Kays Foundation Commits More than $500,000 to College of Veterinary Medicine

09/09/2024

Kays Foundation and Arkansas State University representatives met to finalize an endowment for the College of Veterinary Medicine. They are (front, from left) Maxine Pruitt, Betty Rousey, Lucinda McDaniel, Dr. Heidi Banse, Dr. Len Frey, (back) Terry Carty, Leonard McDaniel, Ravan Gaston Hilson, Dr. Todd Shields, Betty Ferralasco Moad, Sharon Bishop Phillips, Richard Carvell.

JONESBORO - The Kays Foundation has made a lasting commitment to future students of the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Arkansas State University. The Kays Foundation Endowment for Veterinary Excellence will be a $534,000 endowment.

"The Kays Foundation has supported A-State for over a century. One of the first gifts made to what was then the First District State Agricultural School was a herd of registered cattle to be used in animal husbandry courses," said Lucinda McDaniel, president of the Kays Foundation board.
McDaniel said with the foundation's history of providing livestock to A-State, board members found it appropriate to create an endowment to help the future CVM.

The endowment will be completed over the next 10 years, with the first installment already made.
"The College of Veterinary Medicine is so grateful for these funds. As we build a new program from the ground up, we have many start-up costs associated with the development of our college and implementation of our new curriculum," said Dr. Heidi Banse, dean of the CVM. "Having additional funds to direct towards teaching equipment is a tremendous help for us."

The endowment directs that the funds be used for unbudgeted materials necessary for instructional purposes.
"While all necessary materials and supplies for the CVM will be funded, monies generated from the Kays Foundation Endowment will allow for the purchase of items to take the veterinary school above and beyond what can be secured through state funding alone," added McDaniel.

Banse said they are already mapping out how to use the funds.

"Our plans are to use these funds to help purchase models that we will use in clinical and surgical skills training. Models allow students to practice a procedure multiple times, ensuring students are confident and competent in performing a skill before they need to perform that skill on a sick patient," Banse added.

McDaniel said the funds dedicated to the CVM will be from the interest the endowment earns.

"The endowment is perpetual and will continue to allow the college to secure the most up-to-date materials to give students the very best education in veterinary science," she continued.
With the endowment, Banse said future development of the CVM is on the right course.

"We appreciate the support of the Kays Foundation. We are looking forward to being able to train veterinarians to serve the animal health needs of the Delta region, the state of Arkansas, and beyond," said Banse.

The Arkansas State College Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education, which does business as Kays Foundation, traces its beginnings to 1911 and the administration of V.C. Kays, the founding president of the institution that evolved into Arkansas State University.

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