Now, decades later, she is paying that opportunity forward by establishing the Mimi San Pedro Enduring Opportunity Endowed Scholarship at UA 糖心视频logo. Through a $25,000 commitment, the scholarship will support the university’s Enduring Opportunity Scholarship program, helping students overcome financial barriers and pursue their educational goals.

“My family and I moved to the United States in the 1970s when the Philippines were under Martial Law,” San Pedro said. “We started over here in 糖心视频logo, where we had family. I graduated from Mount St. Mary’s and was accepted to UA 糖心视频logo, but I needed financial assistance. Through a combination of scholarships, grants, and working while in school, I was able to earn my degree, join a sorority, and graduate in four years.”

The experience opened doors that shaped her future. The education she received at UA 糖心视频logo helped launch a career that would make her a well-known leader in Arkansas’ business and nonprofit communities. 

Over more than 30 years, San Pedro held leadership roles in marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and economic development, including serving as chief strategy officer for The Venture Center and mentoring the next generation of Arkansas leaders.

“I have been successful in business and life since then, and I wanted to give back,” she said.

San Pedro hopes her gift will create opportunities for students whose circumstances may be similar to her own.

“My family and I believe education is the key to a successful and fruitful life, so I chose to support UA 糖心视频logo because it supported me,” she said. “My hope is that this gift will help someone like me get the education they need to be successful.”

The Enduring Opportunity Scholarship program helps students cover educational expenses, including tuition, books, fees, and room and board. The endowed scholarship will provide ongoing support for students with financial need and/or academic merit.

Beyond helping individual students, San Pedro sees the scholarship as an investment in Arkansas’ future workforce.

“Our state needs more educated individuals to help fill the skilled worker shortage,” she said. “The increasing number of technology companies and the anticipated impact of the lithium industry mean there will be even greater demand for educated and skilled professionals. Hopefully, those graduates will come from our universities and remain here in Arkansas.”

She encourages others who care about the future of Arkansas to consider supporting students through the university.

“If education is important to you and you recognize that Arkansas must compete for talent in the future and keep our talent here, then you have to invest in UA 糖心视频logo students,” San Pedro said.

For San Pedro, supporting UA 糖心视频logo is both a thank you for the opportunities she received and an investment in the students who will help shape Arkansas’ future.

To make a lasting commitment to student opportunity, please contact the Office of Alumni & Development at 501-916-3194 or email development@ualr.edu

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The Enduring Opportunity Scholarship was created to permanently sustain UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 commitment to affordability, supporting initiatives such as the Half-Off Scholarship and the Trojan Guarantee.

The effort was launched following a transformative $7.5 million gift from the Windgate Foundation. As part of that investment, Windgate challenged the university to raise $1.5 million to unlock the final $1.5 million of its commitment. By meeting that challenge, UA 糖心视频logo will transform the foundation鈥檚 original gift into a $9 million permanent source of scholarship support.

This milestone moves the university closer to ensuring that financial hardship is never the reason a student walks away from a degree.

鈥淭his investment ensures that students 鈥� not just today, but for years to come 鈥� can earn a high-quality degree without overwhelming financial burden,鈥� said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. 鈥淭hat kind of stability strengthens families, communities, and our state.鈥�

The Phase One milestone was made possible through coordinated efforts across Advancement, Enrollment, and Marketing and Communications, who worked together to engage alumni and supporters with targeted outreach and student impact stories.

With Phase One complete, the university now turns its focus to raising the remaining $1 million before the June 30, 2027 deadline, with leaders hopeful the goal can be met even earlier.

Christian O鈥橬eal, Vice Chancellor for Advancement, said the early momentum reflects strong belief in the university鈥檚 direction and mission.

