Public Relations

NWACC Foundation announces 2008 Gala Award Recipients

BENTONVILLE (Monday, March 3, 2008) - Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation is hosting its fifth annual Scholarship Gala on Thursday evening, April 3 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers.  Celebrating the exceptional quality of life we enjoy in Northwest Arkansas, the Foundation is honoring Wayne Callahan, Rep. Horace Hardwick, and Care Foundation for their vision and leadership in our community.

The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., accompanied by the NWACC Marketplace, a showcase of the College’s programs and offerings.  The dinner, program and live auction will follow at 6:30 p.m.  Thanks to Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB who are underwriting event costs, Gala proceeds will provide scholarships for NWACC students.

Each year the NWACC Foundation honors individuals and organizations with prestigious Quality of Life Awards.  The awards recognize those that have helped build and sustain the exceptional quality of life we all enjoy in northwest Arkansas.

Wayne Callahan is being honored with a Quality of Life Award for his outstanding dedication and service to our community and to NWACC. 

Callahan is the president of Global Wal-Mart Business for H.J. Heinz in Bentonville, AR.  Prior to joining Heinz, Callahan enjoyed a 20 year career with S.C. Johnson Wax, during which he held many positions and was responsible for creating the first S.C. Johnson Wal-Mart customer team in 1991.

In 1999, Callahan led a team of Wal-Mart suppliers who developed the innovative Marketing Analyst Program at NWACC.  Designed to teach students, many of them as a second career, the essential tools for success in the retail industry, the Marketing Analyst Program is still going strong today with more than 200 students enrolling each year.

Currently, Callahan serves on the NWACC Foundation Board of Directors and NWACC’s Capital Campaign Committee.  Callahan is also a Director of the Rogers Arvest Bank Board, Chairman Elect of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of the Arkansas State Golf Association and a USGA Regional Affairs Committee member.  Callahan is Past Chairman of the Cancer Challenge Foundation Board.  Additionally, Callahan volunteers as a rules referee in numerous junior and collegiate golf events across the state. 

Callahan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and communication from Concordia University, in Mequon, Wisconsin.  He and his wife Diane reside in Rogers, Arkansas.  They have two children, Gran Callahan living in Charlotte, NC and Amy Callahan living in Rogers. 

Rep. Horace Hardwick is being honored with a Quality of Life Award for his commitment to improving the quality of life through higher education as demonstrated by his services in those endeavors.  His position in the Arkansas State Legislative House of Representatives for District #99 has enabled him to be a strong advocate of NWACC and higher education in general.  His involvement with various educational institution boards, including the NWACC Foundation Board, Southwestern University Trustee Board, NWACC Board of Trustees, and Evangel University Board of Trustees exhibits the true nature of his passion.

After a 39 year career with General Electric Corporation, Hardwick retired as Director of International Sales & Marketing for G.E. Lighting Business for Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.   Upon retirement, Hardwick served as Vice President of Student Career Services for Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) and began his own consulting business.

Hardwick currently serves on the NWACC Foundation Board of Directors, NWACC’s Capital Campaign Committee, Great Passion Play Board of Directors, the State of Arkansas’ Area Health Education Board (AHEC), the Bentonville Airport Advisory Board, and the Northwest Arkansas Senior Services Board of Directors.  Hardwick has also been involved with the Cancer Challenge, SIFE, Southwestern University, and has served on the Arvest Bank Bentonville Board of Directors. 

Hardwick is a graduate of Southwestern University in Waxahachie, Texas where he met his wife of 52 years, Jeretta Clark.  The Hardwicks have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Care Foundation is being recognized with a Quality of Life Award for their work to enrich the lives of residents in Washington and Benton counties.  This organization serves as a leader, catalyst, and resource for other nonprofit organizations in northwest Arkansas.  Their focus on strategic grant-making has allowed them to promote healthy communities.  Since 2004, they have been working closely with agencies and organizations to initiate programs in areas that the board of directors has selected as a priority.

Care Foundation has provided funding for many programs at NWACC, such as Step by Step, a student mentoring and retention program and Building the Future, a financial literacy program for Spanish-speakers.  Additionally, Care Foundation is a support organization to Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation which promotes scholarships for students. Care Foundation has awarded more than $35 million in grants since its inception in 1998.

Formerly known as CommunityCare Foundation, Care Foundation was established in 1998 when Northwest Health System was sold and the assets were transferred into an endowment for the community.  With Suzanne Ward as the Executive Director, the Care Foundation has soared to new heights and has continued to hold deep roots in northwest Arkansas.

Previous recipients of NWACC Foundation’s Quality of Life Awards include:  The Pinnacle Group, Don and Jo Soderquist, Pat Walker, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Dick Trammel, Jack and Melba Shewmaker, Tyson Foods, Bob Cheyne, Pauline Whitaker, Wal-Mart Stores, Bob Crafton, and Uvalde Lindsey.

Tickets to the NWACC Foundation Gala are $100 per person.  Table sponsorships and program congratulatory ads are also available.  Contact the Meredith Brunen in the NWACC Foundation office at 479-619-4184 or mbrunen@nwacc.edu for reservations or more information.

Contact: Jill Wagar 479-619-4321, jwagar@nwacc.edu

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