Join the UCA community for the total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. Custom UCA solar eclipse glasses will be distributed beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the McAlister Hall lawn.

This event will coincide with the Welcome Week picnic lunch.

You don’t want to miss this rare celestial event!

The Reserve includes 5 acres of virgin prairie, which now features an abundance of wildflowers in bloom.

The Reserve is open dawn to dusk free of charge seven days a week.

Visitors are asked to please stay on the trails to avoid trampling the wildflowers and to minimize the risk of chiggers and ticks.

The trails can be entered from behind the HPER Center or next to the sand volleyball courts.

The names of some of the wildflowers and more information on the .

Photographers are invited to enter the Jewel Moore Nature Reserve Photography contest.

For more information, please visit the .

Go Bears!

The university presented three awards to outstanding faculty in the following areas:

Taine Duncan, Department of Philosophy and Religion, received the Public Service Award.

Charlotte Yates, Department of Physical Therapy, received the Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award.

Melissa Kelley, Department of Chemistry, received the Teaching Excellence Award.

The university awarded the Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award to Dr. Taine Duncan, Department of Philosophy and Religion.

Staff members recognized were Dr. Shaneil Ealy, Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, as the non-classified Employee of the Year and Thomas Bertram, Schedler Honors College, as the classified Employee of the Year.

Employees with milestone records of service of at least 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service were also recognized and recent university retirees were also honored.

Night of Distinction is the awards gala honoring past and present recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Alumni Service Award. Proceeds from the event benefit student scholarships.

2017 Alumni Honorees:

Branscum practiced law in Arkansas for more than 50 years and served eight years as District Judge of Perry County, as well as 11 years on the Arkansas State Claims Commission, during which he served his last 6 years as Chairman. He served 10 years on the Arkansas Highway Commission.

Strong was the head football coach at the University of South Florida, two-time conference coach of the year and was later inducted into the 51青楼 Hall of Fame in 2009. Since 1995, Strong has coached 15 players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and had 37 taken in the first four rounds.

Voegele is currently in her second term on the Alumni Board of Directors where she serves on the scholarship committee. She also served as the chairman for the Class of 1962 Half Century Club Induction as well as the Alpha Sigma Tau Housing Committee.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award presented to UCA alumni. It is given to alumni to recognize outstanding contribution to the university, community, state or society; outstanding achievement in a particular field of endeavor; or a reputation that enhances the reputation of the university. Recipients also serve as an example to students and contribute to the goals or welfare of the university.

The Alumni Service Award was established in 2007 to honor an individual or couple, who, through their deeds or actions, reflect and recognize the importance of the UCA Alumni Association and demonstrate extraordinary commitment, dedication, service, and loyalty to the UCA Alumni Association.