CLARKSVILLE, Ark. -Arvid and Sharon (Jones) Bean of Fort Smith have committed $50,000 to the University of the Ozarks' capital improvement project.
Both Arvid and Sharon are 1978 graduates of Ozarks and have remained active with the university. Arvid is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, where he serves as chair of the Student Activities Committee as well as on the Executive Committee. He also serves as co-chair of the university’s capital improvements campaign with Jim Bruning of Fort Smith.
“Sharon and I are graduates of the university and we know first-hand what a wonderful educational experience it is for young people,” said Arvid Bean. “We love the University of the Ozarks. Its administrators and faculty do a great job of educating and preparing students for the workplace and for graduate school. We want to do whatever we can to help it succeed and to continue its wonderful mission of educating young people.”
Arvid is the owner of Arvid A. Bean State Farm Insurance Agency in Fort Smith and is on the board of directors of the Arkansas Independent Colleges & Universities (AICU). A native of Clarksville, he earned a master’s degree in business administration from University of Arkansas, and has been involved in insurance and financial services for more than 25 years. Sharon is retired after a 28-year career as a teacher in the Alma School District. The Beans are active in Fort Smith’s East Side Baptist Church. They have one son, Ryan.
Primary components of the $11 million capital improvements project are the renovation and expansion of the university’s Seay Student Center, and the construction of a new apartment-style residence hall. The capital improvements project is part of the university’s broader $40 million Promise of Excellence Campaign, which runs until March 31, 2011.
Topics: Campaign