• Academy Supporters
• A Tribute to Walton and Jeri Maurras

The UA Fort Smith Academy of the Arts invites your help and support. Your gifts help provide for scholarships, guest artists, and clinicians, and help underwrite all the other activities of the Academy. Every gift, regardless of size, is important and greatly appreciated! Your support makes a tremendous difference.

Gifts for scholarships for Academy students may be given to the Clois Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund. Gifts to help underwrite guest artists, Academy activities, or any specific program or initiative of your choosing may be given to the Academy Fund. All gifts are tax deductible.

Please make your checks payable to The University of Arkansas Fort Smith Foundation and indicate in the memo portion of the check that your gift is for the Academy or one of its programs. The mailing address of the foundation is:

UA Fort Smith Foundation
P.O. Box 3649
Fort Smith, AR 72913-3649

In addition to supporting students and Academy programs, you may purchase gift certificates to enroll a student in the Academy.

For more information related to purchase of gift certificates to enroll a student in the Academy, contact Dr. Rosilee Walker at (479) 788-7546 or e-mail rwalker@uafortsmith.edu.

Your support of the Academy is greatly appreciated!

It is Never Too Early to Invest in a Child's Future!

Academy Supporters

• Mr. and Mrs. Denny Altes
• Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bagby
• Dr. Cathy Bain
• Mr. and Mrs. Randy Bartmier
• Bedford Camera and Video
• Mr. Kim Bercher - Bercher Tire & Service Center
• Ms. Amy Clark
• Mr. and Mrs. Jim Echols
• Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Guest
• Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hall
• Ms. Sheryl Harris
• Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hearn
• Dr. and Mrs. Richard Hinkle
• Mrs. Maxine Hogan
• Mr. and Mrs. Scott James - James & Company, CPA's
• Mr. and Mrs. Dale Kesner
• Mr. Anthony and Dr. Althea Klein
• Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Leraris
• Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lewis
• Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Lindt
• Mr. and Mrs. Walton Maurras
• Mr. Lavon Morton and Dr. Brenda Yelvington
• Mrs. Billie Owen
• Mr. and Mrs. Sam Phillips
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Powell
• Dr. and Dr. Phillip Russell
• Dr. and Mrs. Rex Russell
• Dr. and Mrs. Julio Schwarz
• Mrs. Louise Shaver
• Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shuffield
• Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Sikes
• Mr. and Mrs. Ron Smith - Central Discount Pharmacy
• Dr. Karen Stauffacher
• Dr. and Dr. Todd Timmons
• Mr. David Walker
• Mr. and Mrs. William Wikman
• Mrs. Dorothy Wright
  
  
  
  

A Tribute to Walton and Jeri Maurras

The Academy of the Arts program at UA Fort Smith received some outstanding news in early June. Walton and Jeri Maurras, strong supporters of the cultural arts in Fort Smith for many years, have named the Academy of the Arts as the beneficiary of their new charitable gift annuity with the UA Fort Smith Foundation.

“We believe it is important to have a strong cultural arts program in Fort Smith in order to help attract people to our city,” Walton said when explaining why he and Jeri named the Academy of the Arts as beneficiary of their annuity. “While the UA Fort Smith Academy of the Arts provides private lessons, music classes, and performing arts programs for both children and adults, we really like the fact that they have so many programs and activities for children. This is a considerable asset to the young people and families of Fort Smith, and we are pleased to be able to offer our support.”

Walton was born and raised in Fort Smith. Though he left to further his education and serve his country in the army, he returned to Fort Smith for good in 1968. In 1985, he became legal counsel for UA Fort Smith. He retired last year from an active law practice with the Maurras, Cohen, Redd, and Horan law firm.

“I always enjoyed my association with Westark College and was a big supporter as I watched it grow into the institution it is today,” Maurras continued. “UA Fort Smith and its programs for the cultural and performing arts are a wonderful benefit to our community. Jeri and I are pleased to be able to support it.”

The Maurrases have an additional charitable gift annuity that names the University’s Season of Entertainment and the jazz program as beneficiaries.

“We are extremely grateful to Walton and Jeri for their support of UA Fort Smith’s cultural and performing arts programs,” said Dr. Paul B. Beran, UA Fort Smith’s chancellor. “Their gifts will help underwrite our Season of Entertainment, our jazz program, and now our Academy of the Arts for generations to come. The Maurrases are tremendous friends of the University, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”