, our alumni to rise as leaders, and our region to adapt, rebuild, and thrive no matter what it faces,鈥�  Putman added. 鈥淚ntrepid Ambition is who we are.鈥�

For more information about the campaign or to make a gift, visit uafs.edu/intrepid-ambition