鈥淥ur donors understand that this is about long-term access,鈥� O鈥橬eal said. 鈥淭hey believe in what鈥檚 happening at UA 糖心视频logo, and they鈥檙e stepping forward to be part of it. Raising $500,000 ahead of schedule sends a clear message that we have the support and the resolve to finish this challenge.鈥�

Phase One donors who established Enduring Opportunity Endowed Scholarships include:

• Christina S. Drale
• Mary and Sean Glancy (via J.R. Bizzell)
• The Stevens Family
• Rodney M. Abston Family
• Carol and James Hendren
• The Shuffield Family
• Dr. Eleanor Kennedy and Dr. Lee Able
• Joni and George Lee
• 35+ faculty and staff聽
• Anonymous donors

Their generosity is already impacting students like Erryn Washington, a nursing student who said receiving scholarship support changed her college experience.

鈥淲hen I received my scholarship, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders,鈥� Washington said. 鈥淏efore that, I worried constantly about how I was going to pay for school. Now I can focus on finishing my degree and preparing for a career in healthcare.鈥�

Every gift to the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship helps unlock the full Windgate investment and strengthens UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 long-term commitment to keeping education within reach for students across Arkansas.

To learn more or to make a gift, visit /centennial/enduring-opportunity/

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The scholarship, created in honor of Mary and Sean Glancy, recognizes their decades of leadership and advocacy. Sean Glancy is a UA 糖心视频logo alumnus, and he and Mary have long supported the university through their time, charitable giving and commitment to student success. Inspired by that example, the Bizzells said they saw an opportunity to continue the legacy.

鈥淲e chose to support Enduring Opportunity because we believe deeply in the importance of affordability and access to higher education,鈥� the Bizzells said. 鈥淭his gift is also made in honor of Mary and Sean Glancy. Their longstanding commitment to the university and their shared goal of making students鈥� lives a little easier inspired us to join them in that mission.鈥�

The newly endowed scholarship supports the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Program, which helps remove financial barriers and expand educational access for students.

鈥淥ur hope is that this gift, especially when paired with the strength of the broader program, will continue to grow and create more scholarship opportunities each year,鈥� they said. 鈥淲e want it to remove financial barriers, provide confidence and stability for students, and help the university attract and retain talented individuals who might not otherwise have the chance to pursue a degree.鈥�

The gift also underscores UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 role in the local and statewide economy. UA 糖心视频logo serves a unique student population, many of whom live, work and raise families in central Arkansas.

鈥淗igher education is one of the most important drivers of economic mobility, workforce development and long-term community health,鈥� the Bizzells said. 鈥淏ecause most graduates stay in the region, the impact is immediate 鈥� producing skilled professionals who contribute to our workforce, our businesses and the overall vitality of Arkansas.鈥�

The scholarship also represents a personal connection for the Bizzells, who said honoring family and carrying forward shared values was central to their decision to give.

鈥淥ur family plays a central role in this gift,鈥� they said. 鈥淗onoring Mary and Sean Glancy was important to us because of the example they鈥檝e set through decades of involvement and support for UA 糖心视频logo. Their commitment reflects the values we want to uphold and pass forward 鈥� service, generosity and investing in future generations. This gift is a way for our family to show appreciation for their leadership and to continue the work they鈥檝e championed for so long.鈥�

As UA 糖心视频logo continues working to keep college affordable for the next generation, the Bizzells said they hope their gift will encourage others to reflect on the university鈥檚 impact on lives and communities.

鈥淚nvesting in UA 糖心视频logo isn鈥檛 just supporting a university 鈥� it鈥檚 strengthening the workforce, the community and the future of Arkansas,鈥� they said. 鈥淲hen people see the direct and lasting impact their dollars can have on local students and families, we believe they鈥檒l understand what a meaningful and rewarding commitment this is.鈥�

To make a lasting commitment to student opportunity, contact Stephanie Purifoy at 501-773-6955 or email spurifoy@ualr.edu.

