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EDUCATION

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith

Hitting Enrollment Goals

Fall 2025 enrollment at University of
Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS) is back
above levels experienced before the
2020/21 COVID pandemic, but the
University isn’t resting on its laurels just
yet.
$85 Million ‘Intrepid Ambition’
Campaign Unveiled
UAFS publicly launched its largest
fundraising initiative in history last
spring, 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.
“An $85 million goal isn’t just
ambitious—it’s necessary,” said Blake
Rickman, vice chancellor for university
advancement and executive director of
the UAFS foundation. “This is the scale
it takes to match the moment we’re in.
We’re not raising money to keep the
lights on—we’re raising it to light the
way forward. Because if we want to lead Blake Rickman speaking at the Intrepid Ambition Announcement Event.
this region into the next century, we Photo by Rachel Rodemann Putman, Director of Communications, UAFS.
have to be bold enough to believe it’s
possible—and brave enough to build it.” Structured around three core reshaping what access looks like for
The eight-year campaign, which priorities—students, people, and families in the River Valley.” Rickman
began its silent phase in 2020 and will community—the campaign aims to elaborated. “Of investing in our faculty
conclude in 2028 in alignment with remove financial barriers, invest in faculty and staff—the people whose expertise
the university’s centennial, has already and staff development, and strengthen turns classrooms into launchpads—and
secured roughly 80% of its goal—through regional partnerships. making sure they have the resources to
gifts from more than 6,400 donors and “We have a vision of building real innovate, collaborate, and lead. And of
over 14,000 contributions. pathways to debt-free education— partnering with the economic drivers of
“Though we will spend the next not just increasing scholarships, but this region in revolutionary, lasting ways.”
four years imagining the future of UAFS
and what our next 100 years could
look like, we have to first acknowledge
the people who made this moment
possible,” said Rickman. “With lead
gifts from the Windgate Foundation,
ABB, First National Bank of Fort Smith,
Citizens Bank & Trust, and more than 30
individuals—we have already secured
412 Gordon Ave
more than $68 million toward our goal. 412 Gor don A ve
V
en, Arkansas 72956
an Bur
Many others have given anonymously, Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
479-410-1147
choosing impact over recognition. Our 479-410-1147
Service@EvansBodyShopVB.com
future is built on their generosity. They Service@EvansBodyShopVB.com
.EvansBodyShopVB.com
www
have given us incredible momentum, www.EvansBodyShopVB.com
and we’re deeply grateful.”
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