SEARCY — As leadership changed at Arkansas State University-Searcy this week, former Vice Chancellor Don Harlan was honored with a gift that will keep on giving.
At his retirement celebration Monday night, Harlan was told a special endowment scholarship has been set up in his name, giving students the chance to attend ASU-Searcy with a reduced financial burden.
ASU-Searcy is a technical campus of ASU-Beebe where students can earn Certificates of Proficiency or Technical Certificates within specific disciplines. Those technical certificates can lead to an associate degree if a student desires to go that route.
Keith Pinchback, vice chancellor for institutional advancement at ASU-Beebe, said Harlan’s wife, Mary, approached him when her husband’s retirement was getting closer. She wanted to do something special for his retirement and, knowing his passion for students in vocational technology schools, offered a suggestion.
“She came to us and wanted to do something special for you, and I think what she has done for you is one of the best things an educator can have done for them,” Pinchback said to Harlan.
ASU-Beebe, along with Mary Harlan, has set up an endowment scholarship in Don Harlan’s name to help students attend ASU-Searcy.
“Long after you’re passed on to your great reward, there has been set up in your name the Don Harlan’s Endowed Scholarship Fund at ASU-Searcy,” Pinchback told Harlan. “On behalf of the family, they have set up an account, and we are accepting donations.”
Harlan thanked Pinchback and the gathering of friends and family for the scholarship and their support of the school, deflecting any praise or credit for the success of ASU-Searcy back to the faculty, staff, students and supporters.
“[The scholarship] will benefit students here to come,” Harlan said, “students who may not have a goal of completing a college degree, but who want to go to work, and that’s what we feel we do best.”
Pinchback said the endowment scholarship will be fully funded when it reaches $10,000. That money will be available for ASU-Searcy students. There will be no requirements to receive the scholarship, and students will apply for it through the normal scholarship process at the school.
For information on how to give to the Don Harlan’s Endowed Scholarship Fund, contact Pinchback at (501) 882-8934.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.