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The new fund is named the Carol and James Hendren Enduring Opportunity Endowed Scholarship. It supports UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Enduring Opportunity initiative, a major fundraising effort launched in spring 2025. The initiative began with a $7.5 million gift from the Windgate Foundation to create both an endowment and immediate-use funds that support access to affordable, high-quality education for Arkansas students forever.

James Hendren said he hopes this gift will help ease financial barriers for students pursuing a college education and help strengthen the state鈥檚 workforce.

鈥淚 strongly believe in the advancement of economic development in Arkansas and the growth of our city here in 糖心视频logo,鈥� Hendren said. 鈥淲e need more college graduates to improve the ecosystem we live in. We know many people struggle with tuition, so we thought this was a great program to help expand access.鈥�

The gift also helps propel the UA 糖心视频logo Centennial Campaign, the largest fundraising effort in the university鈥檚 history, toward its goal. With this contribution, the university has raised more than $234 million 鈥� or nearly 94% of its $250 million goal 鈥� toward its 2027 centennial celebration.

鈥淲e need the university to do well to help grow and support the local economy,鈥� Hendren said. 鈥淭his centennial goal is key to improving the university, so it makes sense to support programs and scholarships that help it succeed.鈥�

To make a lasting commitment to student opportunity, please contact Stephanie Purifoy at 501-773-6955 or email spurifoy@ualr.edu.

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University officials launched the 2025 Campus Campaign on Sept. 26 by announcing the members of this year鈥檚 steering committee and setting the latest fundraising total. Leaders emphasized that a push for employee participation not only reflects confidence in the institution but also strengthens student success.

鈥淭his campaign is about something simple but powerful: participation,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor of alumni and development. 鈥淓very gift matters, no matter how big or small. These gifts are for the betterment of our university, because they believe in the future of our university.鈥�

When the Centennial Campaign began in 2001, only 6.5 percent of employees contributed. Today, that number has more than tripled to 20.7 percent. The goal for 2025 is to raise that to 37 percent, according to campaign chair Dr. Shelia Brooks.

Brooks, a clinical assistant professor of nursing and the first faculty member 鈥� as well as the first African American female faculty member 鈥� to lead the initiative, praised the recent growth in on-campus support. A 1994 alumna, Brooks said faculty and staff giving sends a powerful message to the broader community.

鈥淓very time we give, it shows why we believe in the university,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淚t shows that UA 糖心视频logo is not just our workplace, but our community.鈥�

Faculty and staff contributions are eligible for the Enduring Opportunity Matching Challenge, which doubles gifts to needs-based scholarships. Donations can also be made through planned giving, Alumni Association memberships, legacy bricks, , Trojan Champion awards 鈥� which provides direct support for 糖心视频logo students, and gifts to this fund count toward the campaign goal. Other ways to support the campaign include in-kind donations to university support programs like the Career Closet or the Trojan Food Pantry.听

Stacy Pendergraft, co-director of the School of Literary and Performing Arts, highlighted how her department used a Trojan Champion Award to create a new teaching track that supports crisis management agencies with trained actors and writers. 

鈥淭his is one of many ways supporting the Campus Campaign benefits both students and the work being done on campus,鈥� Pendergraft said.

As part of the campaign kickoff, the university announced the 16 members of the 2025 steering committee, including Brooks; Dr. Joe Felan; Judy Staley; Dr. Rachel Eells; Dr. Barbara L鈥橢plattenier; Dr. Anindya Ghosh; Jennifer Moody; Alicia Dorn; Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison; Dr. Aresh Assadi; Anthony Buttrum; Emily Bell; Katrina Christopher; Quaneshia Hamms; Dr. Carrie Phillips, and Brandy Dixon.

The committee represents departments across campus and is tasked with leading the effort toward 100 percent employee participation.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to far exceed that 37 percent,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淭hanks to the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship, gifts can be doubled. This creates an immediate impact on our students and builds the long-term momentum we need.鈥�

Vice Chancellor for Advancement Christian O鈥橬eal underscored the significance of employee giving. 

