Pine Bluff, Ark. – A $2.5 million Simmons Bank gift for upgrades to football and baseball athletics facilities was announced Tuesday at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The gift is the largest in UAPB history and will fund a new football stadium scoreboard and turf, along with completion of the baseball pavilion at the Torii Hunter Baseball and Softball Complex. UAPB Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander unveiled renderings for each design, which are available for public view at uapblionsroar.com. The gift is pending UA Systems Board of Trustees approval at its May 23-24 meeting.
“On behalf of UAPB faculty, staff, students and alumni, I’d like to express our appreciation to Simmons Bank for its generous gift,” said Alexander. “This donation will directly benefit our student-athletes by assisting them in reaching and exceeding their athletic and academic performance goals.”
“Simmons is honored to partner with UAPB to help students excel right here in our hometown of Pine Bluff,” said George A. Makris, Jr., chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corp. “There is nothing more rewarding for our bank than the opportunity to invest in our communities, especially in our young people.”
UAPB Interim Director of Athletics Alyse Wells-Kilbert added, “We are grateful to Simmons Bank for its long-standing partnership with UAPB, and more specifically, this major gift that will allow us to complete much needed upgrades. These improvements will benefit our student-athletes and create a better fan experience during football and baseball games.”
The event was followed by a tailgate-style reception.
About Simmons Bank
Simmons Bank is an Arkansas state-chartered bank that began as a community bank in 1903. Through the decades, Simmons has developed a full suite of financial products and services designed to meet the needs of individual consumers and business customers alike. Simmons is a subsidiary bank for Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. For more information, visit http://www.simmonsbank.com/.
About the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is an 1890 Land-Grant HBCU with a diverse student population, competitive degree offerings and stellar faculty. For more than 140 years, UAPB has worked to create an environment that inculcates learning, growth and productivity while affording a basic need to its students – a chance to advance. UAPB offers Certificate and Associates degree programs, more than thirty Undergraduate programs, Master’s degree programs and a Doctorate program in Aquaculture/Fisheries. Students are active in more than 100 organizations, an internationally renowned Vesper Choir, Marching Band, Concert Bands, Wind Symphony, nationally recognized debate team, award-winning theater department and accomplished athletic program.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
CAROLINE P. MAKRIS
Simmons Bank
VP/Manager Marketing & Communications
501.944.0518 (mobile)
caroline.makris@simmonsbank.com
STEPHANIE JACKSON
Director of Public Relations
The Design Group
501.492.4900
stephanie@designgroupmarketing.com