UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS RECEIVES $150,000 GIFT FOR HIGH-TECH ENGINEERING CLASSROOM

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas College of Engineering has received a gift of $150,000 to provide state-of-the-art multimedia equipment for one of its premier classrooms.

UA Alumnus R. R. "Barney" Baxter and his wife Jameson Baxter of Barrington, Ill., made the gift to enhance the R. R. Baxter Amphitheatre in the Bell Engineering Center. The Baxter Amphitheatre is the largest classroom in the center and is used by students and faculty across the campus. The gift will turn the classroom into a multimedia classroom and distance learning center.

"Our goal is to transform the Baxter Amphitheater into the prototype classroom for engineering education in the nation by installing state-of-the-art technology that will enhance on-campus teaching and learning and make engineering education more accessible to students throughout the state," said Otto J. Loewer, dean of engineering. "We are very grateful to the Baxters for their vision and commitment."

The gift will enable students and faculty to use the latest in multimedia technology for lectures, presentations and class projects. In addition, the enhanced classroom will provide the flexibility to transmit classroom lectures and presentations directly to remote locations throughout the world.

R. R. Baxter, a native of Cushman, Arkansas, received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1948 and an M.S. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University. He is chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter Associates Inc., a management and financial consulting firm he owns with his wife. In addition, he is chairman and CEO of ASHTA Chemicals Inc., Sand Creek Chemicals, L.P., and Chairman of the Board of B3 Systems, Inc.

Baxter is also a member of the College of Engineering Hall of Fame and serves on the Engineering Advisory Council.

Jameson Baxter, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, is President of Baxter Associates. She is currently a director of the Putnam Mutual Funds, M.B. Financial, Inc., Banta Corporation, Ryserson-Tull, ASHTA Chemicals Inc., B3 Systems, Inc., the National Center for Nonprofit Boards and is chairman of the governing council of Good Shepherd Hospital.

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