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On December 3, Union Bank & Trust Co. gifted $100,000 in support of the recently created Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence, a nationally unique research center dedicated to advancing waterfowl and wetlands science based at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UADA). The funds will contribute to the center’s long-term endowment, a $5 million fund supporting educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as waterfowl and wetlands research.

The Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence was formally announced in October through a joint event with the UADA. The announcement celebrated the creation of both the center and the Dyke–Snowden Endowed Chair of Waterfowl and Wetlands, made possible by $7 million in total contributions: $5 million for the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence and $2 million for the Dyke-Snowden Endowed Chair of Waterfowl and Wetlands. The group of donors was led by David Snowden, Arkansas waterfowl conservationist, and Merritt Dyke, chairman of Dyke Industries.

Dr. Douglas Osborne, professor of wildlife ecology at UAM and inaugural director of the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence and the Dyke-Snowden Endowed Chair of Waterfowl and Wetlands, stated, “We are grateful for the community leaders who provided this significant contribution to help establish the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence at UAM. The funds from Union Bank will be used to support graduate student stipends and their research and provide professional development opportunities. The Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence will provide undergraduate scholarships for the highest caliber students pursuing careers in waterfowl ecology and management.”

Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, stated, “Arkansas has long been a leader in waterfowl conservation, and with the creation of the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence, UAM is proud to help carry forward that legacy. Union Bank & Trust Co.’s generous support strengthens our capacity to assist students as they deliver cutting-edge research that informs the management of waterfowl and wetlands across the state and beyond. We are grateful for Union Bank’s continued commitment to our university and our mission.”

For more information about the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence, contact Dr. Michael Blazier at blazier@uamont.edu or 870-460-1152 or Dr. Douglas Osborne at osborne@uamont.edu or 870-460-1448.