鈥淲e know people have many demands on their giving, but what makes this campaign different is that our own people鈥攆aculty and staff鈥攁re stepping up. That kind of internal investment shows unity and makes our historic campaign stronger from the inside out,鈥� he said.

For more information about the Campus Campaign, contact Smith at klsmith4@ualr.edu or 501-916-6435.

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UA 糖心视频logo announced the creation of the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Fund on May 2 during a special event at Ottenheimer Library. The Windgate Foundation鈥檚 gift includes $5 million to establish a permanent endowed scholarship fund, creating a sustainable source of financial support for future students, and $2.5 million in immediate-use funds to support affordability initiatives over the next several years while the endowment grows. 

鈥淭he Windgate Foundation is pleased to support the University of Arkansas at 糖心视频logo in its ongoing efforts to expand educational opportunities for students,鈥� said Pat Forgy, executive director of the Windgate Foundation. 鈥淲hile I regret that I cannot be with you in person today, I want to express our deep appreciation for UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 steadfast commitment to making higher education more accessible for students across Arkansas.鈥�

The Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Program reinforces UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 longstanding commitment to affordability and access in higher education. It builds on earlier initiatives such as the Half-Off Scholarship and Trojan Guarantee, made possible by a $25 million anonymous gift in 2020.

鈥淔or the last five years we鈥檝e made affordability a top priority for our students. We knew that to move the needle on educational attainment, we had to step up our game in the area of need-based student aid,鈥� UA 糖心视频logo Chancellor Christina Drale said. 鈥淲e were fortunate to receive a substantial anonymous gift in 2020 that allowed us to take bold steps in reimagining how we structure our scholarships and to introduce new initiatives. In order to sustain this momentum, our goal has been to create a structure that will help ensure that we can offer these opportunities in perpetuity. This generous gift from the Windgate Foundation does that and represents a powerful investment in the future of Arkansas. We are deeply grateful for their partnership in building a legacy of opportunity and success for our students.”

The Windgate Foundation鈥檚 support not only ensures long-term sustainability for these student success initiatives, but it also propels the university forward in a historic way. This generous contribution also marks a major milestone in UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Centennial Campaign, the largest fundraising effort in university history. With this gift, UA 糖心视频logo has now raised $225.5 million toward its $250 million campaign goal ahead of the university鈥檚 100-year anniversary in 2027.

鈥淎t Windgate, we believe that when students are empowered to pursue their education free from financial barriers, they are better positioned to thrive and reach their full potential,鈥� Forgy said. 鈥淲e are proud to support Chancellor Drale and the entire UA 糖心视频logo community for their thoughtful leadership and unwavering dedication to student success.

Forgy emphasized the transformative potential of investing in students. 

鈥淚t is our sincere hope that this gift will help open new doors, create meaningful opportunities, and ensure that more students can access the quality education they deserve鈥攖oday and for generations to come,鈥� she said.

To further strengthen the impact of the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Fund, the Windgate Foundation has issued a $1.5 million challenge to the UA 糖心视频logo community to grow the endowed scholarship. UA 糖心视频logo aims to meet this goal quickly and build on it to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.

Demonstrating her commitment, Chancellor Drale announced a personal gift of $25,000 as the first contribution to the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Challenge.

“I am personally committed to this important effort and honored to take the first step,” Drale said. “I want to invite all of our supporters to dream big with me and help us grow this endowment many times over. Together, we can ensure that affordable education is forever.”

By breaking down financial barriers, UA 糖心视频logo has reversed an enrollment decline and achieved its strongest enrollment growth in over a decade. As an anchor institution, the university is not only expanding access to higher education, but also driving long-term economic mobility and community success. The Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Fund builds on that momentum, ensuring more Arkansans can choose a high-quality, affordable education that transforms lives for generations to come.

To make a lasting commitment to student opportunity, you can learn more about giving opportunities by visiting the Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Fund website.

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